Introduction

The author of this textbook, in collaboration with Oregon State University Ecampus, has created a suite of interactive learning tools to foster critical thinking skills for understanding and analyzing the ecological structure and function of shrublands, deserts, and woodland savannas of the western United States. The suite of learning tools includes this textbook, Rangeland Ecosystems of the Western US, an interactive ecosystem mapping tool, and a species database. The textbook is written to convey fundamentals of autecology and synecology and general information about the primary ecosystems covered. Its structure will provide a framework that can be applied to understand and analyze any arid shrubland, desert, or woodland savanna. Students are expected to leverage the information conveyed in the textbook to craft ecosystem profiles using the accompanying interactive ecosystem mapping and species database tools.