Ecological Systems, Introduction

Abstract

It is estimated that there are roughly 8 million animal species, 600,000 fungi, 300,000 plants, and an unestimated number of microbial species on earth. It is further estimated that only about 25% of the animal, fungi, and plant species have been identified as yet. Further, the interactions among these species and their physical environment are known to an even lesser degree. Meanwhile, the earth’s biota faces the prospect of climate change which may be either slow to manifest or extremely rapid, as we pass through a potential tipping point. In addition, human population is set to grow by two billion by 2045 from a present seven billion. This would certainly be rated as a population explosion, and these numbers together with expected (and hoped for) economic growth will stress the entire ecology of the earth. The question is how to cope with all of the above. That is actually the subject and goal of this entire Encyclopedia and our team of well over 700 scientists and engineers, and also the subject of this section from an ecological systems viewpoint. Our objective in this section is to provide a significant portion of the scientific and engineering basis of the systems ecology of the earth and to provide this in 14 detailed entries written at a level for use by university students through practicing professionals. Our approach is to recognize that we cannot wait for a complete data set for the biota before assessing and planning and acting to preserve the ecological balance of the earth. Therefore, methodology is presented aimed at identifying the key interactions and environmental effects and enabling a systems level understanding even at our present state of factual knowledge.