Richard Bardgett
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780198525035
- eISBN:
- 9780191728181
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198525035.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis of what is known about soil biodiversity and the factors that regulate its distribution, as well as the functional significance of ...
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This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis of what is known about soil biodiversity and the factors that regulate its distribution, as well as the functional significance of below-ground biodiversity for ecosystem form and function. It describes the vast diversity of biota that live in the soil environment — the most complex habitat on Earth — and discusses the factors that act as determinants of this diversity across different spatial and temporal scales. This book also considers how biotic interactions in soil influence the important soil processes of decomposition and nutrient cycling. It demonstrates how interactions and feedbacks between diverse plant and soil communities act as important drivers of ecosystem form and function. The importance of these relationships for understanding how ecosystems respond to global change phenomena, including climate change, is discussed in depth. Much is still to be learned about the soil biota and their roles in ecosystems, and the author highlights some of the many challenges that face ecologists in the exploration of soil. This book provides an introduction to the biology of soil, and also discusses the most recent developments in this progressive field of ecology. The importance of soil biotic interactions for community and ecosystem ecology is illustrated through the use of numerous examples and case studies.Less
This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis of what is known about soil biodiversity and the factors that regulate its distribution, as well as the functional significance of below-ground biodiversity for ecosystem form and function. It describes the vast diversity of biota that live in the soil environment — the most complex habitat on Earth — and discusses the factors that act as determinants of this diversity across different spatial and temporal scales. This book also considers how biotic interactions in soil influence the important soil processes of decomposition and nutrient cycling. It demonstrates how interactions and feedbacks between diverse plant and soil communities act as important drivers of ecosystem form and function. The importance of these relationships for understanding how ecosystems respond to global change phenomena, including climate change, is discussed in depth. Much is still to be learned about the soil biota and their roles in ecosystems, and the author highlights some of the many challenges that face ecologists in the exploration of soil. This book provides an introduction to the biology of soil, and also discusses the most recent developments in this progressive field of ecology. The importance of soil biotic interactions for community and ecosystem ecology is illustrated through the use of numerous examples and case studies.
Eric Post
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691148472
- eISBN:
- 9781400846139
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691148472.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Rising temperatures are affecting organisms in all of Earth's biomes, but the complexity of ecological responses to climate change has hampered the development of a conceptually unified treatment of ...
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Rising temperatures are affecting organisms in all of Earth's biomes, but the complexity of ecological responses to climate change has hampered the development of a conceptually unified treatment of them. In a remarkably comprehensive synthesis, this book presents past, ongoing, and future ecological responses to climate change in the context of two simplifying hypotheses, facilitation and interference, arguing that biotic interactions may be the primary driver of ecological responses to climate change across all levels of biological organization. The author's synthesis and analyses of ecological consequences of climate change extend from the Late Pleistocene to the present, and through the next century of projected warming. The book's investigation is grounded in classic themes of enduring interest in ecology, but developed around novel conceptual and mathematical models of observed and predicted dynamics. Using stability theory as a recurring theme, the book argues that the magnitude of climatic variability may be just as important as the magnitude and direction of change in determining whether populations, communities, and species persist. It urges a more refined consideration of species interactions, emphasizing important distinctions between lateral and vertical interactions and their disparate roles in shaping responses of populations, communities, and ecosystems to climate change.Less
Rising temperatures are affecting organisms in all of Earth's biomes, but the complexity of ecological responses to climate change has hampered the development of a conceptually unified treatment of them. In a remarkably comprehensive synthesis, this book presents past, ongoing, and future ecological responses to climate change in the context of two simplifying hypotheses, facilitation and interference, arguing that biotic interactions may be the primary driver of ecological responses to climate change across all levels of biological organization. The author's synthesis and analyses of ecological consequences of climate change extend from the Late Pleistocene to the present, and through the next century of projected warming. The book's investigation is grounded in classic themes of enduring interest in ecology, but developed around novel conceptual and mathematical models of observed and predicted dynamics. Using stability theory as a recurring theme, the book argues that the magnitude of climatic variability may be just as important as the magnitude and direction of change in determining whether populations, communities, and species persist. It urges a more refined consideration of species interactions, emphasizing important distinctions between lateral and vertical interactions and their disparate roles in shaping responses of populations, communities, and ecosystems to climate change.
