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Spatially Explicit Vegetation Models: What Have We Learned?

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Progress in Botany

Part of the book series: Progress in Botany ((BOTANY,volume 63))

Abstract

Although ecology is a relatively young science, it has produced numerous insights into the natural world through a variety of approaches, ranging from direct observation to pure theory. Interestingly enough, most modern ecological research has been conducted without an explicit consideration of spatial relationships. In fact, in many cases space has been willfully excluded from ecological studies. Why is this so? “Space complicates” or “space confounds” would be the common, but generally unstated, reason. What this really means is that most ecological studies are designed to eliminate environmental or ecological variability in space, so that “pure and uncontaminated” ecological processes and relationships can be examined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

    F. Jeltsch

  2. Department of Botany, Iowa State University, 143 Bessey Hall, Ames, Iowa, 50011-1020, USA

    K. A. Moloney

Authors
  1. F. Jeltsch
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  2. K. A. Moloney
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bochum, Germany

    K. Esser

  2. Darmstadt, Germany

    U. Lüttge

  3. Bielefeld, Germany

    W. Beyschlag

  4. Jena, Germany

    F. Hellwig

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Jeltsch, F., Moloney, K.A. (2002). Spatially Explicit Vegetation Models: What Have We Learned?. In: Esser, K., Lüttge, U., Beyschlag, W., Hellwig, F. (eds) Progress in Botany. Progress in Botany, vol 63. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56276-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56276-1_13

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-52304-5

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