Concepts of EcologyThis text explores the significant concepts of modern ecology using a minimum of jargon and only basic/simple mathematics. KEY TOPICS: Focuses on the development of four major concepts--including their historical background: energy flow; nutrient cycles; population ecology; and community ecology. Contains coverage of abiotic factors-- including air, insolation, precipitation, soils, nutrients, ionizing radiation, and fire; energy flow (with increased emphasis on decomposition); nutrient cycling; population ecology; and community ecology. Updates material on applied ecology/human ecology and ecological ethics. |
Contents
The Abiotic Environment | 19 |
INSOLATION PRECIPITATION AND CLIMATE | 31 |
Precipitation and ecosystem distribution | 46 |
Copyright | |
27 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
agriculture algae American amount animals annual aquatic ecosystems areas atmosphere autotrophs bacteria biological biomass biome calcium carbon dioxide changes chemical climate competition cycle deciduous decomposition decrease denitrification density Desert desertification developing countries Earth's Ecological Monographs ecologists Ecology ecosys effects energy flow environment environmental eutrophication example factors fertility Figure freshwater global grasslands Greenhouse herbivores human population impact increase input interaction ionizing radiation km² Lake Erie land latitude Lentic ecosystems major metabolism million mineral mortality natural nitrogen cycle nitrogen fixation North nuclear nutrients occur ocean organic matter oxides oxygen ozone particulates patterns percent period pesticides phosphorus photosynthesis phytoplankton pine plants pollution population growth predation processes production radiation rainforest Redrawn by permission reduced regions regulation respiration result Science seasonal sediments significant soil sources species structure sulfur surface temperature terrestrial tion trees trophic level tundra United vegetation zone