Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern

1. Front Matter

   Pages 1-11

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2. Introduction: Recent Trends in Science

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 13-24

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3. Do We Need a New, Holistic Ecology?

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 25-62

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4. Models in Ecology

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 63-95

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5. Energy and Ecology

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 97-122

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6. Entropy and Ecology

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 123-156

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7. Exergy and Ecology

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 157-199

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8. Network and Hierarchical Concepts of Ecosystems

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 201-220

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9. Utility Theory, Indirect Effect and Ascendency

   • Sven Erik Jørgensen

   Pages 221-254

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10. Catastrophe Theory and Ecology

    • Sven Erik Jørgensen

    Pages 255-279

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11. Chaos, Fractals and Ecology

    • Sven Erik Jørgensen

    Pages 281-297

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12. Dynamic of Ecosystems

    • Sven Erik Jørgensen

    Pages 299-323

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13. A Tentative Pattern of Ecosystem Theories

    • Sven Erik Jørgensen

    Pages 325-347

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14. Epilogue

    • Sven Erik Jørgensen

    Pages 349-350

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15. Back Matter

    Pages 351-383

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Ecosystems are still a puzzle for mankind. We would like to be able to know their reactions and control them, but repeatedly we have been surprised by their unexpected reactions to our somewhat hasty actions. We unfortunately have to admit that our present knowledge about ecosystems and their true nature is rather limited. Many excellent contributions to a more profound understanding of ecosystems have been launched during the last two decades, but if you do not know the field, it looks as if all the presented ecosystem theories are in complete discord with each other. However, ecosystems are extremely complex and only a pluralistic view will be able to reveal their basic properties. The different approaches therefore have much in common, when you go deeper into the core material, than the first superficial more glance will be able to tell and there is therefore a natural need for a unification of the various approaches to ecosystem theories. It has for many years been my desire to attempt to make a unification of the many excellent thoughts, ideas and observations about ecosystems, that scientists have contributed. These thoughts, ideas and hypotheses have not been made in vain.

• ecology
• ecosystem
• energy
• entropy
• environment

• Department of Environmental Chemistry, Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark

  Sven Erik Jørgensen

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