Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Indepth, yet consise, a must for any conservationist., 27 Sep 2001
An excellent and invaluable source for anyone studying or working in the conservation field. The book is easy to follow and covers a wide variety of census techniques for plants, birds,invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Not only does Sutherland provide an indepth and easy to understand guide on how to perform each technique, but also gives the advantages and disadvantages, essential to understanding the accuracy of each technique and invaluable when drawing conclusions to any census.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Indepth, yet consise, a must for any conservationist., 27 Sep 2001
An excellent and invaluable source for anyone studying or working in the conservation field. The book is easy to follow and covers a wide variety of census techniques for plants, birds,invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Not only does Sutherland provide an indepth and easy to understand guide on how to perform each technique, but also gives the advantages and disadvantages, essential to understanding the accuracy of each technique and invaluable when drawing conclusions to any census.

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES, 08 Nov 2004
Allaby is also a co-editor of the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, as well as General Editor of THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Where terms in this book's 2nd edition appear in the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES (which came out a year later), the latter is to be preferred.

EARTH SCIENCES provides additional cross-references for various technical terms (e.g. classes of minerals) that the ECOLOGY dictionary doesn't contain. (ECOLOGY rarely seems to contain cross-references that EARTH SCIENCES does not.) Where the definitions are not identical (which is the most common occurrence when the terms appear in both books), the differences lie in the clarification of examples, the provision of additional details, rearrangement of the order of the information for greater clarity, and (where the word is used differently for non-ecological disciplines) the provision of additional alternate meanings.

In other words, Allaby incorporated the work done on this book into the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, and he and his co-editor on that book continued cleaning up and improving any terms used in common by the two books, taking care not to introduce silly inconsistencies.

When found in both sources, only one word out of a quasi-random selection of forty didn't match *any* of the senses listed in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES. However, out of 75 quasi-random terms in the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY, 35 weren't in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, so unfortunately the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY can't be treated as a simple subset of the larger work.

Not surprisingly, the terms found in the ECOLOGY dictionary that aren't in the EARTH SCIENCES dictionary tend to be the more 'biological' terms, e.g. "saltatory" ('leaping movement, as of crickets or grasshoppers).

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Indepth, yet consise, a must for any conservationist., 27 Sep 2001
An excellent and invaluable source for anyone studying or working in the conservation field. The book is easy to follow and covers a wide variety of census techniques for plants, birds,invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Not only does Sutherland provide an indepth and easy to understand guide on how to perform each technique, but also gives the advantages and disadvantages, essential to understanding the accuracy of each technique and invaluable when drawing conclusions to any census.

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES, 08 Nov 2004
Allaby is also a co-editor of the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, as well as General Editor of THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Where terms in this book's 2nd edition appear in the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES (which came out a year later), the latter is to be preferred.

EARTH SCIENCES provides additional cross-references for various technical terms (e.g. classes of minerals) that the ECOLOGY dictionary doesn't contain. (ECOLOGY rarely seems to contain cross-references that EARTH SCIENCES does not.) Where the definitions are not identical (which is the most common occurrence when the terms appear in both books), the differences lie in the clarification of examples, the provision of additional details, rearrangement of the order of the information for greater clarity, and (where the word is used differently for non-ecological disciplines) the provision of additional alternate meanings.

In other words, Allaby incorporated the work done on this book into the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, and he and his co-editor on that book continued cleaning up and improving any terms used in common by the two books, taking care not to introduce silly inconsistencies.

When found in both sources, only one word out of a quasi-random selection of forty didn't match *any* of the senses listed in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES. However, out of 75 quasi-random terms in the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY, 35 weren't in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, so unfortunately the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY can't be treated as a simple subset of the larger work.

Not surprisingly, the terms found in the ECOLOGY dictionary that aren't in the EARTH SCIENCES dictionary tend to be the more 'biological' terms, e.g. "saltatory" ('leaping movement, as of crickets or grasshoppers).

