Nature Underfoot: Living with Beetles, Crabgrass, Fruit Flies, and Other Tiny Life Around Us. Hainze, J. 2020. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, U.S.A. xviii+254 pp. US$28.00 (hardcover). ISBN 9780300242782.

This book provides a glimpse into the immense world of small plants, animals, and microorganisms that surround us, particularly those commonly regarded as annoying and unwelcome. Amid a major biodiversity decline, it is now essential to make sure we consider our impact on other living organisms. Through stories and examples, the author sparks curiosity for small creatures, showing us how it is possible to shift from dislike or disgust to appreciation, interest, and even respect for these species. The first half of the book focuses on insects and plants that thrive in human‐created environments, on organisms that play a key role in pollination and decomposition, and on others that have become successful invaders around the world. The author then describes how human activities have caused the extinction of many species, highlighting the importance of the interconnectedness and complexity of ecosystems. The last part of the book is particularly interesting because the author challenges the view of humankind as superior to the rest of the living world. Several scientific viewpoints and religious interpretations regarding our moral obligations toward these small living organisms are examined. The author concludes that the value of a species does not stem only from its function within an ecosystem, but that all species, whether native or invasive, beneficial or nuisance, have an intrinsic value that does not depend on humanity's measure of them. As such, they deserve our respect.

Studying Primates: How to Design, Conduct, and Report Primatological Research. Setchell, J. M. 2019. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. xix+342 pp. £26.99 (paperback). ISBN 978‐1‐108‐43427‐0.

Whoever has had the chance to have Joanna Setchell as an editor for an article published in the International Journal of Primatology (disclosure: this reviewer has) will undoubtedly find again in this volume the care and dedication she displays in her editorial work. The number of chapters is impressive, and they follow a well‐organized line of thought. Each chapter calls upon the former chapters, making it an overall pleasant read. Dedicated to and written for the next generation of primatologists, this book covers everything related to primate research from study design, to data analyses, to submission to a journal. Yet, it would be reductive to refer to this book merely as a how‐to for primatologists. Many of the explanations Setchell provides can also be directed to those studying other species and will hence be informative beyond the rather small primatology community. Replace primate anywhere in the book with your species of interest, and it will work just as well. Setchell also does not shy away from current issues in science from ethics and research integrity to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. A sentence that illustrates well her sharp yet easygoing and accessible way in advising student readers sees her reminding them that despite it being “tempting to set [themselves] as some sort of wildlife warden,” they are not “law enforcement officer[s]” (p. 254). Overall, Studying Primates is an excellent read for students and researchers from all levels concerned with how to carefully conduct animal behavior research.

Community Ecology. 2nd edition. Mittelbach, G. G., and B. J. McGill. 2019. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. xx + 410 pp. £84.00 (paperback). ISBN 978‐0‐198‐83‐585‐1.

If you are looking for an up‐to‐date textbook for teaching or studying community ecology, this is it. The authors have done an excellent job of balancing seminal articles with the most recent updates in the field, which renders continuity to the volume. This continuity is eminently evident in the last chapter, where the authors highlight the many unsolved issues and future directions in the field. The book starts with a summary of biodiversity patterns and their relationships to ecosystem functioning. Species interactions constitute the bulk of the book, and here the authors splendidly explain mathematical models in a digestible way. Knowledge of ecological communities is enriched by an introduction to food webs and the factors regulating them, followed by the concepts of metapopulations and metacommunities. Finally, evolutionary and ecological processes are brought together. Although current topics, such as climate change and novel technologies to collect data, are not covered, this book includes most of the fundamental questions in community ecology. When a theory is presented, the authors summarize the current status of evidence that supports or contradicts it. All chapters end with a bullet‐point summary of the key points. The book has a companion website that details several mathematical models and associated figures.

Barn Owls. Evolution and Ecology. Roulin, A. 2020. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. 297 pp. £59.99 (hardcover). ISBN 978–1107165755.

Barn Owls substantially contributed to answering fundamental questions in evolution and ecology, such as strategies of sexual behavior, reproduction, parental care, demography, dispersal, and plumage polymorphism. The volume starts with a general introduction to the owl family (Tytonidae) in ecological, evolutionary, and conservation studies. The work continues with conservation issues that address the ecological effects of land‐use changes and urbanization. Chapters reviewing investigations of parasitism, physiology, and morphology include astounding information on the extreme hearing and visual capacities of Barn Owls, as well as detailed evolutionary analyses of their sexual size dimorphism. The chapters that follow provide in‐depth evolutionary interpretations of several elements of life history and are peppered with fascinating facts, including that siblings negotiate who will get the next round of prey and a description of one of the weirdest sexual lives known among raptors and owls. A concluding chapter suggests new study avenues and calls attention to sharing of unpublished data and the involvement of the public in research and conservation. This book is elegantly designed and filled with beautiful illustrations by a talented illustrator, Laurent Willenegger, who is also obsessed with Barn Owls. Graphs, maps, and tables are included in each chapter, the majority of which contain records suitable for meta‐analyses. This superb work complies fully with its title and provides a wide range of ideas for future studies in avian biology. Thus, it would be a useful addition to the library of the ecologist, evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, or conservationist.

