Ebook: Evaluating and Monitoring the Health of Large-Scale Ecosystems

Ecosystem health offers a fresh perspective on the management of natural resources and the environment. While some of the root concepts can surely be traced back to Aldo Leopold and even earlier, it is only in the recent decade that a substantial body of work has emerged on this topic. There is no question that a novel approach which is by its nature cross­ disciplinary, bridging the health and biological sciences, will initially raise a number of questions particularly pertaining to the use of metaphors and the validity of the analogy. This volume however goes beyond merely the philosophical dimensions of the subject by covering a number of case studies which have given rise to the development of promising quantitative methods for diagnosis and rehabilitation of ecosystems under stress. The focus of most studies is on regional ecosystems i.e. ecosystems of large scale. As such, the methods and approaches should have wide appeal to government agencies charged with the responsibility of sustainable development of regional ecosystems and natural resources. Health is one of those difficult concepts that everyone thinks they can define, until they come to try. We all have personal knowledge about health and illness and this makes the ecosystem analogy so potentially powerful. Yet it is also clear that the uncritical application of the concept could lead to overly simplistic approaches to analysis and management of ecosystem health.

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This is a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of approaches for evaluating and monitoring the health of large-scale ecosystems. The examples drawn from a range of large-scale systems - desert to marine - provide the reader with a clear understanding of the meaning and practical implications of the ecosystem health paradigm for integrated natural resource management. Further, tools and approaches for evaluating large-scale systems from the use of biomarkers to remote sensing are described in detail.
The book is an invaluable source for environmental managers, scientists, students and institutions working in the fields of ecosystem evaluation and management.

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This is a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of approaches for evaluating and monitoring the health of large-scale ecosystems. The examples drawn from a range of large-scale systems - desert to marine - provide the reader with a clear understanding of the meaning and practical implications of the ecosystem health paradigm for integrated natural resource management. Further, tools and approaches for evaluating large-scale systems from the use of biomarkers to remote sensing are described in detail.
The book is an invaluable source for environmental managers, scientists, students and institutions working in the fields of ecosystem evaluation and management.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
Front Matter....Pages 1-3
Ecosystem Health: An Emerging Integrative Science....Pages 5-31
Ecosystem Health — A Critical Analysis of Concepts....Pages 33-41
Qualitative and Quantitative Criteria Defining a “Healthy” Ecosystem....Pages 43-61
The Relationship Between Ecosystem Health and Delivery of Ecosystem Services....Pages 63-76
Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology: An Indispensable Link....Pages 77-93
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 95-98
Front Matter....Pages 99-101
Ecological and Economic System Health and Social Decision Making....Pages 103-125
New Approaches to the Assessment of Marine Ecosystem Health....Pages 127-135
Using Biological Criteria to Protect Ecological Health....Pages 137-152
Biological Changes in the German Bight of the North Sea as Indicators of Ecosystem Health....Pages 153-177
Indices for Carcinogenicity in Aquatic Ecosystems: Significance and Development....Pages 179-193
Assessment of Ecosystem Health: Development of Tools and Approaches....Pages 195-217
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 219-222
Front Matter....Pages 223-225
Degradation and Rehabilitation of Rivers: A Note on the Ecosystem Approach....Pages 227-239
An Influence Diagram Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of the Baltic Sea....Pages 241-256
Evaluation of New Techniques for Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Large Marine Ecosystems....Pages 257-272
Desertification: Implications and Limitations of the Ecosystem Health Metaphor....Pages 273-293
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 295-296
Front Matter....Pages 297-299
Paleolimnological Approaches to the Evaluation and Monitoring of Ecosystem Health: Providing a History for Environmental Damage and Recovery....Pages 301-318
Recovery and Rehabilitation of Mediterranean Type Ecosystem: A Case Study from Turkish Maquis....Pages 319-331
Front Matter....Pages 297-299
Forest Recovery Following Pasture Abandonment in Amazonia: Canopy Seasonality, Fire Resistance and Ants....Pages 333-349
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 351-354
Front Matter....Pages 355-358
Temporal and Spatial Variability as Neglected Ecosystem Properties: Lessons Learned From 12 North American Ecosystems....Pages 359-383
Assessment and Monitoring of Large Marine Ecosystems....Pages 385-430
Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Health: An Evaluation of Time-Series AVHRR NDVI Data....Pages 431-446
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 447-452
Workshop Summary....Pages 453-454
Back Matter....Pages 455-456

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This is a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of approaches for evaluating and monitoring the health of large-scale ecosystems. The examples drawn from a range of large-scale systems - desert to marine - provide the reader with a clear understanding of the meaning and practical implications of the ecosystem health paradigm for integrated natural resource management. Further, tools and approaches for evaluating large-scale systems from the use of biomarkers to remote sensing are described in detail.
The book is an invaluable source for environmental managers, scientists, students and institutions working in the fields of ecosystem evaluation and management.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XI
Front Matter....Pages 1-3
Ecosystem Health: An Emerging Integrative Science....Pages 5-31
Ecosystem Health — A Critical Analysis of Concepts....Pages 33-41
Qualitative and Quantitative Criteria Defining a “Healthy” Ecosystem....Pages 43-61
The Relationship Between Ecosystem Health and Delivery of Ecosystem Services....Pages 63-76
Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology: An Indispensable Link....Pages 77-93
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 95-98
Front Matter....Pages 99-101
Ecological and Economic System Health and Social Decision Making....Pages 103-125
New Approaches to the Assessment of Marine Ecosystem Health....Pages 127-135
Using Biological Criteria to Protect Ecological Health....Pages 137-152
Biological Changes in the German Bight of the North Sea as Indicators of Ecosystem Health....Pages 153-177
Indices for Carcinogenicity in Aquatic Ecosystems: Significance and Development....Pages 179-193
Assessment of Ecosystem Health: Development of Tools and Approaches....Pages 195-217
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 219-222
Front Matter....Pages 223-225
Degradation and Rehabilitation of Rivers: A Note on the Ecosystem Approach....Pages 227-239
An Influence Diagram Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of the Baltic Sea....Pages 241-256
Evaluation of New Techniques for Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Large Marine Ecosystems....Pages 257-272
Desertification: Implications and Limitations of the Ecosystem Health Metaphor....Pages 273-293
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 295-296
Front Matter....Pages 297-299
Paleolimnological Approaches to the Evaluation and Monitoring of Ecosystem Health: Providing a History for Environmental Damage and Recovery....Pages 301-318
Recovery and Rehabilitation of Mediterranean Type Ecosystem: A Case Study from Turkish Maquis....Pages 319-331
Front Matter....Pages 297-299
Forest Recovery Following Pasture Abandonment in Amazonia: Canopy Seasonality, Fire Resistance and Ants....Pages 333-349
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 351-354
Front Matter....Pages 355-358
Temporal and Spatial Variability as Neglected Ecosystem Properties: Lessons Learned From 12 North American Ecosystems....Pages 359-383
Assessment and Monitoring of Large Marine Ecosystems....Pages 385-430
Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Health: An Evaluation of Time-Series AVHRR NDVI Data....Pages 431-446
Rapporteur’s Report....Pages 447-452
Workshop Summary....Pages 453-454
Back Matter....Pages 455-456
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