Eugene P. ODUM – Alumni
Foundation Professor of Zoology – University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY
1971 ( Third Edition ) :
W. B. Saunders, Comp. Philadelphia – London - Toronto
Practice has caught up with theory
in ecology. The holistic approach and ecosystem theory, as emphasized in the
first two editions of this book, are now matters of world-wide concern. People
in general have accepted the root meaning of the word "ecology," which
refers to the whole environmental "house" in which we live. Thus, to
many persons ecology now stands for the study of "the totality of man and
environment." Although the same general format which students and teachers
found useful in the previous edition has been retained, the third edition is
greatly expanded and updated in light of the inereasing importance of the
subject in human affairs. All chapters from the second edition have been
extensively revised; three completely new chapters have been added to Part 1,
and Part 3 has been completely rewritten. Illustrative material and references
have been more than doubled, and two-thirds of the figures and tables are new
to the third edition.
In revising textbooks one worries
about the "dinosaur syndrome." Sometimes textbooks become so enlarged
in successive editions that the brevity and simplicity that made them
successful in the early editions is lost. To avoid this contingency I have
structured the third edition so that it is three books in one, each of which
can serve a dif ferent purpose.
Book
No. 1. This involves the macroscopic or
"big picture" ecology as it relates to human affairs: Chapters 1
through 4, plus 9, 15, 16, and 21. These eight chapters provide a review of
ecology for the concerned citizen, the student of the social sciences, the
humanities, or the professions (law, medicine, engineering, and so forth), and
for the specialist in science, government, or industry. Also this group of
chapters provides a reference base for campus-wide courses in "man and
environment" or "human ecology."
Book
No. 2. For the undergraduate college
course in ecology, Part 1 (Chapters 1 through 10) and Chapters 15, 16, and 21
(a total of 13 chapters), with Part 2 and other chapters in Part 3 as reference
for specific field or laboratory work, is recommended.
Book
No. 3. The whole book (21 chapters) is a
comprehensive reference work on principles, environments, and ecological
technology. It is also a textbook for graduate courses.
Numerous cross-references in all the
chapters make it feasible to begin reading at any point in the book, or to
select various combinations of chapters as needed.
As was true in the first two
editions, this edition owes much to my brother, Howard T. Odum. His
contributions to the second edition, especially to Chapter 3 (Principles and
Concepts Pertaining to Energy in Ecological Systems), have been retained and
expanded. His highly original approaches to systems ecology, now incorporated
in a separate book (see H. T. Odum, 1971), are cited in a number of different
chapters. I am also indebted to my son, William E. Odum, for ideas and the use
of his unpublished data. Without the understanding and encouragement of my
wife, Martha Ann, who also assisted with the illustrations and index, I would
never have been able to face the task of revising subject matter that is
expanding so rapidly in scope. I am most appreciative of the very great
personal encouragement provided through all three editions of this book by
Tyler Buchenau, recently retired as College Editor at the W. B. Saunders
Company. The staffs of the editorial and production departments of Saunders
have been unfailing in their dedication to making this edition a reality
despite my many false starts, delays, and changes in manuscript and proof. My
thanks go also to Gail McCord, Ann Young, and Joseph Mahoney here at the
University of Georgia for their dedicated work on manuscript and proof.
This book is very much a product of
concepts and research of students and colleagues who have been associated with
the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia during the past 25 years.
In addition to special chapters and sections, which are credited, the work of
Institute members and former students is cited in practically every chapter; their
published research makes up an impressive part of the bibliography at the end
of the book. It is with great pleasure that I dedicate the third edition to the
following staff members (past and present) and former students:
Gary W. Barrett, Robert J. Beyers,
Claude E. Boyd, U. Eugene Brady, Joel H. Braswell, Alicja Breymeyer, I. Lchr
Brisbin, Paul R. Burkholder, Larry D. Caldwell, James L. Carmon, E. L. Cheatum,
Edward Chin, David C. Coleman, Clyde E. Connell, G. Dennis Cooke, William B.
Cosgrove, John W. Crenshaw, Jr., William H. Cross, D. A. Crossley, Jr.,
Rossiter H. Crozier, Armando A. de la Cruz, Michael D. Dahlberg, Howard E.
Daugherty, Leslie B. Davenport, Jr., Robert Davis, Michael Dix, Richard
Dugdale, Ricliard G. Eagon, Alfred C. Fox, Dirk Frankenberg, John B. Gentry, J.