'Biodiversity' - a review., 26 Dec 2003
I am studing plant biology at degree level and this book was recommended to us to complement our 1st year lectures and give us an overview of biodiversity. An introduction it is: it familiarises the student with the 'what? where? and when?' of biodiversity. It seems to raise as many questions as it answers which is inevitable in a short book on such a vast topic and leaves the reader wanting to discover more. Although it perfectly complements my lectures (not suprising really as one of the authors is also one of my lecturers), it is overly simplistic at times for my liking and sometimes you can't help thinking, 'well thats just common sense really'. It is reasonably easy to read and follows a logical course starting with basic questions such as 'What is biodiversity?' and 'Where is it?' through to investigating more abstract concepts such as the subjective value of mantaining biodiversity. I found it easy to transfer ideas from this book to other areas of my course. It is a bit too short and concise (for the price)and the graphics and illustrations are somewhat uninspiring but it is none the less a good introduction to the science of biodiversity.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Indepth, yet consise, a must for any conservationist., 27 Sep 2001
An excellent and invaluable source for anyone studying or working in the conservation field. The book is easy to follow and covers a wide variety of census techniques for plants, birds,invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Not only does Sutherland provide an indepth and easy to understand guide on how to perform each technique, but also gives the advantages and disadvantages, essential to understanding the accuracy of each technique and invaluable when drawing conclusions to any census.

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES, 08 Nov 2004
Allaby is also a co-editor of the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, as well as General Editor of THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Where terms in this book's 2nd edition appear in the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES (which came out a year later), the latter is to be preferred.

EARTH SCIENCES provides additional cross-references for various technical terms (e.g. classes of minerals) that the ECOLOGY dictionary doesn't contain. (ECOLOGY rarely seems to contain cross-references that EARTH SCIENCES does not.) Where the definitions are not identical (which is the most common occurrence when the terms appear in both books), the differences lie in the clarification of examples, the provision of additional details, rearrangement of the order of the information for greater clarity, and (where the word is used differently for non-ecological disciplines) the provision of additional alternate meanings.

In other words, Allaby incorporated the work done on this book into the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, and he and his co-editor on that book continued cleaning up and improving any terms used in common by the two books, taking care not to introduce silly inconsistencies.

When found in both sources, only one word out of a quasi-random selection of forty didn't match *any* of the senses listed in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES. However, out of 75 quasi-random terms in the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY, 35 weren't in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, so unfortunately the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY can't be treated as a simple subset of the larger work.

Not surprisingly, the terms found in the ECOLOGY dictionary that aren't in the EARTH SCIENCES dictionary tend to be the more 'biological' terms, e.g. "saltatory" ('leaping movement, as of crickets or grasshoppers).

'Biodiversity' - a review., 26 Dec 2003
I am studing plant biology at degree level and this book was recommended to us to complement our 1st year lectures and give us an overview of biodiversity. An introduction it is: it familiarises the student with the 'what? where? and when?' of biodiversity. It seems to raise as many questions as it answers which is inevitable in a short book on such a vast topic and leaves the reader wanting to discover more. Although it perfectly complements my lectures (not suprising really as one of the authors is also one of my lecturers), it is overly simplistic at times for my liking and sometimes you can't help thinking, 'well thats just common sense really'. It is reasonably easy to read and follows a logical course starting with basic questions such as 'What is biodiversity?' and 'Where is it?' through to investigating more abstract concepts such as the subjective value of mantaining biodiversity. I found it easy to transfer ideas from this book to other areas of my course. It is a bit too short and concise (for the price)and the graphics and illustrations are somewhat uninspiring but it is none the less a good introduction to the science of biodiversity.

A great introduction to ecology, 13 Dec 2002
This is an excellent introduction to the subject of ecology. Easy to read without being oversimplified, it provides a detailed overview of the principles of ecology. It's main strength is the constant use of examples and case studies to illustrate the points.
It looks at the functioning of individuals and species within environments, environmental factors, interactions within ecosystems, biomes, and behavioural and genetic factors, as well as distribution and conservation.
Ecological terms are explained as they are encountered, making it easier for those new to the subject. Scientific studies are described which inform the principles described, and conflicting theories explained.
Some understanding of biology is presupposed, and the mathematical content assumes some knowledge of equations, logarithms and scientific notation: although the case studies are so well explained in the text, that the principle of each one can be understood even if the mathematics remain a mystery!