Philosophy of Biology. A Very Short Introduction. Okasha, S. 2019. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. 130 pp. £8.99 (paperback). ISBN 978‐0‐19‐880699‐8.

For once, I wholeheartedly agree with the promotion blurb of this thin book: “a lucid and concise account of one of the most vital fields in contemporary philosophy.” Okasha writes beautifully and clearly, presenting and discussing the major contemporary ideas about evolution, adaptation, the species concept, genes, and evolutionary psychology in humans. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on function and adaptation and levels of selection. The reader is neither patronized nor pressured to follow an agenda set by the author. This book, one of the Very Short Introduction volumes by Oxford University Press, fills a gap. The series has so far been curiously devoid of environmental and ecological volumes. This volume is a very welcome addition to the series, and I venture to suggest that it should be mandatory reading for anyone contemplating ‐or having‐ a degree in biology. Biologists increasingly need a grounding in philosophy and ethics, and this book, however, feeble it seems based on the number of pages, is a good place to start. There is also a useful list of recommended further reading. Buy it, read it, and internalize the ideas in it.

脚下的自然：与甲虫，蟹草，果蝇和我们周围的其他微小生物一起生活。Hainze，J. 2020年。耶鲁大学出版社，美国康涅狄格州纽黑文xviii + 254 pp。28.00美元（精装）。ISBN 9780300242782。

本书简要介绍了我们周围的小型植物，动物和微生物，尤其是那些通常令人讨厌和不受欢迎的微生物。在生物多样性严重下降的今天，确保我们考虑对其他生物的影响现在至关重要。通过故事和实例，作者激发了对小动物的好奇心，向我们展示了如何从不喜欢或厌恶转变为欣赏，兴趣甚至对这些物种的尊重。该书的前半部分着重于在人类创造的环境中壮成长的昆虫和植物，在授粉和分解中起关键作用的生物，以及在世界范围内已成功入侵的其他生物。然后作者描述了人类活动如何导致许多物种灭绝，强调了生态系统相互联系和复杂性的重要性。本书的最后一部分特别有趣，因为作者挑战了人类优于生活世界的观点。研究了关于我们对这些小型生物的道德义务的几种科学观点和宗教解释。作者得出的结论是，一个物种的价值不仅来自其在生态系统中的功能，而且所有物种，无论是本地物种还是入侵物种，有益物种或令人讨厌的物种，其内在价值均不取决于人类对其的度量。因此，他们值得我们尊重。本书的最后一部分特别有趣，因为作者挑战了人类优于生活世界的观点。研究了关于我们对这些小型生物的道德义务的几种科学观点和宗教解释。作者得出的结论是，一个物种的价值不仅来自其在生态系统中的功能，而且所有物种，无论是本地物种还是入侵物种，有益物种或令人讨厌的物种，其内在价值均不取决于人类对其的度量。因此，他们值得我们尊重。本书的最后一部分特别有趣，因为作者挑战了人类优于生活世界的观点。研究了关于我们对这些小型生物的道德义务的几种科学观点和宗教解释。作者得出的结论是，一个物种的价值不仅来自其在生态系统中的功能，而且所有物种，无论是本地物种还是入侵物种，有益物种或令人讨厌的物种，其内在价值均不取决于人类对其的度量。因此，他们值得我们尊重。但是所有物种，无论是本地物种，入侵物种，有益物种还是令人讨厌的物种，其内在价值均不取决于人类对它们的度量。因此，他们值得我们尊重。但是所有物种，无论是本地物种，入侵物种，有益物种还是令人讨厌的物种，其内在价值均不取决于人类对它们的度量。因此，他们值得我们尊重。

研究灵长类动物：如何设计，进行和报告灵长类动物研究。Setchell，JM 2019.剑桥大学出版社，英国剑桥xix + 342 pp.26.99英镑（平装）。ISBN 978-1-108-43427-0。

