Ecology is the science of ecosystems, of habitats, of our world and its
future. In the latest New Naturalist, ecologist David M. Wilkinson
explains key ideas of this crucial branch of science, using Britain's
ecosystems to illustrate each point.
The science of ecology underlies most of the key issues facing humanity,
from the loss of biodiversity to sustainable agriculture, to the effects
of climate change and the spread of pandemics. In this accessible and
timely addition to the New Naturalist series, ecologist David M.
Wilkinson introduces some of the key ideas of this science, using
examples from British natural history. Extensively illustrated with
photographs of the species and habitats that can be seen in the British
countryside, this book shows how the observations of field naturalists
link into our wider understanding of the working of the natural world.
Investigating ecosystems across the British Isles, from the Scottish and
Welsh mountains to the woodlands of southern England and the fens of
East Anglia, Wilkinson describes the relationships between organisms and
their environments. Factors such as climate and chemistry influence
populations of every kind of organism, and the interactions between
these organisms determine the makeup of ecological communities. Using
examples from the full range of organisms on Earth - from bacteria to
badgers - Wilkinson introduces the crucial ecological processes that
support life, addressing how these
ideas can be applied to understand our effect on the environment not
just of Britain, but of the whole planet.
