Preface. Biological and Chemical Perspectives of Ecosystem Disturbance

摘要: On a global scale, various human activities result in ecosystem disturbance. For example acid rain, growing mining industry, intensive agriculture and widespread urbanization are processes that have disturbed many aquatic terrestrial ecosystems. As consequence, the boundaries of forests grasslands been shifting, while soil erosion desertification reducing ability these systems to support biomass production. Wetlands particularly destroyed at an alarming rate. Extended flooding, high sedimentation rates or nutrient transportation loads, increased concentrations pollutants impacted soils vegetation, disrupting natural within ecosystems (Pezeshki et al., 2001). Ecosystem disturbance caused by open-cast leads new land surfaces usually difficult restore. There problems related restoration ecosystems, e.g. on mined land, because we still lack clear understanding functional chemistry spoil material (Bradshaw Huttl And even if succeed restoring ecosystem, one fundamental questions is matter debate whether not this development with sufficient integrity resemble state. In fact, disturbances brought about only altered physical chemical conditions sites landscapes, but also lead profound changes flora fauna now occurring most Moreover, basic specific interactions functions different take place remain be answered.