Advances in Ecological Research was first published in 1962 and has become one of Academic Press' most prestigious and successful series. In 1999 the Institute for Scientific Information released figures indicating this serial has an impact factor of 9.6 and a half-life of 10.0 years, ranking it first in the highly competitive category of Ecology. This volume continues to publish topical and important reviews, and interprets ecology to include all material that contributes to our understanding of the field. Advances in Ecological Research presents a wide range of papers on all aspects of ecology. Topics include the physiology, populations, and communities of plants and animals, as well as landscape and ecosystem ecology

In the first book to review the nature, significance, and policy issues of the Northeast's forests for a general audience, Irland tells the story of the changing forests of the nine northeastern states. He reviews their history from the first European settlements to the retreat of farming and forest regrowth in the 20th century.

In recent years, conflicts between ecological conservation and economic growth forced a reassessment of the motivations and goals of wildlife and forestry management. Focus shifted from game and commodity management to biodiversity conservation and ecological forestry. Previously separate fields such as forestry, biology, botany, and zoology merged