Murray, Dennis L. Population Ecology in Practice (0470674148)

A synthesis of contemporary analytical and modeling approaches in population ecology

The book provides an overview of the key analytical approaches that are currently used in demographic, genetic, and spatial analyses in population ecology. The chapters present current problems, introduce advances in analytical methods and models, and demonstrate the applications of quantitative methods to ecological data. The book covers new tools for designing robust field studies; estimation of abundance and demographic rates; matrix population models and analyses of population dynamics; and current approaches for genetic and spatial analysis. Each chapter is illustrated by empirical examples based on real datasets, with a companion website that offers online exercises and examples of computer code in the R statistical software platform. 

• Fills a niche for a book that emphasizes applied aspects of population analysis
• Covers many of the current methods being used to analyse population dynamics and structure
• Illustrates the application of specific analytical methods through worked examples based on real datasets
• Offers readers the opportunity to work through examples or adapt the routines to their own datasets using computer code in the R statistical platform

Population Ecology in Practice is an excellent book for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in population ecology or ecological statistics, as well as established researchers needing a desktop reference for contemporary methods used to develop robust population assessments.