There is also an emphasis on the application of ecology to conservation, and two chapters at the end concentrate specifically on conservation.
As someone new to the subject but with an interest in conservation and how ecosystems work, I found this a fascinating, informative book.

Begon et. al. "Ecology", 09 Dec 2003
This is an excellent undergraduate and postgraduate level introductory text for ecologists.
i purchased this book as a recommended text for an MSc in Ecology and have found it invaluable.
the chapters on community ecology are particularly well written. the whole text is underpinned with valid citation and useful references for further reading.
all in all an excellent purchase!

Reaction to previous review, 07 Nov 2004
I have just heard James Lovelock interviewed on the radio. He is an extremely clear, insightful and original scientist who doesn't deserve the kind of patronisation he has been given here. His findings are not 'weird', he does not presume to have 'proved' anything via science and it's not as if he wrote this book as light reading for train journeys. I myself am going to buy it, read it, and possibly review it at a later date.

Some interesting ideas, 21 Apr 2004
... but quite heavy reading, so not ideal for train journeys. It waswritten some time ago and must have been extremely controversial then, butnow lots of 'weird' ideas are proven by science.

A clever book - makes you think!, 29 Nov 2001
In this book J. Lovelock really shows the power of the Gaia way of thinking. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books but it sure helps!
One of the most exiting features is the insight it offers in gaia reactions over time.

Not the complete article, 28 Apr 2005
This text is very good for covering the theory of evolution in terms of statistics, but is lacking in detail in many important areas- well i say important, but they are just based on my evolution module. There is insufficient information on the origins of life, evolution of tetrapods, and human evolution. If this book covered these three areas in more detail then i'd give it 5 stars.

A good text (but not the best), 21 Apr 2004
This general text is less flashy and, in parts, more detailed than Freeman & Herron (my recommended text for my evolution course). However, it does not cover human evolution and human health issues particularly well

very 'user-friendly', 06 Mar 2004
having only read half the book, i am very pleased. i have no background in biology / genetics but this book is, unlike many others, very accessible and fun to read. the style of writing is very comprehensible and it takes surprisingly little time to finish one chapter. the book is kept simple with helpful illustrations and some fotos. the chapter summaries could be slightly longer but they normally suffice for the qick reference. the side-margin notes help to locate essential text passages. the price is pretty much justified.

Great, 11 Nov 2003
I bought this book as evolution and behaviour reference book for university. It is extremely comprehensive and covers all of it topics in a well structured way (that were far superior to some lecturers). It is fantastic as a reference book and is in fact my evolution bible - if I have a problem concerning evolution this is the first place I would look!

excellent, very comprehensive, 10 Aug 2001
For students of behavioural ecology this provides a fantastic review of all major aspects of the subject in an easy to follow layout and a very readable, engaging style. Well organised and full of useful summary graphs, with some lovely colour plates thrown in, it is well worth buying. It is full of references to other literature, so is great as a stepping stone to more detailed study. A very comprehensive text, thoroughly recommended

very thorough resource, 19 Apr 1999
All of the Dawn teacher guides by the Malnors are superior resources. They are very well-organized and easy to follow. There are enough activities suggested to be very selective and still have more than enough material. Plus, what I love about these guides, is that all modes of learning are addressed: for example, the body and the feelings as well as the intellect. My other favorites are the rainforests and ocean guides.

Comprehensive, practical and well written, 21 Jun 2003
Whilst not explaining specific management techniques in great depth, it nonetheless provides an excellent introduction to the various habitats of the British Isles and the diverse range of management options available to the conservationist. The chapters of the book are devoted to the examination of specific habitats such as coastal, urban, woodland and heathland environments. In each of these chapters the author briefly covers the ecology, history and status of these habitats before going into greater depth about the biological basis for potential management regimes and their ecological impacts and cost effectiveness.

The style of writing is lucid and informed by an extensive body of research that is both well interpreted and well referenced for anyone wishing to pursue the topics further. The author has the ability to cut straight to the central issues over the management of particular habitats. For example, the chapter on heathland clearly explains that the key to management success is control of the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem. The first three chapters outline issues and principles that are generic to all habitats such as control of succession and site management planning.

