| dc.description | This book is intended to introduce the science of terrestrial ecosystem
ecology to advanced undergraduate students, beginning graduate students,
and practicing scientists from a wide array of disciplines. We define terres-
trial ecosystem ecology to include freshwater ecosystems and their terrestrial
matrix. We also include a description of marine ecosystems to provide a
broader context for understanding terrestrial ecosystems and as a basis for
Earth-System analysis. We provide access to some of the rapidly expanding
literature in the many disciplines that contribute to ecosystem understanding.
This second edition incorporates new material that accounts for both the sub-
stantial scientific advances in ecosystem ecology during the past decade, as
well as the evolution of our own understanding.
The first section of this book provides the context for understanding eco-
system ecology. We introduce the science of ecosystem ecology and place it
in the context of other components of the Earth System – the atmosphere,
ocean, climate and geological systems. We show how these components
affect ecosystem processes and contribute to the global variation in terrestrial
ecosystem structure and processes. In the second section of the book we consider
the mechanisms by which terrestrial ecosystems function and focus on the
flow of water and energy and the cycling of carbon and nutrients. We then
consider the important role of organisms in ecosystem processes through
trophic interactions (feeding relationships), environmental effects, and distur-
bance. The third section of the book addresses temporal and spatial patterns
in ecosystem processes. We finish by considering the integrated effects of
these processes at the global scale and their consequences for sustainable use
by human societies. Powerpoint lecture notes that include the illustrations in
this book are available on the web (http://terrychapin.org/) as supplementary
material.
Many people have contributed to the development of this book. We particu-
larly thank our families, whose patience has made the book possible, our
students from whom we have learned many of the important ideas that are
presented, and Hal Mooney who was a co-author of the first edition. In addi-
tion, we thank the following individuals for their constructively critical review
of chapters in this book: Richard Bardgett, Dan Binkley, Dave Bowling,
Pep Canadell, Mimi Chapin, Doug Cost, Joe Craine, Wolfgang Cramer, Eric
Davidson, Sandra Díaz, Jim Elser, Eugenie Euskirchen, Valerie Eviner, Noah
Fierer, Jacques Finlay, Doug Frank, Mark Harmon, Sarah Hobbie, Dave
Hooper, Bob Howarth, Ivan Janssens, Julia Jones, Bill Lauenroth, Joe
McFadden, Dave McGuire, Sam McNaughton, Russ Monson, Deb Peters,
Mary Power, Steve Running, Josh Schimel, Ted Schuur, Tim Seastedt, Mark
Serreze, Phil Sollins, Bob Sterner, Kevin Trenberth, Dave Turner, Monica
Turner, Diana Wall, John Walsh. We also thank Julio Betancourt, Scott
Chambers, Norm Christensen, Greg Cortopassi, Steve Davis, Sandra Díaz,
Jack Dykinga, Jim Elser, Jim Estes, Peter Franks, Mark Harmon, Al Levno,
Mike Kenner, Alan Knapp, Aaryn Olsson, Roger Ruess, Dave Schindler, and
David Tongway for the use of their photographs. We particularly thank Joe
Craine and Dana Nossov for their constructive comments on the entire book. | en_US |
