Woodland Conservation and Management

Kids, Natural World, Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Education & Teaching, Science & Nature, Science
Cover of the book Woodland Conservation and Management by George Peterken, Springer Netherlands
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: George Peterken ISBN: 9789400948549
Publisher: Springer Netherlands Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: George Peterken
ISBN: 9789400948549
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

Professor John Harper, in his recent Population Biology of Plants (1977), made a comment and asked a question which effectively states the theme of this book. Noting that 'one of the consequences of the development of the theory of vegetational climax has been to guide the observer's mind forwards', i. e. that 'vegetation is interpreted as a stage on the way to something' , he commented that 'it might be more healthy and scientifically more sound to look more often backwards and search for the explanation of the present in the past, to explain systems in relation to their history rather than their goal'. He went on to contrast the 'disaster theory' of plant succession, which holds that communities are a response to the effects of past disasters, with the 'climax theory', that they are stages in the approach to a climax state, and then asked 'do we account most completely for the characteristics of a population by a knowledge of its history or of its destiny?' Had this question been put to R. S. Adamson, E. J. Salisbury, A. G. Tansley or A. S. Watt, who are amongst the giants of the first forty years of woodland ecology in Britain, their answer would surely have been that understanding lies in a knowledge of destiny. Whilst not unaware of the historical facts of British woodlands, they were preoccupied with ideas of natural succession and climax, and tended to interpret their observations in these terms.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Professor John Harper, in his recent Population Biology of Plants (1977), made a comment and asked a question which effectively states the theme of this book. Noting that 'one of the consequences of the development of the theory of vegetational climax has been to guide the observer's mind forwards', i. e. that 'vegetation is interpreted as a stage on the way to something' , he commented that 'it might be more healthy and scientifically more sound to look more often backwards and search for the explanation of the present in the past, to explain systems in relation to their history rather than their goal'. He went on to contrast the 'disaster theory' of plant succession, which holds that communities are a response to the effects of past disasters, with the 'climax theory', that they are stages in the approach to a climax state, and then asked 'do we account most completely for the characteristics of a population by a knowledge of its history or of its destiny?' Had this question been put to R. S. Adamson, E. J. Salisbury, A. G. Tansley or A. S. Watt, who are amongst the giants of the first forty years of woodland ecology in Britain, their answer would surely have been that understanding lies in a knowledge of destiny. Whilst not unaware of the historical facts of British woodlands, they were preoccupied with ideas of natural succession and climax, and tended to interpret their observations in these terms.

More books from Springer Netherlands

Cover of the book Drought Management on Farmland by George Peterken
Cover of the book Some Remarks on Selective Migration by George Peterken
Cover of the book Philosophies of Nature: The Human Dimension by George Peterken
Cover of the book The Origins of American Philosophy of Education by George Peterken
Cover of the book Environmental and Agricultural Modelling: by George Peterken
Cover of the book Gondwana Landscapes in southern South America by George Peterken
Cover of the book The Search for a Methodology of Social Science by George Peterken
Cover of the book Evolution and Constitution by George Peterken
Cover of the book Managing Intermediate Size Cities by George Peterken
Cover of the book Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry by George Peterken
Cover of the book A Comparative Geography of China and the U.S. by George Peterken
Cover of the book Applied Polymer Light Microscopy by George Peterken
Cover of the book Microsystems Dynamics by George Peterken
Cover of the book Remaining Issues in the Decommissioning of Nuclear Powered Vessels by George Peterken
Cover of the book Indian foreign policy and the border dispute with China by George Peterken
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy