Ebook: Eco Targets, Goal Functions, and Orientors

This book introduces a new concept in ecosystem theory and discusses it in an interdisciplinary framework, originating in succession theory, network theory and thermodynamics. The central hypothesis claims that there are certain system attributes which are regularly optimized in the course of ecosystem development. Many of these orientators can also be interpretated as general attributes for self-organizing processes. As a result of the discussions, a new quality of a holistic environmental management is designed, capable of integrating the ideas of sustainability, ecological integrity, and ecosystem health.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Targets, Goals and Orientors....Pages 3-11
Front Matter....Pages 13-13
The Physical Basis of Ecological Goal Functions — Fundamentals, Problems and Questions....Pages 15-18
Ecological Orientors: Emergence of Basic Orientors in Evolutionary Self-Organization....Pages 19-33
Ecological Orientors: Pattern and Process of Succession in Relation to Ecological Orientors....Pages 34-62
Thermodynamic Orientors: Exergy as a Goal Function in Ecological Modeling and as an Ecological Indicator for the Description of Ecosystem Development....Pages 63-86
Thermodynamic Orientors: Exergy as a Holistic Ecosystem Indicator: A Case Study....Pages 87-101
Thermodynamic Orientors: How to Use Thermodynamic Concepts in Ecology....Pages 102-122
Thermodynamic Orientors: A Review of Goal Functions and Ecosystem Indicators....Pages 123-136
Network Orientors: Steps Toward a Cosmography of Ecosystems: Orientors for Directional Development, Self-Organization, and Autoevolution....Pages 137-160
A Utility Goal Function Based On Network Synergism....Pages 161-176
Network Orientors: Theoretical and Philosophical Considerations why Ecosystems may Exhibit a Propensity to Increase in Ascendency....Pages 177-192
Applying Thermodynamic Orientors: Goal Functions in the Holling Figure-Eight Model....Pages 193-208
Quantifying Ecosystem Maturity — a Case Study....Pages 209-231
Case Studies: Orientors and Ecosystem Properties in Coastal Zones....Pages 232-242
Case Studies: Modeling Approaches for the Practical Application of Ecological Goal Functions....Pages 243-254
Case Studies: Soil as the Interface of the Ecosystem Goal Function and the Earth System Goal Function....Pages 255-268
The Physical Basis of Ecological Goal Functions — An Integrative Discussion....Pages 269-285
Front Matter....Pages 287-287
Introduction: Philosophical Aspects of Goal Functions....Pages 289-297
The Relativity of Orientors: Interdependence of Ecological and Sociopolitical Developments....Pages 298-311
Constructions of Environmental Issues in Scientific and Public Discourse....Pages 312-333
Front Matter....Pages 287-287
Ethics and the Environment. How To Found Political and Socio-Economic Eco Targets....Pages 334-341
Teleology and Goal Functions — Which are the Concepts of Optimality and Efficiency in Evolutionary Biology....Pages 342-354
Conclusions: A Generalizing Framework for Biological Orientation Orientation....Pages 355-357
Front Matter....Pages 359-359
Human Targets in Relation to Land Use....Pages 361-365
Ecosystem and Society: Orientation for Sustainable Development....Pages 366-380
Human Orientors: A Systems Approach for Transdisciplinary Communication of Sustainable Development by Using Goal Functions....Pages 381-394
Environmental Law and the Science of Ecology....Pages 395-413
Coupled Economic and Environmental Growth and Development....Pages 414-435
Societies’ Maneuver Towards Sustainable Development: Information and the Setting of Target Values....Pages 436-446
Targets of Nature Conservation — Consequences for Ecological and Economic Goal Functions....Pages 447-456
Conclusion: Sustainability as a Level of Integration for Diverging Targets?....Pages 457-459
Front Matter....Pages 461-461
Introduction: Orientors and Goal Functions for Environmental Planning — Questions and Outlines....Pages 463-465
Quantifying the Interaction of Human and the Ecosphere: The Sustainable Process Index as a Measure for Co-existence....Pages 466-480
Applying Thermodynamic Orientors: The Use of Exergy as an Indicator in Environmental Management....Pages 481-491
Integrating Diverging Goal Functions: Time Scale Effects with Respect to Sustainability....Pages 492-502
Deriving EcoTargets from Ecological Orientors: How to Realize Ecological Targets at the Landscape Scale....Pages 503-510
Applying Ecological Goal Functions: Tools for Orientor Optimization as a Basis for Decision Making Processes....Pages 511-525
Marine Ecological Quality Objectives: Science and Management Aspects....Pages 526-544
Landscape Planning: On its Role in Developing Sustainable Land Use Concepts....Pages 545-556
Deriving Eco Targets from Ecological Orientors: Ecological Orientors for Landscape Planning?....Pages 557-564
Front Matter....Pages 461-461
Integrating Diverging Orientors: Sustainable Agriculture: Ecological Targets and Future Land Use Changes....Pages 565-584
