The Ecosystem as an Object for Research Holism versus Reductionism Interpreting Ecosystem Reality Ecosystem Structure Complexity and Self-Organization Energy Flows through the Biosphere Brief History of the Biosphere. Conservation Principles Space Conservation Mass Conservation Energy Conservation: Thermodynamics' First Principle Energy Dissipation The Second Principle Dissipative Structures Irreversible Processes Entropy Production A Perspective from Information and Systems Theory Information: Definition and Measure Thermodynamic Entropy and Shannont InformationSolar Energy and InformationEcological Network Analysis Exergy Ecological Processes: An Overview Section II Physical Processes Space and Time Scale and Hierarchy Space Delimitation: Boundaries Flows through Open Systems Equilibrium, Stability, and Steady State Mass Transport Advection and Diffusion Dispersion Mass Balance and Reactors Settling and Resuspension Transport in Porous Media Transport at Interfaces Reaeration Volatilation Transport over Membranes Energetic Factors Solar Radiation Light Extinction Evapotranspiration Effects of Waves in Aquatic Ecosystems Section III Chemical Processes Chemical Reactions Chemical Equilibrium Enzymatic Processes Redox Acid-Base Solutions, Precipitatiorg and Flocculation Chemical Lysis Hydrolysis Proteolysis Photolysis Phase Partition Adsorption and Partition of Organic Compounds Ion Exchange Complex Formation Activities and Activity Coefficients Section IV Biological Processes Biogeochemical Cycles Oxygen Cycle Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions Carbon Cycle and Biosphere Stability Conditions Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorus Cycle Photosynthesis Growth Metabolic Growth Model Allometric Principles Primary Production Limitation Rationale behind Michaelis-Menten Nutrient Limitation Temperature Dependence LightDependence Colimitation Respiration Nutrient and Metal Uptake Excretion Fixation Mortality Production of Upper Trophic Levels Grazing Predation Microbial Processes... Microbial Loop Role of Detritus Biological Decomposition Ecotoxicological Processes Biodegradation Bioaccumulation, Bioconcentration, and Biomagnification Equilibrium between Spheres; Partition of Toxic Substances among Air, Water, Soil, and Biota Atmosphere-Hydrosphere (Henry's Law Hydrosphere-Lithosphere (Adsorption) Hydrosphere-Biospherą Atmosphere-Biosphere, and Lithosphere-Biosphere Biological Interactions Adaptation and Shift in Species Composition Competition Other Biological lnteractions Trophic Networks Section V Landscape Processes Aquatic Ecosystems Eutrophication Lakes Wetlands, Transitional Water Ecosystems Rivers open Sea Fishery Terrestrial Ecosystems Decomposition of Organic Matter in Soil Toxic Substances in Soil Erosion and Leaching Ecosystem Transitions Landscapes and Urban Ecosystems Landscape Processes Population Growth Environmental Processes and Urban Ecosystems Urban Solid Waste Management The Atmosphere Atnospheric Pollution by Gases and Particles Modifying the Distribution Patterns Ozone Depletion Henry's Law Acidification Appendix: The Double Logarithmic Representation