Fundamental Processes In Ecology

Author : David M Wilkinson
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2007-09-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191551857

Get Book

Fundamental Processes in Ecology by David M Wilkinson Pdf

Fundamental Processes in Ecology presents a way to study ecosystems that is not yet available in ecology textbooks but is resonant with current thinking in the emerging fields of geobiology and Earth System Science. It provides an alternative, process-based classification of ecology and proposes a truly planetary view of ecological science. To achieve this, it asks (and endeavours to answer) the question, "what are the fundamental ecological processes which would be found on any planet with Earth-like, carbon based, life?" The author demonstrates how the idea of fundamental ecological processes can be developed at the systems level, specifically their involvement in control and feedback mechanisms. This approach allows us to reconsider basic ecological ideas such as energy flow, guilds, trade-offs, carbon cycling and photosynthesis; and to put these in a global context. In doing so, the book puts a much stronger emphasis on microorganisms than has traditionally been the case. The integration of Earth System Science with ecology is vitally important if ecological science is to successfully contribute to the massive problems and future challenges associated with global change. Although the approach is heavily influenced by Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis, this is not a popular science book about Gaian theory. Instead it is written as an accessible text for graduate student seminar courses and researchers in the fields of ecology, earth system science, evolutionary biology, palaeontology, history of life, astrobiology, geology and physical geography.

Author : David Wilkinson
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2023-09-05
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780192884640

Get Book

The Fundamental Processes in Ecology by David Wilkinson Pdf

This thought-provoking book introduces a way to study ecosystems that is resonant with current thinking in the fields of earth system science, geobiology, and planetology. Instead of organizing the subject around a hierarchical series of entities (e.g. genes, individuals, populations, species, communities, and the biosphere), the book provides an alternative process-based approach and proposes a truly planetary view of ecological science. It demonstrates how the idea of fundamental ecological processes can be developed at the systems level, specifically their involvement in control and feedback mechanisms. This enables the reader to reconsider fundamental ecological processes such as energy flow, guilds, trade-offs, carbon cycling, and photosynthesis, and to put them in a global (and even planetary) context. In so doing, the book places a much stronger emphasis on microorganisms. Since publication of the first edition in 2006, ever growing societal concern about environmental sustainability has ensured that the earth system science/Gaian approach has steadily gained traction. Its integration with ecology is now more important than ever if ecological science is to effectively contribute to the massive problems and future challenges associated with global environmental change. The Fundamental Processes in Ecology is an accessible text for senior undergraduates, graduate student seminar courses, and researchers in the fields of ecology, environmental sustainability, earth system science, evolutionary biology, palaeontology, history of life, astrobiology, planetology, climatology, geology, and physical geography.

Author : David M. Wilkinson
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2023
Category : Ecology
ISBN : 019198034X

Get Book

The Fundamental Processes in Ecology by David M. Wilkinson Pdf

This thought-provoking book introduces a way to study ecosystems that is resonant with current thinking in the fields of earth system science, geobiology, and planetology. Instead of organizing the subject around a hierarchical series of entities (e.g. genes, individuals, populations, species, communities, and the biosphere), it provides an alternative process-based approach and proposes a truly planetary view of ecological science. It demonstrates how the idea of fundamental ecological processes can be developed at the systems level, specifically their involvement in control and feedback mechanisms. This enables the reader to reconsider fundamental ecological processes such as energy flow, guilds, trade-offs, carbon cycling, and photosynthesis, and to put them in a global (and even planetary) context. In so doing, the book places a much stronger emphasis on microorganisms.

Author : David C. Coleman,D. A. Crossley, Jr.
Publisher : Elsevier
Page : 408 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2004-08-11
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780080472812

Get Book

Fundamentals of Soil Ecology by David C. Coleman,D. A. Crossley, Jr. Pdf

This fully revised and expanded edition of Fundamentals of Soil Ecology continues its holistic approach to soil biology and ecosystem function. Students and ecosystem researchers will gain a greater understanding of the central roles that soils play in ecosystem development and function. The authors emphasize the increasing importance of soils as the organizing center for all terrestrial ecosystems and provide an overview of theory and practice of soil ecology, both from an ecosystem and evolutionary biology point of view. This volume contains updated and greatly expanded coverage of all belowground biota (roots, microbes and fauna) and methods to identify and determine its distribution and abundance. New chapters are provided on soil biodiversity and its relationship to ecosystem processes, suggested laboratory and field methods to measure biota and their activities in ecosystems.. Contains over 60% new material and 150 more pages Includes new chapters on soil biodiversity and its relationship to ecosystem function Outlines suggested laboratory and field methods Incorporates new pedagogical features Combines theoretical and practical approaches

Author : Eugene Pleasants Odum
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 576 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 1967
Category : Ecology
ISBN : STANFORD:36105032269297

