Geoecology

Animals, plants and soils interact with one another. They also interact with the terrestrial spheres - the atmosphere, hydrosphere, toposphere, and lithosphere - and with the rest of the cosmos. On land, this rich interaction creates landscape systems or geoecosystems. Geoecology investigates the structure and function of geoecosystems. Part one introduces geoecological systems, their nature, hierarchical structure, and ideas about their interdependence and integrity. A simple dynamic systems model, referred to as the "brash" equation, is developed to provide an analytical and conceptual framework for the book. Part two explores internal or "ecological" interactions between geoecosystems and their near-surface environment, with individual chapters looking at the influence of climate, altitude, topography, insularity, and substrate. Part three prospects the role of external factors, both geological and cosmic, as agencies disturbing the dynamics of the geoecosystems. A new "evolutionary" view of geoecological systems, and the animals, plants and soils comprising them, emerges: geoecosystems are seen as dynamic entities, organized on an hierarchical basis, that perpetuall respond to changes within themselves and in their surroundings. Presenting a new ecological and evolutionary approach to the study of geoecological change, Geoecology will interest a wide range of environmental scientists, geographers, ecologists and pedologists.