谁有机会让乔安娜·谢切尔（Joanna Setchell）作为《国际原始动物学杂志》上发表的文章的编辑（公开：该评论家已发表），无疑将再次从这一卷中找到她在编辑工作中表现出的关心和奉献精神。章节的数量令人印象深刻，它们遵循的是思想井井有条的思路。每章都引用前几章，使之总体上令人愉悦。该书专门为下一代灵长类动物编写，并为它们编写，涵盖了与灵长类动物研究相关的所有内容，从研究设计，数据分析到提交期刊。但是，仅将这本书作为灵长类动物学家的入门指南是有道理的。Setchell提供的许多解释也可以针对那些研究其他物种的人，因此，在相当小的灵长类动物界以外，它们还将提供有益的信息。代替用您感兴趣的物种在书中的任何地方灵长目动物，它也会同样起作用。Setchell并没有回避当前的科学问题，从道德和研究完整性到包容性和文化敏感性。这句话很好地说明了她向学生读者提供建议的敏锐但轻松，易用的方式，使她想起了他们，尽管他们“试图将[自己]设置为某种野生动物监护人”，但他们并不是“执法人员”。 （第254页）。总体而言，《学习灵长类动物》是有关如何谨慎进行动物行为研究的各个层次的学生和研究人员的绝妙读物。

社区生态学。第二版。米特尔巴赫（Mittelbach），GG和BJ麦吉尔（BJ McGill）。2019.牛津大学出版社，英国牛津xx + 410页.84.00英镑（平装）。ISBN 978-0-198-83-585-1。

如果您正在寻找用于教学或研究社区生态学的最新教科书，就是这样。作者在平衡开创性文章与该领域的最新更新方面做得非常出色，这使本书的内容具有连续性。在上一章中，这种连续性非常明显，作者在其中强调了该领域中许多未解决的问题和未来的方向。该书首先概述了生物多样性模式及其与生态系统功能的关系。物种之间的相互作用构成了本书的大部分内容，在这里，作者们以一种可消化的方式出色地解释了数学模型。通过介绍食物网及其调控因素，丰富了生态社区的知识，随后介绍了种群和元社区的概念。最后，进化和生态过程融合在一起。尽管当前的主题（例如气候变化和收集数据的新技术）未涵盖在内，但本书涵盖了社区生态学中的大多数基本问题。当提出一种理论时，作者总结支持或矛盾该理论的证据的现状。所有章节以关键点的项目符号摘要结尾。这本书有一个配套的网站，详细介绍了几种数学模型和相关图。所有章节以关键点的项目符号摘要结尾。这本书有一个配套的网站，详细介绍了几种数学模型和相关图。所有章节以关键点的项目符号摘要结尾。这本书有一个配套的网站，详细介绍了几种数学模型和相关图。

谷仓猫头鹰。进化与生态学。Roulin，A。2020。剑桥大学出版社，英国剑桥297页，59.99英镑（精装本）。ISBN 978–1107165755。

谷仓猫头鹰为回答进化和生态学中的基本问题做出了巨大贡献，例如性行为，生殖，父母关怀，人口统计学，传播和羽毛多态性等策略。该卷从生态，进化和保护研究中对猫头鹰家族（Tytonidae）的概述开始。这项工作将继续着重于保护问题，以解决土地利用变化和城市化的生态影响。回顾寄生虫，生理学和形态学研究的章节包括有关仓n的极端听觉和视觉能力的惊人信息，以及对它们的性大小二态性的详细进化分析。接下来的各章对生活史的一些要素进行了深入的进化解释，并附有引人入胜的事实，其中包括与兄弟姐妹进行谈判，决定谁将获得下一轮猎物，并描述猛禽和猫头鹰中最怪异的性生活之一。最后一章提出了新的研究途径，并呼吁注意共享未发表的数据以及公众参与研究和保护。本书的设计精美，并由才华横溢的插画家Laurent Willenegger（他也迷恋谷仓猫头鹰）装满了精美的插图。每章都包含图形，地图和表格，其中大多数包含适用于荟萃分析的记录。这项出色的著作完全符合其标题，并为禽类生物学的未来研究提供了广泛的思路。因此，这将是对生态学家，进化生物学家，鸟类学家或保护主义者的图书馆的有益补充。

生物学哲学。简短介绍。Okasha，S.2019。牛津大学出版社，英国牛津130页.8.99英镑（平装）。ISBN 978-0-0-19-880699-8。

我全心全意地同意这本薄书的宣传口号：“对当代哲学中最重要的领域之一进行清醒而简明的描述。” Okasha撰写精美而清晰的文章，介绍并讨论了当代有关人类进化，适应，物种概念，基因和进化心理学的主要思想。我特别喜欢有关功能和适应性以及选择水平的章节。读者既没有受到光顾，也没有压力去遵循作者设定的议程。这本书，非常简短的介绍之一牛津大学出版社的卷，填补了空白。到目前为止，该系列奇怪地没有环境和生态方面的内容。这本书是该系列的非常受欢迎的补充，我冒险建议对打算或拥有生物学学位的任何人来说，这本书籍都是必读的。生物学家越来越需要哲学和伦理学的基础，然而，从书页的数量来看，这本书显得微不足道，是一个不错的起点。还有一个有用的列表，建议您进一步阅读。购买，阅读并内化其中的想法。