Rather than the 25 to 30 chapters found in most environmental science textbooks, the authors have limited Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications to 15 chapters--perfect for the one-semester, non-majors environmental science course. True to its title, the goal of this concise text is to provide an up-to-date, introductory view of essential themes in environmental science along with offering students numerous opportunities to practice scientific thinking and active learning.

Table of Contents

1 Understanding Our Environment
2 Environmental Systems: Connections, Cycles, Flows, and Feedback Loops
3 Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities
4 Human Populations
5 Biomes and Biodiversity
6 Environmental Conservation: Forests, Grasslands, Parks, and Nature Preserves
7 Food and Agriculture
8 Environmental Health and Toxicology
9 Air: Climate and Pollution
10 Water: Resources and Pollution
11 Environmental Geology and Earth Resources
12 Energy
13 Solid and Hazardous Waste
14 Economics and Urbanization
15 Environmental Policy and Sustainability