Encyclopedia of Ecology, 3rd Edition

Vol. 3. Elsevier USA, 2026.

Sandlerskiy R.

Academic editor: B. Fath

Under the general editorship: B. Fath

Encyclopedia of Ecology, Third Edition, Four Volume Set - with over 300 chapters - once again provides a comprehensive reference work covering the current ideas and practices in ecology.
Ecology is the ideal field for studying complex, adaptive, and self-organizing systems and by observing and understanding ecosystems, it provides valuable insights into creating sustainable systems. This knowledge is essential for addressing challenges in areas such as land management, environmental policy development, urban metabolism, industrial symbiosis, the global commons, and renewable energy.
Ecology traditionally focused on measuring species abundance and distribution through field observations to establish a baseline understanding of nature. More recently, it emphasizes the relationships within populations, among species, and with their environment—networks of life central to this encyclopedia. Understanding these ecological connections is key to sustainability science and human-nature interactions. Current research spans biodiversity loss, soil conservation, sustainable agriculture, emerging diseases, eco-mimicry, and climate change. Ecological education and environmental literacy are increasingly integrated into curricula.
Written and edited by an international team of experts and with special focus on interdisciplinary work in socio-ecological systems, this 3rd edition again links theory with application, and helps allow students needing entry-level summaries of specific ecology topics to create connections and find relevant, more in-depth resources in this exciting field.

Chapters

Thermodynamic Properties of Landscape Cover

Sandlerskiy R., , in: Encyclopedia of Ecology, 3rd EditionVol. 3.: Elsevier USA, 2026. Ch. 24 P. 208–218.

Thermodynamic variables estimated by multispectral remote survey allows us to evaluate energy balance components, that are reflective of the nature of the physiological processes: photosynthesis, circulation of moisture and biogenic elements by living matter as a function of the landscape components: relief, soil and vegetation. The series of multispectral information provide us a universal tool for ...

Added: August 9, 2026

Keywords: ecosystems, socio-ecological systems, Aquatic Ecology, General Ecology, Ecological Data, Modeling, and Systems Analysis, Evolutionary Ecology, Conservation Ecology, Ecological Complexity, Terrestrial and Landscape Ecology, Ecological Processes

Publication based on the results of: Structure and functioning of supercomplex natural-territorial systems (2025)