TY - CHAP AU - Sukhmander Singh ED - Mahamane Ali Y1 - 2012-04-27 PY - 2012 T1 - Sustainable Solutions for an Environmentally and Socially Just Society N2 - The ecosystems present a great diversity worldwide and use various functionalities according to ecologic regions. In this new context of variability and climatic changes, these ecosystems undergo notable modifications amplified by domestic uses of which it was subjected to. Indeed the ecosystems render diverse services to humanity from their composition and structure but the tolerable levels are unknown. The preservation of these ecosystemic services needs a clear understanding of their complexity. The role of the research is not only to characterise the ecosystems but also to clearly define the tolerable usage levels. Their characterisation proves to be important not only for the local populations that use it but also for the conservation of biodiversity. Hence, the measurement, management and protection of ecosystems need innovative and diverse methods. For all these reasons, the aim of this book is to bring out a general view on the biogeochemical cycles, the ecological imprints, the mathematical models and theories applicable to many situations. BT - The Functioning of Ecosystems SP - Ch. 5 UR - https://doi.org/10.5772/35716 DO - 10.5772/35716 SN - PB - IntechOpen CY - Rijeka Y2 - 2024-03-29 ER -