区域生态学的特点、学科定位及其与相邻学科的关系

区域生态学作为生态学的一门重要分支学科,起源于20世纪70年代的区域综合科学考察和环境污染调查,旨在研究区域生态环境问题形成背景和驱动因子,探讨区域生态环境问题解决的思路和方法。基于前人研究成果和文献综述,系统分析了区域生态学研究的特点,剖析了区域生态学的性质和学科定位。在此基础上进一步比较了区域生态学与景观生态学、生态系统生态学、区域自然地理学和宏观生态学的共性与差异。认为:(1)区域生态学研究对象是具有特定生态环境属性的区域生态综合体,既具有特定要素主导下的空间均质性,也具有多种要素耦合作用下的空间异质性特征,是一门问题导向的应用性基础学科;(2)区域生态学研究需要具有多元综合、问题导向和系统集成的思维,从多层次、多视角探讨区域生态环境问题的解决方案;(3)区域生态学属于宏观生态学研究的范畴,处于分子生态学、个体生态学、种群生态学、群落生态学、生态系统生态学、景观生态学、区域生态学和全球生态学这个生态学学科体系的较高层次。

The characteristics and subject orientation of regional ecology and its relationship with the other subjects

Regional ecology, as one of important subjects in ecology subject systems, originates from the regional comprehensive scientific survey and regional environmental pollution investigation. The primary objectives of regional ecology are devoted to study the background of regional environmental issues, their driving forces, and further seeking solutions to the existing environmental issues. However, the basic theory and methodology of regional ecology is still in development because of the complex research objects and the complex issues faced. In this paper, the characteristics and subject orientation of regional ecology was discussed based on previous studies and literature review. The differences between regional ecology and the other subjects such as landscape ecology, ecosystem ecology, regional physical geography, macro-ecology was compared. (1) The study object of regional ecology is the specific complex eco-region that was usually dominated by some specific issues. Such a specific complex eco-region has both spatial homogeneity from the predominant factor and spatial heterogeneity from the coupling effects of multiple factors. (2) Regional ecology is devoted to solve the regional environmental issues, thus it requires to have a logic mind of multiple-integration, issue-driving and systemic integration, and further to find the solutions to the regional environmental issues from multiple view-points and hierarchical thinking. (3) Regional ecology is in the higher position in ecology subject systems, i.e., from molecular ecology, individual ecology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, landscape ecology, regional ecology and global ecology.