Ecological Engineering: Design Principles

Abstract

There is no cookbook available for ecological engineering design. The emergent properties of ecosystems do not lend themselves to a constant set of variables such as exists for chemistry (periodic table of elements) or mechanics (design table properties for steel or concrete). Each environmental setting for ecological engineering design will have a unique history and set of biotic and abiotic interactions. Ecological engineers are aware of and take advantage of the processes that are active in natural systems. This awareness comes from a thorough understanding of ecological theories that describe the ecosystem of interest to the designer. Naturally occurring ecosystem processes are partners in design, not obstacles to overcome and dominate. Important aspects of ecosystems that need to be accounted for in design include disturbance, diversity, heterogeneity, change, and self-organization at multiple scales in space and time. Using a standard design procedure, based on analyzing the ecosystem for which the design is applicable, allows for the documentation of responses and allows ecological engineering to be used to test ecological theories. Recent advances in ecological engineering involve designing for ecosystem services and meeting climate change challenges.