Whitfield Gibbons, Cameron E. Gifford, Frank B. Golley, C. Philip Goodyear,
Robert W. Gorden, Robert E. Gordon, Albert G. Green, Jr., Carl W. Helms, David
L. Hicks, Kinji Hogetsu, Milton N. Hopkins, Jr., James D. Howard, John H. Hoyt,
Melvin T. Huish, Robert L. Humphries, Preston Hunter, Kermit Hutcheson, James
H. Jenkins, Robert E. Johannes, A. Stephen Johnson, A. Sydney Johnson, Philip
Johnson, David W. Johnston, Marvin P. Kahl, Herbert W. Kale II, Hiroya
Kawanabe, Stephen H. King, Edward J. Kucnzlcr, Ceorge H. Lauff, Thomas L.
Linton, Jack I. Lowe, Joseph J. Mahoney, Jr., R. Larry Marchinton, Frederick
Marland, Timothy G. Marples, James A. Marsh, William H. Mason, Bernard S.
Martof, J. Frank McCormick, Wayne McDiffett, John T. McGinnis, Terry A.
McGowan, Edward F. Menhinick, Jiro Mishima, Carl D. Monk, Syuiti Mori, Daniel
J. Nelson, Robert P. Nicholls, Robert A. Norris, Howard D. Orr, Bernard C.
Patten, William J. Payne, George A. Petrides, Gayther L. Plummer, Lawrence R.
Pomeroy, Steven E. Pomeroy, Marvin M. Provo, Ernest E. Provost, H. Ronald
Pulliam, Robert A. Ragotzkie, Robert J. Reimold, Mervin Reines, David T.
Rogers, Jr., Berton Roffman, Lech Ryszkowski, Herbert H. Ross, Masako Satomi,
Claire L. Schelske, James E. Schindler, Jay H. Schnell, Donald C. Scott, Homer
F. Sharp, L. Roy Shenton, John L. Shibley, Alfred E. Smalley, Michael H. Smith,
Allen D. Stovall, Wallace A. Tarpley, John M. Teal, James P. Thomas, Robert L.
Todd, Elliot J. Tramer, J. Bruce Wallace, Kenneth L. Webb, Harold E. Welch,
William J. Wiebe, Richard G. Wiegert, William K. Willard, Richard B. Williams,
John E. Wood, and J. David Yount.
EUGENE P. ODUM
Athens, Georgia
CONTENTS
Part 1
BASIC
ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION: THE SCOPE OF ECOLOGY
1.
Ecology-Its
Relation to Other Sciences and Its Relevance to Human Civilization
2.
The
Subdivisions of Ecology.
3.
About
Models
Chapter 2
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS PERTAINING
TO THE ECOSYSTEM
1.
Concept
of the Ecosystem
2.
The
Biological Control of the Chemical
3.
Production
and Decomposition in
4.
Homeostasis
of the Ecosystem
Chapter 3
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS PERTAINING
TO ENERGY IN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
1.
Review
of Fundamental Concepts Related to Energy
2.
The
Energy Environment
3.
Concept
of Productivity
4.
Food
Chains, Food Webs, and Trophic Levels
5.
Metabolism
and Size of Individuals
6.
Trophic
Structure and Ecological Pyramids
7.
Summarization:
Ecosystem Energetics
Chapter 4
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS PERTAINING
TO BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
1.
Patterns
and Basic Types of Biogeochemical Cycles
2.
Quantitative
Study of Biogeochemical Cycles
3.
The
Sedimentary Cycle .
4.
Cycling
of Nonessential Elements
5.
Cycling
of Organic Nutrients
6.
Nutrient
Cycling in the Tropics
7.
Recycle
Pathways
8.
Nutrient
Cycling in the Tropics
Chapter 5
PRINCIPLES PERTAINING TO LIMITING
FACTORS
1.
Liebig's
"Law" of the Minimum
2.
Shelford's
"Law" of Tolerance
3.
Combined
Concept of Limiting Factors
4.
Conditions
of Existence as Regulatory Factors
5.
Brief
Review of Physical Factors of Importance as Limiting Factors
6.
Ecological
Indicators
Chapter 6
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS PERTAINING
TO ORGANIZATION AT THE COMMUNiTY LEVEL
1.
The
Biotic Community Concept
2.
Intracommunity
Classification, and Concept of Ecological Dominance
3.
Community
Analysis
4.
Species
Diversity in Commumties
5.
Pattern
in Communities
6.
Ecotones
and the Concept of Edge Effect
7.
Paleoecology:
Community Structure in Past Ages
Chapter 7
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS PERTAINING
TO ORGANIZATION AT THE POPULATION LEVEL
1.
Population
Group Properties
2.
Population
Density and Indices of Relative Abundance
3.
Basic
Concepts Regarding Hates
4.
