Advances in Ecological Research

by Fitter; Raffaelli

• ISBN13: 9780120139286
• ISBN10: 0120139286
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-02-24
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

This volume contains papers highlighting the diverse interests of modern ecologists. Areas covered range from modeling terrestrial carbon exchange and storage to the relationship between animal abundance and body size. Other papers address the free-air carbon dioxide enrichment in global change research; generalist predators, interaction strength, and food web stability; delays, demography, and cycles; and spatial root segregation. This volume is essential for all ecologists.

Table of Contents

Contributors to Volume 28	v
Preface	vii
Free-air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) in Global Change Research: A Review
A.R. McLEOD
S.P. Long
Summary	1	(2)
Introduction	3	(4)
FACE Experiments and Development	7	(6)
How FACE Systems Work	7	(1)
FACE in Crops and Grassland	7	(6)
Technical Performance of FACE Systems	13	(10)
Spatial Distribution of Gas Concentration	13	(2)
Temporal Distribution of Gas Concentration	15	(4)
FACE Blower Effect	19	(1)
FACE Island Effect	20	(1)
Costs of FACE Facilities	20	(3)
The Potential and Realised Contribution of FACE to Biology	23	(20)
Production, Biomass and Efficiency of Light	24	(4)
Water and Energy Balance	28	(5)
Effects on Photosynthesis, Metabolism and Molecular Biology	33	(4)
Effects on Roots and Soil	37	(4)
Interactions	41	(2)
Conclusions	43	(14)
Acknowledgements	46	(1)
References	46	(9)
Appendix	55	(2)
Modelling Terrestrial Carbon Exchange and Storage: Evidence and Implications of Functional Convergence in Light-use Efficiency
S.J. Goetz
S.D. Prince
Summary	57	(1)
Introduction	58	(2)
The Functional Convergence Hypothesis and Bases for Its Assessment	60	(3)
Links between Remote Sensing, Light Absorption and Primary Production	63	(4)
Resource Constraints and Adaptive Strategies	67	(1)
Allocation, Defence Costs and Payback Intervals	68	(4)
Evidence for Resource-use Efficiency	72	(3)
Nitrogen	73	(1)
Water	73	(2)
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)	75	(1)
Co-ordinated Resource-use Efficiencies	75	(2)
Links between Co-ordinated Resource Use and Leaf Mass per Unit Area	77	(1)
Links between Maximised Carbon Gain and Fitness	78	(2)
Implications for Remote Sensing of Primary Production	80	(2)
Overview and Conclusions	82	(11)
Acknowledgements	83	(1)
References	84	(9)
Generalist Predators, Interaction Strength and Food-web Stability
G.P. Closs
S.R. Balcome
M.J. Shirley
Summary	93	(1)
Introduction	94	(4)
Key Definitions: Food-web Stability and Interaction Strength	98	(2)
Food-web Stability	98	(1)
Interaction Strength	98	(2)
Population Dynamics of Generalist Predators	100	(2)
Putting Generalist Predators into Food Webs: A Perspective that Incorporates Spatial and Temporal Scale	102	(6)
Generalist Predators in Spatially Simple Systems	102	(1)
Generalist Predators in Spatially Complex Systems	103	(4)
Food Webs as Dynamic yet Persistent Entities	107	(1)
Implications for Food-web Theory	108	(6)
Interaction Strength and its Relationship with Energy Flux	108	(2)
Relative Importance of Top-down versus Bottom-up Control within Food Webs	110	(2)
The Relationship between Food-web Complexity and Stability	112	(2)
Future Directions for Food-web Research	114	(4)
Relationships between Interaction Strength and Energetic Flux	114	(1)
Top-down and Bottom-up Regulation and the Role of Refugia	115	(2)
Species Richness and Food-web Stability	117	(1)
Theoretical Models	118	(1)
Conclusions	118	(9)
Acknowledgements	119	(1)
References	119	(8)
Delays, Demography and Cycles: A Forensic Study
W.S.C. Gurney
S.P. Blythe
T.K. Stokes
Summary	127	(1)
Introduction	127	(1)
The 1954 Experiment	128	(6)
The 1957 Experiment	134	(6)
Natural Selection in the 1957 Experiment	140	(2)
Discussion	142	(3)
References	144	(1)
Spatial Root Segregation: Are Plants Territorial?
H.J. Schenk
R.M. Callaway
B.E. Mahall
Summary	145	(1)
Introduction	146	(1)
Measuring Root Segregation	147	(3)
Segregation of Whole Root Systems	150	(5)
Segregation of Individual Roots	155	(2)
Mechanisms of Root Segregation	157	(5)
Indirect Root Interactions	157	(1)
Direct Root Interactions	158	(4)
Plant Territories	162	(5)
Defence of Space	162	(1)
Larrea tridentata: A Case Study	163	(1)
Territoriality and Competition	164	(1)
Density, Resource Availability and Territoriality	165	(2)
Territoriality and the Regulation of Plant Populations	167	(14)
Acknowledgements	168	(1)
References	168	(13)
The Relationship between Animal Abundance and Body Size: A Review of the Mechanisms
T.M. Blackburn
K.J. Gaston
Summary	181	(1)
Introduction	182	(2)
Mechanisms	184	(18)
The Census Are Mechanism	184	(3)
The Energetic Constraint Mechanism	187	(6)
The Latitudinal Gradient Mechanism	193	(3)
The Concatenation Mechanism	196	(2)
Interspecific Competition	198	(3)
The Differential Extinction Mechanism	201	(1)
Discussion	202	(9)
Acknowledgements	206	(1)
References	206	(5)
Cumulative List of Titles	211	(4)
Index	215