Quo vadis Ökosystemforschung - Versuch einer Synthese

2001

S. 156-162

14 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200088075

Ecosystem research is dealing with a class of complex systems, certainly one of the most complex that can be found. Research on forest ecosystems has been performed in an interdisciplinary manner in Germany for about two decades now. A symposium was held to elucidate the current state and further direction of development in this field. Being a relatively young science, forest ecosystems ecology has gained significant achievements during its activity. The fundamental transfers of energy, water and chemical constituents were described and quantified (functional ecosystem ecology). Furthermore, structural aspects like species composition and interactions in vegetation and soil biota, growth and competition were investigated (structural ecosystem ecology). The integration of functional and structural aspects, however, remains a highly difficult and largely unresolved task. The focus of forest ecosystem research should be adjusted even more towards including human activities into the ecosystem model, because as a matter of fact all forests in densely populated regions with a long history of cultivation are strongly influenced by man. The goal should be to find practically applicable strategies for sustainable use and management of forest ecosystem, which can keep their ecological functions intact or restore them. To reach this goal, it is suggested to enhance the interdisciplinary approach by a "transdisciplinary" strategy, by which researchers may gain understanding and competence beyond their respective, relatively narrow fields of specialization.