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Zusatztext "Peter Vitousek's Nutrient Cycling and Limitation makes an important contribution to the field of biogeochemistry. . . . [An] excellent book. . . . Nutrient Cycling and Limitation is essential reading for students and scientists interested in terrestrial biogeochemistry. It is a model of good science writing and a crisp and clear introduction to some of the big ideas that intrigue ecosystem ecologists." ---Jerry Melillo, Bioscience Informationen zum Autor Peter M. Vitousek Klappentext The availability or lack of nutrients shapes ecosystems in fundamental ways. From forest productivity to soil fertility, from the diversity of animals to the composition of microbial communities, nutrient cycling and limitation are the basic mechanisms underlying ecosystem ecology. In this book, Peter Vitousek builds on over twenty years of research in Hawai'i to evaluate the controls and consequences of variation in nutrient availability and limitation. Integrating research from geochemistry, pedology, atmospheric chemistry, ecophysiology, and ecology, Vitousek addresses fundamental questions: How do the cycles of different elements interact? How do biological processes operating in minutes or hours interact with geochemical processes operating over millions of years? How does biological diversity interact with nutrient cycling and limitation in ecosystems? The Hawaiian Islands provide the author with an excellent model system for answering these questions as he integrates across levels of biological organization. He evaluates the connections between plant nutrient use efficiency, nutrient cycling and limitation within ecosystems, and nutrient input-output budgets of ecosystems. This book makes use of the Hawaiian ecosystems to explore the mechanisms that shape productivity and diversity in ecosystems throughout the world. It will be essential reading for all ecologists and environmental scientists. Zusammenfassung Makes use of the Hawaiian ecosystems to explore the mechanisms that shape productivity and diversity in ecosystems throughout the world. Integrating research from geochemistry, pedology, atmospheric chemistry, ecophysiology, and ecology, this book evaluates the controls and consequences of variation in nutrient availability and limitation. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of Tables xi List of Figures xiii Preface xix Chapter One: Introduction 1 Chapter Two: The Hawaiian Islands as a Model Ecosystem 6 Model Systems 6 Microcosms and Well-studied Systems 8 A Brief Natural History 9 The Formation of the Hawaiian Islands 9 Determinants of Climate 15 Isolation 19 Evolution! Conservation! and Culture 20 Evolution and Speciation 20 Conservation Biology 22 Cultural Evolution 22 Chapter Three: Gradients in Environmental Factors! Gradients in Ecosystems 24 The State Factor Framework 24 Environmental Gradients as Model Systems 26 Temperature 27 Precipitation 29 The Mauna Loa Matrix 30 A Substrate Age Gradient across the Hawaiian Islands 31 Age Control 35 Climate History 35 Basic Features of the Gradient 39 Chapter Four: Patterns and Processes in Long-term Ecosystem Development 42 A Theory for Nutrient Dynamics during Ecosystem Development 42 Biogeochemical Processes on the Substrate Age Gradient 45 Soil P Pools 45 C and N Pools 45 Available Nutrients 46 Foliar Nutrients 49 Forest Productivity 51 Efficiencies of Resource Use 53 Decomposition and Nutrient Regeneration 59 Soil Organic Matter Turnover 66 Plant-Soil-Microbial Feedbacks 66 Chapter Five: Experimental Studies of Nutrient Limitation and the Regulation of Nutrient Cycling 70 Fertilization Experiments 71 Nutrient Limitation 74 Nutrient Availability and Plant-Soil-Microbial Feedback 78 Tissue Nutrient Concentrations 78 Productivity 78 Resource Efficiencies 79 Decomposition 84 Nutrient Regeneration 87 Controls of Plant-Soil-Microbial Feedback 87 Chapter Six...
