Abstract: Macroscopic ecology deals with problems of large spatial and temporal scales at the ecosystem level,which emphasizes on the development and effects of spatial heterogeneity,interactions and influences of spatial patterns on ecological processes, the hierarchical structure of landscape, the importance of spatial and temporal scale and ecological effects of human.Remote sensing and GIS ate a powerful technique in the study of spatial registered ground objects, especially for collection and analysis of spatial data.Methods of landscape characterization(including spatial pattern analysis and indices of landscape heterogeneity)and landscape modeling are quantitative techniques and essential to development of macroscopic ecology.Research network by linking observation and experiment stations will improve the ecological reserarch from a traditional,emperical and qualitative discipline to a mordern,integrated ecological sciences.

Key words: Macroscopic ecology, Ecosystem, Spatial and temporal scale, Spatial heterogeneity, Hierarchical structure