Ecosystems Second edition Gordon Dickinson and Kevin Murphy doc

[...]... together and writing this book, both of us have learned more about the world and some of its problems If we can pass on some of this to other people, we hope that we can make a (very small) contribution to understanding these problems, and to keeping the world a good place for you and people like you Gordon Dickinson Kevin Murphy Glasgow, 1997 Authors’ preface to the second edition This second edition of Ecosystems. .. of life elsewhere in the Solar System in Chapters 3 and 5) Ecosystem functioning is the main theme of this book In Chapters 2, 3 and 4 we outline the functional interactions between energy and materials in ecosystems, and the way in which these support life in ecosystems Understanding the operational and support functions of ecosystems (how they work and what they do) is vital to the use of the ecosystem... us a great deal We must thank Mike Shand who produced many of the diagrams in this and the first edition, to the highest professional standards In our research activities we would like to thank Nei, João and all our other friends in UEM and IAP, Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil Our work with them on wetland and riparian rainforest ecology has been both a professional and personal career highlight Our research... 11.1 11.2 11.3 Definition and classification of resources Human impacts on the biosphere and societal values: a question of communications Atmospheric particulates and their effects on people and ecosystems 173 174 179 Authors’ preface to the first edition As is obvious from the title, this book is about ecosystems A great deal has been written about ecosystems since the 1940s and there are some good academic... putting up with us We have had all the fun while you have kept the show on the road Gordon Dickinson Kevin Murphy Glasgow, 2006 1 The nature of ecosystems The biological world is one of great diversity and complexity A systems approach is useful in helping us to understand the interactions between living organisms and their environment (which includes the biotic environment of other living creatures)... experience We would like to thank all colleagues in Glasgow and elsewhere who have helped us develop this second edition of Ecosystems There have been too many to name individually, but they know who they are Finally, our wives Aileen and Fiona, and children Rachel, Kathy and Michael have continued to gives us vital support during long absences on fieldwork, and extended spells at the computer when we are back... advance knowledge of ecosystems in the academic bases of tertiary-level education (e.g Odum 1993) and in the popular media, which has reinforced the general public’s concern for and knowledge of the richness, diversity and vulnerability of life and the environment of our planet (e.g Attenborough 1979) This book uses functional ecology as a key element in understanding ecosystems and their functioning... 7.1 High competition ecosystems 7.2 Phytoplankton 8.1 The Köppen climatic classification 8.2 The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 9.1 Hedgerows and shelterbelts 9.2 Heather moorlands and their management by burning 9.3 The case of the alien fish species Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernus) in Loch Lomond, Scotland 10.1 Davisian cycle: an explanatory and critical commentary 10.2 Environmental and ecological changes... biomes, and have extended and restructured the final chapters dealing with impacts on ecosystems We hope that these changes make the book up to date and improve its utility for students The ecological and environmental challenges that confront humankind grow with time Environmental and ecological education is vital if we are to begin to solve the problems we all face In the period following the first edition, ... biological world and its interactions with the physical environment can be understood The ecosystem concept is useful in resource management and as a basis for predictive modelling This chapter covers: l l l l Complexity of the biological world and its physical environment Development of the ecosystem concept System theory, ecology and ecosystems Abiotic and biotic environment of ecosystems How this . understanding these problems, and to keeping the world a good place for you and people like you. Gordon Dickinson Kevin Murphy Glasgow, 1997 This second edition. Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Dickinson, Gordon. Ecosystems / Gordon Dickinson and Kevin Murphy. – 2nd ed. p. cm. – (Routledge introductions