Reviews of RAMAS Software

To succeed as a professional ecologist or conservation biologist, one needs both a broad conceptual understanding of the field and a set of quantitative tools for analysing data and predicting outcomes. While most ecologists agree that our subject is intrinsically quantitative, we often shy away from quantitative topics in our courses. This is both because it requires considerable effort and because we realize that "many people drawn to the fascination and beauty of the qualitative aspects of ecology are put off by the quantitative aspects" (M. Shaffer, Foreword). In response to such concerns, some textbooks in ecology and (sadly) most in conservation biology avoid a rigorous introduction to quantitative population models. While such approaches are certainly justified in many situations, they also handicap students serious about pursuing careers in ecology or conservation biology.

Fortunately, our field is now blessed with Applied Population Ecology, an excellent introduction to population models that facilitates the inclusion of quantitative material in upper-level undergraduate and beginning graduate courses. Students with even a modest background in mathematics are guided step-by-step through a graduated series of explanations, examples, and exercises designed to give them a firm grounding in how models of population growth and regulation are used in ecology. The well-chosen examples range from Muskox reintroduced to Nunivak Island through population explosions of humans, to the erratic declines of threatened species like the Helmeted Honeyeater and California Spotted Owl. These examples capture the interest of the reader, and allow the book "to introduce mathematical ecology by developing an intuitive understanding of the basic concepts and by motivating the students through examples that put these concepts to practical use" (p xi).

In the first five chapters, the authors concisely lay out the essentials of population growth and its variability, population regulation, and the structure and dynamics of age-structured and stage-structured models. The authors ably introduce key quantitative concepts, emphasizing discrete time models and numerical simulation which, they argue, are "more applicable ... and easier to explain and understand" (p 26) than continuous time models and analysis. In addition, such models allow them to embrace the stochastic nature of demography at small population sizes and thus emphasize the variability and unpredictability that rarely emerge when we teach by using the usual deterministic models. This newer paradigm is explored via numerical examples in both the text and the problems that appear at the end of each chapter. Many of these exercises rely on the integrated EcoLab 1.0 software package for simulating population processes that would otherwise require lengthy and tedious calculation. Indeed, simulations provide the only practical way for readers to explore such models, imparting an intuitive feel for modeling, uncertainty, and the impact of chance events. Another compelling aspect of this book is its surprisingly broad coverage of topics in conservation biology. This emphasis accords well with current student interest and reflects the authors’ active research interests (but may disappoint those expecting more coverage of fisheries or wildlife management). The authors speak knowingly of current and past problems in applying ecology successfully and refer directly to their own experiences. They also present interesting asides that enliven the text and effectively link concepts to important contemporary issues.

The final three chapters tackle the areas of metapopulations and spatial structure, population viability analysis, and decision-making in natural resources management. While coverage is necessarily less complete in these areas, the book touches on a remarkable diversity of topics, including sensitivity analysis, corridors and reserve design, the precautionary principle, type I and type II errors, and the general problems presented when few data are available to make decisions. There are also selective and informed choices for further reading at the end of each chapter.

Applied Population Ecology succeeds in teaching quantitative models while explaining the context that makes these models important. Readers will gain quantitative insights and opportunities to exercise their skills in a trim and readable package. Instructors will gain an authoritative and pedagogically effective tool for teaching core concepts thoroughly. If we join in the efforts of this book to raise levels of numeracy in future cohorts of ecologists, our students, the field, and perhaps even natural populations will benefit.

Don Waller, Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin