Preface p. ix
About the Author p. xi
1. Systems Ecology: An Ecological Discipline p. 1
¡¡What Is Systems Ecology? p. 1
¡¡The Holistic *pproach p. 4
¡¡Outline of the Book p. 4
PART 1. Sciences: Basic for Systems Ecology
2. Conservation of Energy and Matter p. 11
¡¡The Conservation Laws p. 11
¡¡Other Thermodynamic Functions p. 13
¡¡Liebig's Law of Minimum p. 18
¡¡Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification p. 22
¡¡Cycling in Ecosystems and in the Ecosphere p. 28
¡¡Energy Flows in Ecosystems p. 30
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 2 p. 34
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 36
3. Ecosystems: Growth and Development p. 37
¡¡The Maximum Power Principle p. 37
¡¡Embodied Energy/Emergy p. 41
¡¡Ecosystem as a Biochemical Reactor p. 45
¡¡Technological and Ecological Interpretation of the Thermodynamic Concept Exergy p. 48
¡¡Eco-Exergy and Information p. 54
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 3 p. 56
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 56
4. Irreversibility and Order: The Second and Third Laws of Thermodyna...mics p. 59
¡¡Open Systems p. 59
¡¡Physical Openness p. 60
¡¡Ontic Openness p. 61
¡¡The Second Law of Thermodynamics Interpreted for Ecosystems p. 67
¡¡The Third Law of Thermodynamics Applied on Open Systems p. 70
¡¡Dissipative Structure and Eco-Exergy p. 73
¡¡How to Calculate Exergy of Organic Matter and Organisms p. 73
¡¡Why Have Living Systems Such a High Level of Exergy? p. 81
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 4 p. 82
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 82
5. The Biochemistry of Ecosystems p. 85
¡¡A General Biochemistry for Living Systems p. 85
¡¡The First Steps of the Evolution toward a Biochemistry p. 87
¡¡The Prokaryote Cells p. 89
¡¡The Eukaryote Cells p. 90
¡¡The Temperature Range Needed for Life Processes p. 92
¡¡Natural Conditions for Life p. 93
¡¡Ecological Stoichiometry p. 96
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 5 p. 98
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 99
6. The Thermodynamic Interpretation of Ecosystem Growth and Development p. 101
¡¡Introduction p. 101
¡¡The Ecosystem Development Described by a Thermodynamic Interpretation of the Three Growth Forms p. 103
¡¡Seasonal Changes p. 109
¡¡New Ecosystems p. 110
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 6 p. 111
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 113
7. The Ecological Law of Thermodynamics p. 115
¡¡Introduction: Darwin's Theory p. 115
¡¡The Ecological Law of Thermodynamics (ELT) p. 118
¡¡Some Basic Ecological Observations (Rules) That Can be Explained by ELT p. 119
¡¡Structurally Dynamic Models (SDMs) p. 123
¡¡¡¡Development of SDM for Darwin's Finches p. 127
¡¡¡¡An Ecotoxicological SDM Example: Copper Changing the Size of Zooplankton p. 129
¡¡The Compliance between ELT and Evolutionary Theories p. 132
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 7 p. 141
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 142
PART 2. Properties of Ecosystems
8. Ecosystems Are Open Systems p. 145
¡¡Why Must Ecosystems Be Open? p. 145
¡¡The Allometric Principles and Quantification of Openness p. 146
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 8 p. 154
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 154
9. Ecosystems Have a Hierarchical Organization p. 155
¡¡The Hierarchical Organization p. 155
¡¡Interactions between the Hierarchical Levels p. 157
¡¡The Variations and the Hierarchical Organization p. 160
¡¡The Frequency of Disturbances p. 162
¡¡Ontic Openness and the Hierarchy Theory p. 165
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 9 p. 166
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 167
10. Ecosystems Have a High Diversity p. 169
¡¡Introduction p. 169
¡¡The Wide Spectrum of Forcing Functions p. 170
¡¡The Molecular Differentiation in Biochemistry p. 172
¡¡The Genetic Differentiation p. 173
¡¡The Diversity of Cells p. 174
¡¡The Diversity of Organs p. 175
¡¡Diversity among Individuals p. 175
¡¡Species Diversity p. 176
¡¡Differentiation of Communities and Ecological Networks p. 179
¡¡Diversity of Ecosystems p. 179
¡¡The Advantages of a High Biodiversity p. 180
¡¡Diversity and Extreme Environment p. 184
¡¡¡¡The Deep Sea p. 185
¡¡¡¡Carnivorous Plants p. 187
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 10 p. 188
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 188
11. Ecosystems Have a High Buffer Capacity p. 191
¡¡Introduction: Stability Concepts p. 191
¡¡The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) p. 195
¡¡Hysteresis and Buffer Capacities p. 195
¡¡Chaos, Disturbances, and Buffer Capacities p. 202
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 11 p. 211
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 212
12. The Components of Ecosystems Form Ecological Networks p. 213
¡¡Introduction p. 213
¡¡Ecological Networks Increase Utilization Efficiency of Matter and Energy p. 216
¡¡Cardinal Hypotheses about the Properties of Networks p. 218
¡¡Network Analyses p. 221
¡¡Network Selection by Ecosystems p. 236
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 12 p. 238
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 238
13. Ecosystems Have a Very High Content of Information p. 241
¡¡The Information Embodied in the Genes p. 241
¡¡The Ascendency p. 242
¡¡Information Embodied in the Networks and Horizontal Evolution p. 248
¡¡Life Is Information p. 255
¡¡Summary of the Important Points in Chapter 13 p. 258
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 258
14. Ecosystems Have Emerging Holistic System Properties p. 261
¡¡Introduction p. 261
¡¡Additional Properties of Ecosystems p. 265
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 14 p. 267
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 268
15. Application of System Ecology in Ecological Subdisciplines and Environmental Management p. 269
¡¡Integrated Ecological and Environmental Management Should Be Based on a Profound Knowledge of System Ecology p. 269
¡¡The Application of Systems Ecology to Explain Ecological Observations and Rules p. 274
¡¡Application of Systems Ecology to Explain the Principles Applied in Ecological Engineering p. 278
¡¡Application of Systems Ecology to Assess Ecosystem Health p. 280
¡¡Summary of Important Points in Chapter 15 p. 284
¡¡Exercises/Problems p. 285
References p. 287
Appendix p. 297
Index p. 299
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