The Biosphere and Man

Abstract

Preceding chapters in this volume have dealt with the history of productivity study, methods of measurement, patterns of productivity in different kinds of communities, and some applications in research. Two topics remain: the characterization of the biosphere as a whole in terms of productivity and related properties, and consideration of man’s relationship to the biosphere. The first topic is the focus of the book as a whole, and it is summarized here as well as in Chapters 10 and 13. The second topic is inescapably problematic; we can offer only a viewpoint on it.