Get Book

Fundamentals of Ecology by Eugene Pleasants Odum Pdf

Author : Eugene Pleasants Odum
Publisher : W.B. Saunders Company
Page : 600 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 1971
Category : Ecology
ISBN : UCSD:31822014167167

Get Book

Fundamentals of Ecology by Eugene Pleasants Odum Pdf

Basic ecological principles and concepts; Introduction: the scope of ecology; Principles and concepts pertaining to the ecosystem; Principles and concepts pertaining to energy in ecological systems; Principles and concepts pertaining to biogeochemical cycles; Principles pertaining to limiting factors; Principles and concepts pertaining to organization at the community level; Principles and concepts pertaining to organization at the population level; The species and the individual in the ecosystem; Development and evolution of the ecosystem; System ecology: the systems approach and mathematical models in ecology; The habitat approach; Freshwater ecology; Marine ecology; Estuarine ecology; Terrestrial ecology; Applications and technology; Resources; Pollution and environmental health; Radiation ecology; Remote sensing as a tool for study and management of ecosystems; Perspectives in microbial ecology; Ecology of space travel; Toward an applied human ecology.

Author : Walter G. Whitford,Benjamin D. Duval
Publisher : Academic Press
Page : 473 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2019-08-20
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780081026557

Get Book

Ecology of Desert Systems by Walter G. Whitford,Benjamin D. Duval Pdf

Nearly one-third of the land area on our planet is classified as arid or desert. Therefore, an understanding of the dynamics of such arid ecosystems is essential to managing those systems in a way that sustains human populations. This second edition of Ecology of Desert Systems provides a clear, extensive guide to the complex interactions involved in these areas. This book details the relationships between abiotic and biotic environments of desert ecosystems, demonstrating to readers how these interactions drive ecological processes. These include plant growth and animal reproductive success, the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation and animals, and the influence of invasive species and anthropogenic climate change specific to arid systems. Drawing on the extensive experience of its expert authors, Ecology of Desert Systems is an essential guide to arid ecosystems for students looking for an overview of the field, researchers keen to learn how their work fits in to the overall picture, and those involved with environmental management of desert areas. Highlights the complexity of global desert systems in a clear, concise way Reviews the most current issues facing researchers in the field, including the spread of invasive species due to globalized trade, the impact of industrial mining, and climate change Updated and extended to include information on invasive species management, industrial mining impacts, and the current and future role of climate change in desert systems

Author : R. S. K. Barnes,K. H. Mann
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 280 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2009-07-21
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781444314106

Get Book

Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecology by R. S. K. Barnes,K. H. Mann Pdf

Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecology is a completely updated and revised edition of the earlier work, Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecosystems. The new edition has been re-titled to reflect the fact that the authors found that, from the modification exercise, a completely different and new book emerged. The new edition concentrates heavily of the fundamental features common to all aquatic systems, both marine and freshwater. This unique synthesis allows for the discussion of ecological processes comparatively, across environments. A general introduction is followed by discussion of various 'types' of aquatic ecosystems - open waters, coastal zones, benthos, and the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. This is followed by an important new chapter on aquatic ecosystems and global ecology. Later chapters consider the individuals and communities in aquatic ecosystems. A totally re-written and rejuvenated edition of an established student text. Synthesizes both marine and freshwater ecology. Covers both ecosystem ecology and population biology. In depth consideration of man's impact on the aquatic environment.

Author : Ilkka Hanski
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : Ecology
ISBN : STANFORD:36105114761583

Get Book

The Shrinking World by Ilkka Hanski Pdf

Author : Agarwal S. K.
Publisher : APH Publishing
Page : 468 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Ecology
ISBN : 813130342X

Get Book

Fundamentals of Ecology by Agarwal S. K. Pdf

The Fundamentals of ecology has all the characteristics of scientific explanation. It provides advanced students an insight into the rich and varied investigations on the modern concepts with particular reference to the Indian sub-continent. It is hoped that this attempt will shed some light on the expanding horizons, serious controversy and major concepts by opposing schools of thought and stimulate others to clarify the subject further.

Author : Mark Vellend
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 246 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2020-09-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691208992

Get Book

The Theory of Ecological Communities (MPB-57) by Mark Vellend Pdf

A plethora of different theories, models, and concepts make up the field of community ecology. Amid this vast body of work, is it possible to build one general theory of ecological communities? What other scientific areas might serve as a guiding framework? As it turns out, the core focus of community ecology—understanding patterns of diversity and composition of biological variants across space and time—is shared by evolutionary biology and its very coherent conceptual framework, population genetics theory. The Theory of Ecological Communities takes this as a starting point to pull together community ecology's various perspectives into a more unified whole. Mark Vellend builds a theory of ecological communities based on four overarching processes: selection among species, drift, dispersal, and speciation. These are analogues of the four central processes in population genetics theory—selection within species, drift, gene flow, and mutation—and together they subsume almost all of the many dozens of more specific models built to describe the dynamics of communities of interacting species. The result is a theory that allows the effects of many low-level processes, such as competition, facilitation, predation, disturbance, stress, succession, colonization, and local extinction to be understood as the underpinnings of high-level processes with widely applicable consequences for ecological communities. Reframing the numerous existing ideas in community ecology, The Theory of Ecological Communities provides a new way for thinking about biological composition and diversity.

