Opportunities in and Approaches to the Study of Angolan Ecology

Abstract

This Chapter presents an African perspective to the interdisciplinary science of ecology. It explains why an ecological understanding of the structure and functioning of ecosystems is critical to achieving the sustainable use of the biosphere. It describes how the spatial and temporal scales of pattern reflect biological organisation from individuals to communities to ecoregions. It introduces the student to the scientific method, and outlines the structure of the book, guiding its use in the phased steps of the learning process. Its key message is that the ecological whole is greater than the sum of its parts.