Spatial Ecology

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Summary: Space, the final frontier
Review: Spatial Ecology deals with the relatively recent concentration on spatial heterogeneity in ecology. Sptial heterogeneity is important since we know that habitat fragmentation has major effects on the world biota. Predicting the abundance and distribution of organisms is crucial if we are to predict which species are to become endangered by such processes as habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. This book tends to concentrate on the theoretical aspects of spatial ecology partly because large scale experiments are difficult to perform and partly because the recent increase in computer power has lead to an explosion of spatially extended models of population dynamics. This book is therefore aimed at primarily the postgraduate student and beyond, but should provide some insight for the advanced undergraduate too. Apart from the computer models, there are several mathematical models presented, including diffusion models for invasive species and the new method of moment dynamics which provides an analytical approximation to individual-based models. A basic understanding of mathematics will therefore help but is not essential. 'Spatial Ecology' is an edited book with contributions from many leading researchers in the field such as Tilman, Kareiva, Levins, Pacala, Lewis. As such one might expect the book to be a little disjointed, but the editors have kept the flow going with previews and summaries of each set of chapters. All in all an excellent book for recent advances in spatial ecology theory.