Abstract
The phenomenon of succession has been one of the most popular topics of ecological research for many decades. The progress in successional theory is closely related to the general trends in ecology. These trends were thoroughly reviewed recently (O’Neil et al. 1986, Austin 1986, Noy Meir and van der Maarel 1987, Keddy 1987, Tilman 1988). It was clearly shown that (1) ecosystems should be considered as complex hierarchical systems, (2) each hierarchical level requires its own methods of study, (3) no single level is superior, and (4) progress in our understanding of ecological phenomena is possible only when combining various approaches. Most historical controversies (like individualistic vs. organismal concepts of plant communities) may be viewed as approaches emphasizing a particular hierarchical level. In our study, we combine the population-community approach and the functional ecosystem approach, as defined by O’Neil et al. 1986.
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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
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Lepš, J., Prach, K. (1990). Introduction. In: Osbornová, J., Kovářová, M., Lepš, J., Prach, K. (eds) Succession in Abandoned Fields. Geobotany, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2444-4_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2444-4_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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