A. Townsend Peterson, Jorge Soberón, Richard G. Pearson, Robert P. Anderson, Enrique Martínez-Meyer, Miguel Nakamura, and Miguel Bastos Araújo
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691136868
- eISBN:
- 9781400840670
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691136868.003.0013
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
This chapter discusses the use of ecological niche modeling to study species invasions, and more specifically to identify and understand genuine exceptions to ecological niche equivalency between ...
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This chapter discusses the use of ecological niche modeling to study species invasions, and more specifically to identify and understand genuine exceptions to ecological niche equivalency between native and introduced ranges of species. In addition, it examines the degree to which the geographic course of species’ invasions can be anticipated based on scenopoetic variables and biotic interactions. The chapter also reviews practical considerations that must be taken into account when exploring the utility of ecological niche models in understanding species’ invasions, such as using niche conservatism to predict likely changes in the distributional potential of invasive species under scenarios of changing environmental conditions. Finally, it describes caveats and limitations of the approach and outlines future research directions and challenges involved in the application of niche modeling ideas in species invasions.Less
This chapter discusses the use of ecological niche modeling to study species invasions, and more specifically to identify and understand genuine exceptions to ecological niche equivalency between native and introduced ranges of species. In addition, it examines the degree to which the geographic course of species’ invasions can be anticipated based on scenopoetic variables and biotic interactions. The chapter also reviews practical considerations that must be taken into account when exploring the utility of ecological niche models in understanding species’ invasions, such as using niche conservatism to predict likely changes in the distributional potential of invasive species under scenarios of changing environmental conditions. Finally, it describes caveats and limitations of the approach and outlines future research directions and challenges involved in the application of niche modeling ideas in species invasions.
Elizabeth A. Morgan, Alastair Brown, Benjamin J. Ciotti, and Anouska Panton
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198718826
- eISBN:
- 9780191788352
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198718826.003.0012
- Subject:
- Biology, Aquatic Biology, Ecology
Temperature is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting marine ecological processes: this chapter outlines global temperature variations and their consequences for ecosystem structure and ...
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Temperature is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting marine ecological processes: this chapter outlines global temperature variations and their consequences for ecosystem structure and function. It starts by explaining the factors that control ocean temperature, describing the resulting global patterns of thermal variation, and providing predictions for future changes in these patterns. It then examines mechanisms by which organismal level temperature impacts influence biotic interactions and ultimately translate to changes in species distribution and community structure. It examines evidence from whole-community manipulations to understand how key features of ecosystem structure and function may respond to projected temperature change. Finally, it highlights how temperature interacts with other abiotic stressors, both as a driver of variation in these stressors and due to the complex nature of the combined interactive effects of these stressors on ecological processes.Less
Temperature is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting marine ecological processes: this chapter outlines global temperature variations and their consequences for ecosystem structure and function. It starts by explaining the factors that control ocean temperature, describing the resulting global patterns of thermal variation, and providing predictions for future changes in these patterns. It then examines mechanisms by which organismal level temperature impacts influence biotic interactions and ultimately translate to changes in species distribution and community structure. It examines evidence from whole-community manipulations to understand how key features of ecosystem structure and function may respond to projected temperature change. Finally, it highlights how temperature interacts with other abiotic stressors, both as a driver of variation in these stressors and due to the complex nature of the combined interactive effects of these stressors on ecological processes.
Valérie Lehouck, Dries Bonte, Toon Spanhove, and Luc Lens
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- December 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199608898
- eISBN:
- 9780191774560
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199608898.003.0005
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter begins with a definition of endozoochory, which refers to plant dispersal where viable seeds are defaecated or regurgitated by animals. Because of the biotic interaction involved, ...
