Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface vii
4. 1 What Limits the Geographic Distribution of Organisms? 1
5. 2 Populations Cannot Increase without Limit 13
6. 3 Favorable and Unfavorable Habitats Exist for Every Species 27
7. 4 Overexploited Populations Will Collapse 41
8. 5 Plant and Animal Communities Can Recover from Disturbances 54
9. 6 Communities Can Exist in Several Configurations 70
10. 7 Keystone Species May Be Essential to the Functioning of Biological Communities 85
11. 8 Natural Systems Are Products of Evolution 98
12. 9 Natural Systems Recycle Essential Materials 114
13. 10 Solar Energy Powers Natural Ecosystems 130
14. 11 Climates Change, Communities and Ecosystems Change 145
15. 12 Extinction Is Forever and Species Losses Caused by Humans Are Avoidable 158
16. References 171
17. Index 183