1st Edition

Ecology and Applied Environmental Science

By Kimon Hadjibiros Copyright 2014
    290 Pages 53 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    290 Pages 53 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Ecology and Applied Environmental Science addresses the impact of contemporary environmental problems by using the main principles of scientific ecology. It offers a brief yet comprehensive explanation of ecosystems based on energy, populations, and cycles of chemical elements. The book presents a variety of scientific ecological issues and uses these to examine a range of environmental problems while considering potential engineering, scientific, and managerial solutions. It takes an engineering approach and avoids excessive biological detail, while introducing ecology with a systemic approach. The book examines categories of organisms as well as the physical and chemical processes that affect them. It refers to the dynamics of populations and analysis of their major mutual influences, elaborates on the roles of primary production, limiting factors, energy flow, and circulation of chemical substances in the ecosystems, and presents the basic functions of aquatic ecosystems.

    The author considers important issues related to environmental degradation of forests, aquatic habitats, coastal zones, other natural landscapes, and urban areas, includes a survey of problems related to waste and toxic and radioactive substances, and presents the greenhouse effect and impacts from climate change. He discusses environmental management prospects and the potential for technological control of pollution from liquid, solid, and gaseous waste. He also highlights existing tools for environmental management, ecological and social aspects of biodiversity and landscape protection, and the contrast between development and environment in combination with ideas about sustainability.

    The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

    Part 1

    Ecological Systems

    Systems and Ecosystems

    The Concept of System

    Concept and Use of Models

    System State and Stability

    The Ecosystem as a System

    Mathematical Models of Ecosystems

    Organisms and Environmental Factors

    Categories of Organisms

    Chemical Composition of the Cell

    Metabolism—Enzymes

    Storage of Energy

    Photosynthesis—Respiration—Chemosynthesis

    Limiting Nutrient

    Interaction of Organisms and Environment

    Organisation at Population Level

    Population and Ecosystem

    Population Dynamics

    Population Size Variation Models

    Interactions between Two Populations

    Natural Selection and Evolution

    Survival Strategies of Populations

    The Human Population

    Organisation at the Ecosystem Level

    Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

    Limiting Factors in Various Environments

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    Ecosystems’ Change in Time

    Functions of Aquatic Ecosystems

    Part 2

    Fundamentals of Environmental Problems

    Values, Alterations and Degradation of the Natural Landscape

    Man’s Historical Influence on the Biosphere

    Terrestrial Ecosystems

    Aquatic Environment

    Coastal Zones

    Biodiversity and Landscape

    The Environment in the City

    The Urban Environment

    The City and Urban Activities

    Cities in the Developing World

    Cities in Industrial Countries

    Noise Pollution

    Pollution from Urban Solid Waste

    Indoor Pollution

    Green and Open Spaces

    Toxic Pollution

    Toxic Pollutants, Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

    Toxic Synthetic Organic Compounds

    Toxic Pollution from Metals and Inorganic Substances

    Radioactivity

    Water Pollution

    Sources and Impacts of Water Pollution

    Organic Matter—Oxygen Depletion

    Phosphorus and Nitrogen—Eutrophication

    Pathogenic Microorganisms—Contamination

    Toxic Water Pollutants

    Oil

    Thermal Pollution

    Air Pollution and Global Change

    Sources and Local Implications of Air Pollutants

    Acid Rain

    Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone

    The Greenhouse Effect

    Part 3

    Management of Environmental Problems

    Pollution Control Technology

    Dealing with Water Pollution

    Dealing with Atmospheric Pollution

    Urban Solid Waste Management

    Tools for Environmental Analysis, Evaluation and Management

    Environmental Management

    Definition and Assessment of Impacts on the Environment

    Environmental Indices and Indicators

    Life Cycle Analysis

    Environmental Audits

    Eco-Labels

    Environmental Certification

    Geographic Information System

    Environmental Impact Assessment

    Information Access and Participation in Decision Making

    Biodiversity and Landscape Protection

    Multiple Dimensions of Nature Protection

    Protection of Biodiversity

    and the Landscape as a Social Issue

    Methods of Biodiversity Conservation

    Environment and Development

    Impacts of Technology

    The ‘Development versus Environment’ Dilemma

    Sustainable Development

    Ecological Approaches of Development

    Future Prospects

    Selected Bibliography

    Appendix

    Biography

    Kimon Hadjibiros is a physicist specialising in ecology and a Professor in the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. He has more than twenty five years' experience of teaching ecology for engineers, environmental management and policy.

    "A comprehensive book, useful for students, engineers and citizens; it explains basic environmental functions, problems and mitigation tools."
    ––Roger Frank, Professor, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris

    "An interesting and for the most part, very readable book. Recommended."
    Noise Control Engineering Journal, January-February 2014

    "This comprehensive title will be useful for students and engineers but also for the wider public interested in environmental issues, because special emphasis is given to the examination of fundamental concepts that will contribute to the understanding and interpretation of ecological phenomena."
    International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry