Large-Scale Ecology and Conservation Biology

What will the ecological consequences of rapid climatic change be? What rate of exploitation of deep sea fish stocks is sustainable? Can we predict the dynamics of epidemic diseases such as AIDS? Where should we direct our conservation efforts in the face of the accelerating rate of loss of biodiversity? A fundamental issue in our attempts to answer these and other questions, is whether we can make ecological predictions at a scale appropriate to the pressing environmental problems that need to be addressed. Most ecological theory has developed from studies conducted at a small scale within a single habitat. This book tackles the distinctive character of large scale ecological processes by considering three main topics. First, it examines the nature of large scale ecological processes and the adequacy of ecological concepts and models. Second, it addresses the practical problems of working at large scales, and the tools (such as remote sensing and GIS), that are available. Finally, it considers the social, economic and political issues associated with the application of ecological ideas in decision making and policy.