[Ecological forecasting: a frontier in ecology].

An evolving science of ecological forecasting is beginning to emerge, and could have an increasingly important role in policy-making and management of natural resources and environment. The progress in computer science, quantitative analysis and ecological theory, together with the application of new high technology, will increase our ability to forecast ecosystem change. The authors introduced the connotation of ecological forecasting, relevant research advances, and some typical examples. Ecological forecasting is an important frontier in ecology, and also, would be an important direction for future ecological study.