Session Report I is Ecosystem a Working Concept ?

Abstract

The basic problems which were discussed by speakers in Plenary session 1 were as follows:

• — the development of ecology as a science

• — the schism in modern ecology

• — interdisciplinary research in ecology and land use

• — different approaches to the study of ecosystems (natural history studies, mass balance studies of energy or chemicals, experimental studies, comparative studies and modelling or computer simulation studies)

• — the ecosystem concept and prediction of responses to “global change”

• — linkages between scientific assessment and policy makers