Ebook: Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern

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.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction: Recent Trends in Science....Pages 1-11
Do we Need a New, Holistic Ecology?....Pages 13-46
Models in Ecology....Pages 47-74
Energy and Ecology....Pages 75-96
Entropy and Ecology....Pages 97-129
Exergy and Ecology....Pages 131-174
Network and Hierarchical Concepts of Ecosystems....Pages 175-191
Utility Theory, Indirect Effect and Ascendancy....Pages 193-221
Catastrophe Theory and Ecology....Pages 223-246
Chaos, Fractals and Ecology....Pages 247-264
Ecosystem Health....Pages 265-280
Development of Ecosystems....Pages 281-294
Dynamics of Ecosystems....Pages 295-325
Goal Functions, Ecological Indicators and Orientators....Pages 327-341
A Tentative Pattern of Ecosystem Theories....Pages 343-363
Epilogue....Pages 365-366
Back Matter....Pages 367-388

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction: Recent Trends in Science....Pages 1-11
Do we Need a New, Holistic Ecology?....Pages 13-46
Models in Ecology....Pages 47-74
Energy and Ecology....Pages 75-96
Entropy and Ecology....Pages 97-129
Exergy and Ecology....Pages 131-174
Network and Hierarchical Concepts of Ecosystems....Pages 175-191
Utility Theory, Indirect Effect and Ascendancy....Pages 193-221
Catastrophe Theory and Ecology....Pages 223-246
Chaos, Fractals and Ecology....Pages 247-264
Ecosystem Health....Pages 265-280
Development of Ecosystems....Pages 281-294
Dynamics of Ecosystems....Pages 295-325
Goal Functions, Ecological Indicators and Orientators....Pages 327-341
A Tentative Pattern of Ecosystem Theories....Pages 343-363
Epilogue....Pages 365-366
Back Matter....Pages 367-388
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