Community Ecology

Processes, Models, and Applications

Edited by Herman A. Verhoef and Peter J. Morin

Community ecology is the study of the interactions between populations of co-existing species. Co-edited by two prominent community ecologists and featuring contributions from top researchers in the field, Community Ecology: Processes, Models, and Applications provides a survey of the state-of-the-art in both the theory and applications of the discipline. It pays special attention to topology, dynamics, and the importance of spatial and temporal scale while also looking at applications to emerging problems in human-dominated ecosystems (including the restoration and reconstruction of viable communities). A final chapter indicates future research directions for the discipline.

Community Ecology

Processes, Models, and Applications

Edited by Herman A. Verhoef and Peter J. Morin

Description

Community ecology is the study of the interactions between populations of co-existing species. Co-edited by two prominent community ecologists and featuring contributions from top researchers in the field, this book provides a survey of the state-of-the-art in both the theory and applications of the discipline. It pays special attention to topology, dynamics, and the importance of spatial and temporal scale while also looking at applications to emerging problems in human-dominated ecosystems (including the restoration and reconstruction of viable communities).

Community Ecology: Processes, Models, and Applications adopts a mainly theoretical approach and focuses on the use of network-based theory, which remains little explored in standard community ecology textbooks. The book includes discussion of the effects of biotic invasions on natural communities; the linking of ecological network structure to empirically measured community properties and dynamics; the effects of evolution on community patterns and processes; and the integration of fundamental interactions into ecological networks. A final chapter indicates future research directions for the discipline.

FEATURES
* Incorporates the latest developments in the field and complements the existing textbook literature on community ecology
* Includes a mix of theoretical and applied chapters and a balance of emerging and established research topics
* Covers future research directions and provides ideal reference material for graduate courses in community ecology

Community Ecology

Processes, Models, and Applications

Edited by Herman A. Verhoef and Peter J. Morin

Preface
Introduction
Part I. Shape and Structure
1. The Topology of Ecological Interaction Networks: The State of the Art, Owen L. Petchey, Peter J. Morin, and Han Olff
Part II. Dynamics
2. Trophic Dynamics of Communities, Herman A. Verhoef and Han Olff
3. Modeling the Dynamics of Complex Food Webs, Ulrich Brose and Jennifer A. Dunne
4. Community Assembly Dynamics in Space, Tadashi Fukami
Part III. Space and Time
5. Increasing Spatio-Temporal Scales: Metacommunity Ecology, Jonathan M. Chase and Janne Bengtsson
6. Spatio-Temporal Structure in Soil Communities and Ecosystem Processes, Matty P. Berg
Part IV. Applications
7. Applications of Community Ecology Approaches in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Local Problems, Remote Causes, Wim H. van der Putten
8. Sea Changes: Structure and Functioning of Emerging Marine Communities, J. Emmett Duffy
9. Applied (Meta)community Ecology: Diversity and Ecosystem Services at the Intersection of Local and Regional Processes, Janne Bengtsson
10. Community Ecology and Management of Salt Marshes, Jan P. Bakker, Dries P.J. Kuijper, and Julia Stahl
Part V. Future Directions
11. Evolutionary Processes in Community Ecology, Jacintha Ellers
12. Emergence of Complex Food Web Structure in Community Evolution Models, Nicolas Loeuille and Michel Loreau
13. Mutualisms and Community Organization, David Kothamasi, E. Toby Kiers, and Marcel G.A. van der Heijden
14. Emerging Frontiers of Community Ecology, Peter J. Morin
References
Index

Community Ecology

Processes, Models, and Applications

Edited by Herman A. Verhoef and Peter J. Morin

Author Information

Contributors:

Jan P. Bakker
Janne Bengtsson
Matty P. Berg
Ulrich Brose
Jonathan M. Chase
J. Emmett Duffy
Jennifer A. Dunne
Jacintha Ellers
Tadashi Fukami
E. Toby Kiers
David Kothamasi
Dries P.J. Kuijper
Nicolas Loeuille
Michel Loreau
Peter J. Morin
Han Olff
Owen L. Petchey
Julia Stahl
Marcel G.A. van der Heijden
Wim H. van der Putten
Herman A. Verhoef

Community Ecology

Processes, Models, and Applications

Edited by Herman A. Verhoef and Peter J. Morin

Reviews and Awards

"If you are looking for an up-to-date textbook for teaching or studying community ecology, this is it. The authors have done an excellent job of balancing seminal articles with the most recent updates in the field, which renders continuity to the volume." -- Conservation Biology

"Overall this book contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms shaping ecological communities. It also helps modelers to think about the mechanisms to test with the current explosion of high resolution data and models." --Carlos J. Melian, in Trends in Ecology and Evolution