Global Change Biology The Study of Life on a Rapidly Changing Planet

About this book

Bree Rosenblum's Global Change Biology provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of Global Change Biology and a roadmap for structuring Global Change Biology courses, a burgeoning field of biological study. The first of its kind, Rosenblum goes beyond the narrow focus of existing texts, which tend to focus on climate only, by offering a conceptionally integrated approach to understanding how humans have impacted life on Earth. The textbook guides students to think about change across spatial and temporal scales and fills a unique niche of integrating ecological and evolutionary perspectives throughout.

The conceptual arc of the textbook is organized around four fundamental learning objectives that traverse the past, present, and future. Students will explore: a) the complex history of planetary change, b) the impact of contemporary stressors across biological levels, biomes, and the tree of life, c) the dynamic interactions and responses of living systems to planetary change, and d) the opportunities for maintaining resilient ecosystems in a changing world. Enrichment features include Core Concepts boxes reviewing foundational material, Meet the Data boxes providing direct experience interpreting global change biology data, and Taking a Closer Look providing an opportunity to evaluate multifaceted biological responses in complex systems. Pre- and post- assessment tools like The Blank Page and reflection questions throughout, encourage students to reflect, self-assess, and deepen their learning.

The primary intended audience for Global Change Biology is upper division undergraduate students who are ready to apply key concepts in ecology and evolution to the Global Change Biology theme area and develop a more analytical and integrative skill set as scientists. However, the textbook has crossover power to engage other audiences and provide a roadmap for developing courses to inform and inspire students about the study of life on a rapidly changing planet.

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Biography

Erica Bree Rosenblum is currently an Associate Professor of Global Change Biology at UC Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management. She received her B.A. from Brown University and her PhD from UC Berkeley. Bree's research focuses on understanding the biological diversity of our planet. Specifically, she is interested in how new species form and why species are being lost at such an alarming rate in our contemporary world. Her research crosses scales from genes to ecosystems and takes her from deserts to rainforests around the world. Bree's work has been recognized by numerous awards and is featured regularly in the popular and educational press. Bree also provides leadership for several initiatives aimed at transforming higher education and fostering discovery-oriented learning.