Forest-Ecosystem Fundamentals

Abstract

The ecosphere is commonly considered to be any Space on Earth inhabited by life forms (Schaefer 1992). A priori, all organisms as a whole are a constituent part of ecosystems. With respect to their function in the ecosystem, one can distinguish between key species and accompanying species. Forest ecosystems are threedimensional sections of the ecosphere. An attempt to fix the limits of individual ecosystems as part of the ecosphere inevitably constrains our ability to understand gradual transitions in the ecosphere. The idea of naturally occurring, distinctive interfaces is certainly fictional. However, management of the ecosphere is not possible without such distinctions. The differentiation of ecosystems has a practical function and is carried out in accordance with the subject or objective of the investigation. The objective of the present volume is to understand the dynamics of forest ecosystems under the influence of forest utilisation and anthropogenic environmental changes (emissions or climatic changes).