Ebook: Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern

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.

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The book is the first to combine 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 holistic view is required to solve global problems.

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The book is the first to combine 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 holistic view is required to solve global problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages 1-11
Introduction: Recent Trends in Science....Pages 13-24
Do We Need a New, Holistic Ecology?....Pages 25-62
Models in Ecology....Pages 63-95
Energy and Ecology....Pages 97-122
Entropy and Ecology....Pages 123-156
Exergy and Ecology....Pages 157-199
Network and Hierarchical Concepts of Ecosystems....Pages 201-220
Utility Theory, Indirect Effect and Ascendency....Pages 221-254
Catastrophe Theory and Ecology....Pages 255-279
Chaos, Fractals and Ecology....Pages 281-297
Dynamic of Ecosystems....Pages 299-323
A Tentative Pattern of Ecosystem Theories....Pages 325-347
Epilogue....Pages 349-350
Back Matter....Pages 351-383

---

The book is the first to combine 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 holistic view is required to solve global problems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages 1-11
Introduction: Recent Trends in Science....Pages 13-24
Do We Need a New, Holistic Ecology?....Pages 25-62
Models in Ecology....Pages 63-95
Energy and Ecology....Pages 97-122
Entropy and Ecology....Pages 123-156
Exergy and Ecology....Pages 157-199
Network and Hierarchical Concepts of Ecosystems....Pages 201-220
Utility Theory, Indirect Effect and Ascendency....Pages 221-254
Catastrophe Theory and Ecology....Pages 255-279
Chaos, Fractals and Ecology....Pages 281-297
Dynamic of Ecosystems....Pages 299-323
A Tentative Pattern of Ecosystem Theories....Pages 325-347
Epilogue....Pages 349-350
Back Matter....Pages 351-383
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