Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: With 22 TablesSpringer Science & Business Media, 26 juil. 1994 - 525 pages The biota of the earth is being altered at an unprecedented rate. We are witnessing wholesale exchanges of organisms among geographic areas that were once totally biologically isolated. We are seeing massive changes in landscape use that are creating even more abundant succes sional patches, reductions in population sizes, and in the worst cases, losses of species. There are many reasons for concern about these trends. One is that we unfortunately do not know in detail the conse quences of these massive alterations in terms of how the biosphere as a whole operates or even, for that matter, the functioning of localized ecosystems. We do know that the biosphere interacts strongly with the atmospheric composition, contributing to potential climate change. We also know that changes in vegetative cover greatly influence the hydrology and biochemistry ofa site or region. Our knowledge is weak in important details, however. How are the many services that ecosystems provide to humanity altered by modifications of ecosystem composition? Stated in another way, what is the role of individual species in ecosystem function? We are observing the selective as well as wholesale alteration in the composition of ecosystems. Do these alterations matter in respect to how ecosystems operate and provide services? This book represents the initial probing of this central ques tion. It will be followed by other volumes in this series examining in depth the functional role of biodiversity in various ecosystems of the world. |
Table des matières
Biological Diversity and Terrestrial Ecosystem | 3 |
Resource Supply and Disturbance as Controls over | 18 |
6 | 19 |
Biodiversity and Interactions Within Pelagic Nutrient | 43 |
Functional Groups of Microorganisms | 67 |
7 | 90 |
4 | 108 |
2 | 118 |
Appendix | 231 |
11 | 237 |
Redundancy in Ecosystems | 255 |
How Many Species Are Required | 271 |
14 | 293 |
Taxonomic Groupings | 310 |
8 | 318 |
Biodiversity and the Balance of Nature | 347 |
9 | 136 |
7 | 143 |
7 | 151 |
8 | 162 |
3 | 170 |
5 | 177 |
9 | 181 |
4 | 190 |
and Related Wetland Ecosystems | 196 |
10 | 205 |
Biodiversity and Function of Grazing Ecosystems | 361 |
Ecosystem Stability Competition | 409 |
Latitudinal Gradient | 433 |
A Study | 469 |
Biodiversity and Policy Decisions | 481 |
A Summary | 497 |
| 511 | |
| 521 | |
Autres éditions - Tout afficher
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function Ernst-Detlef Schulze,Harold A Mooney Aucun aperçu disponible - 1994 |
Expressions et termes fréquents
abundance acid agricultural autotrophic bacteria Berlin Heidelberg biodiversity Biol biological biomass carbon Chap climate complex constraints crop cyanobacteria decomposer denitrification density dominant dynamics Ecol ecology ecosystem ecosystem function ectomycorrhizal effects energy environment environmental evolution example extinction forest functional groups fungal fungi galls genetic genus global grassland grazing growth habitat Heidelberg New York herbivores heterotrophic host important increase infection interactions K-selected keystone species leaf lignin metabolism microbial microbial loop microorganisms mycorrhizal natural niche nitrate nitrification nitrogen number of species nutrient cycling occur Oecologia organisms oxidation parasites parasitoid pathogens patterns physiological phytoplankton picoplankton Pimm plankton plant communities plant species population predators processes production rates Read DJ reproductive resource role roots savanna Schlegel HG Schulze seed seedlings Septobasidium soil Solbrig species diversity species richness Springer stability strategies structure studies succession successional sulfur Tilman tion trade-offs trees tropical types University Press Urophora vegetation Zwölfer