Howard T. Odum

This text presents the basic concepts of systems ecology and human ecology in an accessible way. It integrates the basic concepts of systems ecology with human environmental decisions, making ecology relevant to human society. In addition, it revisits one of the most important texts in ecology 30 years later, and looks at the concepts relevant for today such as assigning value to ecologically provided goods and services and the role of technology in agriculture.

With its lush wetlands, miles of beaches, and wide array of colorful wildlife, Florida is a fascinating and important ecosystem to study. Using this state as a model, Environment and Society in Florida offers a whole systems approach to understanding the environment and discusses the interactions between human systems and natural systems. It addresses the complicated issues stemming from these interactions among population, resources, economics, and environment, and discusses how we may better manage these challenges in the future.

Ecological Microcosms is a seminal work which reviews the expanding field of enclosed ecosystem research, and relates the results and models of microcosm studies to general concepts in ecology. Microcosms are miniaturized pieces of our biosphere, ranging from streams and lakes to terraria, agroecosystems, and waste systems. The study of these simplified ecosystems is providing provocative insights into ecological principles as well as issues of environmental management and global stability. The authors have used the well-known thermodynamic approach of H.T. Odum and numerous computer simulations. The book also includes an evaluation of alternative mesocosm approaches for the support of humans in space, as well as appendices to aid in the teaching of environmental concepts using student-created microcosms. Ecological Microcosms will be of interest to ecologists, environmental engineers, policy makers and environmental managers, space scientists, and educators. Robert J. Beyers is a Professor of Biology at the University of South Alabama. Howard T. Odum is Graduate Research Professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida, and was awarded, with Eugene Odum, the 1987 Crafoord Prize in the Biosciences.

A Prosperous Way Down (2001), the last book by Howard T. and Elisabeth C. Odum, has shaped politics and planning as nations, states, and localities begin the search for ways to adapt to a future with vastly increased competition for energy.A Prosperous Way Down considers ways in which a future with less fossil fuel could be peaceful and prosperous. Although history records the collapse of countless civilizations, some societies and ecosystems have managed to descend in orderly stages, reducing demands and selecting and saving what is most important. The authors make recommendations for a more equitable and cooperative world society, with specific suggestions based on their evaluations of trends in global population, wealth distribution, energy sources, conservation, urban development, capitalism and international trade, information technology, and education. Available for the first time in paperback, this thoughtful, provocative book forces us to confront assumptions about our world 's future and provides both a steadying hand and a call to action with its pragmatic analysis of a global transition.

With its lush wetlands, miles of beaches, and wide array of colorful wildlife, Florida is a fascinating and important ecosystem to study. Using this state as a model, Environment and Society in Florida offers a whole systems approach to understanding the environment and discusses the interactions between human systems and natural systems. It addresses the complicated issues stemming from these interactions among population, resources, economics, and environment, and discusses how we may better manage these challenges in the future.

In this important new work, Howard T. Odum, widely acknowledged asthe father of systems ecology, lucidly explains his concept ofemergy, a measure of real wealth that provides a rational,science-based method of evaluating commodities, services, andenvironmental goods. Using specific real-world examples, Dr. Odumclearly demonstrates the revolutionary role of emergy inenvironmental management and policy making. Environmental Accounting: Emergy and Environmental Decision Makingoffers environmental professionals--policymakers, managers,ecologists, planners, developers, and activists--a systematicapproach to environmental and economic valuation that willeliminate much of the rancor and adversarial decision making thatoften plagues environmental issues. Specifically, this book: * Describes the theoretical basis, calculation procedures, andapplications of emergy * Introduces the concept of "transformity," the ratio of emergy(work put into a product) and energy (value received from theproduct) * Provides formulas for emergy calculations, procedures for makingan emergy evaluation table, and parameters for updating evaluations * Demonstrates the use of emergy to evaluate environments,minerals, waters, primary energy sources, economic developments,and international trade * Compares the emergy approach to environmental evaluation withothers Environmental Accounting: Emergy and Environmental Decision Makingwill help environmental decision makers and the society they servemaximize economic vitality with less trial and error, innovate withfewer failures, and adapt to change more rapidly. It provides thetools they need to arrive at the best policies in resourcemanagement, economics, and the environment. Balancing the economy and the environment-- from the father ofsystems ecology Increasing economic dependence on diminishing natural resources hassparked a highly charged debate over the use and fate of the worldenvironment. Environmental Accounting: Emergy and EnvironmentalDecision Making presents a unique method of environmentalmanagement based on maximizing real wealth, the whole economy, andthe public benefit. Renowned ecologist Howard T. Odum introduces the concept of emergyto provide a rational alternative to the tug-of-war over theworld's most vital assets. Emergy measures the energy put intomaking a product and is the cornerstone of Odum's revolutionarytext. This timely and important book offers key insights into: * Determining the real value of a product or service * Transformity, or the relationship between emergy (input) andenergy (output) * Stored wealth, available energy, and the final product * Balancing economic and environmental needs Environmental Accounting: Emergy and Environmental Decision Makingwill help economists, ecologists, policymakers, and planners makemore responsible, informed decisions to sustain economic andenvironmental development.

"Maximum Power" is a synthesis of the creative genius of Howard Thomas Odum as seen through his own words and those of his students, many of whom are now applying his ideas to the world in diverse ways. Offering the holistic, system-oriented thinking of Odum, this in-depth volume examines the interrelationship of humans and n"ature by integrating environment, energy, and economics. "Maximum Power traces the development of Odum's ideas with the objective of providing the conceptual and research history that has led to Odum's far-reaching ideas about making social decisions. The volume is organised along the chronological path that Odum himself followed, from ecology to ecological engineering to ecological economics to his controversial synthesis called 'emergy analysis'.

Using an energy systems language that combines energetics, kinetics, information, cybernetics, and simulation, Ecological and General Systems compares models of many fields of science, helping to derive general systems principles.First published as Systems Ecology in 1983, Ecological and General Systems proposes principles of self-organization and the designs that prevail by maximizing power and efficiency. Comparisons to fifty other systems languages are provided. Innovative presentations are given on earth homeostasis (Gaia); the inadequacy of presenting equations without network relationships and energy constraints; the alternative interpretation of high entropy complexity as adaptive structure; basic equations of ecological economics; and the energy basis of scientific hierarchy. Part I introduces energetics, hierarchy, and systems modeling. Part II features design elements: intersections, autocatalytic modules, loops, series, parallel elements, and webs. Part III includes embodied energy, spectra of energy quality, temperature, complexity, spatial distribution, and diversity. Part IV discusses production, consumption, ecosystems, succession, economic systems, anthropological models, urban and regional models, global biogeochemistry, and the universe.