Concern for the environment--brought about by the impact of widespread waste, pollution, and mismanagement--has created a pressing need for information about the countless ways that humans, animals and plants interact in the world around us. In Global Ecology, eminent science writer Colin Tudge offers an authoritative exploration of ecological science for general readers. Illustrated with many full-color photographs and drawings, and written in an clear, easy-to-read style, the book is a fascinating overview of the study of of living things and their interactions with the environment and each other. This body of knowledge encompasses a wide range of topics: animal behavior and plant life, evolution, physiology, climatology, population balance, species extinction, and the impact of human civilization. This discussion involves many of today's most talked-about issues, including the origin of life, cleaning up the world's waterways, saving the coral reefs and tropical rainforests, atmospheric pollution, food chains and agricultural development, and strategies for the future. The book also describes the many diverse terrains, climates, and habitats where life occurs on our planet, while emphasizing the global unity of the Earth's ecosystem. Readers will gain a new appreciation for the delicate interplay of the diverse worlds of people, plants, and animals, and their vital dependence on shared environments and resources. Written to accompany the Ecology exhibition at London's Natural History Museum, the book represents an ideal opportunity for all readers to become acquainted with the findings and ideas of perhaps the most crucial scientific knowledge of our time.