Ecology
From
Ecosystem to Biosphere
Editors:
Christian Lévêque: Institut de Recherches
pour le Développement, Paris
ISBN 978-1-57808-294-0; 2003; 490 pages, US $ 59.00
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Ecology is primarily a science of
observation that mobilizes a large number of disciplines including zoology,
botany, geology, climatology, and hydrogeology. It can be divided into two
complementary fields of study: population biology and ecosystem ecology.
This book synthesizes the present understanding of ecosystem ecology. It is
organized in four major parts. The first presents the research study
methods, which are based on observation, experimentation and modelling. It
is followed by an introduction to the concept of ecosystem. The various
themes of present research are then tackled, including ecological
hierarchies, homogeneity and heterogeneity, the role of biological
diversity, and spatial and temporal scales. Finally, the work ends with a
presentation of the overall functioning of the biosphere in a historical
perspective.
This book is designed for university students as
well as researchers and instructors who wish to learn the modern concepts of
ecosystem ecology.
Contents:. The "natures"
of ecology
Part I: Elaboration of the Scientific Approach in
Ecosystem Ecology. Origin and evolution of the ecosystem
concept
. Approaches and paradigms in ecosystem ecology
.
Methods of studying ecosystems
Part II: Structure and
Organization of Ecosystems. The system concept and attempts
to apply physical principles to ecosystem ecology
. Abiotic
factors and structure of ecosystems
. Hierarchies, levels of
organization and typology of ecological systems
. Spatial and
temporal scales and their consequences
. Spatial heterogeneity
and temporal variability
Part III: Functioning of Ecosystems.
Dynamics of communities and ecosystems: from the balance of nature to
self-regulated systems
. Matter and energy flows in ecosystems
.
Biological diversity and ecosystem functioning
. The
biogeochemical cycles
Part IV: Global Ecology.
Global ecology: dynamics of the biosphere
. The climatic system
and its variability
. Biosphere-atmosphere interactions and
their consequences for global equilibrium
. Responses of
ecosystems to climatic changes: knowing the past to understand the future
