I was most honoured to be invited to attend the British Ecological Society’s annual meeting, jointly held with the French Ecological Society, in Lille, France this past December. Whilst there, I managed to attract quite a flock of scholarly books into my bag, books that now are nestled on my desk next to my keyboard.

Many of these are intended to be textbooks or supplemental readings for university students and graduate students, but they are so well-written that I think interested non-specialists would also enjoy reading them. Glancing through this list, you will notice there’s quite a few books here, and they’re from a wide range of topics. For this reason, I briefly share why I chose each particular title, hoping this information may be useful to you.

Ecological Speciation by Patrik Nosil [304 pages, Oxford University Press, 2012; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK hardcover/paperback/kindle UK; Amazon US hardcover/paperback/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: The origin of biological diversity, via the formation of new species, can be inextricably linked to adaptation to the ecological environment. Specifically, ecological processes are central to the formation of new species when barriers to gene flow (reproductive isolation) evolve between populations as a result of ecologically-based divergent natural selection. This process of ‘ecological speciation’ has seen a large body of particularly focused research in the last 10-15 years, and a review and synthesis of the theoretical and empirical literature is now timely.

The book begins by clarifying what ecological speciation is, its alternatives, and the predictions that can be used to test for it. It then reviews the three components of ecological speciation and discusses the geography and genomic basis of the process. A final chapter highlights future research directions, describing the approaches and experiments which might be used to conduct that future work. The ecological and genetic literature is integrated throughout the text with the goal of shedding new insight into the speciation process, particularly when the empirical data is then further integrated with theory.

My first impression: Since I am a scientist whose primary research interests lie in developing a better understanding the process of speciation, this was a book that I simply had to get. I was especially attracted by the breadth of topics covered -- genetics, molecular biology and genomics, in particular. Further, since I often read about ecology and ethology (animal behaviour) and how these impinge upon and drive evolution, this book -- which actually is a clearly-written review of the literature -- is a valuable addition to my collection.

Avian Urban Ecology: Behavioural and Physiological Adaptations by Diego Gil and Henrik Brumm [248 pages, Oxford University Press, 2013; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK hardcover/paperback/kindle UK; Amazon US hardcover/paperback/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: As natural habitat continues to be lost and the world steadily becomes more urbanized, biologists are increasingly studying the effect this has on wildlife. Birds are particularly good model systems since their life history, behaviour, and physiology are especially influenced by directly measurable environmental factors such as light and sound pollution. It is therefore relatively easy to compare urban individuals and populations with their rural counterparts. This accessible text focuses on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms which facilitate adaptation and on the evolutionary process that ensues. It discusses topics such as acoustics, reproductive cues, disease, and artificial feeding, and includes a series of case studies illustrating cutting edge research on these areas.

Avian Urban Ecology is suitable for professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as graduate students of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. It will also be of relevance and use to a more general audience of urban ecologists and conservation biologists.

My first impression: Reading John Marzluff’s recent book, Welcome to Subirdia, has made me acutely conscious of the many birds and other animals that live in large cities. I guess you could say this is a new obsession of mine. A brief skim through this book made me realise it would be a lovely scholarly companion volume to Professor Marzluff’s popular non-specialist title.

An Unnatural History of Emerging Infections by Ron Barrett and George Armelagos [160 pages, Oxford University Press, 2014; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK hardcover/kindle UK; Amazon US hardcover/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: This book traces the social and environmental determinants of human infectious diseases from the Neolithic to the present day. Despite recent high profile discoveries of new pathogens, the major determinants of these emerging infections are ancient and recurring. These include changing modes of subsistence, shifting populations, environmental disruptions, and social inequalities. The recent labeling of the term “re-emerging infections” reflects a re-emergence, not so much of the diseases themselves, but rather a re-emerging awareness in affluent societies of long-standing problems that were previously ignored.

An Unnatural History of Emerging Infections illustrates these recurring problems and determinants through an examination of three major epidemiological transitions. The First Transition occurred with the Agricultural Revolution beginning 10,000 years ago, bringing a rise in acute infections as the main cause of human mortality. The Second Transition first began with the Industrial Revolution; it saw a decline in infectious disease mortality and an increase in chronic diseases among wealthier nations, but less so in poorer societies. These culminated in today’s “worst of both worlds syndrome” in which globalization has combined with the challenges of the First and Second Transitions to produce a Third Transition, characterized by a confluence of acute and chronic disease patterns within a single global disease ecology.

This accessible text is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate level students and researchers in the fields of epidemiology, disease ecology, anthropology, health sciences, and the history of medicine. It will also be of relevance and use to undergraduate students interested in the history and social dynamics of infectious diseases.

