real-life applications of ecology. It focuses on the integration of material across the levels at which ecology is studied (from individuals to populations to communities to ecosystems). Ecology's structure ensures that students are always reminded of connections between these levels as well as links to evolution and helps them grasp how events in nature are interconnected. The second edition has been updated to sharpen the book as a learning tool for students and as a teaching tool for professors. The text has been thoroughly revised, including the addition of several new pedagogical features. These include: * Climate Change Connection-Climate change has broad ecological effects with important implications for conservation and ecosystem services. Most of the chapters include a major climate change example (many of which are new) and students are directed to additional content on the Companion Website. These Climate Change Connections discuss how the example connects to other levels of the ecological hierarchy, while enriching the student's understanding of ongoing climate change. * Ecological Toolkit-Many chapters include an Ecological Toolkit that describes ecological 'tools' such as aspects of experimental design, remote sensing and GIS, mark-recapture techniques, stable isotope analysis, DNA fingerprinting, etc. * Figure Legend Questions-Each chapter includes 3-6 Figure Legend Questions, highlighted in colour at the end of the legend. These questions encourage students to make sure they understand the figure's content. Questions range from those that test whether students understand the axes or other simple aspects of the figure to those that ask students to evaluate hypotheses. * Hands-On Problems-This popular feature of the Companion Website asks students to manipulate data, explore mathematical aspects of ecology in more detail, interpret results from real experiments, and analyse simple model systems using simulations. The second edition includes both revised and new Hands-On Problems. In choosing topics for the Hands-On Problems, as well as for the In-Class Exercises (see next bullet), the authors have attempted to address common student misconceptions or preconceptions. * In-Class Exercises-For the second edition, a new type of inquiry exercise has been added. These are ready-to-go active teaching and learning problems that can be used in class or as homework. Many are brief, taking about 10 minutes. The book is supported by a companion website (http://sites.sinauer.com/ecology2e/) offering the following aids to revision: Chapter Summaries, Chapter Outlines, Hands-On Problems, Flashcards & Key Terms, Glossary, Online Quizzes (these require lecturer activation), Web Extensions, and Web Stats Review.

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