Ebook: Humans as Components of Ecosystems: The Ecology of Subtle Human Effects and Populated Areas

This book, a product of the fourth Cary Conference, amply demonstrates the achievement of a major goal of all Cary Conferences. That is, Cary Conferences were conceived to provide a forum for comprehensive discus­ sion of major ecological issues from more philosophical and comprehensive perspectives. The Institute of Ecosystem Studies is proud to make its staff and facilities available on a biennial basis for the purpose of initiating and fostering these important discussions. On the one hand, the influence of humans on ecosystems may be quite obvious, such as when a forest is cut. On the other, humans live within and among ecosystems, but ecologists largely have avoided making detailed and rigorous analyses of the more subtle effects that human activities generate. Indeed, most ecologists have sought out rather pristine or remote areas for study, rather than those which include humans. This book brings together a stimulating mix of disciplines to highlight and evaluate these problems, as well as the opportunities of including humans as integral components in studies of "natural- ecosystems. An exciting dialogue has ensued. Hopefully this book will convey some of the excitement and challenges that were generated at this Cary Conference.

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This book highlights the importance to ecological studies of incorporating humans and their effects on ecosystems. In Humans as Components of Ecosystems, leading experts from a variety of disciplines address a number of important issues, including: The prominent role of humans in the function of ecosystems on Earth; Why humans have been ignored in ecological studies; approaches taken by social scientists, historians, geographers, economists, and anthropologists in the study of human activities; the emergence of a new ecological paradigm accommodating human activities; methods for studying subtle human effects, and human-populated ecosystems; future research and training required to include humans effectively as components of ecological systems.

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This book highlights the importance to ecological studies of incorporating humans and their effects on ecosystems. In Humans as Components of Ecosystems, leading experts from a variety of disciplines address a number of important issues, including: The prominent role of humans in the function of ecosystems on Earth; Why humans have been ignored in ecological studies; approaches taken by social scientists, historians, geographers, economists, and anthropologists in the study of human activities; the emergence of a new ecological paradigm accommodating human activities; methods for studying subtle human effects, and human-populated ecosystems; future research and training required to include humans effectively as components of ecological systems.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Introduction: Scope and Need for an Ecology of Subtle Human Effects and Populated Areas....Pages 1-5
Front Matter....Pages 7-8
The History and Present Entanglements of Some General Ecological Perspectives....Pages 9-23
An Exceptionally Powerful Biotic Factor....Pages 24-39
Environmental Change: The Human Factor....Pages 40-50
The Iceberg and the Titanic: Human Economic Behavior in Ecological Models....Pages 51-60
Ecosystems and Human Actions....Pages 61-71
The Human Component of Ecosystems....Pages 72-77
Front Matter....Pages 79-80
Discovery of the Subtle....Pages 81-90
Land-use History and Forest Transformations in Central New England....Pages 91-110
Variability in Lake Ecosystems: Complex Responses by the Apical Predator....Pages 111-124
Humans as a Component of the Lake Titicaca Ecosystem: A Model System for the Study of Environmental Deterioration....Pages 125-140
Nitrogen Loading of Rivers as a Human-Driven Process....Pages 141-157
Humans: Capstone Strong Actors in the Past and Present Coastal Ecological Play....Pages 158-162
Modification of Nitrogen Cycling at the Regional Scale: The Subtle Effects of Atmospheric Deposition....Pages 163-174
The Application of the Ecological Gradient Paradigm to the Study of Urban Effects....Pages 175-189
The Process of Plant Colonization in Small Settlements and Large Cities....Pages 190-207
Ecological Implications of Landscape Fragmentation....Pages 208-226
Front Matter....Pages 227-228
Integration of Social and Ecological Factors: Dynamic Area Models of Subtle Human Influences on Ecosystems....Pages 229-245
Human Influences on Ecosystems: Dealing With Biodiversity....Pages 246-256
“Natural” or “Healthy” Ecosystems: Are U.S. National Parks Providing Them?....Pages 257-270
Front Matter....Pages 227-228
Restoration as a Technique for Identifying and Characterizing Human Influences on Ecosystems....Pages 271-279
Biosphere 2 and the Study of Human/Ecosystem Dynamics....Pages 280-296
Front Matter....Pages 297-298
Part I: A Social Scientist’s Perspective....Pages 299-309
Human as Components of Ecosystems: A Synthesis....Pages 310-316
Back Matter....Pages 317-364

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This book highlights the importance to ecological studies of incorporating humans and their effects on ecosystems. In Humans as Components of Ecosystems, leading experts from a variety of disciplines address a number of important issues, including: The prominent role of humans in the function of ecosystems on Earth; Why humans have been ignored in ecological studies; approaches taken by social scientists, historians, geographers, economists, and anthropologists in the study of human activities; the emergence of a new ecological paradigm accommodating human activities; methods for studying subtle human effects, and human-populated ecosystems; future research and training required to include humans effectively as components of ecological systems.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Introduction: Scope and Need for an Ecology of Subtle Human Effects and Populated Areas....Pages 1-5
Front Matter....Pages 7-8
The History and Present Entanglements of Some General Ecological Perspectives....Pages 9-23
An Exceptionally Powerful Biotic Factor....Pages 24-39
Environmental Change: The Human Factor....Pages 40-50
The Iceberg and the Titanic: Human Economic Behavior in Ecological Models....Pages 51-60
Ecosystems and Human Actions....Pages 61-71
The Human Component of Ecosystems....Pages 72-77
Front Matter....Pages 79-80
Discovery of the Subtle....Pages 81-90
Land-use History and Forest Transformations in Central New England....Pages 91-110
Variability in Lake Ecosystems: Complex Responses by the Apical Predator....Pages 111-124
Humans as a Component of the Lake Titicaca Ecosystem: A Model System for the Study of Environmental Deterioration....Pages 125-140
Nitrogen Loading of Rivers as a Human-Driven Process....Pages 141-157
Humans: Capstone Strong Actors in the Past and Present Coastal Ecological Play....Pages 158-162
Modification of Nitrogen Cycling at the Regional Scale: The Subtle Effects of Atmospheric Deposition....Pages 163-174
The Application of the Ecological Gradient Paradigm to the Study of Urban Effects....Pages 175-189
The Process of Plant Colonization in Small Settlements and Large Cities....Pages 190-207
Ecological Implications of Landscape Fragmentation....Pages 208-226
Front Matter....Pages 227-228
Integration of Social and Ecological Factors: Dynamic Area Models of Subtle Human Influences on Ecosystems....Pages 229-245
Human Influences on Ecosystems: Dealing With Biodiversity....Pages 246-256
“Natural” or “Healthy” Ecosystems: Are U.S. National Parks Providing Them?....Pages 257-270
Front Matter....Pages 227-228
Restoration as a Technique for Identifying and Characterizing Human Influences on Ecosystems....Pages 271-279
Biosphere 2 and the Study of Human/Ecosystem Dynamics....Pages 280-296
Front Matter....Pages 297-298
Part I: A Social Scientist’s Perspective....Pages 299-309
Human as Components of Ecosystems: A Synthesis....Pages 310-316
Back Matter....Pages 317-364
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