F. Stuart Chapin III je aljašský ekológ, ktorého výskum sa zameriava na vplyvy klimatických zmien a požiarov na aljašskú ekológiu a vidiecke komunity. Skúma spôsoby, ako môžu komunity a agentúry dlhodobo zvyšovať udržateľnosť ekosystémov a ľudských komunít napriek rýchlym klimatickým a spoločenským zmenám. Verí, že spoločnosť môže proaktívne formovať zmeny smerom k udržateľnejšej budúcnosti a túto víziu presadzuje medzinárodne, národne aj v partnerstvách s miestnymi domorodými komunitami na Aljaške. Jeho kniha „Grassroots Stewardship: Sustainability Within Our Reach“ predstavuje pozitívnu a pragmatickú stratégiu pre jednotlivcov, ako môžu formovať udržateľnejšiu budúcnosť pre prírodu aj spoločnosť.
"Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology" explores the interconnectedness of living organisms and their environments, detailing energy, water, carbon, and nutrient cycles. It integrates recent ecological advances with established theory, featuring review questions, recommended readings, and a glossary, making it suitable for students and professionals alike.
The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its historical significance despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. It aims to protect and promote important literature, providing readers with an affordable and high-quality edition that remains true to the original.
Future Scenarios of Global Biodiversity explores the interconnectedness of climate change and species extinction, presenting comprehensive scenarios for biodiversity in the 21st century. It examines ten key ecosystems, merging earth science with conservation biology, and serves as a resource for research and policy planning related to global environmental change.
As human populations grow and gain access to technology, two significant environmental concerns have emerged. First, human activities increasingly impact the earth system, altering biospheric carbon pools, elemental cycling, and the climate. These changes are occurring more rapidly than at any time in the last several million years, and due to time lags and feedback mechanisms, they are not easily reversible. Second, human actions are driving species extinctions at rates comparable to past geological events. While some environmental changes may be reversible over certain timescales, species loss is irreversible. Additionally, changes in diversity at various scales raise alarms. Habitat fragmentation and declining population sizes affect genetic diversity, while the loss or introduction of new functional groups can significantly alter ecosystem processes. Modifications in landscape diversity through habitat changes further impact interactions within and among vegetation patches. Although ecological changes and biodiversity loss have been viewed as separate concerns, they are deeply interrelated. Alterations in ecological systems directly influence biodiversity, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of these interconnected processes.