Successes, Limitations, and Frontiers in Ecosystem Science

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

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2. Needs and Concerns in Ecosystem Science

   • Michael L. Pace, Peter M. Groffman

   Pages 1-6

3. Cultural Eutrophication of Inland, Estuarine, and Coastal Waters

   • Val H. Smith

   Pages 7-49

4. Managing Forests as Ecosystems: A Success Story or a Challenge Ahead?

   • Virginia H. Dale

   Pages 50-68

5. Wastelands to Wetlands: Links Between Habitat Protection and Ecosystem Science

   • Joy B. Zedler, Meghan Q. Fellows, Sally Trnka

   Pages 69-112

6. Riparian Forest Ecosystems as Filters for Nonpoint-Source Pollution

   • Richard Lowrance

   Pages 113-141

7. Ecological Research in Agricultural Ecosystems: Contributions to Ecosystem Science and to the Management of Agronomic Resources

   • G. Philip Robertson, Eldor A. Paul

   Pages 142-164

8. Progress in Understanding Biogeochemical Cycles at Regional to Global Scales

   • Ingrid C. Burke, William K. Lauenroth, Carol A. Wessman

   Pages 165-194

9. Acid Deposition Research and Ecosystem Science: Synergistic Successes

   • Kathleen C. Weathers, Gary M. Lovett

   Pages 195-219

10. Empirical and Theoretical Ecology as a Basis for Restoration: An Ecological Success Story

    • James A. MacMahon

    Pages 220-246

11. Limitations to Intellectual Progress in Ecosystem Science

    • Gene E. Likens

    Pages 247-271

12. Improving Links Between Ecosystem Scientists and Managers

    • Carl J. Walters

    Pages 272-286

13. The Need for Large-Scale Experiments to Assess and Predict the Response of Ecosystems to Perturbation

    • Stephen R. Carpenter

    Pages 287-312

14. Ecosystem Approaches to the Management and Allocation of Critical Resources

    • Carl Folke

    Pages 313-345

15. Ecosystems and Problems of Measurement at Large Spatial Scales

    • Carol A. Wessman, Gregory P. Asner

    Pages 346-371

16. Integration of Ecophysiological and Biogeochemical Approaches to Ecosystem Dynamics

    • Donald R. Zak, Kurt S. Pregitzer

    Pages 372-403

17. Simulation Modeling in Ecosystem Science

    • William K. Lauenroth, Charles D. Canham, Ann P. Kinzig, Karen A. Poiani, W. Michael Kemp, Steven W. Running

    Pages 404-415

18. Understanding Effects of Multiple Stressors: Ideas and Challenges

    • Denise L. Breitburg, James W. Baxter, Colleen A. Hatfield, Robert W. Howarth, Clive G. Jones, Gary M. Lovett et al.

    Pages 416-431

19. Within-System Element Cycles, Input-Output Budgets, and Nutrient Limitation

    • Peter M. Vitousek, Lars O. Hedin, Pamela A. Matson, James H. Fownes, Jason Neff

    Pages 432-451

20. Species Composition, Species Diversity, and Ecosystem Processes: Understanding the Impacts of Global Change

    • David Tilman

    Pages 452-472

Research on the ecosystems has emerged in recent decades as a vital, successful, and sometimes controversial approach to environmental science. Ecosystem science has addressed issues such as human alteration of biogeochemical cycles, ecological complexity and biodiversity, and ecological response to climate change. As a central and integrating science, ecosystem-level studies have been highly successful. This book emphasizes the idea that much of the progress in ecosystem research has been driven by the emergence of new environmental problems that could not be addressed by existing approaches. By focusing on successes, limitations, and frontiers in ecosystem studies, it will be welcomed by students and scientists throughout the ecological and environmental communities.

• biodiversity
• biogeochemical cycles
• climate
• climate change
• complexity
• ecology
• ecosystem
• ecosystem dynamics
• ecosystem processes
• environment
• forest
• pollution
• species diversity
• theoretical ecology
• wetland

• Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, USA

  Michael L. Pace, Peter M. Groffman

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