The Branches of Ecology: A 20th Century History

Description:

The ecological sciences are a diverse array of major scientific disciplines. They grew from minor sciences, with little status in 1900, and now occupy crucial areas of research bearing on the future of our planet. This book describes a century of growth and development. A dramatic century-long rise in the status of ecological knowledge was accompanied by the rise of professional ecological organizations, the establishment of university faculties, and the creation of government agencies advising on conservation, natural resources, and the prevention of pollution. Like all sciences, ecology continues to yield new findings and surprising revelations. New technologies now address existential challenges facing our world. This book, documenting the rise of ecology, is an inspiring history portending an important role in the twenty-first century. Key Features:

* The author is the acknowledged authority on the history of ecology.

* The content is familiar to members of the Ecological Society of America but has not previously been assembled into a single narrative.

* Appropriate for a course in the history of ecology.

* Provides a broad perspective on ecology.