Ecosystem Geography: From Ecoregions to Sites

ISBN-13: 9780387895154 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 251 str.

Robert G. Bailey

Opis

and management is presently undergoing enormous change: away L from managing single resources to managing ecosystems. From f- est to tundra, to desert, to steppe, the world s ecosystems vary vastly. To manage them effectively we need to understand their geographic d- tribution better. We need to do this at various levels of detail because ecosystems exist at multiple scales in a hierarchy, from regional to local. Maps are needed to display ecosystem distribution and hierarchy. Until now, information on de?ning ecosystem boundaries has been scarce. This book is the ?rst to clarify and systematize the underlying principles for their mapping. It presents a synthesis of the knowledge in this ?eld and provides a guide to its use. I recommend this book to all who are involved in the study and m- agement of ecosystems. Chief, USDA Forest Service Jack Ward Thomas v Preface to the Second Edition his book outlines a system that organizes the Earth into a hierarchy T of increasingly ?ner-scale ecosystems that can serve as a consistent framework for ecological analysis and management. The system consists of a three-level hierarchy of nested ecosystem units and their associated mapping criteria. Delineation of units involves identifying the envir- mental factors controlling the spatial geography of ecosystems at va- ous levels and establishing boundaries where these factors change s- ni?cantly. Macroscale units (ecoregions) are climatically controlled and delineated as Koppen Trewartha climate zones."

Recenzje

em Geography a carefully compiled benchmark reference with an exhaustive bibliography on the state-of-the-art of ecosystem classification and its bearing on resource management." (Journal of Forestry)

"I would recommend this book to those with serious interest in physical geography-a good resource for those who teach physical geography." (Journal of Geography)

"The new 'ecosystem management' demands an understanding of ecosystems and the relationships between them. In short, it requires a sound geographical knowledge of ecosystems. Ecosystem Geography lays a firm foundation for such knowledge." (Progress in Physical Geography)

"The book is essential reading for ecologists and natural area managers interested in ecosystem management and understanding how their landscapes fit into the larger picture regionally, continentally, and globally." (Natural Areas Journal)

Spis treści

Forward Preface Ch. 1 Introduction Ch. 2 Scale of Ecosystem Units Ch. 3 The Question of Boundary Criteria Ch. 4 Role of Climate in Ecosystem Differentiation Ch. 5 Macroscale: Macroclimatic Differentiation Ch. 6 Ecoclimatic Zones of the Earth Ch. 7 Ecoregions of the United States Ch. 8 Mesoscale: Landform Differentiation Ch. 9 Microscale: Edaphic-Topoclimatic Differentiation Ch. 10 Applications of Ecosystem Geography Ch. 11 Summary and Conclusions Appendix Ecoregions of the Oceans Glossary Further Reading Bibliography About the Author Index

Blurb

The first edition of this book, Ecosystem Geography, examined the distribution of ecosystems at different scales, and the processes that have differentiated them. It presented the principles for ecosystems mapping and explored the connections between ecosystem geography, conservation, and management. Ecosystem Geography was written in 1996, at a time when few published materials on ecosystem geography were available, and none had systematically elaborated the principles underlying the mapping of ecosystems in a form accessible to advanced students and practitioners. This second edition, Ecosystem Geography: From Ecoregions to Sites, builds on the strengths of its predecessor, incorporating new information and clarifying concepts presented in the first edition. New sections address how ecoregion boundaries were determined, ecoregion redistribution under climate change, ecosystem processes (such as fire regimes), empirical versus genetic approaches to classification, and human modification to ecosystems, such as through the introduction of invasive species.

From reviews of the first edition:

"An important book, richly illustrated with clear diagrams, maps, and photos. A major contribution to ecosystem ecology and an essential acquisition." –Choice

"The new ‘ecosystem management’ demands an understanding of ecosystems and the relationships between them. In short, it requires a sound geographical knowledge of ecosystems. Ecosystem Geography lays a firm foundation for such knowledge." –Progress in Physical Geography

"The book is essential reading for ecologists and natural area managers interested in ecosystem management and understanding how their landscapes fit into the larger picture regionally, continentally, and globally." –Natural Areas Journal

About the Author:
Robert G. Bailey is a geographer with the United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the former leader of the agency's Ecosystem Management Analysis Center. His work involves the application of ecosystem geography to ecological planning and design.