Ecology from ecosystem to biosphere. (©2003)

• Record Type: Book
• Uniform Title: Écologie de lé̕cosystème à la biosphère.
• Further Information: Note: Christian Lévêque.
• Other Names: Lévêque, C
• Contents: Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Preface; Table of Contents; Chapter 1: The ""natures"" of ecology; 1.1 The birth certificate; 1.2 Is ecology a science?; 1.3 Ecosystem ecology and/or population ecology?; 1.4 Ecosystem ecology: holism or reductionism?; 1.5 Scientific ecology, political ecology and environmental sciences; 1.6 Ecology and the media; Part I: Elaboration of the Scientific Approach in Ecosystem Ecology; Chapter 2: Origin and evolution of the ecosystem concept; 2.1. The original main streams in ecology; 2.1.1. Humboldt's plant geography; 2.1.2. Towards phytosociology 2.1.3. Towards synecology2.1.4. The American school: succession and climax; 2.1.5. Elton's pyramids; 2.2. The precursors of the ecosystem concept; 2.2.1. Forbes and the microcosm; 2.2.2. Thieneman and the Lebenseinheiten; 2.2.3. Karl Friederichs and the holocoen; 2.2.4. Sukachev and the biogeocoenosis; 2.3. Tansley and the roots of the ecosystem concept; 2.4. Implementation of the ecosystem concept: the tropho-dynamics approach; 2.4.1. Matter and energy cycles; 2.4.2. Biological production; 2.4.3. The International Biological Programme; 2.5. The ecosystem as an object of research 2.6. Is the ecosystem concept a product of western science?Chapter 3: Approaches and paradigms of ecosystem ecology; 3.1. Science and non-science: where is the dividing line?; 3.2. A goal: the search for order; 3.2.1. Understanding the natural world; 3.2.2. Concepts, hypotheses and theories; 3.2.3. Paradigms; 3.2.4. Are there laws in ecology?; 3.3. Metaphors and analogies; 3.4. Ecosystem ecology: between reductionism and holism; 3.4.1. The reductionist temptation: building cathedrals; 3.4.2. The holistic mirage; 3.4.3. The current practice of ecology 3.5. Inductive reasoning and the hypothetical-deductive method3.5.1. The burden of proof; 3.5.2. Inductive reasoning; 3.5.3. The hypothetical-deductive method; 3.5.4. Should inductive reasoning be kept out of ecosystem ecology?; 3.5.5. From theory to practice in ecology; 3.5.6. Ecological theories and difficulties encountered in their validation; 3.6. Deterministic or stochastic approach?; Chapter 4: Methods of studying ecosystems; 4.1. A science of observation; 4.1.1. Sampling; 4.1.2. New technologies; 4.2. The comparative approach; 4.3. The experimental approach; 4.3.1. In situ experiments 4.3.2. Controlled experimental systems4.4. Models and simulation; 4.4.1. The origin of systemic models; 4.4.2. The use of models; Part II: Structure and Organization of Ecosystems; Chapter 5: The system concept and attempts to apply physical principles to ecosystem ecology; 5.1. A fundamental notion: the system approach; 5.1.1. The macroscope; 5.1.2. Structured and organized systems; 5.2. Complexity; 5.3. Information theory and cybernetics; 5.3.1. Feedback; 5.3.2. Information networks in ecosystems; 5.3.3. Communication networks in ecosystems; 5.3.4. Cybernetic cohesion of ecosystems
• Publisher Details: Enfield, NH : Science Publishers
• Publication Date: 2003
• Copyright Date: 2003
• Extent: 1 online resource
• Subjects: 577; Soil science; Electronic books
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9781482294354; 1482294354
• Related ISBNs: 1578082943; 9781578082940
• Notes: Note: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.