Ecology of North America

Informationen zum Autor Brian R. Chapman was raised in Texas and earned degrees in zoology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (BS) and Texas Tech University (MS, PhD). Before his present appointment as the Senior Research Scientist at the Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies, Sam Houston State University, he held professorships at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the University of Georgia; he also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Sam Houston State University and provost and vice president for academic affairs at universities in Texas and North Carolina.  He is the author or coauthor of more than 150 refereed articles and book chapters.  Eric G. Bolen earned degrees in wildlife ecology and management at the University of Maine (BS) and Utah State University (MS, PhD).  Before retiring, he taught at Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Tech University and the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he served as dean of the Graduate School; he also held the position of assistant director of the Welder Wildlife Foundation. He is the author or coauthor of more than 200 publications, including several editions of the textbooks Wildlife Ecology and Management and Waterfowl Ecology and Management . Klappentext North America contains an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting unique systems of plant and animal life. These systems, the largest of which are biomes, form intricate webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. This richly illustrated book introduces readers to this extraordinary array of natural communities and their subtle biological and geological interactions.Completely revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this successful text takes a qualitative, intuitive approach to the subject, beginning with an overview of essential ecological terms and concepts, such as competitive exclusion, taxa, niches, and succession. It then goes on to describe the major biomes and communities that characterize the rich biota of the continent, starting with the Tundra and continuing with Boreal Forest, Deciduous Forest, Grasslands, Deserts, Montane Forests, and Temperature Rain Forest, among others. Coastal environments, including the Laguna Madre, seagrasses, Chesapeake Bay, and barrier islands appear in a new chapter. Additionally, the book covers many unique features such as pitcher plant bogs, muskeg, the polar ice cap, the cloud forests of Mexico, and the LaBrea tar pits. "Infoboxes" have been added; these include biographies of historical figures who provided significant contributions to the development of ecology, unique circumstances such as frogs and insects that survive freezing, and conservation issues such as those concerning puffins and island foxes. Throughout the text, ecological concepts are worked into the text; these include biogeography, competitive exclusion, succession, soil formation, and the mechanics of natural selection.Ecology of North America 2e is an ideal first text for students interested in natural resources, environmental science, and biology, and it is a useful and attractive addition to the library of anyone interested in understanding and protecting the natural environment. Zusammenfassung North America contains an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting unique systems of plant and animal life. These systems, the largest of which are biomes, form intricate webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. Inhaltsverzeichnis Foreword viii Preface ix Acknowledgments xi 1 Introduction 1 A brief overview of ecology 1 The ecosystem 2 Abiotic limits 3 Climate and topography 4 Soils and soil profiles 4 Biotic community 6 Community succession 6 Plant succession: from pioneer to climax 6 Primary and secondary succession 6 Su...

List of contents

Foreword viii
 
Preface ix
 
Acknowledgments xi
 
1 Introduction 1
 
A brief overview of ecology 1
 
The ecosystem 2
 
Abiotic limits 3
 
Climate and topography 4
 
Soils and soil profiles 4
 
Biotic community 6
 
Community succession 6
 
Plant succession: from pioneer to climax 6
 
Primary and secondary succession 6
 
Succession and species abundance 7
 
The biome concept 7
 
Biodiversity 7
 
The "species richness gradient" 8
 
Biodiversity "hotspots" 8
 
Patterns of distribution 9
 
Continental patterns 9
 
Geographical and ecological distribution 10
 
Some ecological concepts 10
 
Niches 10
 
Ecological equivalents 12
 
Bergmann's rule 12
 
Allen's rule 13
 
Readings and references 14
 
2 Tundra 17
 
Climatic and glacial influences 17
 
Soils and geological influences 17
 
Permafrost 18
 
Patterned ground 18
 
Eskers and tundra wildlife 20
 
Glacial refugia 21
 
Features and adaptations 21
 
Plant adaptations to harsh conditions 21
 
Plant growth and reproduction 22
 
Decomposition and soil nutrients 23
 
Some animal adaptations 23
 
Major vegetative communities 24
 
Shrub tundra 25
 
Dwarf birch heath 25
 
Cottongrass heath 25
 
Fellfields 25
 
Invertebrates and tundra ecology 25
 
Selected tundra mammals 26
 
Lemmings 26
 
Arctic ground squirrels 27
 
Arctic foxes 28
 
Barren?]ground caribou 28
 
Selected tundra birds 29
 
Gyrfalcons 29
 
Snowy owl 30
 
Ross goose 30
 
Highlights 31
 
Absentees: amphibians and reptiles 31
 
Lichens and "reindeer moss" 31
 
Snow goose "eat outs" 32
 
Alpine Tundra 33
 
Fragile Tundra 34
 
Impacts of human activity 34
 
Global warming 35
 
Readings and references 36
 
3 Boreal Forest 41
 
Climatic boundaries and soils 41
 
Features and adaptations 42
 
Plant adaptations 42
 
Animal adaptations 42
 
Frequent fires 42
 
Niches in the Boreal Forest 43
 
Selected biotic communities 44
 
Tree line and forest tundra 44
 
Muskeg 46
 
Coniferous swamps 46
 
Comparative ecology of lakes 46
 
Appalachian Extension 48
 
Mountain balds 48
 
Highlights 49
 
The 10?]year cycle 49
 
Wolves and moose 50
 
A wealth of salamanders 52
 
Red squirrels 53
 
Ecological challenges 54
 
Acid rain 54
 
Spruce budworm and DDT 55
 
Balsam woolly adelgid 55
 
The Boreal Forest Agreement 56
 
Readings and references 57
 
4 Eastern Deciduous Forest 61
 
Climatic boundaries and soils 61
 
Features and adaptations 61
 
The forest primeval 63
 
The layered forest 63
 
Autumn leaves 64
 
Ground and leaf litter 64
 
Mast 65
 
Biotic associations 66
 
Northern hardwoods conifer forests 66
 
Beech-Maple-Basswood 67
 
Mesophytic forest 68
 
Oak-Hickory 69
 
Mississippi alluvial plain 70
 
Southern Mixed Forest 70
 
Some associated communities 71
 
Longleaf pine forests 71
 
New Jersey Pine Barrens 73
 
Carolina bays 74
 
Highlights 75
 
Acorns and blue jays 75

Product details

• Authors: Eric G Bolen, Eric G. Bolen, Eric G. (The University of North Carolina at Wilmington) Bolen, Bolen Eric G., Br Chapman, Brian Chapman, Brian R Chapman, Brian R. Chapman, Brian R. Bolen Chapman, Chapman Brian R.
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 04.09.2015
• EAN: 9781118971543
• ISBN: 978-1-118-97154-3
• No. of pages: 352
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Ecology; Ökologie, Life Sciences, Biowissenschaften, Plant Ecology, Ecology & Organismal Biology, Ökologie u. Biologie der Organismen, Ökologie / Pflanzen, Nordamerika /Biologie, Nordamerika /Natur, Ökologie