Handbook of Ecological Indicators for Assessment of Ecosystem Health. 2010. (Applied Ecology and Environmental Management). figs. tabs. XIII, 484 p. gr8vo Hardcover.

The book presents a conceptual framework for selecting, evaluating, and validating ecological indicators of ecosystem health, such as thermodynamics, resilience estimates, exergy, and emergy indicators. This framework is applied in a series of chapters on major ecosystem types, including coastal areas, forests, wetlands, fisheries, and agricultural land. The authors take into account biodiversity, energy needs, ecological economics, and natural capital in their measurement of ecological health. Using material synthesized from a variety of books, journals, and private research, the book presents accounts of the indicators, used in several different types of ecosystems. Case studies highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each method as well. The book explains what is needed to apply the methods and indicators, including theoretical background and modeling techniques, to evaluate the state of a given ecosystem. It will be useful for a wide range of environmental managers, natural resource managers, land use planners, and policy makers in government and non-governmental organizations worldwide.