Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Boxes
- Preface
- Prologue Environmental changes and ecosystem effects: two historical examples
- Section I History and concepts
- Section II Ecosystem structure and function
- Section III Ecosystem dynamics at different time scales
- Section IV Applications
- Appendix 1 Abbreviations
- Appendix 2 Glossary
- Appendix 3 Some useful values and symbols used to represent them
- Appendix 4 Information and data on selected ecosystems
- References
- Index
- Plate section
Section III - Ecosystem dynamics at different time scales
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Boxes
- Preface
- Prologue Environmental changes and ecosystem effects: two historical examples
- Section I History and concepts
- Section II Ecosystem structure and function
- Section III Ecosystem dynamics at different time scales
- Section IV Applications
- Appendix 1 Abbreviations
- Appendix 2 Glossary
- Appendix 3 Some useful values and symbols used to represent them
- Appendix 4 Information and data on selected ecosystems
- References
- Index
- Plate section
Summary
Ecosystem dynamics at different time scales
Two major features of the terrestrial ecosystems have been dealt with so far, structure and function. A third major feature is dynamics, development and changes over time, and also the reaction of the ecosystems to perturbations – natural or man-made. It is a question of the stability of ecosystems and their ability to accommodate changes. Changes occur on different temporal and spatial scales. There are changes at the global scale, which have occurred since the Earth's early history, as well as those occurring in recent times. The very early history of the Earth has a flavour of ‘science fiction’ and today we have the issue of ‘climate change’, which is experienced as dramatic and to some extent uncertain.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Terrestrial Ecosystem EcologyPrinciples and Applications, pp. 213 - 214Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011