Spatial Heterogeneity: Past, Present, and Future

Explanation and interpretation of spatial heterogeneity in nature have been central concerns in ecology since long before the word ecosystem was first defined.As ecological knowledge has developed during the past century, it has become clear that the problems of heterogeneity are diverse and can be studied as a number of component issues; together, the chapters of this book represent a state-of-the-art summary of current understanding. Simplifying assumptions of spatial homogeneity and temporal stability are still used widely in ecological research and will continue to be used for the foreseeable future, but long-term, global understanding requires a multiscale approach in which homogeneity and heterogeneity are parts of one continuum and change never stops. Future priorities for research include dynamic approaches to heterogeneity in complex spatial networks, the search for broad patterns in heterogeneity across spatial scales, and reconciling the goal of environmental sustainability with the fact that we live in a patchy, constantly changing world.

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