Global Ecology in Human Perspective

Description

Written by a well-known ecologist with more than forty years of scientific field work on six continents, this book deals with the ecology of planet earth, focusing on the condition of the global environment and the quality of human life. The author describes the scope and meaning of global ecology and gives a brief review of ecological principles relevant to global concerns. The work concentrates on how we as humans affect global ecosystems and how these changes impact our health, behavior, economics, and politics. Specific sections address the ecological components of planet earth, the biosphere, ecosystem ecology, worldwide environmental trends, and the state of human populations. Other chapters deal with competition and conflict, the ecology of war, an agenda for survival, sustainability, and future prospects.
Accessible to undergraduates, students in adult and professional education, and general readers, this unique work gives a broader definition of our environment than conventional ecology books, emphasizing economic and social dimensions of the global environment. It covers diverse viewpoints, including good news and favorable trends regarding the future, and helps readers think about current ecological problems and those we will face in the future. It discusses how to relate facts and beliefs, how to assess outcomes, and, finally, how me might view and treat the one world in which we live.

Table of Contents

Introduction
PART I. INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL ECOLOGY
Chapter 1. The Meaning and Scope of Global Ecology
A Few Basic Definitions
The Environment
Planet Earth in the Universe
Summary and References
Chapter 2. Properties and Components of Planet Earth
The Lithosphere or Geosphere
The Hydrosphere
The Atmosphere
Atmospheric Weather
Climate
The Biosphere
Component Interactions
Chapter 3. The Biosphere
Extent of the Biosphere
Functional Properties of the Biosphere
Environmental Buffering and Homeostasis
The Gaia Hypothesis
PART II. BASIC ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
Chapter 4. Ecological Principles: Ecosystems
Some Basic Principles of Ecology
Ecosystem Structure
Abiotic Substances
Producer Organisms
Consumer Organisms
Decomposer Organisms and Detritivores
Incomplete Ecosystems
Cybernetic Control in Ecosystems
Systems Analysis and Modeling in Ecology
Chapter 5. Ecosystem Organization and Function
The Hydrologic Cycle
The Carbon Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Phosphorus Cycle
The Sulfur Cycle
Chapter 6. Energy Flow and Trophic Structure
The Source of Energy
Food Chains and Trophic Structure
Ecologic Pyramids
Ecologic Efficiencies
Energy and Human Activities
Chapter 7. Ecosystem Homeostasis, Succession and Stability
Homeostasis
Homeostasis in Ecosystems
Global Implications of Ecosystem Homeostasis
Trophic Structure and Ecosystem Stability
Ecosystem Development and Succession
The Conservation of Diversity
The Controversy over Old-Growth Forests
PART III. HUMAN IMPACTS ON PLANET EARTH
Chapter 8. Our Global Condition: A Clash of Concepts
Global 2000
Opponents of Global 2000
Evaluation
Chapter 9. Global Change and Development
Human Modification of the Earth
Sustainable Development
Implications of Sustainable Development
Chapter 10. Land Degradation
The Loss of Functional Landscape
Erosion in Developing Countries
Other Forms of Land Degradation
The Positive Side of Land Modification
Chapter 11. Desertification
Definitions and Categories of Deserts
Natural Deserts
Anthropogenic Deserts
The Extent of Deserts and Desertification
Desertification in the Sahel
Desertification in the United States
Chapter 12. Deforestation
The Extent of Forest Ecosystems
The Ecological Role of Forests
Forest Types
Tropical Forests
Temperate Deforestation
Causes of Deforestation
The Role of Forests in Global Ecology
What Can Be Done?
Chapter 13. Historical Aspects of Environmental Destruction
The Ecological Relationships of Hunter-Gatherers
The Domestication of Plants and Animals
The Rise of Agriculture
