Springer Ecosystem Function in Heterogeneous Landscapes

This groundbreaking work connects the knowledge of system function developed in ecosystem ecology with landscape ecology's knowledge of spatial structure. The book elucidates the challenges faced by ecosystem scientists working in spatially heterogeneous systems, relevant conceptual approaches used in other disciplines and in different ecosystem types, and the importance of spatial heterogeneity in conservation resource management. Review From the reviews: "Ecosystems Function in Heterogeneous Landscapes is an edited volume from the 10th Cary conference held in 2003. … This volume attempts to cover a lot of topics and will be particularly relevant to graduate students of Landscape Ecology trying to grasp some of the landscape to regional organizing frameworks that may provide fruitful avenues of research. It may also be helpful to researchers and managers … ." (K. B. Pierce Jr., Landscape Ecology, Vol. 22, 2007) From the Back Cover The study of ecosystems, fundamental to ecology, has been complemented by the growing field of landscape ecology.  Ecosystem Function in Heterogeneous Landscapes addresses how interactions among ecosystems affect the functioning of individual ecosystems and the larger landscape.  This groundbreaking synthesis unites ecosystem ecology's knowledge of system function with landscape ecology's knowledge of spatial structure.  Practical concerns about scaling up from individual ecosystems to larger landscapes require an understanding of how networks of interacting ecosystems function together.  The book elucidates the challenges faced by ecosystem scientists working in spatially heterogeneous systems, relevant conceptual approaches used in other disciplines and in different ecosystem types, and the importance of spatial heterogeneity in conservation resource management.  The distinguished authors discuss how how much heterogeneity needs to be taken into account for specific types of scientific and management issues.  Their chapters cover the spectrum from proposing novel conceptual approaches to detailing the practical implications of heterogeneous landscapes for fire management, water management and conservation planning.