As the preservation of natural lands and the management of human- impacted environments move closer together under the name 'ecosystem management,' there is a strong need for guidelines that will help direct the process of planning of public and private lands. This book is a rich set of protocols that will direct the process of assessing the ecological make-up of lands for the purpose of guiding environmental decision-making.

Klappentext

A rich set of protocols for the process of assessing the ecological make-up of the land so as to guide environmental decision-making.

Inhalt

Introduction: Integrating Ecological Assessments - Mark E. Jensen and Patrick S. Bourgeron. A. BASIC PRINCIPLES. 1. An Overview of Ecological Assessment Principles and Applications - Mark E. Jensen, Norman L. Christensen, Jr., and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 2. A Theoretical Framework for Ecological Assessment - S.J. Turner and Alan R. Johnson. 3. Ecosystem Characterization and Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 4. Adaptive Ecosystems Assessment and Management: The Path of Last Resort? - S.S. Light. B. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. 5. Data Acquisition - Thomas J. Stohlgren. 6. Sampling Design and Statistical Inference for Ecological Assessment - Brian M. Steele. 7. General Data Collection and Sampling Design Considerations for Integrated Regional Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 8. Ecological Data Storage, Management and Dissemination - Ray Ford. 9. Integration of Physical, Biological and Socio-economic Information - D. Scott Slocombe. C. BASIC TECHNOLOGIES. 10. Remote Sensing Applied to Ecosystem Management - Henry M. Lachowski and Vicky C. Johnson. 11. Geographic Information Science and Ecological Assessment - Janet Franklin. 12. Decision Support for Ecosystem Management and Ecological Assessments - H. Michael Rauscher and Walter D. Potter. D. ANALYTICAL METHODS -- CONCEPTS. 13. Elements of Spatial Data Analysis in Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron and Marie-José Fortin and Hope C. Humphries. 14. Applications of Fractal Geometry and Percolation Theory to Landscape Analysis and Assessments - Bai-Lian Li. 15. Fuzzy Statistical and Modeling Approach to Ecological Assessments - Bai-Lian Li. 16. Measuring Ecosystem Values. - Kimberly Rollins. 17. Economic Linkages to Natural Resources - Daniel E. Chappelle. E. ANALYTICAL METHODS -- APPLICATIONS. 18. Ecosystem Structure and Function Modeling - Hope C. Humphries and Jill Baron. 19. Methods for Determining HistoricalRange of Variability - Hope C. Humphries and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 20. Representativeness Assessment - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 21. Methods of Economic Impact Analysis - Daniel E. Chappelle. F. ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERIZATION. 22. Elements of Ecological Land Classifications for Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 23. Dynamic Terrestrial Ecosystem Patterns and Processes - Stephanie P. Wilds and Peter S. White. 24. Ecological Classification and Mapping of Aquatic Systems - Mark E. Jensen, Iris A. Goodman, Christopher A. Frissell, C. Kenneth Brewer and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 25. Geomorphic Patterns, Processes, and Perspectives in Aquatic Assessment - Michael Hurley and Mark E. Jensen. 26. Assessment of Biotic Patterns in Freshwater Ecosystems - Christopher A. Frissell, N. LeRoy Poff, and Mark E. Jensen. 27. Characterizing the Human Imprint on Landscapes for Ecological Assessment - Daniel G. Brown. 28. Assessing Human Processes in Society- Environment Interactions - David J. Campbell. 29. Mapping Patterns of Human Use and Potential Resource Conflicts on Public Lands - James V. Schumacher, Roland L. Redmond, Melissa M. Hart, and Mark E. Jensen. G. CASE STUDIES. 30. The Great Lakes Ecological Assessment - David T. Cleland, Larry A. Leefers, J. Michael Vasievich, Thomas R. Crow, and Eunice A. Padley. 31. Upper Mississippi River Adaptive Environmental Assessment - S.S. Light. 32. Southern Appalachian Case Study - Charles Van Sickle. 33. Northern Forest Lands Case Study - Charles A. Levesque. 34. Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project - Russell T. Graham. H. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES. 35. Ecological Assessments and Implementing Ecosystem Management: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead - Rick Haeuber. Appendix -- LIST OF REVIEWERS. Index.