Bøger i Ecological Studies serien

This is the first truly ecosystem-oriented book on peatlands. It adopts an ecosystems approach to understanding the world's boreal peatlands. A recurring theme is the legacy of boreal peatlands as impressive accumulators of carbon as peat over millennia.

Theory and early empirical work posed that herbivore pressure should be lower on islands than on the mainland owing to lower herbivore abundance and diversity in insular systems. Consequently, plant taxa found on islands are expected to be less protected or even to have lost their defences completely. While early observational studies supported the prediction of lower herbivory and plant defences on islands, recent island-mainland comparisons have yielded mixed results, with some studies finding no differences between islands and mainlands or, surprisingly, higher herbivory and plant defences on islands. In this book, the authors aim to re-assess current theory and initiate a new generation of work on insularity effects on plant-herbivore interactions. This book aims to fill the research gaps by integrating the research that has been done to date and by compiling and summarising new research on insularity effects on plant-herbivore interactions. It provides a critical examinationof the patterns in light of classical theory and identifies potential mechanisms or underlying processes. It also aims to raise new questions that will form the basis for a revised and more robust research programme.

This book covers the wider aspects of the microbiology of hot desert soil ecosystems, compiling disparate information from a range of relevant desert soil microbial fields.The reader learns about microbial ecology of the more dominant and possibly most important desert habitats, detailing the phylogenetic and functional diversity of these different habitats as well as their potential role in desert ecosystem ecology. Particular attention is also given to microbial stress adaptation in hot desert soils. Furthermore, it is the first volume in this particular field to cover modern metagenomics technologies that can be applied to studies of all aspects of desert microbial communities. Additionally, the book explores viruses and viral communities, which are among the least studied (and little understood) components of desert soil microbial communities. Particular attention is also given to the roles of desert microbial communities in biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Through this book the reader discovers how desert microbiology has been at the forefront of Astrobiology and how it may be used conceptually in future terraforming strategies. Desert ecosystems are increasingly coming into focus given the impacts of climate change and desertification trends, making this volume particularly timely. Each of the chapters is authored by leading international researchers and is a must-read for microbial ecologists. 

This edited volume summarizes multidisciplinary work on wildlife conservation in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania. By drawing together human-centered, wildlife-centered, and interdisciplinary research, this book contributes to furthering our understanding of the often complex mechanisms underlying human-wildlife interactions in dynamic landscapes. By synthesizing the wealth of knowledge generated by anthropologists, ecologists, conservationists, entrepreneurs, geographers, sociologists, and zoologists over the last decades, this book also highlights practicable and locally adapted solutions for shaping human-wildlife interactions towards coexistence.Readers will discover the reciprocal and often unexpected direct and indirect dynamics between people and wildlife. While boundaries (e.g. between people and wildlife, between protected and un-protected areas, and between different groups of people) are a common theme throughout the different chapters, this book stresses the commonalities, links, and synergies between seemingly disparate disciplines, opinions, and conservation approaches. The chapters are divided into clear sections, such as the human dimension, the wildlife dimension  and  human-wildlife interactions,  representing a detailed summary of anthropological, ecological, and interdisciplinary research projects that have been conducted in the Tarangire Ecosystem over the last decades. Beyond, this work contributes to the debate about land-sharing versus land-sparing and provides an in-depth case study for understanding the complexities associated with human-wildlife coexistence in one of the few remaining ecosystems that supports migratory populations of large mammals.The topic of this book is particularly relevant for students, scholars, and practitioners who are interested in reconciling the needs of human populations with those of the environment in general and large mammal populations in particular.    

Climate change is one of the most severe dangers for mankind worldwide. Beside the temperature increase, the sea level will rise and flood wide coastal areas, which is already remarkable today. The effects will be dramatic, in particular, at coasts with low elevation gradients such as at the German coasts of the North and Baltic Sea. The impact will be not only severe for coastal people, but still more for the unique coastal ecosystems, which harbors many plant and animal species that are already endangered today.This book focuses on the coastal terrestrial ecosystems of the German North and Baltic Sea. It describes the reactions of plants and animals (i.e. spiders, carabid beetles, bees and nematodes) on the future temperature and sea level increase. The combination of field and experimental studies is unique for Europe and for many parts of the world. It not only studies the actual elevation gradients and the climatic and saline gradients fromWest to East, but also the historical changes to document processes at coastal ecosystems that were already passed. In contrast to many books that studied the marine processes with similar backgrounds, this book concerns the terrestrial coastal ecosystems that were overall rarely studied and, in particular, never studied under this specific viewpoint.

A discussion of the direct and indirect mechanisms by which fire and climate interact to influence carbon cycling in North American boreal forests. The first section summarizes the information needed to understand and manage fires' effects on the ecology of boreal forests and its influence on global climate change issues. Following chapters discuss in detail the role of fire in the ecology of boreal forests, present data sets on fire and the distribution of carbon, and treat the use of satellite imagery in monitoring these regions as well as approaches to modeling the relevant processes.

Human-driven greenhouse emissions are increasing the velocity of climate change and the frequency and intensity of climate extremes far above historical levels. These changes, along with other human-perturbations, are setting the conditions for more rapid and abrupt ecosystem dynamics and collapse.This book presents new evidence on the rapid emergence of ecosystem collapse in response to the progression of anthropogenic climate change dynamics that are expected to intensify as the climate continues to warm. Discussing implications for biodiversity conservation, the chapters provide examples of such dynamics globally covering polar and boreal ecosystems, temperate and semi-arid ecosystems, as well as tropical and temperate coastal ecosystems.Given its scope, the volume appeals to scientists in the fields of general ecology, terrestrial and coastal ecology, climate change impacts, and biodiversity conservation.

1. Introduction.- The origin of the lake.- The naming of the Madison lakes.- Ownership of Lake Mendota.- The regional setting.- 2. Physical Limnology.- Morphometry and Hydrography.- General Features of the Lake.- Hypsometry of Lake Mendota.- Climate of the Lake Mendota area.- Water budget of the lake.- Thermal structure and heat budget.- Water movement.- Summary. The four seasons in Lake Mendota.- 3. Chemistry and nutrient loading.- Chemistry of the lake water.- Nutrient loading studies.- Sediment composition and chemistry.- Recent sediments in Lake Mendota.- Oxygen in Lake Mendota.- Nitrogen in Lake Mendota.- Phosphorus in Lake Mendota.- Iron and manganese.- Sulfate.- Chloride.- Silica.- Inorganic carbon in Lake Mendota.- Summary.- 4. Phytoplankton.- Methodology for studying phytoplankton populations in Lake Mendota.- Annual cycles of phytoplankton.- Mean depth of chlorophyll.- Surface/volume ratios of phytoplankton cells.- Diatom blooms in Lake Mendota.- Blue-green algae of Lake Mendota.- Buoyancy of the blue-green algae of Lake Mendota.- Where do the algae go?.- Summary.- 5. Phytoplankton photosynthesis and primary production.- Methods.- Calculating whole lake productivity from incubator data.- Photosynthesis/light (P/I) relationship.- Photosynthetic efficiency of Lake Mendota phytoplankton 125.- Primary production in Lake Mendota.- A model for Lake Mendota production.- 6. Zooplankton.- Methods for studying Lake Mendota Zooplankton.- Species composition.- Zooplankton abundance.- Biomass of Zooplankton.- Conclusions.- 7. Bacteria, carbon cycling, and biogeochemical processes.- Methods.- Bacterial biomass and production in the water column.- The impact of Zooplankton feeding on bacteria.- Importance of bacterial attachment to particles.- A model for bacterioplankton growth and disappearance.- Significance of algal excretory products for epilimnetic bacteria.- Bacterial processes in the anaerobic deep-water sediments.- Sulfate reduction in Lake Mendota.- Conclusion.- 8. Higher Trophic Levels.- Bottom fauna.- Fish.- Summary.- 9. Long-term Change in Lake Mendota.- Chemistry and nutrient loading.- Oxygen in Lake Mendota.- Secchi transparency.- Phytoplankton.- Zooplankton.- Bacteria.- Fish.- Conclusion.- 10. Energy flow in the Lake Mendota ecosystem.- Appendix 1. Physical and chemical data.- Appendix 2. Phytoplankton data.

This study brings together decades of research on the modern natural environment of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, reviews past research on paleoenvironmental change since the Late Pleistocene, and finally presents paleoecological records of changing forest composition and fire over the last 14,000 years. The focus of this study is on the authors' studies of five pollen records from the Olympic Peninsula. Maps and other data graphics are used extensively. Paleoecology can effectively address some of these challenges we face in understanding the biotic response to climate change and other agents of change in ecosystems.  First, species responses to climate change are mediated by changing disturbance regimes.  Second, biotic hotspots today suggest a long-term maintenance of diversity in an area, and researchers approach the maintenance of diversity from a wide range and angles (CITE).  Mountain regions may maintain biodiversity through significant climate change in 'refugia': locations where components of diversity retreat to and expand from during periods of unfavorable climate (Keppel et al., 2012).  Paleoecological studies can describe the context for which biodiversity persisted through time climate refugia.  Third, the paleoecological approach is especially suited for long-lived organisms.  For example, a tree species that may typically reach reproductive sizes only after 50 years and remain fertile for 300 years, will experience only 30 to 200 generations since colonizing a location after Holocene warming about 11,000 years ago.  Thus, by summarizing community change through multiple generations and natural disturbance events, paleoecological studies can examine the resilience of ecosystems to disturbances in the past, showing how many ecosystems recover quickly while others may not (Willis et al., 2010).

John Sculley In the short history of personal computing, the task of the software programmer has been one of the least recognized-but one of the most significant-in the industry. In addition to defining the prob­ lems, and presenting the solutions, the software programmer is con­ fronted with the challenge of having to predict what combination of ideas and technologies will move the industry forward in the most compelling way. Even though we've seen the development of tremendous applications in a surprisingly short period of time, the most difficult problems often surface when we try to elevate a suc­ cessful local idea to the international arena. In the case of Apple Computer, these challenges become especially profound when you consider that Apple sells Macintosh not just in the United States, but in Japan, China, the Middle East, Africa, East­ ern Europe, and even to the United Nations itself. Of course, this means that the personal computer must work everywhere around the world. But more significantly, it also means that the software must reflect the uniqueness of a given culture, its language, morals, and even its sense of humor. To step away from a narrowly-defined, nationally-based paradigm for software development, programmers, management, and entire corporations must learn to recognize what elements of an interface, problem solving technique, documentation illustration, package de­ sign, and advertisement are local, and which elements are appro­ priate for global markets.

Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915, one year before the creation of the National Park Service. The mandate of the National Park Service is to preserve and protect areas of exquisite beauty and cultural value for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. National parks mean many things to many people, and, in often stirring words, a National Parks and Conservation Association report states the National Park System is a magnificent and uniquely American gift to the American people and the world. In the early years of the Service, park superintendents actively promoted and developed parks to accommodate visitors. Then, as now, parks represented a democratic ideal, that even the greatest treasures should be available to all. Seventy five years ago, however, park managers saw little need for active management of natural resources, unless it was to enhance visitors' experience. And few managers saw the need for a stable and independent research program on which to base management decisions. Thus began a legacy of erratic, often passive, resource management based more on politics and in-house studies than on validated scientific informa­ tion. The world is a different place than it was 75 years ago. Human population growth, changes in land use, and ever more sophisticated technology affect the very fabric of life on Earth. As local-, regional-, and global-scale changes occur from human tampering with the environment, the integrity of natural ecosystems is threatened worldwide.