What the book excludes from its analysis is the whole array of political and cultural factors that also influence what style of management is adopted. Conservationists often like to believe that their line of work is largely informed by scientific principles, when in fact subjectivity and value judgements form an equally important component. However, I acknowledge that it is not the intention of this book to examine these issues and a book such as 'Contested Natures' provides an excellent exploration of this topic. As a practical guide to habitat management this is one of the best books on the market and anyone involved or interested in nature conservation would do well to read its invaluable advice.

Brilliant for starting out conservationists, 20 Oct 2001
This book is a must for any people out there in the world that are joining with the ever increasing hordes, and moving towards a career in the field of conservation. Not only does it cover all the various types of habitats from terrestrial to coastal, but it explains them in a way which makes it easy for conservational newcomers to comprehend.
Even if you are not new to conservation, this book will allow you to expand on your knowledge and has great reference sections for future readings.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Indepth, yet consise, a must for any conservationist., 27 Sep 2001
An excellent and invaluable source for anyone studying or working in the conservation field. The book is easy to follow and covers a wide variety of census techniques for plants, birds,invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Not only does Sutherland provide an indepth and easy to understand guide on how to perform each technique, but also gives the advantages and disadvantages, essential to understanding the accuracy of each technique and invaluable when drawing conclusions to any census.

Review of the 1998 2nd edition: comparison to EARTH SCIENCES, 08 Nov 2004
Allaby is also a co-editor of the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, as well as General Editor of THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY. Where terms in this book's 2nd edition appear in the 2nd edition of A DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES (which came out a year later), the latter is to be preferred.

EARTH SCIENCES provides additional cross-references for various technical terms (e.g. classes of minerals) that the ECOLOGY dictionary doesn't contain. (ECOLOGY rarely seems to contain cross-references that EARTH SCIENCES does not.) Where the definitions are not identical (which is the most common occurrence when the terms appear in both books), the differences lie in the clarification of examples, the provision of additional details, rearrangement of the order of the information for greater clarity, and (where the word is used differently for non-ecological disciplines) the provision of additional alternate meanings.

In other words, Allaby incorporated the work done on this book into the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, and he and his co-editor on that book continued cleaning up and improving any terms used in common by the two books, taking care not to introduce silly inconsistencies.

When found in both sources, only one word out of a quasi-random selection of forty didn't match *any* of the senses listed in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES. However, out of 75 quasi-random terms in the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY, 35 weren't in the DICTIONARY OF EARTH SCIENCES, so unfortunately the DICTIONARY OF ECOLOGY can't be treated as a simple subset of the larger work.

Not surprisingly, the terms found in the ECOLOGY dictionary that aren't in the EARTH SCIENCES dictionary tend to be the more 'biological' terms, e.g. "saltatory" ('leaping movement, as of crickets or grasshoppers).

'Biodiversity' - a review., 26 Dec 2003
I am studing plant biology at degree level and this book was recommended to us to complement our 1st year lectures and give us an overview of biodiversity. An introduction it is: it familiarises the student with the 'what? where? and when?' of biodiversity. It seems to raise as many questions as it answers which is inevitable in a short book on such a vast topic and leaves the reader wanting to discover more. Although it perfectly complements my lectures (not suprising really as one of the authors is also one of my lecturers), it is overly simplistic at times for my liking and sometimes you can't help thinking, 'well thats just common sense really'. It is reasonably easy to read and follows a logical course starting with basic questions such as 'What is biodiversity?' and 'Where is it?' through to investigating more abstract concepts such as the subjective value of mantaining biodiversity. I found it easy to transfer ideas from this book to other areas of my course. It is a bit too short and concise (for the price)and the graphics and illustrations are somewhat uninspiring but it is none the less a good introduction to the science of biodiversity.

A great introduction to ecology, 13 Dec 2002
This is an excellent introduction to the subject of ecology. Easy to read without being oversimplified, it provides a detailed overview of the principles of ecology. It's main strength is the constant