Conclusions: Potentials and Limitations of a Practical Application of the Eco Target and Orientor Concept....Pages 585-590
Front Matter....Pages 591-591
Targets, Goals, and Orientors: Concluding and Re-Initializing the Discussion....Pages 593-607
Back Matter....Pages 609-621

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Targets, Goals and Orientors....Pages 3-11
Front Matter....Pages 13-13
The Physical Basis of Ecological Goal Functions — Fundamentals, Problems and Questions....Pages 15-18
Ecological Orientors: Emergence of Basic Orientors in Evolutionary Self-Organization....Pages 19-33
Ecological Orientors: Pattern and Process of Succession in Relation to Ecological Orientors....Pages 34-62
Thermodynamic Orientors: Exergy as a Goal Function in Ecological Modeling and as an Ecological Indicator for the Description of Ecosystem Development....Pages 63-86
Thermodynamic Orientors: Exergy as a Holistic Ecosystem Indicator: A Case Study....Pages 87-101
Thermodynamic Orientors: How to Use Thermodynamic Concepts in Ecology....Pages 102-122
Thermodynamic Orientors: A Review of Goal Functions and Ecosystem Indicators....Pages 123-136
Network Orientors: Steps Toward a Cosmography of Ecosystems: Orientors for Directional Development, Self-Organization, and Autoevolution....Pages 137-160
A Utility Goal Function Based On Network Synergism....Pages 161-176
Network Orientors: Theoretical and Philosophical Considerations why Ecosystems may Exhibit a Propensity to Increase in Ascendency....Pages 177-192
Applying Thermodynamic Orientors: Goal Functions in the Holling Figure-Eight Model....Pages 193-208
Quantifying Ecosystem Maturity — a Case Study....Pages 209-231
Case Studies: Orientors and Ecosystem Properties in Coastal Zones....Pages 232-242
Case Studies: Modeling Approaches for the Practical Application of Ecological Goal Functions....Pages 243-254
Case Studies: Soil as the Interface of the Ecosystem Goal Function and the Earth System Goal Function....Pages 255-268
The Physical Basis of Ecological Goal Functions — An Integrative Discussion....Pages 269-285
Front Matter....Pages 287-287
Introduction: Philosophical Aspects of Goal Functions....Pages 289-297
The Relativity of Orientors: Interdependence of Ecological and Sociopolitical Developments....Pages 298-311
Constructions of Environmental Issues in Scientific and Public Discourse....Pages 312-333
Front Matter....Pages 287-287
Ethics and the Environment. How To Found Political and Socio-Economic Eco Targets....Pages 334-341
Teleology and Goal Functions — Which are the Concepts of Optimality and Efficiency in Evolutionary Biology....Pages 342-354
Conclusions: A Generalizing Framework for Biological Orientation Orientation....Pages 355-357
Front Matter....Pages 359-359
Human Targets in Relation to Land Use....Pages 361-365
Ecosystem and Society: Orientation for Sustainable Development....Pages 366-380
Human Orientors: A Systems Approach for Transdisciplinary Communication of Sustainable Development by Using Goal Functions....Pages 381-394
Environmental Law and the Science of Ecology....Pages 395-413
Coupled Economic and Environmental Growth and Development....Pages 414-435
Societies’ Maneuver Towards Sustainable Development: Information and the Setting of Target Values....Pages 436-446
Targets of Nature Conservation — Consequences for Ecological and Economic Goal Functions....Pages 447-456
Conclusion: Sustainability as a Level of Integration for Diverging Targets?....Pages 457-459
Front Matter....Pages 461-461
Introduction: Orientors and Goal Functions for Environmental Planning — Questions and Outlines....Pages 463-465
Quantifying the Interaction of Human and the Ecosphere: The Sustainable Process Index as a Measure for Co-existence....Pages 466-480
Applying Thermodynamic Orientors: The Use of Exergy as an Indicator in Environmental Management....Pages 481-491
Integrating Diverging Goal Functions: Time Scale Effects with Respect to Sustainability....Pages 492-502
Deriving EcoTargets from Ecological Orientors: How to Realize Ecological Targets at the Landscape Scale....Pages 503-510
Applying Ecological Goal Functions: Tools for Orientor Optimization as a Basis for Decision Making Processes....Pages 511-525
Marine Ecological Quality Objectives: Science and Management Aspects....Pages 526-544
Landscape Planning: On its Role in Developing Sustainable Land Use Concepts....Pages 545-556
Deriving Eco Targets from Ecological Orientors: Ecological Orientors for Landscape Planning?....Pages 557-564
Front Matter....Pages 461-461
Integrating Diverging Orientors: Sustainable Agriculture: Ecological Targets and Future Land Use Changes....Pages 565-584
Conclusions: Potentials and Limitations of a Practical Application of the Eco Target and Orientor Concept....Pages 585-590
Front Matter....Pages 591-591
Targets, Goals, and Orientors: Concluding and Re-Initializing the Discussion....Pages 593-607
Back Matter....Pages 609-621
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