Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology

• Main Authors: Chapin, F. Stuart (Author), Matson, Pamela A. (Author), Vitousek, Peter M. (Author)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY : Springer New York : Imprint: Springer, 2011.
• Edition: Second Edition.
• Subjects: Life sciences.; Ecology.; Biodiversity.; Ecosystems.; Plant ecology.; Life Sciences.; Terrestial Ecology.; Plant Ecology.

Humans have directly modified half of the ice-free terrestrial surface and use 40% of terrestrial production. We are causing the sixth major extinction event in the history of life on Earth. With the Earth’s climate, flora, and fauna changing rapidly, there is a pressing need to understand terrestri...

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• I. CONTEXT
• The Ecosystem Concept
• Earth's Climate System
• Geology, Soils, and Sediments
• II. MECHANISMS
• Water and Energy Balance
• Carbon Inputs to Ecosystems
• Plant Carbon Budgets
• TerrDecomposition and Ecosystem Carbon Budgets
• Plant Nutrient Use
• Nutrient Cycling
• Trophic Dynamics
• Species Effects on Ecosystem Processes
• III. PATTERNS
• Temporal Dynamics
• Landscape Heterogeneity and Ecosystem Dynamics
• IV. INTEGRATION
• Changes in the Earth System
• Managing and Sustaining Ecosystem
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• References.