Observation, correlation or causation? Linking natural history and ecology.

[First paragraph...]
Good, detailed observations about the natural world are becoming scarce as society focuses on computer-driven technology, fewer children play in natural settings, and ecology programmes shrink around the world. Yet ecology arose from a profound appreciation of natural history and its relevance to human welfare. Perhaps it is time to re-establish the links between observation and science in order to address our myriad ecological challenges. Wilcox and 15 other contributors give us a refreshing example of good natural history, combining fascination with facts, common names with Latin binomials, delightful photographs with informative text.