Animal Ecology

Northeastern Naturalist, 2002 by Ray, M

Animal Ecology. 2001. Charles Elton. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. First published in 1927, when both Elton and the field of ecology were very young. The original book was classified by its editor, Julian Huxley, as a work in"applied zoology." Even so, the contents page reads like a current ecology text: succession, environmental factors, variation in time and in numbers, dispersal, and finally, "Ecology and Evolution." The style is passionate and many of Elton's concepts have provided the foundation for modern ecology.

Leibold and Wootton, of University of Chicago's Department of Ecology and Evolution have written introductory essays rich in references and overviews. They connect Elton's ideas to recent work in areas such as gradient analysis, successional modeling, and niche partitioning. The new materials provide connections between Elton's basic principals, mid-20th century themes, and the most current ecological studies. An excellent reference book for ecologists, and an excellent introduction for the novice. M. Ray