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J. D. OVINOTON
so numerous and diverse that it has been impossible to describe them
adequately. A change in any one process inevitably causes widespread
repercussions in the rest.
The essentially dynamic nature of woodland ecosystems is masked
by the impression of stability and permanence engendered by the
longevity of trees. Yet woodland ecosystems are characterized by a
mass seasonal transfer of organic matter, energy, water and chemical
elements, the seasonal magnitudes of which change greatly as the trees
mature and are replaced by trees of digerent species. There is a delicate
and everchanging relationship between woodland organisms and their
physical environment of soil and microclimate. Now that man is making
fuller use of woodlands for cropping, hunting, recreation, etc. he is
inducing long-term changes in woodland ecosystems and modifying the
circulatory systems increasingly.
Despite rapid and significant advances during the last decade, no
reasonably comprehensive and balanced picture of the quantitative
ecology of a single woodland ecosystem exists. Nor is one likely to he
produced in the near future because of the differences in scale, for
instance of botanical, pedological or zoological studies, which create
special problems of co-operation and integration. In the meantime, the
task of synthesizing fragmentary and incomplete knowledge, gained
by different disciplines, probably represents the most challenging and
rewarding problem facing woodland ecologists. The ecosystem approach
serves not only as a basis for evaluating and bringing together the
existing diverse data but also acts as a guide for future research by
spotlighting omissions and indicating the most fruitful fields for intensive
study. Moreover, it draws the attention of scientists concerned with
limited aspects of woodland ecology to the need to obtain and express
their results in such a way that integration with other data is possible
and meaningful.
The application of the ecosystem approach to woodland ecology is
opportune. At the present time forestry is becoming more intensive and
sylviculturalists are faced with the problem of producing not only
greater amounts of cellulose per unit area of land but also of meeting
the ever growing demand for more complete and multipurpose use of
forest land. Sound principles of multipurpose use must be based on an
improved appreciation of the complexity and dynamics of woodland
ecosystems. It is significant that despite the lack of precise means of
delimiting ecosystems, scientists concerned with the problem of classifying forest land for practical purposes are looking increasingly towards
the ecosystem concept (Hustich, 1960) as a basis of classification. A
better knowledge of woodland ecosyatem dynamics is also needed
because woodlands, by virtue of their size and mass transfer of material,
J. D. OVINOTON
so numerous and diverse that it has been impossible to describe them
adequately. A change in any one process inevitably causes widespread
repercussions in the rest.
The essentially dynamic nature of woodland ecosystems is masked
by the impression of stability and permanence engendered by the
longevity of trees. Yet woodland ecosystems are characterized by a
mass seasonal transfer of organic matter, energy, water and chemical
elements, the seasonal magnitudes of which change greatly as the trees
mature and are replaced by trees of digerent species. There is a delicate
and everchanging relationship between woodland organisms and their
physical environment of soil and microclimate. Now that man is making
fuller use of woodlands for cropping, hunting, recreation, etc. he is
inducing long-term changes in woodland ecosystems and modifying the
circulatory systems increasingly.
Despite rapid and significant advances during the last decade, no
reasonably comprehensive and balanced picture of the quantitative
ecology of a single woodland ecosystem exists. Nor is one likely to he
produced in the near future because of the differences in scale, for
instance of botanical, pedological or zoological studies, which create
special problems of co-operation and integration. In the meantime, the
task of synthesizing fragmentary and incomplete knowledge, gained
by different disciplines, probably represents the most challenging and
rewarding problem facing woodland ecologists. The ecosystem approach
serves not only as a basis for evaluating and bringing together the
existing diverse data but also acts as a guide for future research by
spotlighting omissions and indicating the most fruitful fields for intensive
study. Moreover, it draws the attention of scientists concerned with
limited aspects of woodland ecology to the need to obtain and express
their results in such a way that integration with other data is possible
and meaningful.
The application of the ecosystem approach to woodland ecology is
opportune. At the present time forestry is becoming more intensive and
sylviculturalists are faced with the problem of producing not only
greater amounts of cellulose per unit area of land but also of meeting
the ever growing demand for more complete and multipurpose use of
forest land. Sound principles of multipurpose use must be based on an
improved appreciation of the complexity and dynamics of woodland
ecosystems. It is significant that despite the lack of precise means of
delimiting ecosystems, scientists concerned with the problem of classifying forest land for practical purposes are looking increasingly towards
the ecosystem concept (Hustich, 1960) as a basis of classification. A
better knowledge of woodland ecosyatem dynamics is also needed
because woodlands, by virtue of their size and mass transfer of material,