Overview
- Features authoritative, peer-reviewed entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology
- Covers topics ranging from atmospheric biogeochemistry to invasive species, ecosystem services, and urban ecology
- Provides an ecological systems perspective on the vital question of how to cope with climate change and the global human population explosion
- Includes a glossary of key terms and a concise definition of the subject for each contribution
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
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About this book
Earth is home to an estimated 8 million animal species, 600,000 fungi, 300,000 plants, and an undetermined number of microbial species. Of these animal, fungal, and plant species, an estimated 75% have yet to be identified. Moreover, the interactions between these species and their physical environment are known to an even lesser degree. At the same time, the earth’s biota faces the prospect of climate change, which may manifest slowly or extremely rapidly, as well as a human population set to grow by two billion by 2045 from the current seven billion. Given these major ecological changes, we cannot wait for a complete biota data set before assessing, planning, and acting to preserve the ecological balance of the earth. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the scientific and engineering basis of the systems ecology of the earth in 15 detailed, peer-reviewed entries written for a broad audience of undergraduate and graduate students as well as practicing professionals in government, academia, and industry. The methodology presented aims at identifying key interactions and environmental effects, and enabling a systems-level understanding even with our present state of factual knowledge.
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Keywords
- Atmospheric Biogeochemistry
- Ecological Gradients
- Ecological Succession
- Ecological Systems
- Ecological Systems Sustainability
- Ecosystem Flow Analysis
- Ecosystem Services
- Ecosystems Adaptive Management
- Ecosystems Spatial Patterns
- Ecotones
- Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology
- Invasive Species
- Landscape Ecology Sustainability
- Urban Ecology Sustainability
Table of contents (15 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Editors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Ecological Systems
Book Subtitle: Selected Entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology
Editors: Rik Leemans
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5755-8
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4614-5754-1Published: 11 December 2012
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4899-8690-0Published: 28 January 2015
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4614-5755-8Published: 12 December 2012
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: VI, 310
Topics: Ecosystems, Geoecology/Natural Processes, Biogeosciences, Ecology, Urban Ecology, Geochemistry