xviii Introduction
knows better,” “Everything is connected with everything else,” “Everything
must go somewhere,” and “There is no such thing as a free lunch”—are characteristic, and essentially they refer to the concept of ecosystem.
The ecosystem can be defined as a finite total of organisms that occupies a
particular place and has an appointed structure; between this and the physicochemical environment there are mutual influences and exchanges of matter
and energy that contribute to the creation of an organized functional unity.
Microorganisms, plants, and animals constitute the biological part of the
ecosystem. The concept of physicochemical environment covers every kind of
matter, inorganic or organic, that is not alive, as well as every physical factor,
like radiation or the wind. A lake, a forest, an ocean, and even an aquarium
can be examined as an ecosystem. The total of eco systems, which occupies a
relatively thin layer above and under the surface of the Earth, constitutes the
planetary ecosystem that is called biosphere.
Man perturbs and alters the ecosystems and has done so since the dawn
of civilization. In the last few decades, however, economic growth and the
tal changes, their extent in space, and their persistence in time. The favourable results of the changes on man’s prosperity are many, but interventions
on ecosystems can have significant negative consequences for the quality of
the environment, the biosphere’s equilibrium, and for human well-being. The
cant, but they have their limits. Consequently, the imposition of rules and constraints on economic development is necessary, and they should result from
the scientific study of the environment and of the ecosystems in particular.
nology and especially the engineer who is the main agent of human intervention in the environment. Infrastructure works, such as dams, irrigation or
drainage networks, roads, ports and airports, industrial and other productive
activities such as power stations or mines, the various solid, liquid, or gaseous
waste, etc., are classic causes of environmental degradation. It is useful for
every scientist, engineer, manager, or decision maker to have a minimum of
knowledge about the functions of ecosystems and the perturbations caused to
the environment by man’s intervention. Integrated knowledge is conducive in
the achievement of productive and developmental goals with the least possible
intervention and the least environ mental cost. It also furthers awareness and
sensitization so that the useless wounding of the landscape can be avoided and
the natural and cultural elements of every place may be respected.
about thE book
This book attempts to link contemporary environmental problems with the
main principles of scientific ecology. The understanding of problems and
knows better,” “Everything is connected with everything else,” “Everything
must go somewhere,” and “There is no such thing as a free lunch”—are characteristic, and essentially they refer to the concept of ecosystem.
The ecosystem can be defined as a finite total of organisms that occupies a
particular place and has an appointed structure; between this and the physicochemical environment there are mutual influences and exchanges of matter
and energy that contribute to the creation of an organized functional unity.
Microorganisms, plants, and animals constitute the biological part of the
ecosystem. The concept of physicochemical environment covers every kind of
matter, inorganic or organic, that is not alive, as well as every physical factor,
like radiation or the wind. A lake, a forest, an ocean, and even an aquarium
can be examined as an ecosystem. The total of eco systems, which occupies a
relatively thin layer above and under the surface of the Earth, constitutes the
planetary ecosystem that is called biosphere.
Man perturbs and alters the ecosystems and has done so since the dawn
of civilization. In the last few decades, however, economic growth and the
tal changes, their extent in space, and their persistence in time. The favourable results of the changes on man’s prosperity are many, but interventions
on ecosystems can have significant negative consequences for the quality of
the environment, the biosphere’s equilibrium, and for human well-being. The
cant, but they have their limits. Consequently, the imposition of rules and constraints on economic development is necessary, and they should result from
the scientific study of the environment and of the ecosystems in particular.
nology and especially the engineer who is the main agent of human intervention in the environment. Infrastructure works, such as dams, irrigation or
drainage networks, roads, ports and airports, industrial and other productive
activities such as power stations or mines, the various solid, liquid, or gaseous
waste, etc., are classic causes of environmental degradation. It is useful for
every scientist, engineer, manager, or decision maker to have a minimum of
knowledge about the functions of ecosystems and the perturbations caused to
the environment by man’s intervention. Integrated knowledge is conducive in
the achievement of productive and developmental goals with the least possible
intervention and the least environ mental cost. It also furthers awareness and
sensitization so that the useless wounding of the landscape can be avoided and
the natural and cultural elements of every place may be respected.
about thE book
This book attempts to link contemporary environmental problems with the
main principles of scientific ecology. The understanding of problems and