An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

by Stanton Braude, Bobbi S. Low

Overview

An innovative introduction to ecology and evolution

This unique textbook introduces undergraduate students to quantitative models and methods in ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation. It explores the core concepts shared by these related fields using tools and practical skills such as experimental design, generating phylogenies, basic statistical inference, and persuasive grant writing. And contributors use examples from their own cutting-edge research, providing diverse views to engage students and broaden their understanding.

This is the only textbook on the subject featuring a collaborative "active learning" approach that emphasizes hands-on learning. Every chapter has exercises that enable students to work directly with the material at their own pace and in small groups. Each problem includes data presented in a rich array of formats, which students use to answer questions that illustrate patterns, principles, and methods. Topics range from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and population effective size to optimal foraging and indices of biodiversity. The book also includes a comprehensive glossary.

In addition to the editors, the contributors are James Beck, Cawas Behram Engineer, John Gaskin, Luke Harmon, Jon Hess, Jason Kolbe, Kenneth H. Kozak, Robert J. Robertson, Emily Silverman, Beth Sparks-Jackson, and Anton Weisstein.

• Provides experience with hypothesis testing, experimental design, and scientific reasoning
• Covers core quantitative models and methods in ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation
• Turns "discussion sections" into "thinking labs"

Professors: A supplementary Instructor's Manual is available for this book. It is restricted to teachers using the text in courses. For information on how to obtain a copy, refer to: https://press.princeton.edu/class_use/solutions.html

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691127248
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	01/24/2010
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Stanton Braude is lecturer in biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Bobbi S. Low is professor of resource ecology at the University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Figures vii

Tables xi

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction xix

Section I Evolutionary Biology

1 Evolution and Pesticide Resistance: Examining Quantitative Trends Visually Stanton Braude John Gaskin 3

2 Lizard Ecomorphology: Generating and Testing Hypotheses of Adaptation Kenneth H. Kozak 12

3 Phyiogenetic Inference: Examining Morphological and Molecular Datasets James Beck 22

4 Life History Tradeoffs in Avian Clutch Size: Interpreting Life History Data and Evaluating Alternative Hypotheses Jon Hess 36

5 Mimicry: Experimental Design and Scientific Logic James Robertson 51

Section II Demography and Population Ecology

6 Life Table Analysis Stanton Braude 63

7 Lotka-Volterra Competition Modeling Stanton Braude Tara Scherer Rebecca McGaha 69

8 Explosive Population Growth and Invasive Exotic Species Jon Hess James Robertson 79

9 Island Biogeography: Evaluating Correlational Data and Testing Alternative Hypotheses James Robertson 91

Section III Population Genetics

10 Hardy-Weinberg: Evaluating Disequilibrium Forces Jason J. Kolbe 107

11 Drift, Demographic Stochasticity, and Extinction in Woggles James Robertson Anton Weisstein Stanton Braude 117

12 Conservation of Small Populations: Effective Population Sizes, Inbreeding, and the 50/500 Rule Luke J. Harmon Stanton Braude 125

13 Dispersal and Metapopulation Structure James Robertson 139

Section IV Quantitative Ecological Tools

14 Understanding Descriptive Statistics Beth Sparks-Jackson Emily Silverman 155

15 Understanding Statistical Inference Emily Silverman Beth Sparks-Jackson 179

16 Sampling Wild Populations Stanton Braude James Robertson 189

17 Quantifying Biodiversity Cawas Behram Engineer Stanton Braude 198

18 Environmental Predictability and Life History Bobbi S. Low Stanton Braude 214

19 Modeling Optimal Foraging Stanton Braude James Robertson 226

Section V Synthetic Exercises and Writing Assignments

20 Evaluating Competing Hypotheses of Regional Biodiversity Stanton Braude 235

21 Preparing and Evaluating Competitive Grant Proposals for Conservation Funding Stanton Braude 239

22 Tracing the History of Scientific Ideas: From Darwin, Connell, or Soule to the Present Bobbi S. Low 245

Glossary 251

Contributors 263

Index 265

What People are Saying About This

Jonathan Shurin

Braude and Low combine approaches and methodologies from ecology, evolution, and behavior, and emphasize quantitative exercises. Most other books that I'm familiar with are largely focused on either ecology or evolution. It makes sense to me to combine all of this material under a single cover. I can't think of another book like this one.
— Jonathan Shurin, University of British Columbia

Skelly

This is an interesting and even entertaining book of lab and field exercises that represent a wealth of personal experience in teaching the essentials of ecology and evolutionary theory, as well as the basics of the scientific method, study design, and analysis. The book includes many gems.
— David K. Skelly, Yale University

Keen

This book is designed to teach basic ecological methods to undergraduates using a series of interactive exercises. It promotes real learning as opposed to memorization. It is a significant contribution to the field.
— Susan L. Keen, University of California, Davis

From the Publisher

"Braude and Low combine approaches and methodologies from ecology, evolution, and behavior, and emphasize quantitative exercises. Most other books that I'm familiar with are largely focused on either ecology or evolution. It makes sense to me to combine all of this material under a single cover. I can't think of another book like this one."—Jonathan Shurin, University of British Columbia

