Introduction: The Classification of Ecological Systems

Abstract

The earth is one large entity, and events taking place in the earth’s environment, in the biosphere, exert a mutual influence upon one other. Climate, soil, vegetation, and animal life should not, therefore, be considered simply as isolated branches of science. It is impossible to separate the phenomena associated with life from environmental factors, and the task of the ecologist is to understand these interconnections. The biosphere is a vast ecosystem within which continuous cycling of material and flow of energy takes place (certain smaller portions of the biosphere also constitute ecosystems).