Introduction to Physical, Physiological and Causal Forest Ecology

Abstract

H. T. Odum proposed that energy flows are the key factors in understanding the interactions between ecosystems and their environment. He used electric analogue models and analogue computers in his approach. The development of quantitative methods, measurements, dynamic modelling and digital computing, has opened novel possibilities to analyse the energy and material flows between living organisms and their environment. In addition, the applications of ecological knowledge to the responses of forests to present climate change and forestry should be based on causal effects in trees, atmosphere and soil. The conservation principle of mass and energy, a cornerstone of Newtonian physics, results in dynamic models that can utilise physiological and physical background knowledge to provide causal explanations for the theory and models. The aim of our book is to develop and test a quantitative and causal theory of forest ecology that utilises physics and physiology as background knowledge.