Ecology and Environment – serie

Combines existing (and different) ecosystem theories into an integral pattern, which shows that systems ecology can offer a full theoretical pattern. This may be of importance for development of ecology, ecosystem theory and environmental science.

The ecosystem is a central concept in modern ecology and is fundamental to sound environmental policy making. Not all ecosystems are equally susceptible to human-induced environmental change, nor do we attribute equal value to all ecosystem types. From a nature conservation point of view we are concerned about the spatial extension of ecosystems and their quality, as well as about their responsiveness and recovery potential. This requires the classification and mapping of ecosystems. This book treats the why and how of such classification and mapping as a prerequisite to environmentally-sound management aimed at sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity. Existing concepts and procedures are modified for modern applications, including susceptibility assessment, environmental quality assessment and monitoring, as well as predictive modelling for environmental impact assessments. These procedures are illustrated by applying them to current environmental problems, such as acidification, eutrophication, changing land use and groundwater lowering.Written by a number of landscape ecologists from several West European countries, this book discusses a range of theories, concepts, and methods from plant ecology, vegetation science, physical geography, and other environmental sciences composed in such a way to constitute practically applicable tools. The text is designed for scientists engaged in applied research and professionals in environmental planning and graduate students.

The book integrates for the first time existing ecosystem theories and is therefore able to present a full ecological and theoretical pattern. It shows that we are able to understand ecosystems and their reactions, provided that we use all basic systems ecology for different aspects of ecosystem properties. The first edition of this book was published in 1992. This second edition contains the many recently published and presented contributions on ecosystem theories, which show even more strongly that an integration of the existing ecosystem theories is needed and also possible.

This work presents an integration of ecosystem theories in such a way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystem. Ongoing research and discussion on an international scale has greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. The progress made since the previous edition of this text is presented as chapter 16 in this third, revised edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.

This work presents an integration of ecosystem theories in such a way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystem. Ongoing research and discussion on an international scale has greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. The progress made since the previous edition of this text is presented as chapter 16 in this third, revised edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.

The ecosystem is a central concept in modern ecology and is fundamental to sound environmental policy making. Not all ecosystems are equally susceptible to human-induced environmental change, nor do we attribute equal value to all ecosystem types. From a nature conservation point of view we are concerned about the spatial extension of ecosystems and their quality, as well as about their responsiveness and recovery potential. This requires the classification and mapping of ecosystems. This book treats the why and how of such classification and mapping as a prerequisite to environmentally sound management aimed at sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity. Existing concepts and procedures are modified for modern applications, including susceptibility assessment, environmental quality assessment and monitoring, as well as predictive modelling for environmental impact assessments. These procedures are illustrated by applying them to current environmental problems, such as acidification, eutrophication, changing land use, or groundwater lowering.Written by a number of renowned landscape ecologists from several West European countries, this book discusses a wealth of theories, concepts, and methods from plant ecology, vegetation science, physical geography, and other environmental sciences composed in such a way to constitute practically applicable tools. For scientists engaged in applied research and professionals in environmental planning. Graduate students will find it inspiring as well as a source of practical advice.

Ecosystems are still a puzzle for mankind. We would like to be able to know their reactions and control them, but repeatedly we have been surprised by their unexpected reactions to our somewhat hasty actions. We unfortunately have to admit that our present knowledge about ecosystems and their true nature is rather limited. Many excellent contributions to a more profound understanding of ecosystems have been launched during the last two decades, but if you do not know the field, it looks as if all the presented ecosystem theories are in complete discord with each other. However, ecosystems are extremely complex and only a pluralistic view will be able to reveal their basic properties. The different approaches therefore have much in common, when you go deeper into the core material, than the first superficial more glance will be able to tell and there is therefore a natural need for a unification of the various approaches to ecosystem theories. It has for many years been my desire to attempt to make a unification of the many excellent thoughts, ideas and observations about ecosystems, that scientists have contributed. These thoughts, ideas and hypotheses have not been made in vain.