Index 259
biosphere’s influence, 100
characteristics, 100–102
coastal wetlands, 101–102, 104
coast degradation factors and
protection needs, 102–103
ecological characteristics of coast,
101
ecotone, example of, 101
environmental threats, 103
fragmentation of research, 101
geological eras, 100
harsh environmental conditions,
104
hypoxic conditions, 103
man’s relationship with the sea,
102
marine pollution, 103
Mediterranean coastal
environment, 103–106
Pangaea, 100
sandy beaches, 104
semi-desert, 103
sensitivity of coastal ecosystems,
102
technological applications,
development of, 102
desert, 90
animals, 90
limiting factor, 90
plants, 90
rainfall, 90
water economy, 90
flora and fauna, 107–108
deforestation, 107
drainage of wetlands, 107
fauna, 107
overhunting, 107
species extinction, 107
vegetation, 107
forest ecosystem, 87–89
Amazon forest, 88
characteristic species, 87
consumer organisms, 88
epiphytes, 88
jungle, 88
maquis, 88
ratio of leaf biomass to new wood
production, 88
recycling and symbiosis
mechanisms, 88
species diversity, 88
taiga, 87
trees, 88
tropical forest, 88
forest as a natural resource, 90–92
artificial reforestation, 91
consequences of forest
destruction, 91
creation of agricultural land, 92
deforestation, 91–92
early civilisations, 91
erosion, 91
forest biomass, 90
indirect offerings of forests, 90–91
freshwater ecosystems, 99–100
carbon cycle, 100
hydrological function, 99
lake, 99
lotic ecosystem, 99
nitrogen cycle, 100
phosphorous cycle, 100
river, 99
water course, 99
watershed, 99
wetland, 99–100
grassland, 89
humus, 89
rainfall, 89
Russia’s steppes, 89
subsoil, 89
vegetation, 89
Greek landscape, 109–114
biotopes, condition of, 111
climate types, 110
degradation of the coastal zones,
111–112
drainage works, 112
endemic flora, 111
“everyday” landscape, 113
extended marine space, 109
geological history, 110
landscape attributes and
alterations, 109–111
marine ecosystems, 111
“monumental” landscape area,
113
Site of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, 112–114
spatial phenomenon, 112
man’s historical influence on the
biosphere, 85–87
agricultural revolution, 86
civilisations, 85
definition of biosphere, 85
biosphere’s influence, 100
characteristics, 100–102
coastal wetlands, 101–102, 104
coast degradation factors and
protection needs, 102–103
ecological characteristics of coast,
101
ecotone, example of, 101
environmental threats, 103
fragmentation of research, 101
geological eras, 100
harsh environmental conditions,
104
hypoxic conditions, 103
man’s relationship with the sea,
102
marine pollution, 103
Mediterranean coastal
environment, 103–106
Pangaea, 100
sandy beaches, 104
semi-desert, 103
sensitivity of coastal ecosystems,
102
technological applications,
development of, 102
desert, 90
animals, 90
limiting factor, 90
plants, 90
rainfall, 90
water economy, 90
flora and fauna, 107–108
deforestation, 107
drainage of wetlands, 107
fauna, 107
overhunting, 107
species extinction, 107
vegetation, 107
forest ecosystem, 87–89
Amazon forest, 88
characteristic species, 87
consumer organisms, 88
epiphytes, 88
jungle, 88
maquis, 88
ratio of leaf biomass to new wood
production, 88
recycling and symbiosis
mechanisms, 88
species diversity, 88
taiga, 87
trees, 88
tropical forest, 88
forest as a natural resource, 90–92
artificial reforestation, 91
consequences of forest
destruction, 91
creation of agricultural land, 92
deforestation, 91–92
early civilisations, 91
erosion, 91
forest biomass, 90
indirect offerings of forests, 90–91
freshwater ecosystems, 99–100
carbon cycle, 100
hydrological function, 99
lake, 99
lotic ecosystem, 99
nitrogen cycle, 100
phosphorous cycle, 100
river, 99
water course, 99
watershed, 99
wetland, 99–100
grassland, 89
humus, 89
rainfall, 89
Russia’s steppes, 89
subsoil, 89
vegetation, 89
Greek landscape, 109–114
biotopes, condition of, 111
climate types, 110
degradation of the coastal zones,
111–112
drainage works, 112
endemic flora, 111
“everyday” landscape, 113
extended marine space, 109
geological history, 110
landscape attributes and
alterations, 109–111
marine ecosystems, 111
“monumental” landscape area,
113
Site of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, 112–114
spatial phenomenon, 112
man’s historical influence on the
biosphere, 85–87
agricultural revolution, 86
civilisations, 85
definition of biosphere, 85