The two volumes of John Wiens' Ecology of Bird Communities have
applications and importance to the whole field of ecology. The books
contain a detailed synthesis of our current understanding of the
patterns of organisation of bird communities and of the factors that may
determine them, drawing from studies from all over the world. By
emphasizing how proper logic and methods have or have not been followed
and how different viewpoints have developed historically and have led to
controversy, the scope of these books are extended far beyond the study
of birds. Processes and Variations discusses the way in which bird
community patterns have been interpreted. This second volume examines
how the complexity and variability of natural environments may influence
efforts to discern and understand the nature of these communities.
Graduate students and professionals in avian biology and ecology will
find these volumes a valuable stimulus and guide to future field studies
and theory development.