Ebook: Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern

The book presents an integration of existing ecosystem theories in such a comprehensive way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystems. Since the publication of the previous two editions of this book, ongoing research and discussions on an international scale have greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. This progress is presented as Chapter 16 in this new, third edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.
Audience: Researchers and decision makers whose work involves the study of ecosystems and ecology. This book is also recommended for use in graduate courses.

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The book presents an integration of existing ecosystem theories in such a comprehensive way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystems. Since the publication of the previous two editions of this book, ongoing research and discussions on an international scale have greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. This progress is presented as Chapter 16 in this new, third edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.
Audience: Researchers and decision makers whose work involves the study of ecosystems and ecology. This book is also recommended for use in graduate courses.

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The book presents an integration of existing ecosystem theories in such a comprehensive way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystems. Since the publication of the previous two editions of this book, ongoing research and discussions on an international scale have greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. This progress is presented as Chapter 16 in this new, third edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.
Audience: Researchers and decision makers whose work involves the study of ecosystems and ecology. This book is also recommended for use in graduate courses.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
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
Towards a Consistent Ecosystem Theory....Pages 365-396
Epilogue....Pages 397-398
Appendix 1....Pages 399-400
References....Pages 401-418
Back Matter....Pages 419-420

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The book presents an integration of existing ecosystem theories in such a comprehensive way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystems. Since the publication of the previous two editions of this book, ongoing research and discussions on an international scale have greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. This progress is presented as Chapter 16 in this new, third edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules.
Audience: Researchers and decision makers whose work involves the study of ecosystems and ecology. This book is also recommended for use in graduate courses.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
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
Towards a Consistent Ecosystem Theory....Pages 365-396
Epilogue....Pages 397-398
Appendix 1....Pages 399-400
References....Pages 401-418
Back Matter....Pages 419-420
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