258 Index
compartments, 98
estuary, 98–99
ocean, 98
phytoplankton, 99
sea bottom ecosystems, 98
Mediterranean environment, natural
vegetation in, 92–94
alpine meadows, 93
evergreen sclerophyllous bushes, 93
forest fires and restoration, 93–94
forests, 92–93
mountain forests, 92
pine forests, 92
scrubs, 93
stream beds, 92
vegetation, 93
Mercury, 147–148
genetic defects, 148
inorganic, 147
Lake St. Clair’s fish, 148
mercury thermometers, 147
Minimata disease, 148
organic, 148
Metabolism, 11, 62
Meta-industrial era, 230
Methane, 15
Michaelis-Menten relationship, 14
Migratory birds, 89
Minimata disease, 148
Mirex, 140
Model
construction stages, 10
definition of, 4
deterministic, 9
ecosystem energy, 55–58
assumptions, 56
chemical reactions of
photosynthesis and
respiration, 57
energy flow in ecosystem, 55, 57
fossil fuel deposits, creation of, 57
general criteria, 56
mature ecosystem, 57
multi-compartment models, 55
non-natural ecosystems, 58
system dynamics, 56
urban ecosystems, 58
exponential (population), 29–30, 42
general circulation, 183
logistic (population), 30–31, 42
Lotka-Volterra, 39
mathematical (ecosystems), 9–10
biological organisation, levels of,
9
deterministic models, 9
ecological phenomena, 10
external factors, 10
input, 10
mathematical simulation of the
functioning of the ecosystem,
10
model construction stages, 10
output, 10
stochastic models, 9
multi-compartment, 55
perfect, 5
population size variation, 29–31
carrying capacity, 31
competition, 30
exponential model, 29–30
limiting factor, elimination of, 31
logistic model, 30–31
population boom, 31
stochastic, 9
strategic, 5
tactical, 5
Monachus monachus, 104
Monod equation, 881
n
Natality increase (baby boom), 47, 49
Natural ecosystems, 75
Natural landscape (values, alterations
and degradation of), 85–114
aquatic environment, 98–100
freshwater ecosystems, 99–100
marine ecosystems, 98–99
biodiversity and landscape, 106–114
biosphere species, estimated
number of, 106
biotopes, 108
conservation of biodiversity, 106
destruction of ecological
habitats, 106
flora and fauna, 107–108
global biodiversity decrease, 106
Greek landscape, 109–114
over-exploitation, 106
pressures on natural landscape,
108–109
coastal zones, 100–106
anoxic conditions, 103
compartments, 98
estuary, 98–99
ocean, 98
phytoplankton, 99
sea bottom ecosystems, 98
Mediterranean environment, natural
vegetation in, 92–94
alpine meadows, 93
evergreen sclerophyllous bushes, 93
forest fires and restoration, 93–94
forests, 92–93
mountain forests, 92
pine forests, 92
scrubs, 93
stream beds, 92
vegetation, 93
Mercury, 147–148
genetic defects, 148
inorganic, 147
Lake St. Clair’s fish, 148
mercury thermometers, 147
Minimata disease, 148
organic, 148
Metabolism, 11, 62
Meta-industrial era, 230
Methane, 15
Michaelis-Menten relationship, 14
Migratory birds, 89
Minimata disease, 148
Mirex, 140
Model
construction stages, 10
definition of, 4
deterministic, 9
ecosystem energy, 55–58
assumptions, 56
chemical reactions of
photosynthesis and
respiration, 57
energy flow in ecosystem, 55, 57
fossil fuel deposits, creation of, 57
general criteria, 56
mature ecosystem, 57
multi-compartment models, 55
non-natural ecosystems, 58
system dynamics, 56
urban ecosystems, 58
exponential (population), 29–30, 42
general circulation, 183
logistic (population), 30–31, 42
Lotka-Volterra, 39
mathematical (ecosystems), 9–10
biological organisation, levels of,
9
deterministic models, 9
ecological phenomena, 10
external factors, 10
input, 10
mathematical simulation of the
functioning of the ecosystem,
10
model construction stages, 10
output, 10
stochastic models, 9
multi-compartment, 55
perfect, 5
population size variation, 29–31
carrying capacity, 31
competition, 30
exponential model, 29–30
limiting factor, elimination of, 31
logistic model, 30–31
population boom, 31
stochastic, 9
strategic, 5
tactical, 5
Monachus monachus, 104
Monod equation, 881
n
Natality increase (baby boom), 47, 49
Natural ecosystems, 75
Natural landscape (values, alterations
and degradation of), 85–114
aquatic environment, 98–100
freshwater ecosystems, 99–100
marine ecosystems, 98–99
biodiversity and landscape, 106–114
biosphere species, estimated
number of, 106
biotopes, 108
conservation of biodiversity, 106
destruction of ecological
habitats, 106
flora and fauna, 107–108
global biodiversity decrease, 106
Greek landscape, 109–114
over-exploitation, 106
pressures on natural landscape,
108–109
coastal zones, 100–106
anoxic conditions, 103