Ecological knowledge and environmental problem-solving : concepts and case studies / Committee on the Applications of Ecological Theory to Environmental Problems, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Applications of Ecological Theory to Environmental Problems.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nature conservation--Case studies.

Nature conservation.

Environmental protection--Case studies.

Environmental protection.

Conservation of natural resources--Case studies.

Conservation of natural resources.

Ecology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (400 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academy Press, 1986.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This volume explores how the scientific tools of ecology can be used more effectively in dealing with a variety of complex environmental problems. Part I discusses the usefulness of such ecological knowledge as population dynamics and interactions, community ecology, life histories, and the impact of various materials and energy sources on the environment. Part II contains 13 original and instructive case studies pertaining to the biological side of environmental problems, which "Nature" described as "carefully chosen and extremely interesting."

Contents:

Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Problem-Solving

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Introduction

STRUCTURE AND AUDIENCE OF THE REPORT

Structure

Audience

TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

Complex Linkages

Density Dependence

The Uniqueness of Individuals

Keystone Species

Biological Magnification

Population Fragmentation

Stability Boundaries

Aggregate Variables

Complexity and Uncertainty

Scales in Space and Time

APPLICATIONS OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

Renewable-Resource Management

Conservation of Species

Control of Pests and Diseases

Impact Assessment and Prediction of Effects

Preservation of Communities

Preservation of Habitat

Contaminants and Toxic Substances

Mitigation of Effects of Construction

Restoration

General Applications

THE CASE STUDIES

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

I Kinds of Ecological Knowledge and Their Applications

1 Individuals and Single Populations

IDENTIFYING KEY FACTORS

BEHAVIOR

Habitat Selection

Mating Systems

Social Interactions

POPULATION DYNAMICS

Population Regulation

Population Stability

Dispersion and Population Movements

Growth Rates, Age, and Size

Age Structure

Sex Ratios and Sex Biases

GENETIC AND EVOLUTIONARY CONCERNS

The Evolution of Resistance to Pesticides

Genetic Consequences of Differential Harvesting by Sex and Size

Genetic Consequences of Small Population Size

2 Population Interactions

PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS

COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS

MUTUALISTIC INTERACTIONS

INDIRECT EFFECTS

CONCLUSIONS

3 Community Ecology

INTRODUCTION

SPECIES COMPOSITION

FACTORS AFFECTING SPECIES DIVERSITY

Predation

Competition

Productivity

Spatial Factors

Summary

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

STABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

INVADABILITY.

SUBSTITUTABILITY

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

4 Materials and Energy

PERTURBATIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY

CHEMICAL PATHWAYS AND BIOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION

NUTRIENT FLUXES

INTERACTIONS AMONG PRODUCTIVITY, BIOMASS, AND NUTRIENTS

INDEXES OF ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING

5 Scales in Space and Time

PATCHINESS AND COMMUNITY COMPOSITION

Species-Area Relationship

Extinction of Small Populations

Patch Geometry and Edge Effects

DISTRIBUTION OF PATCHES IN SPACE AND TIME

Spatial Considerations

Temporal Considerations

6 Analog, Generic, and Pilot Studies and Treatment of a Project as an Experiment

ANALOG STUDIES

GENERIC STUDIES

PILOT-SCALE EXPERIMENTS

TREATING A PROJECT OR ACTION AS AN EXPERIMENT

7 Indicator Species and Biological Monitoring

CHOICE OF ORGANISMS TO USE FOR BIOLOGICAL MONITORING

MONITORING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIMEN BANKING

MONITORING OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

MONITORING AND THE IDEA OF A PROJECT AS AN EXPERIMENT

8 Dealing With Uncertainty

SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY

Complexity

Natural Variability

Random Variation

Errors of Estimation

Lack of Knowledge

MANAGING IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY

9 The Special Problem of Cumulative Effects

THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM

KINDS OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

DEFINITION OF CUMULATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

DIFFICULTIES IN PREDICTING AND CONTROLLING CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

SCALE AND THE RATES OF CRITICAL PROCESSES

MANAGING CUMULATIVE EFFECTS: BEYOND A CASE-BY-CASE APPROACH

10 A Scientific Framework For Environmental Problem-Solving

DEFINING ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AND SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS

SCOPING THE PROBLEM

ESTABLISHING STUDY BOUNDARIES

DEVELOPING AND TESTING HYPOTHESES

SPECIFYING PREDICTIONS AND DETERMINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EFFECTS

MONITORING.

