A Comparison of Primary Productivity and Chemical Element Cycling in Gorse (Ulex Europaeus L.) and Pasture Ecosystems

Abstract

Current ecological research centres around two approaches, namely, the species-distributional approach (phytosociology) and the trophic-dynamic approach (production ecology or bioenergentics). Phytosociology is concerned with the study of the spatial relationship between species or groups of species, in relation to their physical and biotic environment, while production ecology is functional and deals with the metabolism of the community - primary productivity, energy flow, mineral and water cycling.