Book Description

Environmental Ecology: The Impacts of Pollution and Other Stresses on Ecosystem Structure and Function deals with environmental studies on the ecological impacts of anthropogenic stresses. The book discusses more particularly the ways that anthropogenic or natural influences affect the quality of the inorganic and biotic components of the biosphere, as well as the human environment. The text discusses the sources of air pollution, the different toxic elements (naturally occurring contamination or anthropogenic sources), and acidifying substances or "acid rain." The author also cites several studies that deal with the reclamation of acidified bodies of water. Another topic the author addresses is declining forest areas; he then cites several case studies of this occurrence, such as those by Fowells, 1965; Hepting, 1971; and Auclair, 1987. The text also investigates the ecological effects of oil pollution caused during the refining process and transportation. The author then examines the general response patterns to ecological stress. The text is intended for advanced students of environmental ecology and environmental science, as well as for ecologists, environmentalists, and urban planners and officials.