K.J. Kirby and C.W.D. Gibson
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199605187
- eISBN:
- 9780191810039
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199605187.003.0004
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
This chapter examines the role of Wytham Woods in the field of ecological research. It describes the area's role in helping to understand how ecology works at the medium to large landscape scale. It ...
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This chapter examines the role of Wytham Woods in the field of ecological research. It describes the area's role in helping to understand how ecology works at the medium to large landscape scale. It emphasizes on how the Wytham landscape provides a test bed for researchers in finding out how would species might thrive in a changing environment. It briefly looks first into the woodland distribution in Oxfordshire, and explains the basis of retaining and managing ‘ancient’ woodlands. It describes the biological diversity of the woodlands, and studies the grasslands and fens located in Wytham. It also highlights the numerous species' movement between patches within the Wytham Woods and the changes in the relationship between Wytham and its surroundings.Less
This chapter examines the role of Wytham Woods in the field of ecological research. It describes the area's role in helping to understand how ecology works at the medium to large landscape scale. It emphasizes on how the Wytham landscape provides a test bed for researchers in finding out how would species might thrive in a changing environment. It briefly looks first into the woodland distribution in Oxfordshire, and explains the basis of retaining and managing ‘ancient’ woodlands. It describes the biological diversity of the woodlands, and studies the grasslands and fens located in Wytham. It also highlights the numerous species' movement between patches within the Wytham Woods and the changes in the relationship between Wytham and its surroundings.
Emily W. B. Russell Southgate
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780300225808
- eISBN:
- 9780300249590
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300225808.003.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Using a wide variety of examples, this chapter emphasizes evidence that all landscapes and ecosystems today reflect not only climate change but also intensive and extensive past human impacts. They ...
More
Using a wide variety of examples, this chapter emphasizes evidence that all landscapes and ecosystems today reflect not only climate change but also intensive and extensive past human impacts. They cannot be interpreted solely based on conditions evident today. The imprints of past human activities which can be obvious or subtle, must be unraveled for understanding the system today. Historical ecology integrates various drivers of change, and stability, using interdisciplinary methods, to provide a deeper understanding of structure and function today. Conservation seeks in some places to maintain ecosystems that have arisen over centuries or even millennia due to human impact, for example, ancient woodlands and upland meadows in Europe. In many parts of the world such ancient systems are reservoirs of high biodiversity. Historical research illuminates the historical factors that contribute to this diversity, assisting in planning for conservation. A major point is that ecologists are apt to make mistakes in interpreting patterns and processes as well as in conservation and restoration if they do not consider the history of sites, which provides evidence of past variability and of processes that have led to the current conditions of the system.Less
Using a wide variety of examples, this chapter emphasizes evidence that all landscapes and ecosystems today reflect not only climate change but also intensive and extensive past human impacts. They cannot be interpreted solely based on conditions evident today. The imprints of past human activities which can be obvious or subtle, must be unraveled for understanding the system today. Historical ecology integrates various drivers of change, and stability, using interdisciplinary methods, to provide a deeper understanding of structure and function today. Conservation seeks in some places to maintain ecosystems that have arisen over centuries or even millennia due to human impact, for example, ancient woodlands and upland meadows in Europe. In many parts of the world such ancient systems are reservoirs of high biodiversity. Historical research illuminates the historical factors that contribute to this diversity, assisting in planning for conservation. A major point is that ecologists are apt to make mistakes in interpreting patterns and processes as well as in conservation and restoration if they do not consider the history of sites, which provides evidence of past variability and of processes that have led to the current conditions of the system.
