In its analytical interpretation of the ecological responses of plants and animals to their environments, this classic and highly influential text draws upon studies of energy exchange, gas exchange, and chemical kinetics. The opening chapters discuss energy and energy budgets and their applications to plants and animals and define radiation laws and units. Succeeding chapters cover radiation, convection, conduction, and evaporation, and the book concludes with methods for the study of photosynthesis in plants and energy budgets in animals. This text will prove of value to students and environmental researchers from a variety of fields, particularly ecology, agronomy, forestry, botany, and zoology. 1980 edition. 174 figures. 30 tables.