"A very worthwhile contribution. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. The exercises increase students' comfort with data analysis and quantitative methods while also helping them to develop independent critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills. I do not know of any other textbook that offers this approach in evolution and ecology."—Suzanne H. Alonzo, Yale University

"This book is designed to teach basic ecological methods to undergraduates using a series of interactive exercises. It promotes real learning as opposed to memorization. It is a significant contribution to the field."—Susan L. Keen, University of California, Davis

"This is an interesting and even entertaining book of lab and field exercises that represent a wealth of personal experience in teaching the essentials of ecology and evolutionary theory, as well as the basics of the scientific method, study design, and analysis. The book includes many gems."—David K. Skelly, Yale University

Alonzo

A very worthwhile contribution. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. The exercises increase students' comfort with data analysis and quantitative methods while also helping them to develop independent critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills. I do not know of any other textbook that offers this approach in evolution and ecology.
— Suzanne H. Alonzo, Yale University

Editorial Reviews

"Braude and Low provide a survey of a wide variety of extended exercises in evolutionary biology, population ecology, population genetics, and statistical analysis. Individual chapters can also serve as useful supplement assignments in many introductory biology courses."

Choice

The most enjoyable aspect of this book is that it is a true teaching guide. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. This approach ensures students feel more comfortable with data analysis and quantitative methods, while also aiding them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A wealth of personal experience as a student and teacher has obviously gone into the creation of this book, and I would highly recommend it to educators dealing with components of this text

Austral Ecology - Brad J. Farmilo

[A]n excellent source of tools and inspiration and well suited to prepare the undergraduate student for the methodological and numerical approaches used in ecology and evolution.

Basic and Applied Ecology - Yann Clough

I liked An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology and think it would be a very good text in the classroom. [The book] presents a nice selection of problems across the broad topics covered.

Ecology - J. Michael Reed

[This book] is for people like me—faculty members who will buy it and then tinker with, modify, adapt, or steal outright the exercises it contains for use in their own relatively narrowly focused courses. And that is actually a valuable contribution to American biological education!

Quarterly Review of Biology - Arthur M. Shapiro

The most enjoyable aspect of this book is that it is a true teaching guide. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. This approach ensures students feel more comfortable with data analysis and quantitative methods, while also aiding them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A wealth of personal experience as a student and teacher has obviously gone into the creation of this book, and I would highly recommend it to educators dealing with components of this text

Austral Ecology - .Brad J. Farmilo

The most enjoyable aspect of this book is that it is a true teaching guide. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. This approach ensures students feel more comfortable with data analysis and quantitative methods, while also aiding them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A wealth of personal experience as a student and teacher has obviously gone into the creation of this book, and I would highly recommend it to educators dealing with components of this text
— .Brad J. Farmilo

Austral Ecology

[A]n excellent source of tools and inspiration and well suited to prepare the undergraduate student for the methodological and numerical approaches used in ecology and evolution.
— Yann Clough

Basic and Applied Ecology

[This book] is for people like me—faculty members who will buy it and then tinker with, modify, adapt, or steal outright the exercises it contains for use in their own relatively narrowly focused courses. And that is actually a valuable contribution to American biological education!
— Arthur M. Shapiro

Quarterly Review of Biology

I liked An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology and think it would be a very good text in the classroom. [The book] presents a nice selection of problems across the broad topics covered.
— J. Michael Reed

Ecological Society of America

I liked An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, and think it would be a very good text in the classroom. This book is intended to function as a lab book, teaching students topics conceptually, encouraging users to work out expectations by hand and by sketching out expected outcomes.
— J. Michael Reed

Ecology

"Braude and Low provide a survey of a wide variety of extended exercises in evolutionary biology, population ecology, population genetics, and statistical analysis. Individual chapters can also serve as useful supplement assignments in many introductory biology courses."—Choice

"[This book] is for people like me—faculty members who will buy it and then tinker with, modify, adapt, or steal outright the exercises it contains for use in their own relatively narrowly focused courses. And that is actually a valuable contribution to American biological education!"—Arthur M. Shapiro, Quarterly Review of Biology

"I liked An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, and think it would be a very good text in the classroom. This book is intended to function as a lab book, teaching students topics conceptually, encouraging users to work out expectations by hand and by sketching out expected outcomes."—J. Michael Reed, Ecology

"I liked An Introduction to Methods and Models in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology and think it would be a very good text in the classroom. [The book] presents a nice selection of problems across the broad topics covered."—J. Michael Reed, Ecological Society of America

"[A]n excellent source of tools and inspiration and well suited to prepare the undergraduate student for the methodological and numerical approaches used in ecology and evolution."—Yann Clough, Basic and Applied Ecology

"The most enjoyable aspect of this book is that it is a true teaching guide. The authors expose students to quantitative methods using a very hands-on approach. This approach ensures students feel more comfortable with data analysis and quantitative methods, while also aiding them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A wealth of personal experience as a student and teacher has obviously gone into the creation of this book, and I would highly recommend it to educators dealing with components of this text"—.Brad J. Farmilo, Austral Ecology

From the Publisher