Introduction xix
the explanation of phenomena are better served if the lay reader becomes
familiarized with the organization of ecological systems at an ecosystem
level rather than at a population level. Thus, in contrast to the inter national
trends of most scientific books that bear the term “Ecology” in their titles,
the approach that was chosen here places a greater emphasis on the physicochemical phenomena of ecosystems than on the biological functions that
define the organisms’ relationship with their environment.
The effort for a presentation that would also be accessible to the wider
public has limited and simplified—but cannot abolish—the mathematical
approaches. In the case of systems ecology, mathematics is necessary for the
codification of the subjects and the setting off of the critical parameters that
determine the ecosystems’ behaviour. Special emphasis has been placed on
examination of fundamental concepts, such as energy flow, competition,
predation, or limiting factor. Familiarization with these concepts contributes to an integrated consideration, and therefore to a deeper understanding and inter pretation of ecological phenomena. Certain subjects, though,
have secondary significance or constitute more detailed approaches and are
more difficult to understand. Their elimination would deprive the book of
necessary documentation. However, their omission by the reader does not
have negative consequences for understanding, while it gives the reader the
possibility to focus on the more significant subjects and run through the
book’s material more quickly without losing a great part of the information.
The book consists of three parts. Part 1 presents basic knowledge of ecological science on the basis of the systemic approach. Chapter 1 introduces
basic concepts of systems theory, the model method, and the concept of
ecosystem. Chapter 2 examines the organisms’ categories in relation to their
role in the ecosystems, as well as the basic physical and chemical processes
that affect them. Chapter 3 refers to the structure and the changes of populations and to analysis of their major mutual influences, using the necessary
mathematical models; also, information is given about the changes of human
populations. Chapter 4 elaborates on the roles of primary production, limiting factors, and the circulation of chemical substances and energy flow in
the ecosystems, and it presents the basic functions of aquatic ecosystems.
The most important issues related with environmental degradation
by human activities are the focus of Part 2 and includes a brief survey of
the planet’s ecosystems and the alterations of the natural environment,
e.g. forests, coasts, wetlands, soil, biodiversity, and the natural landscape;
special urban environmental problems; environmental degradation due to
toxic pollution, including radioactivity; various water pollution phenomena
such as deoxygenation and eutrophication; and various forms of atmospheric
alterations such as photochemical pollution, ozone layer depletion, and the
greenhouse effect.
The environmental management prospects are the focus of the Part 3. The
four chapters discuss the potential for technological control of pollution
the explanation of phenomena are better served if the lay reader becomes
familiarized with the organization of ecological systems at an ecosystem
level rather than at a population level. Thus, in contrast to the inter national
trends of most scientific books that bear the term “Ecology” in their titles,
the approach that was chosen here places a greater emphasis on the physicochemical phenomena of ecosystems than on the biological functions that
define the organisms’ relationship with their environment.
The effort for a presentation that would also be accessible to the wider
public has limited and simplified—but cannot abolish—the mathematical
approaches. In the case of systems ecology, mathematics is necessary for the
codification of the subjects and the setting off of the critical parameters that
determine the ecosystems’ behaviour. Special emphasis has been placed on
examination of fundamental concepts, such as energy flow, competition,
predation, or limiting factor. Familiarization with these concepts contributes to an integrated consideration, and therefore to a deeper understanding and inter pretation of ecological phenomena. Certain subjects, though,
have secondary significance or constitute more detailed approaches and are
more difficult to understand. Their elimination would deprive the book of
necessary documentation. However, their omission by the reader does not
have negative consequences for understanding, while it gives the reader the
possibility to focus on the more significant subjects and run through the
book’s material more quickly without losing a great part of the information.
The book consists of three parts. Part 1 presents basic knowledge of ecological science on the basis of the systemic approach. Chapter 1 introduces
basic concepts of systems theory, the model method, and the concept of
ecosystem. Chapter 2 examines the organisms’ categories in relation to their
role in the ecosystems, as well as the basic physical and chemical processes
that affect them. Chapter 3 refers to the structure and the changes of populations and to analysis of their major mutual influences, using the necessary
mathematical models; also, information is given about the changes of human
populations. Chapter 4 elaborates on the roles of primary production, limiting factors, and the circulation of chemical substances and energy flow in
the ecosystems, and it presents the basic functions of aquatic ecosystems.
The most important issues related with environmental degradation
by human activities are the focus of Part 2 and includes a brief survey of
the planet’s ecosystems and the alterations of the natural environment,
e.g. forests, coasts, wetlands, soil, biodiversity, and the natural landscape;
special urban environmental problems; environmental degradation due to
toxic pollution, including radioactivity; various water pollution phenomena
such as deoxygenation and eutrophication; and various forms of atmospheric
alterations such as photochemical pollution, ozone layer depletion, and the
greenhouse effect.
The environmental management prospects are the focus of the Part 3. The
four chapters discuss the potential for technological control of pollution