The Balance of Nature?
The Balance of Nature?

Author: Stuart L. Pimm

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9780226668307

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Why "the balance of nature"? Resilience. Temporal variability and the individual species. The effects of food-web structure. The variability of the environment. Nonlinear dynamics, strange attractors, and chaos. Extinctions. Species differences and community structure as explanations of why introductions fail. Patterns in species composition. Food-web structure and community persistence. Community assembly; or why are there so many kinds of communities? Small-scale experimental removals of species. Food webs and resistance. Changes in total density and species composition. The consequences of introductions and extinctions. Multispecies models and their limitations. Conclusions and caveats.

The Balance of Nature
The Balance of Nature

Author: John C. Kricher

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2009-04-27

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1400830265

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The idea of a balance of nature has been a dominant part of Western philosophy since before Aristotle, and it persists in the public imagination and even among some ecologists today. In this lively and thought-provoking book, John Kricher demonstrates that nature in fact is not in balance, nor has it ever been at any stage in Earth's history. He explains how and why this notion of a natural world in balance has endured for so long, and he shows why, in these times of extraordinary human influence on the planet's ecosystems, it is critical that we accept and understand that evolution is a fact of life, and that ecology is far more dynamic than we ever imagined. The Balance of Nature traces the fascinating history of the science of ecology and evolutionary biology, from the discipline's early innovators to the advent of Darwin and evolution, to the brilliant and inquisitive scientific minds of today. Blending insights and entertaining stories from his own remarkable life in science, Kricher reveals how evolution is a powerful engine that drives ecological change, how nature is constantly in flux and, in effect, quite naturally out of balance--and how notions to the contrary are misguided and ultimately hazardous to us all. The Balance of Nature forcefully argues that an understanding of the dynamic nature of ecology and evolution is essential to formulating policies of environmental ethics to guide humanity toward a more responsible stewardship of our planet's ecosystems.

The Balance of Nature and Human Impact
The Balance of Nature and Human Impact

Author: Klaus Rohde

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2013-02-14

Total Pages: 431

ISBN-13: 1107019613

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Explores equilibrium and non-equilibrium in undisturbed and disturbed ecological systems, examining how human activities affect the balance/imbalance of nature.

Nature Out of Balance
Nature Out of Balance

Author: Merrie-Ellen Wilcox

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Published: 2021-02-16

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1459823974

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Invasive species threaten local ecosystems and the planet’s biodiversity, but are they all as bad as we think they are? Plants, animals, insects and fish are moving in. In Nature Out of Balance:How Invasive Species Are Changing the Planet author Merrie-Ellen Wilcox profiles all-star invasive species around the world, starting in her own neighbourhood, and warns that humans are the most invasive species of all. We find out how and why species become invasive, what we can do to stop their spread and whether it’s time to think differently about invasive species that are here to stay.

The Secret Wisdom of Nature
The Secret Wisdom of Nature

Author: Peter Wohlleben

Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd

Published: 2019-03-05

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1771643897

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“As you read these pages you will understand why I so admire [Peter Wohlleben] and am so in love with his work.”—JANE GOODALL Nature is full of surprises: deciduous trees affect the rotation of the Earth, cranes sabotage the production of Iberian ham, and coniferous forests can make it rain. But what are the processes that drive these incredible phenomena? And why do they matter? In The Secret Wisdom of Nature, master storyteller and international sensation Peter Wohlleben takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of the vast natural systems that make life on Earth possible. In this tour of an almost unfathomable world, Wohlleben describes the fascinating interplay between animals and plants and answers such questions as: How do they influence each other? Do lifeforms communicate across species boundaries? And what happens when this finely tuned system gets out of sync? By introducing us to the latest scientific discoveries and recounting his own insights from decades of observing nature, one of the world’s most famous foresters shows us how to recapture our sense of awe so we can see the world around us with completely new eyes. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

The Sacred Balance
The Sacred Balance

Author: David Suzuki

Publisher: Greystone Books

Published: 2009-05-01

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 1926685490

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In this extensively revised and enlarged edition of his best-selling book, David Suzuki reflects on the increasingly radical changes in nature and science — from global warming to the science behind mother/baby interactions — and examines what they mean for humankind’s place in the world. The book begins by presenting the concept of people as creatures of the Earth who depend on its gifts of air, water, soil, and sun energy. The author explains how people are genetically programmed to crave the company of other species, and how people suffer enormously when they fail to live in harmony with them. Suzuki analyzes those deep spiritual needs, rooted in nature, that are a crucial component of a loving world. Drawing on his own experiences and those of others who have put their beliefs into action, The Sacred Balance is a powerful, passionate book with concrete suggestions for creating an ecologically sustainable, satisfying, and fair future by rediscovering and addressing humanity’s basic needs.

Nature in the Balance
Nature in the Balance

Author: Dieter Helm

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 437

ISBN-13: 0199676887

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This book addresses the economic and policy issues involved in biodiversity protection. It brings together conceptual and empirical work on valuation, international agreements, the policy instruments, and the institutions.

The Nature of Balance
The Nature of Balance

Author: Tim Lebbon

Publisher: Wildside Press LLC

Published: 2001-08-01

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 0966896874

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One morning the world does not wake up. Millions lie dead in their beds, victims of their own dreams of falling. There are survivors ... but the world they emerge into is changing rapidly. Humanity is no longer the dominant species. Now, Nature has the upper hand.

Restoring the Balance
Restoring the Balance

Author: John A. Vucetich

Publisher: JHU Press

Published: 2021-10-12

Total Pages: 411

ISBN-13: 1421441551

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"A renowned scientist studies wolves on a wilderness island, searching for what it means to better relate to the natural world"--

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function

Author: Ernst-Detlef Schulze

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 527

ISBN-13: 3642580017

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The biota of the earth is being altered at an unprecedented rate. We are witnessing wholesale exchanges of organisms among geographic areas that were once totally biologically isolated. We are seeing massive changes in landscape use that are creating even more abundant succes sional patches, reductions in population sizes, and in the worst cases, losses of species. There are many reasons for concern about these trends. One is that we unfortunately do not know in detail the conse quences of these massive alterations in terms of how the biosphere as a whole operates or even, for that matter, the functioning of localized ecosystems. We do know that the biosphere interacts strongly with the atmospheric composition, contributing to potential climate change. We also know that changes in vegetative cover greatly influence the hydrology and biochemistry ofa site or region. Our knowledge is weak in important details, however. How are the many services that ecosystems provide to humanity altered by modifications of ecosystem composition? Stated in another way, what is the role of individual species in ecosystem function? We are observing the selective as well as wholesale alteration in the composition of ecosystems. Do these alterations matter in respect to how ecosystems operate and provide services? This book represents the initial probing of this central ques tion. It will be followed by other volumes in this series examining in depth the functional role of biodiversity in various ecosystems of the world.