Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
07:22
Design and Construction of an Experimental Setup to Enhance Mineral Weathering through the Activity of Soil Organisms
Published on: November 10, 2023
Ecological engineering - An idea whose time has come?
A A Berryman1, M A Valenti, M J Harris
1Dept of Entomology, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Facing dwindling fossil fuels and rising pollution, humanity must address ecological crises. Ecological engineering offers a promising, active solution by integrating ecological science with engineering principles to solve environmental problems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Engineering
Background:
- The depletion of cheap fossil fuels and escalating pollution levels pose significant threats to global ecosystems and human well-being.
- Public concern is growing regarding environmental degradation, including issues like global warming, ozone depletion, and the preservation of natural landscapes and biodiversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of ecological engineering as a potential solution to pressing ecological problems.
- To evaluate the integration of ecological principles with engineering sciences for practical environmental management.
Main Methods:
- Examining the limitations of 'deep ecology' (passive approach) and 'biotechnology' (active but potentially risky approach).
- Analyzing the integration of ecosystem, landscape, community, and population ecology with formal engineering concepts.
Main Results:
- Ecological engineering presents a viable, active approach to environmental problem-solving.
- This interdisciplinary field offers a framework for developing practical solutions by merging ecological understanding with engineering methodologies.
Conclusions:
- Ecological engineering holds promise for addressing complex environmental challenges.
- This approach advocates for a proactive, science-based strategy to manage and restore ecosystems, contrasting with passive or purely technological solutions.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
00:49What is Genetic Engineering?
Overview
00:46Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
01:43Sustainable Development
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
01:26Design Example: Sustainability in Concrete Building
As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.