This volume treats a plant formation which is distributed in America, Asia and Europe. There is a general introduction which differentiates the temperate deciduous forests from adjacent plant formations, characterize the climatic factors under which these deciduous ecosystems have developed, and consider the flora of such systems in relation to post-Pleistocene history. A characteristic feature of temperate deciduous forests is the shedding of leaves prior to the cold season of the year so that these forests are seasonally distinctive. Because of different ecological conditions, very different stand structures are found within deciduous forests, and these change during the course of succession. These features have a significant influence on animal populations, which are presented in detail.
A major portion of the book is devoted to the description of the regional deciduous forests, beginning with the flora and fauna of North America, for which a large volume of research results and literature exists. In the following chapters flora radiating out of North America, Mexico and Central America is treated, and the flora and fauna of Europe.
In the last chapters the unusual occurrence of temperate deciduous forest in the Southern Hemisphere (South America) is discussed.
This volume treats a plant formation which is distributed in America, Asia and Europe. There is a general introduction which differentiates the temperate deciduous forests from adjacent plant formations, characterize the climatic factors under which these deciduous ecosystems have developed, and consider the flora of such systems in relation to post-Pleistocene history. A characteristic feature of temperate deciduous forests is the shedding of leaves prior to the cold season of the year so that these forests are seasonally distinctive. Because of different ecological conditions, very different stand structures are found within deciduous forests, and these change during the course of succession. These features have a significant influence on animal populations, which are presented in detail.
A major portion of the book is devoted to the description of the regional deciduous forests, beginning with the flora and fauna of North America, for which a large volume of research results and literature exists. In the following chapters flora radiating out of North America, Mexico and Central America is treated, and the flora and fauna of Europe.
In the last chapters the unusual occurrence of temperate deciduous forest in the Southern Hemisphere (South America) is discussed.
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Elsevier Science & Technology
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978-0-444-88599-9 (9780444885999)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Herausgeber*in
Institut fuer Waldbau, Universitaet Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
Institut fuer Bodenkunde und Waldernaehrung, Universitaet Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
Preface. List of Contributors. I. GENERAL ASPECTS. 1. Introduction (E. Roehrig). Definitions. Geographical distribution. References. 2. Climatic conditions (E. Roehrig). General climatic characteristics. Climate diagrams. References. 3. Floral composition and its evolutionary development (E. Roehrig). References. 4. Seasonality (E. Roehrig). Leaf shedding. Phenology. References. 5. Vegetation structure and forest succession (E. Roehrig). Stand structure. Dynamics of forest ecosystems: the concept of succession. Primary successions. Secondary successions. Gap dynamics. References. 6. The animal community: diversity and resources (M. Schaefer). Introduction. Composition of the fauna. The habitat and the fauna: patterns of occurrence, distribution and spatial dynamics. Diurnal rhythms, seasonality and life cycles. Succession. Trophic relationships. Species diversity. Resource partitioning. Organization of the ecosystem and functional relationships. Acknowledgements. References. II. ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES. 7. Ecochemistry of temperate deciduous forest (P.K. Khanna and B. Ulrich). Nutrient-related ecosystem characteristics. Distribution and dynamics of elements in vegetation components. Element balance in the litter layer. Element-associated processes in the soil layer. Element behaviour in temperate deciduous forests. Conclusions. References. 8. Biomass and productivity (E. Roehrig). Definitions, methods of assessment. Biomass. Net primary productivity. References. 9. Secondary production and decomposition (M. Schaefer). Introduction. Utilization of food: biochemistry, energy and nutrients. Processes within subunits of the ecosystem. Energy flow in the whole ecosystem. Nutrient cyles. Animals as heterotrophic regulators in forest ecosystems. References. III. REGIONAL ASPECTS. 10. Deciduous forests of North America (B.V. Barnes). Introduction. Deciduous species and their major adaptations. Southeastern evergreen region. Oak-Hickory-Pine Region. Appalachian Oak Region. Mixed Mesophytic Region. Western Mesophytic Region. Oak-Hickory Region. Beech-Sugar Maple Region. Sugar Maple-Basswood Region. Northern Hardwood-Conifer Region. Boreal Forest. River Floodplain Forests. Western North American Forests. Conclusions. References. 11. Fauna of the North American temperate deciduous forest (J.T. Kitchings and B.T. Walton). Introduction. Community composition. Geographical variation in species diversity and density. Ecological distribution. Successional patterns. Resource partitioning. Seasonality. Acknowledgements. References. 12. Temperate deciduous forests in Mexico and Central America (E. Roehrig). Floristic composition. Ecological conditions and stand structures. References. 13. Temperate deciduous forests of Europe (G. Jahn). Introduction. Environment. Phytogeographical division of Europe. Historical survey. Deciduous tree species in Europe. Forest communities. Regional survey on the deciduous forests of Europe. Regional survey: the Middle European Region. Regional survey: the Alpic Region. Regional survey: the Carpathian Region. Regional survey: the Pannonian and the Western Pontic Region. Regional survey: the Submediterranean and Mediterranean regions. References. 14. Fauna of the European temperate deciduous forest (M. Schaefer). Introduction. Well-studied European deciduous forests. Comparison of deciduous forests on mull and mor sites. References. 15. Deciduous forests of the Near East (E. Roehrig). Introduction. Location. Orography and geology. Climate. Floristic development and composition. Forest types. References. 16. Temperate deciduous forests in East Asia (K.K. Ching). Introduction. Deciduous broadleaved forests in China. Deciduous broadleaved forests in Japan. Deciduous broadleaved forests in Korea. Conclusions. References. 17. Deciduous forests of Southern South America (J. Schmaltz). Introduction. Location. Geology and soils. Climate. Vegetation history. Forest types. References. Systematic list of genera. Author index. Systematic Index. General Index.
