Practical Methods In Ecology And Environmental Science

Practical Methods in Ecology and Environmental Science

Conducting Research in Conservation

Conducting Research in Conservation is the first textbook on social science research methods written specifically for use in the expanding and increasingly multidisciplinary field of environmental conservation. The first section on planning a research project includes chapters on the need for social science research in conservation, defining a research topic, methodology, and sampling. Section two focuses on practical issues in carrying out fieldwork with local communities, from fieldwork preparation and data collection to the relationships between the researcher and the study community. Section three provides an in-depth focus on a range of social science methods including standard qualitative and quantitative methods such as participant observation, interviewing and questionnaires, and more advanced methods, such as ethnobiological methods for documenting local environmental knowledge and change, and participatory methods such as the ‘PRA’ toolbox. Section four then demonstrates how to analyze social science data qualitatively and quantitatively; and the final section outlines the writing-up process and what should happen after the end of the formal research project. This book is a comprehensive and accessible guide to social science research methods for students of conservation related subjects and practitioners trained in the natural sciences. It features practical worldwide examples of conservation-related research in different ecosystems such as forests; grasslands; marine and riverine systems; and farmland. Boxes provide definitions of key terms, practical tips, and brief narratives from students and practitioners describe the practical issues that they have faced in the field.

Ecological and Environmental Science: A Research Perspective

The book “Ecological and Environmental Science: A Research Perspective” is a compilation of authors' original research papers, scientific articles, review articles, popular articles, general articles, and short notes on forest ecology, wetland ecology, plant ecology, bird ecology, and animal ecology. The book is a perfect amalgamation of burgeoning and thrust topics spanning biodiversity, and conservation and management of floral and faunal elements including ecology and biodiversity of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic macrophytes, mangroves, terrestrial plants, animals (butterflies, reptiles, mammals) and birds. It covers ecological and environmental factors affecting abiotic and biotic components prevailed in forest, desert, grassland and wetland habitats and ecosystems. The present book highlights field studies and laboratory investigations carried out by the authors during their research journey of 22 years (1998-2020). It discusses phenology, ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal and aesthetic values of plants, resource use patterns by local inhabitants, socio-cultural aspects, livelihood dependency, rare and endangered plants, animals and birds, anthropogenic pressures, conservation and management strategies of endemic, exotic, and invasive species, and so on. The book covers unique and promising research topics e.g. hydrochemistry, geochemistry, biomonitoring of heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial plants, metal remediation, environmental modeling, environmental archaeology, environmental bioindicators, environmental forensics, etc. The authors believes that this book is a perfect blend of their research work on two integral branches of biology i.e. ecology and environmental science, which will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of laymen and scientific community world over especially in the field of ecology and biodiversity of plants, animals, and birds, associated with physical, chemical, biological, ecological and environmental factors. The present book would certainly be useful and handy as a ready-reference material for students, academicians, researchers, scientists, ecological and environmental consultants, restoration specialists, practitioners, conservationists, and biodiversity managers at regional, national and global platform.