Acid rain is a serious international environmental problem. Scandinavian forests have suffered especially severe damage, and have been the focus of considerable research on the causes and impacts of atmospheric pollution. This book presents the results of long-term studies on acid rain in Norwegian forests. This research examined soil chemistry and biology; the impacts of acid rain on tree growth and nutrition; and its influence on ground vegetation, fungi, and seedling germination and development. Long-Term Experiments with Acid Rain in Norwegian Forest Ecosystems is a lasting contribution to the literature on acid precipitation, and will be of interest to researchers in ecology, air pollution, forestry and environmental chemistry.

Lake Plußsee is a small eutrophic kettle lake in northern Germany. Because it is sheltered and has no inflow from rivers, the Plußsee exhibits stable stratification and is especially suitable for limnological studies. This book presents the results of extensive research conducted on the ecophysiology of microorganisms - principally bacteria - at the Plußsee over the past several decades. It begins with three chapters on the general limnological state of the lake: physical factors, inorganic nutrients, plankton composition and succession, fish fauna, etc. These chapters are followed by discussions of dissolved organic matter and photosynthetic production of organic matter by phytoplankton. The remainder of the book addresses the dynamics of structure, function and metabolism of the microorganisms in the Plußsee.

In the early 1980s there were several published reports of recent, unexplained increases in mortality of red spruce in the Adirondack Mountains and the northern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. These reports coincided with documentation of reductions in radial growth of several species of pine in the southeastern United States, and with the severe, rapid, and widespread decline of Norway spruce, silver fir, and some hardwoods in central Europe. In all of these instances, atmospheric deposition was hypothesized as the cause of the decline. (Throughout this volume, we use the term "decline" to refer to a loosely synchronized regional-scale deterioration of tree health which is brought about by a combination of stress factors. These may be biotic or abiotic in nature, and the combinations may differ from site to site. ) Heated public debate about the causes and possible cures for these forest declines ensued. Through the course of this debate, it became clear that information about forest health and air pollution effects on forests was inadequate to meet policymakers' needs. Ecology and Decline of Red Spruce in the Eastern United States addresses that gap for eastern spruce­ fir forests and represents the culmination of a great deal of research conducted in recent years. The focus is on red spruce because the decline of red spruce was both dramatic and inexplicable and because of the great amount of information gathered on red spruce.

The United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, spawned a multitude of pro- grammes aimed at assessing, managing and conserving the earth's biological diversity. One important issue addressed at the conference was the mountain environment. A specific feature of high mountains is the so-called alpine zone, i. e. the treeless regions at the uppermost reaches. Though covering only a very small proportion of the land surface, the alpine zone contains a rela- tively large number of plants, animals, fungi and microbes which are specifi- cally adapted to cold environments. This zone contributes fundamentally to the planet's biodiversity and provides many resources for mountain dwelling as well as lowland people. However, rapid and largely man-made changes are affecting mountain ecosystems, such as soil erosion, losses of habitat and genetic diversity, and climate change, all of which have to be addressed. As stated in the European Community Biodiversity Strategy, "e;the global scale of biodiversity reduction or losses and the interdependence of different species and ecosystems across national borders demands concerted international action"e;. Managing biodiversity in a rational and sustainable way needs basic knowledge on its qualitative and quantitative aspects at local, regional and global scales. This is particularly true for mountains, which are distributed throughout the world and are indeed hot spots of biodiversity in absolute terms as well as relative to the surrounding lowlands.

The research presented here provides a sound scientific basis for management and policy decisions regarding the productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems in the context of a rapidly changing global environment. It is the synthesis of 5 years of field and laboratory research on southern forests conducted by the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service to provide scientific assessments to the US Global Change Research Program, and, as such, is invaluable for policy makers and land use managers.

Douglas then explores the impacts caused by logging, the extreme pulses of sedimentation and the effects of log removal and logging road construction, examining the effects of major storms in the 20 years after tree harvesting.

This book discusses the water and carbon cycle system in the permafrost region of eastern Siberia, Providing vitalin sights into how climate change has affected the permafrost environment in recent decades.