Civilizations of the Middle East
Relevance of Environmental History to Modern Problems
North Africa and the Mediterranean
Environmental Destruction in Other Parts of the World
Chapter 14. Population Ecology
Basic Population Biology
Patterns of Population Change
Growth Patterns
Malthusian Growth
Logistic Growth
Reproductive Patterns: "r" and "K" Selection
Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Factors
Chapter 15. Human Populations
Why Is Human Population Growth Occurring?
Where is World Population Growth Occurring?
Urban Growth
Future Prospects
Population Modeling
Governmental Responses
Chapter 16. World Food Supplies
Magnitude of the Problem
The Consequences of Food Shortages
A Brief History of Famine
World Food Production and Human Population Growth Since 1950
The Green Revolution
Risks of the Green Revolution
Regional Successes and Failures of the Green Revolution
The Future of World Agriculture
Recent Trends
Food From the Oceans
Chapter 17. Air Pollution
Sources of Air Pollution
Types of Air Pollution
Other Ways of Classifying Air Pollution
Human Interest Box
Environmental Influences on Air Pollution
Ecological Effects of Air Pollution
Effects on Natural Ecosystems
Effects on Agroecosystems
Effects on Human Health
Effects on Materials
Control of Air Pollution
Trends in Air Pollution
Chapter 18. Weather and Climate Change
Forces for Warming: The Greenhouse Effect
Is Global Warming a Reality?
Forces for Global Cooling
Atmospheric Turbidity
Forces in Conflict
Variability
Chapter 19. Water Pollution and Ocean Ecology
Classifying Water Pollution
Other Ways of Classifying Water Pollution
Coastal and Oceanic Pollution
The Extent of the Oceans
Ocean Productivity
Further Evidence of Deterioration in Marine Ecosystems
Are the Oceans in Jeopardy?
Chapter 20. The Crisis in Biodiversity
What Is a Species?
The Measurement of Diversity
Statistical Representations of Diversity
Patterns of Biodiversity
Why Are There so Many Species?
Human Impacts on Biodiversity
Is There a Crisis in Biodiversity?
Does Diversity Make Any Difference?
Biodiversity and Human Food Supplies
The Role of Biodiversity in Forestry and Environmental Restoration
Biodiversity and the Energy Industry
Biodiversity and the Pharmaceutical Industry
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
How Many Species Does the Earth Really Need?
Diversity and Stability
PART IV. HUMAN PROSPECTS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE
Chapter 21. The Human Condition: Economics, Demography, and Health
Ecology and World Health
The Problem of Disparity
Economic Disparities
Disparities in the Quality of Life
The Poverty Gap
Chapter 22. Global Patterns of Health
Industrial High-Income Nations
Developing Low-Income Nations
Implications for Public Health
Human Immune Viruses and AIDS
Convergence in World Health Patterns
Chapter 23. Competition and Conflict
Competition and Evolution
Forms of Competition
Interspecific Competition
Competition and Cooperation
The Severity of Competition
Communication or Violence?
Hierarchies and Territories
Animal Violence
Human Aggression
Violence in America
Chapter 24. The Ecology of War
The Causes of War
A Brief Environmental History of War
Environmental Aspects of War in the Twentieth Century
The Persian Gulf
Nuclear War
Nuclear Winter
The Cold War
Indirect Costs of Conflict
Signs of Progress
Chapter 25. Sustainability
History and Definitions
Facing the Facts
Is Sustainability Possible?
Sustainability in Natural Ecosystems
Human-Dominated Ecosystems
Criteria for Sustainability
Restoration Ecology
Goals of Restoration
The Bottom Line
Chapter 26. Assessment and Agenda
The World According to Ecology
A Brief Review of the Ecological Evidence
The World According to Entrepreneurial Economics
A Brief Review of the Positive Evidence
An Agenda for Planet Earth
Ecological Priorities
Professional Responsibilities
Personal Responsibilities
Chapter 27. Prognosis
Threats to Progress
What is Needed?
References
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Each chapter ends with a summary and references