ABSTRACT
Ecology is defined as the science that studies relationships between organisms and their environments. As a natural science, ecology focuses on understanding the physical, chemical and biological interactions that take place between organisms and environments. Research to save the environment is increasingly being channeled into systems ecology, flow charts, and data bases to detect critical trends. Programs for restoring endangered ecosystems are drawing on the efforts of large numbers of volunteers, and matters of the heart have been recognized as an integral part of the restoration process. The National Forest viewpoint is stated in the language of ecology, multiple use, biodiversity and ecosystem management. The rest of this chapter will summarize a research project that the author recently conducted with the Ottawa National Forest as part of their Opportunity Area analysis for the Black River area of the northern Michigan.