SUMMARY: DEVELOPING A STUDY STRATEGY

11 References

II Selected Case Studies

12 North Pacific Halibut Fishery Management

Case Study

BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MANAGEMENT

Assessment of Stock

Relationship Between Stock and Recruitment

Catchability

Migration Patterns

Natural and Fishing Mortality

Growth Rates

GENERAL APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT

Boundaries

Monitoring

Cumulative Effects

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE

Ecological Facts

Theory and General Principles

Specific Models of Stock Abundance

Project as Experiment

ROLE OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Committee Comment

References

13 Vampire Bat Control in Latin America

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

APPROACHES TO CONTROLLING VAMPIRE BATS

Ecology of Vampire Bats

Development of Control Methods

Control Techniques

Vaccines

KINDS OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE USED

Pilot Studies

UTILIZATION AND TRAINING

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM

14 Biological Control of California Red Scale

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM

ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM

USES OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Ecosystem Definition

Significance of Impact

Study Strategy and Monitoring

Established Boundaries

Developing and Implementing a Study Strategy

Specific Predictions and Hypotheses

Developing and Implementing a Monitoring Program

Future Goals

Generally Accepted Ecological Facts

General Theory and General Principles of Ecology

Specific Models

Analog Studies

Expert Judgment

CONTRIBUTION OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE TO PROJECT RESULTS

REFERENCES.

Committee Comment

15 Experimental Control of Malaria in West Africa

GENERAL APPROACH

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT

USES OF KNOWLEDGE

The Mosquito

The Malaria Parasite

GENERAL THEORY

A SPECIFIC MODEL

CONCLUSION: THE CASE STUDY AND ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

Reference

16 Protecting Caribou During Hydroelectric Development in Newfoundland

Caribou and the Upper Salmon Development

Ecological Questions and Issues

OBTAINING RELEVANT ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

Population Characteristics, Migration, and Distribution

Behavior

Sensitivity Criteria

Conclusions

USES OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Valued Ecosystem Components

Significance of Impacts

Establishment of Boundaries

Development and Implementation of Study Strategy

Development of Predictions and Hypotheses

SOURCES OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

The Project as an Experiment

CONTRIBUTION OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

17 Conserving a Regional Spotted Owl Population

THE BASIC PROBLEM AND APPROACH

ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE USED IN DEVELOPING THE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

Studies of the Ecology of Spotted Owls

Long-Term Population Viability

THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR SPOTTED OWLS

CONTRIBUTION OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE TO THE CASE STUDY RESULTS

18 Restoring Derelict Lands in Great Britain

INTRODUCTION.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN REINSTATEMENT

APPROACHES TO RECREATING SEMINATURAL GRASSLAND

Low-Productivity Swards

Sward Diversification

Soil Seed Banks

Succession in Urban Grassland

SOURCES OF ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Ecological Theory

19 Optimizing Timber Yields in New Brunswick Forests

THE APPROACH

Valued Ecosystem Component

Bounding the Problem

Study Strategy Development

Hypotheses

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

CONTRIBUTION OF RESULTS TO ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

APPLICATION OF THE TOOL

CONCLUSION

20 Control of Eutrophication in Lake Washington

21 Raising the Level of a Subarctic Lake

22 Ecological Effects of Nuclear Radiation

APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM OF RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Movement of Radionuclides in the Environment

Radiation Effects

APPENDIX: SOME SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON RADIOECOLOGY

23 Ecological Effects of Forest Clearcutting

BACKGROUND

APPROACHES TO EVALUATING LOSSES

Leaching and Erosion

Biomass Removal

Nutrients Remaining in Soil

Nutrient Replenishment

Budgets and Sensitivity Analysis

Committee Comment.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographies and index.

ISBN:

9786610221684

9781280221682

1280221682

9780309542517

0309542510

9780585022574

0585022577

OCLC:

427404666