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Ecological engineering is an emerging study of integrating ecology and engineering, concerned with the design, monitoring, and construction of ecosystems. According to Mitsch (1996) "the design of sustainable ecosystems intends to integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both".〔W.J. Mitsch & S.E. Jorgensen (1989), "Introduction to Ecological Engineering", In: W.J. Mitsch and S.E. Jorgensen (Editors), ''Ecological Engineering: An Introduction to Ecotechnology''. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 3-12.〕 == Overview == Ecological engineering emerged as a new idea in the early 1960s, but its definition has taken several decades to refine, its implementation is still undergoing adjustment, and its broader recognition as a new paradigm is relatively recent. Ecological engineering was introduced by Howard Odum and others〔H.T. Odum et al. (1963), ''Experiments with Engineering of Marine Ecosystems'', in: ''Publication of the Institute of Marine Science of the University of Texas'', 9: 374-403.〕 as utilizing natural energy sources as the predominant input to manipulate and control environmental systems. Mitsch and Jorgensen〔W.J. Mitsch and S.E. Jorgensen (1989), "Introduction to Ecological Engineering" In: W.J. Mitsch and S.E. Jorgensen (Editors), ''Ecological Engineering: An Introduction to Ecotechnology''. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 3-12.〕 wrote that ecological engineering is designing societal services such that they benefit society and nature, and later noted〔W.J. Mitsch (1993), "Ecological Engineering - A Cooperative Role with the Planetary Life Support Systems" in: ''Environmental Science & Technology'', 27: 438-45.〕〔W.J. Mitsch (1996), "Ecological Engineering: a new paradigm for engineers and ecologists", In: P.C. Schulze (Editor), ''Engineering Within Ecological Constraints''. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 114-132.〕 the design should be systems based, sustainable, and integrate society with its natural environment. Odum〔H.T. Odum (1989), "Ecological Engineering and Self-Organization" In: W.J. Mitsch and S.E. Jørgensen (Editors), Ecological Engineering: An Introduction to Ecotechnology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 79-101.〕 emphasized that self-organizational properties were a central feature to ecological engineering. Mitsch and Jørgensen〔 were the first to define ecological engineering and provide ecological engineering principles. Later they refined the definition and increased the number of principles.〔W.J. Mitsch & S.E. Jørgensen (2003), "Ecological engineering: A field whose time has come", in: ''Ecological Engineering'', 20(5): 363-377.〕 They defined and characterized ecological engineering in a 1989 book and clarified it further in their 2004 book (see Literature). They suggest the goal of ecological engineering is: # the restoration of ecosystems that have been substantially disturbed by human activities such as environmental pollution or land disturbance, and # the development of new sustainable ecosystems that have both human and ecological values. They summarized the five concepts key to ecological engineering as: # it is based on the self-designing capacity of ecosystems, # it can be a field test of ecological theory, # it relies on integrated system approaches, # it conserves non-renewable energy, and # it supports biological conservation. Bergen et al.〔S.D. Bergen et al. (2001), "Design Principles for Ecological Engineering", in: ''Ecological Engineering'', 18: 201-210.〕 defined ecological engineering as: # utilizing ecological science and theory, # applying to all types of ecosystems, # adapting engineering design methods, and # acknowledging a guiding value system. Barrett (1999) 〔Barrett, K. R. 1999. Ecological engineering in water resources: The benefits of collaborating with nature. Water International, Journal of the International Water Resources Association. v 24, p182-188.〕 offers a more literal definition of the term: "the design, construction, operation and management (that is, engineering) of landscape/aquatic structures and associated plant and animal communities (that is, ecosystems) to benefit humanity and, often, nature." Barrett continues: "other terms with equivalent or similar meanings include ecoteknology and two terms most often used in the erosion control field: soil bioengineering and biotechnical engineering. However, ecoengineering should not be confused with 'biotechnology' when describing genetic engineering at the cellular level, or 'bioengineering' meaning construction of artificial body parts." This engineering discipline combines basic and applied science from engineering, ecology, economics, and natural sciences for the restoration and construction of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The field of ecological engineering is increasing in breadth and depth as more opportunities to design and use ecosystems as interfaces between technology and environment are explored.〔Center for Wetlands, ''Ecological Engineering'', webtext 2007.〕 Implementation of ecological engineering has focused on the creation or restoration of ecosystems, from degraded wetlands to multi-celled tubs and greenhouses that integrate microbial, fish, and plant services to process human wastewater into products such as fertilizers, flowers, and drinking water. Potential applications of ecological engineering in cities have included the field of landscape architecture, urban planning, and urban horticulture,〔 which can be synthesized into urban stormwater management. Potential applications of ecological engineering in rural landscapes have included wetland treatment〔A.M. Nahlik and W.J. Mitsch. (2006), "Tropical Treatment Wetlands Dominated by Free-Floating Macrophytes for Water Quality Improvement in Costa Rica", in: ''Ecological Engineering'', 28: 246-257.〕 and community reforestation through traditional ecological knowledge.〔S.A.W. Diemont and others (2006), "Lancandon Maya Forest Management: Restoration of Soil Fertility using Native Tree Species", in: ''Ecological Engineering'', 28: 205-212.〕 Recent lifestyle and habitat planning examples include the permaculture movement. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ecological engineering」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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