Introduction

An understanding of ecology is an important requirement of a wide range of academic areas, including biology, zoology and environmental science. This book is a study and revision guide for students following programmes of study in which ecology is an important component.

Contents

It contains 600 multiple-choice questions (and answers) set at three levels - foundation, intermediate and advanced - and grouped into 10 major topic areas:

• the history and foundations of ecology
• abiotic factors and environmental monitoring
• taxonomy and biodiversity
• energy flow and production ecology
• nutrient and material cycles
• ecophysiology
• population ecology
• community ecology and species interactions
• ecological genetics and evolution
• ecological methods and statistics

Format and Purpose

The book has been produced in a convenient format so that it can be used at any time in any place. It allows the reader to learn and revise the meaning of ecological terms, the basic processes operating in ecosystems, the dynamics of populations, ecological genetics and the process of evolution, the methods used in ecological surveys, and much more.

The structure of the book allows the study of one topic area at a time, progressing through simple questions to those that are more demanding. Many of the questions require students to use their knowledge to interpret information provided in the form of graphs, data or photographs, providing a useful tool for independent study.