Terrestrial Ecosystems in Changing Environments (Cambridge Studies in Ecology) - Softcover

Shugart, Herman H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521565235 ISBN 13: 9780521565233

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Predicting how terrestrial ecosystems might respond in the future to large-scale human-generated changes is a major challenge for ecologists. In Terrestrial Ecosystems in Changing Environments, Herman H. Shugart describes the fundamental ecological concepts, theoretical developments, and quantitative analyses involved in understanding the responses of natural systems to change. The key ecological concepts described include the ecosystem paradigm, niche theory, vegetation/climate relationships, landscape ecology and ecological modeling. A variety of ecological models are presented, and their applications in predicting responses to change are considered. The challenge of producing ecological models capable of predicting long-term and large-area ecosystem dynamics is reviewed and several examples are provided. Finally, some of the exciting new findings regarding terrestrial landscapes and their feedback with their climatic setting are discussed in the context of human land use and global change.

About this title

Book Description

The vegetation of the Earth is in a constant state of flux in response to changing environmental conditions. Understanding the dynamics of natural ecosystems is central to predicting how they will respond to environmental changes. One of the key challenges is to understand and predict the effect of human-induced changes such as pollution or long-term climate change. The book provides the reader with the ecological background needed to understand the prospects for predicting the changes in natural landscapes in response to changes in the environment.

Review

"The author has filled a void in the contemporary ecological literature with his analysis of the state of knowledge about changing environmental impacts on terrestrial ecosystems." Gary R. Evans, Science Books & Films

"Terrestrial Ecosystems is exactly like what it was intended to be--a textbook--and a good one at that...The words 'information, detail, clarity, and modeling applications' sum it up...a book that should be owned not only by students of advanced ecology, but by practising ecologists and environmental managers everywhere. I guarantee it won't be long before it's dog-eared from use." Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists

"This book reads like a well-written intellectual autobiography by someone with a passion for the history of science and an aptitude and predilection for models. In fact, the book is really about models, what they are based on, where they came from, who has used them, and for what. The book is also mostly about north temperate forests, reflecting the background of the author...if you are interested in studying how change has been--and can be--studied, this is an excellent introduction to the background, concepts and tools." Kent H. Redford, The Quarterly Review of Biology

"Terrestrial Ecosystems is exactly like what it was intended to be--a textbook--and a good one at that...the words 'information, detail, clarity, and modeling applications' sum it up...a book that should be owned not only by students of advanced ecology, but by practising ecologists and environmental managers everywhere. I guarantee it won't be long before it's dog-eared from use." Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521565235
• ISBN 13: 9780521565233
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 552