Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-293) and index.

History hidden in the landscape -- The written record -- Field studies: bringing documentary evidence down to earth -- The sedimentary record -- Fire: mimicking nature -- Extending species ranges -- The forest as a resource -- Agriculture and its residual effects -- Historical patterns of human settlement and their ecological consequences -- Human modifications of lake ecosystems -- Diversity and species extinctions -- Biospheric sustainability -- Toward the future: research and applications. "All ecosystems have a history of past human impacts, some obvious, others subtle, Emily Russell contends in this fascinating exploration of historical ecology. To understand the lingering consequences of human history on current ecosystems and landscapes, and conversely to understand the role that changing environments have played in human history, the author urges an interdisciplinary approach. Different disciplines working together can develop information that none alone can provide. History matters for all manner of ecological and environmental studies, both theoretical and applied, says Russell, and integration of these disciplines can assist us in dealing responsibly with our role in the biosphere."--Jacket.