My first impression: Having both a university degree and work experience in microbiology, I’ve always been keenly interested in emerging infections. I even designed a university lecture and laboratory course that explored this topic, so I am always reading books about this topic. In this deceptively thin book, the authors explore the complex relationships between human history and behaviour and patterns of disease. The writing is clear and engaging, making this an essential, thought-provoking book for specialists and non-specialists alike.

Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences (4th edition) by Janice R. Matthews and Robert W. Matthews [304 pages, Cambridge University Press; 2014; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK paperback; Amazon US paperback/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: Thoroughly revised and updated, the new edition of this acclaimed and best-selling guide offers a rich blend of practical advice and real-life examples. The authors draw on fifty years of experience, providing detailed step-by-step guidance designed to help students and researchers write and present scientific manuscripts more successfully through knowledge, practice, and an efficient approach. Retaining the user-friendly style of the previous editions, this fourth edition has been broadened to include detailed information relevant to today’s digital world. It covers all aspects of the writing process, from first drafts, literature retrieval, and authorship to final drafts and electronic publication. A new section provides extensive coverage of ethical issues, from plagiarism and dual publication to honesty in reporting statistics. Both the text and 30 hands-on exercises include abundant examples applicable to a variety of writing contexts, making this a powerful tool for researchers and students across a range of disciplines.

My first impression: I admit that I am a sucker for writing books, so of course, I had to get this newest edition. It’s almost twice as thick as my well-worn old copy -- and that was a very useful and instructive book that relocated with me to several countries. But this book is even better because, as it walks the reader through the steps necessary to produce strong writing, it includes lots of information about online writing, ethics and (perhaps most timely of all), plagiarism. Absolutely essential for everyone who writes about science or medicine.

Scientific Method in Brief by Hugh G. Gauch Jr [303 pages, Cambridge University Press, 2012; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK paperback/kindle UK; Amazon US paperback/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: The fundamental principles of the scientific method are essential for enhancing perspective, increasing productivity, and stimulating innovation. These principles include deductive and inductive logic, probability, parsimony and hypothesis testing, as well as science’s presuppositions, limitations, ethics and bold claims of rationality and truth. The examples and case studies drawn upon in this book span the physical, biological and social sciences; include applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine; and also explore science’s interrelationships with disciplines in the humanities such as philosophy and law. Informed by position papers on science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences and National Science Foundation, this book aligns with a distinctively mainstream vision of science. It is an ideal resource for anyone undertaking a systematic study of scientific method for the first time, from undergraduates to professionals in both the sciences and the humanities.

My first impression: I was attracted to this book because I never took a course on the scientific method -- I learned about it by doing science. The mistakes in experimental design that I made as a beginning grad student were instructive, but I wasted more time than necessary on basic “type three” errors (providing the right answer to the wrong question) when I could have been making more advanced “type one” (statistical false positive) and “type two” (statistical false negative) errors instead!

The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour (3rd edition) by Dennis C. Turner and Patrick Bateson [286 pages, Cambridge University Press, 2013; Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK paperback/kindle UK; Amazon US paperback/kindle US]

Publisher’s synopsis: The most commonly kept domestic animal in the developed world, the cat has been a part of human life for thousands of years. Cats have been both worshipped and persecuted over this long period -- either loved or hated for their enigmatic self-reliance and the subject of numerous myths and fables. Highlighting startling discoveries made over the last ten years, this new edition features contributions from experts in a wide range of fields, providing authoritative accounts of the behaviour of cats and how they interact with people. Thoroughly revised and updated to include information on the basic features of cat development and social life, the history of their relations with humans, health and welfare problems, and the breeding of cats for sale and for show. It is intended for all those, whether specialist or general reader, who love or are simply intrigued by these fascinating animals.

• Builds on the success of the second edition, with updates highlighting startling discoveries made over the last ten years
• Features contributions from experts in a range of fields, providing insight into the behaviour of cats and how they interact with people
• Describes the history of human-cat relations, covering behaviour at home and in the wild and providing a definitive tool for any specialist or general reader who loves or is simply intrigued by these fascinating animals

My first impression: Nothing frightens ornithologists and birders more than being sucked into a protracted discussion about domestic cats because such discussions generate more heat than light. But this book is a scholarly answer to that conundrum -- meticulously researched, thorough and well-written -- and it also has cute drawing of domestic cats doing ... stuff.

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When she’s not got her nose stuck in a book, GrrlScientist is very active on twitter @GrrlScientist and lurks on social media: facebook, G+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.