'In his book, Shugart provides both an excellent and a readable background to the development of the new ecology of environmental change, as well as clear descriptions of the range of models applied by ecologists. In short, this book is a stimulating read that many ecologists will find valuable and also will want to recommend their students … this is also a book that I should want to recommend to students reading courses on conservation, as well as many practising conservationists.' Brian Huntley, Trends in Ecology and Evolution