Author : Edward T. Wimberley
Publisher : JHU Press
Page : 260 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2009-05-29
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9780801892899

Get Book

Nested Ecology by Edward T. Wimberley Pdf

Nested Ecology provides a pragmatic and functional approach to realizing a sustainable environmental ethic. Edward T. Wimberley asserts that a practical ecological ethic must focus on human decision making within the context of larger social and environmental systems. Think of a set of mixing bowls, in which smaller bowls sit within larger ones. Wimberley sees the world in much the same way, with personal ecologies embedded in social ecologies that in turn are nested within natural ecologies. Wimberley urges a complete reconceptualization of the human place in the ecological hierarchy. Going beyond the physical realms in which people live and interact, he extends the concept of ecology to spirituality and the “ecology of the unknown.” In doing so, Wimberley defines a new environmental philosophy and a new ecological ethic.

Author : Richard M. Sibly,James H. Brown,Astrid Kodric-Brown
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 394 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2012-04-30
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780470671528

Get Book

Metabolic Ecology by Richard M. Sibly,James H. Brown,Astrid Kodric-Brown Pdf

Metabolic Ecology Most of ecology is about metabolism, the ways that organisms use energy and materials. The energy requirements of individuals (their metabolic rates) vary predictably with their body size and temperature. Ecological interactions are exchanges of energy and materials between organisms and their environments. Therefore, metabolic rate affects ecological processes at all levels: individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Each chapter focuses on a different process, level of organization, or kind of organism. It lays a conceptual foundation and presents empirical examples. Together, the chapters provide an integrated framework that holds the promise for a unified theory of ecology. The book is intended to be accessible to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, but also of interest to senior scientists. Its easy-to-read chapters and clear illustrations can be used in lecture and seminar courses. This is an authoritative treatment that will inspire future generations to study metabolic ecology.

Author : Vicenç Méndez,Daniel Campos,Frederic Bartumeus
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2013-09-18
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783642390104

Get Book

Stochastic Foundations in Movement Ecology by Vicenç Méndez,Daniel Campos,Frederic Bartumeus Pdf

This book presents the fundamental theory for non-standard diffusion problems in movement ecology. Lévy processes and anomalous diffusion have shown to be both powerful and useful tools for qualitatively and quantitatively describing a wide variety of spatial population ecological phenomena and dynamics, such as invasion fronts and search strategies. Adopting a self-contained, textbook-style approach, the authors provide the elements of statistical physics and stochastic processes on which the modeling of movement ecology is based and systematically introduce the physical characterization of ecological processes at the microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic levels. The explicit definition of these levels and their interrelations is particularly suitable to coping with the broad spectrum of space and time scales involved in bio-ecological problems. Including numerous exercises (with solutions), this text is aimed at graduate students and newcomers in this field at the interface of theoretical ecology, mathematical biology and physics.

Author : David Tilman,Peter Kareiva
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 368 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2018-06-05
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691188362

Get Book

Spatial Ecology by David Tilman,Peter Kareiva Pdf

Spatial Ecology addresses the fundamental effects of space on the dynamics of individual species and on the structure, dynamics, diversity, and stability of multispecies communities. Although the ecological world is unavoidably spatial, there have been few attempts to determine how explicit considerations of space may alter the predictions of ecological models, or what insights it may give into the causes of broad-scale ecological patterns. As this book demonstrates, the spatial structure of a habitat can fundamentally alter both the qualitative and quantitative dynamics and outcomes of ecological processes. Spatial Ecology highlights the importance of space to five topical areas: stability, patterns of diversity, invasions, coexistence, and pattern generation. It illustrates both the diversity of approaches used to study spatial ecology and the underlying similarities of these approaches. Over twenty contributors address issues ranging from the persistence of endangered species, to the maintenance of biodiversity, to the dynamics of hosts and their parasitoids, to disease dynamics, multispecies competition, population genetics, and fundamental processes relevant to all these cases. There have been many recent advances in our understanding of the influence of spatially explicit processes on individual species and on multispecies communities. This book synthesizes these advances, shows the limitations of traditional, non-spatial approaches, and offers a variety of new approaches to spatial ecology that should stimulate ecological research.