This book presents the major findings of a 12-year ecological study of the Bornhöved Lake District, situated some 30 km south of Kiel. Historically speaking, the present research scheme, like comparable long-term ecosystem studies at Göttingen, Bayreuth, München, and Berchtesgaden, has been conceived as the core of a comprehensive ecological surveillance system for Germany (Ellenberg et al. 1978). Comprising three interrelated components, namely an ecological monitoring network, comparative ecosystem research, and an environmental specimen bank, this system is intended to promote both ecological science and planning and policy. In this connection the geo- and bioscientifically based ecosystem research aims at understanding the structure and functions of systems, the natural equilibrium and stress tolerance of singular components and the entire system against changes and disturbances from within and from outside, and the relationships between diversity, productivity, and stability. Thus, ecosystem research forms the indispensable basis for the rational analysis of the comprehensive data sets made available by ecological monitoring networks and for the adequate selection of plant, animal, and soil specimens for environmental specimen banking purposes.

Part I Research Programme and Study Area1 General Concept of the Research Programme and Methodology of InvestigationsOtto Fränzle, Ludger Kappen, Hans-Peter Blume, Klaus Dierssen, Ulrich Irmler, Winfrid Kluge, Uwe Schleuß and Joachim Schrautzer2 Ecological Setting of the Study AreaHans-Peter Blume, Otto Fränzle, Georg Hörmann, Ulrich Irmler, Winfried Kluge, Uwe Schleuß and Joachim SchrautzerPart II Structure and Function of Ecosystems in a Complex Landscape3 Ecophysiological Key Processes in Agricultural and Forest EcosystemsOliver Dilly, Christiane Eschenbach, Werner Leo Kutsch, Ludger Kappen and Jean Charles Munch4 Carbon and Energy Balances of Different Ecosystems and Ecosystem Complexes of the Bornhöved Lake DistrictWerner L. Kutsch, Georg Hörmann and Ludger Kappen5 Water Relations at Different ScalesGeorg Hörmann, Matthias Herbst and Christiane Eschenbach6 Site-Related Biocoenotic DynamicsUlrich Irmler, Oliver Dilly, Joachim Schrautzer and Klaus Dierssen7 Biocoenotic Interactions between Different EcotopesUlrich Irmler, Franz Hölker, Hans-Werner Pfeiffer, Walter Nellen and Hauke Reuter8 Element Fluxes in Atmosphere, Vegetation and SoilOtto Fränzle and Claus-Georg Schimming9 Transport Processes between Lake Belau and its Drainage BasinWinfrid Kluge and Otto Fränzle10 Lake BelauOtto Fränzle and Gerald Schernewski11 Ecological Gradients as Causes and Effects of Ecosystem OrganizationFelix Müller, Otto Fränzle, Claus-G SchimmingPart III From Research to Application12 An Indicator-Based Characterization of the Bornhöved Key EcosystemsJoachim Schrautzer, Felix Müller, Hans-Peter Blume, Uwe Heinrich,Ernst-Walter Reiche¿, Uwe Schleuß and Klaus Dierssen13 Ecosystem Research and Sustainable Land Use ManagementJan Barkmann, Hans-Peter Blume, Ullrich Irmler, Winfried Kluge, Werner Kutsch, Heinrich Reck, Ernst-Walter Reiche ¿, Michael Trepel, Wilhelm Windhorst and Klaus Dierssen14 Conclusions: Perspectives for an Integrative Landscape Planning, Management and MonitoringKlaus Dierssen and Jan Barkmann