Conservation Ecology

This book applies ecology and natural history to land management and biodiversity conservation. The focus is on nature as you might experience it in the woods, at a prairie, or in your backyard. In this book I emphasize the tangible: visible patterns, common species, practical and important problems. Together we will explore how local natural systems operate, how they change over time, and especially how we humans participate in nature. Geographically, this book focuses on the Midwestern USA and most of the examples are drawn from my current home state of Illinois. The content also applies to parts of Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.