Soil Ecology and Ecosystem Services

by Wall, Diana H.; Bardgett, Richard D.; Behan-Pelletier, Valerie; Herrick, Jeffrey E.; Jones, Hefin; Ritz, Karl; Six, Johan; Strong, Donald R.; van der Putten, Wim H.

• ISBN13: 9780199575923
• ISBN10: 0199575924
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-09-07
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This multi-contributor, international volume synthesizes contributions from the world's leading soil scientists and ecologists, describing cutting-edge research that provides a basis for the maintenance of soil health and sustainability. The book covers these advances from a unique perspective of examining the ecosystem services produced by soil biota across different scales - from biotic interactions at microscales to communities functioning at regional and global scales. The bookleads the user towards an understanding of how the sustainability of soils, biodiversity, and ecosystem services can be maintained and how humans, other animals, and ecosystems are dependent on living soils and ecosystem services.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Living Soil and Ecosystem Services

Introduction

Soil as a habitat

Soil biodiversity and functions

Ecosystem services provided by soil biota

Synthesis

From Genes to Ecosystem Services

Introduction

From single genes to microbial networks

From genes to ecosystems: plant genetics as a link between above- and belowground processes

Delivery of soil ecosystem services: from Gaia to genes

Synthesis

Community Structure and Biotic Assemblages

Introduction

Succession, resource processing, and diversity in detrital food webs

Patterns of biodiversity at fine and small spatial scales

Linking soil biodiversity and human health: do arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contribute to food nutrition

Ecosystem influences of fungus-growing termites in the dry paleotropics

The biogeography of microbial communities and ecosystem processes: implications for soil and ecosystem models

Biogeography and phylogenetic community structure of soil invertebrate ecosystem engineers

Synthesis

Global Changes

Introduction

Climate change effects on soils and ecosystem services

The impact of nitrogen enrichment on ecosystems and their services

Urbanization, soils, and ecosystem services

Management of grassland systems, and soil and ecosystem services

Synthesis

Sustainable Soils

Introduction

Soil productivity and erosion

Agroforestry and soil health: linking trees, soil biota, and ecosystem services

Soil health: the concept, its role, and strategies for monitoring

Managing soil biodiversity and ecosystem services

Soil ecosystem resilience and recovery

Applying soil ecological knowledge to restore ecosystem services

Synthesis

Index

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