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This chapter begins with a definition of endozoochory, which refers to plant dispersal where viable seeds are defaecated or regurgitated by animals. Because of the biotic interaction involved, endozoochorous seed dispersal largely depends on the behavioural components of the dispersing vectors, such as foraging and seed handling, movement away from the parent tree, and defaecation or regurgitation. This makes endozoochorous seed dispersal clumped and non-random, in contrast to most abiotically dispersal methods. The main selective forces driving the evolution of dispersal-related traits include avoidance of kin competition by escaping high seed and seedling mortality near the parent tree, directing dispersal towards suitable habitat, and colonisation of new habitat as a risk-spreading strategy. Changes in landscape composition may affect endozoochorous seed dispersal through changes in plant habitat configuration and vector community composition and behaviour.Less
This chapter begins with a definition of endozoochory, which refers to plant dispersal where viable seeds are defaecated or regurgitated by animals. Because of the biotic interaction involved, endozoochorous seed dispersal largely depends on the behavioural components of the dispersing vectors, such as foraging and seed handling, movement away from the parent tree, and defaecation or regurgitation. This makes endozoochorous seed dispersal clumped and non-random, in contrast to most abiotically dispersal methods. The main selective forces driving the evolution of dispersal-related traits include avoidance of kin competition by escaping high seed and seedling mortality near the parent tree, directing dispersal towards suitable habitat, and colonisation of new habitat as a risk-spreading strategy. Changes in landscape composition may affect endozoochorous seed dispersal through changes in plant habitat configuration and vector community composition and behaviour.
Cang Hui and David M. Richardson
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198745334
- eISBN:
- 9780191807046
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198745334.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Biomathematics / Statistics and Data Analysis / Complexity Studies
Invasion Dynamics depicts how non-native species spread and perform in their novel ranges and how recipient socio-ecological systems are reshaped and how they respond to the new incursions. It ...
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Invasion Dynamics depicts how non-native species spread and perform in their novel ranges and how recipient socio-ecological systems are reshaped and how they respond to the new incursions. It collects evidence for grouping patterns of spread into four types and three associated phenomena, discusses candidate explanations for each pattern, and introduces analytic tools for capturing and forecasting invasion dynamics. Special attention is given to the potential mechanisms of boosted range expansion and nonequilibrium demographic dynamics during invasion. The diverse mechanisms that drive direct and mediated biotic interactions between invaders and resident species are elucidated, and triggers of potential regime shifts in recipient ecosystems are identified. It further explores the ways in which local and regional species assemblages are reshuffled and reorganized. Efficient management of invasions requires not only insights on invasion dynamics across scales but also objective assessment of ecological and economic impacts, as well as sound protocols for prioritizing and optimizing management effort. Biological invasions, therefore, involve more than the actions of invaders and reactions of invaded ecosystems; they represent a co-evolving complex adaptive system with emergent features of network complexity and invasibility. Invasions are thus a formidable force that acts in concert with other facets of global change to initiate the adaptive wheel of panarchy and shape the altered biosphere in the Anthropocene.Less
Invasion Dynamics depicts how non-native species spread and perform in their novel ranges and how recipient socio-ecological systems are reshaped and how they respond to the new incursions. It collects evidence for grouping patterns of spread into four types and three associated phenomena, discusses candidate explanations for each pattern, and introduces analytic tools for capturing and forecasting invasion dynamics. Special attention is given to the potential mechanisms of boosted range expansion and nonequilibrium demographic dynamics during invasion. The diverse mechanisms that drive direct and mediated biotic interactions between invaders and resident species are elucidated, and triggers of potential regime shifts in recipient ecosystems are identified. It further explores the ways in which local and regional species assemblages are reshuffled and reorganized. Efficient management of invasions requires not only insights on invasion dynamics across scales but also objective assessment of ecological and economic impacts, as well as sound protocols for prioritizing and optimizing management effort. Biological invasions, therefore, involve more than the actions of invaders and reactions of invaded ecosystems; they represent a co-evolving complex adaptive system with emergent features of network complexity and invasibility. Invasions are thus a formidable force that acts in concert with other facets of global change to initiate the adaptive wheel of panarchy and shape the altered biosphere in the Anthropocene.