Natality
5.
Mortality
6.
Population
Age Distribution
7.
The
Intrinsic Rate of Natural Increase
8.
Population
Growth Form and Concept of Carrying Capacity
9.
Population
Fluctuations.and.So called "Cyclic" Oscillations
Chapter 8
THE SPECIES AND THE INDIVIDUAL IN
THE ECOSYSTEM
1.
Concepts
of Habitat and Ecological Niche
2.
Ecological
Equivalents
3.
Character
Displacement: Sympatry,and Allopatry
4.
Natural
Selection: Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation
5.
Artificial
Selection: Domestication
6.
Biological
Clocks
7.
Basic
Behavioral Patterns
8.
Regulatory
and Compensatory, Behavior
9.
Social
Behavior
Chapter 9
DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF THE
ECOSYSTEM
1.
The
Strategy of Ecosystem Development
2.
Concept
of the Climax
3.
Relevance
of Ecosystem Development Theory to.Human Ecology ..
4.
Evolution
of the,
5.
Coevolution
6.
Group
Selection
Chapter 10
SYSTEMS ECOLOGY: THE SYSTEMS
APPROACH AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS IN ECOLOGY
By Carl J. Walters
Introduction
1.
The
Nature of Mathematical.Models
2.
The
Goals of Model Building
3.
The
Anatomy of Mathematical
4.
Basic
Mathematical Tools in Model Building
5.
Analysis
of Model Properties
6.
Approaches
to the Development.of Models
Part 2
THE
HABITAT APPROACH
Introduction
Chapter 11
FRESHWATER ECOLOGY
1.
The
Freshwater Environment: Types and Limiting
2.
Ecological
Classification of Freshwater
3.
The
Freshwater Biota (Flora and Fauna
4.
Lentic
Communities
5.
Lakes
6.
Ponds
7.
Lotic
(Running-Water)
8.
Longitudinal
Zonation in Streams
9.
Springs
Chapter 12
MARINE ECOLOGY
1.
The
Marine Environment
2.
The
Marine Biota
3.
Zonation
in the Sea
4.
Quantitative
Study of Plankton
5.
Communities
of the Marine Environment
Chapter 13
ESTUARINE ECOLOGY
1.
Definition
and Types
2.
Biota
and Productivity
3.
Food
Production Potential
4.
Summary
Chapter 14
TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY
1.
The
Terrestrial Environment
2.
The
Terrestrial Biota and Biogeographic
3.
General
Structure of Terrestrial Communities
4.
The
Soil Subsystem
5.
The
Vegetation Subsystem
6.
The
Permeants of the Terrestrial Environment
7.
Distribution
of Major Terrestrial Communities, the Biomes
Part 3
APPLICATIONS
AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduction
Chapter 15
RESOURCES.
1.
Conservation
of Natural Resources in
2.
Mineral
Resources
3.
Agriculture
and Forestry
4.
Wildlife
Management
5.
Aquaculture
6.
Range
Management
7.
Desalination
and Weather Modification
8.
Land
Use
Chapter 16
POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
1.
The
Cost of Pollution
2.
The
Kinds of Pollution
3.
The
Phases of Waste Treatment
4.
The
Strategy of Waste Management and
5.
Monitoring
Pollution
6.
Environmental
7.
Some
Problem Areas
Chapter 17
RADIATION ECOLOGY
1.
Review
of Nuclear Concepts and Terminology of Ecological Importance
2.
Comparative
Radiosensitivity
3.
Radiation
Effects at the Ecosystem
4.
The
Fate of Radionuclides in the Environment
5.
The
Fallout Problem
6.
Waste
Disposal
7.
Future
Radioecological Research
Chapter 18
REMOTE SENSING AS A TOOL FOR STUDY
AND MANAGEMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS
By Philip L. Johnson
1.
Physical
Basis for Remote Sensing
2.
Process
of Information
3.
Role
of Remote Sensing in Ecological Research
Chapter 19
PERSPECTIVES IN MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
By William J. Wiebe
1.
A
Brief History
2.
The
Question of Numbers
3.
The
Question of Recognition
4.
The
Question of Performance
5.
The
Question of Rate of Function
6.
Summary
Chapter 20
ECOLOGY OF SPACE TRAVEL
By G. Dennis Cooke
1.
Types
of Life-Support Systems
2.
Exobiology
3.
Summary
Chapter 21
TOWARD AN APPLIED HUMAN ECOLOGY
1.
Historical
Review
2.
The
Population Ecology of Man
3.
Components
for an Applied Human Ecology
4.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX WITH REFERENCE GLOSSARY
Comments