Consolidated Coverage of Evolution
The newly reworked chapter 6 now presents Darwinian evolutionary principles including natural selection, adaptation, and relevant concepts from population genetics. The chapter provides a more focused discussion of evolution by bringing together concepts previously covered separately across several chapters.
Increased Emphasis on Global Change
Six two-page spreads explore 'global change' resulting from human impact on ecosystems helping students gain an understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment.
Up-to-Date Coverage
The new edition includes a number of modern developments in ecology, both technical and conceptual, including applications of stable isotopes and phylogenetics, recent developments in macroecology, neutral theory, metabolic theory, invasion biology, and global processes connected with human activities.
New Chapter on Landscape Ecology
To address an increasing interest in landscape ecology, a new chapter presents key large-scale ecology topics specifically requested by instructors.
More Cohesive Presentation of Adaptations to the Physical Environment
To help students make a more meaningful connection between adaptations and the physical environment, chapters 2 and 3 have been reconceived as a chapter on adaptations related to water and a chapter on adaptations related to energy and temperature.
New Organization
Ecosystems ecology now follows community ecology, which brings the Table of Contents into closer alignment with the order in which ecology is taught in most courses.