Review by Choice Review
In this excellent synthesis of the diverse European and North American views on landscape ecology, Ingegnoli (Univ. of Milan), a leading Italian scientist in the rapidly emerging field of landscape methodology and assessment, has brought together an amazing amount of information on complex landscape ecological theories, concepts, and indexes. He examines the foundations of landscape ecology, including traditional geography-vegetation relationships, patch-corridor matrices, pattern-process variability, and spatial modeling of diverse landscapes. He introduces a new approach to understanding landscape "pathology" or degradation and the use of an ecological index, the Biological Territorial Capacity, which expresses the capacity and complexity of vegetation for self-reequilibrium. Early chapters synthesize the basic principles of landscape ecology with emphasis on abiotic and biotic relationships, landscape structure, dynamic movements, and landscape transformations. Later chapters on landscape methodology and applications, which explore environmental sustainability, biological conservation, and environmental design and planning, are especially significant. The author concludes that, as human interactions with urban and surrounding landscapes increase, a widening disciplinary perspective of landscape ecology is necessary. Well written; numerous illustrations; excellent glossary. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels; ecologists, natural resource planners, and environmental engineers. M. J. Zwolinski University of Arizona
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
