Introduction to the Special Issue: Across the horizon: scale effects in global change research

摘要: As a result of the increasing speed and magnitude in which habitats worldwide are experiencing environmental change, making accurate predictions effects global change on ecosystems organisms that inhabit them have become an important goal for ecologists. Experimental modelling approaches aimed at understanding linkages between factors biotic responses numerous increasingly complex order to adequately capture multifarious dynamics associated with these relationships. However, constrained by resources, experiments often conducted small spatiotemporal scales (e.g. looking plot few square metres over years) low organizational levels (looking rather than ecosystems) spite both theoretical experimental work suggests ecological across can be dissimilar. This phenomenon has been hypothesized occur because mechanisms drive differ. A good example is effect elevated CO2 transpiration. While leaf level, transpiration reduced, stand increase area per unit ground increases. The reported net then highly dependent scale. special issue considers biological relevancy inherent patterns type response changing conditions, scales. collection papers attempts provide comprehensive treatment this help develop extent of, involved with, change.