The Concept of the Ecosystem

Abstract

One of the ends to which science directs itself is the development of an encompassing theory. In ecology, the principle of the ecosystem provides such a unifying framework within which specialized study at the individual, population and community level con be meaningfully conducted. The concept of the ecosystem as an ecological unit comprtstng living and nonliving components interacting to produce a stable system is not new. Those 1'.'110 have read more or less consecutively in this anthology have recognized that many ecologists discussed the inter­ relations of a particular biotic assemblage with its environment and the interrelations of biotic units within the assemblage. However, the theoretical development of the concept and the implementing of studies oriented to its clarification are largely products of the period since 1940, the major impetus occurring in the 1950's.