Scientific Methods for Ecological Research by D. E. FordReview by: PePFolia Geobotanica, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Mar., 2003), p. 110Published by: SpringerStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25133970 .

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110 Bookreviews

F. Gould (ed.): Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants. The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation; National Research Council, Committee on Environmental Impacts Associated with Commercialization of

Transgenic Crops, National Academy Press, 2002, 320 pp. Price GBP 49.95, ISBN 0-309-08263-3. -

Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity but they also raise the danger of a range

of harmful environmental effects. In this book, crops developed by conventional and transgenic means are

compared, and potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change the landscape is examined. Being

nationally-focussed, it also deals with the capability of U.S. government to regulate transgenic crops in order to

avoid negative changes. Previous experience with introductions of novel crops are reviewed, principles of risk

assessment are outlined, and public involvement is discussed. Written by the Committee on Environmental

Impacts members as a consensus report, the issues presented seem to be well backed-up by in-depth discussions.

(PeP)

D.E. Ford: Scientific methods for ecological research; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000, 564

pp., Price GBP 29.95, USD 49.95, ISBN0-521-66973-1. -

This is not a ''traditional" ecological textbook. Books

with such a title are rarely one-author volumes. David Ford of the University of Washington, intending to

provide a text for new researchers in ecology, give them a framework for understanding methodological issues,

and helping them to define and plan research, wrote a textbook he needed for teaching by himself. Time will tell

how successful the book is going to be in achieving these goals, but what can be stated straight away is that it

represents very detailed, comprehensive and non-traditional account of the topic. A special emphasis is put on

the philosophy of research, ecological reasoning, and development of analytical framework, i.e. defining research problems and planning appropriate methodology. Other chapters include, among other, how to

synthesize results or use mathematical models for constructing explanations in ecology. (PeP)

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