I. CONTEXT * The Ecosystem Concept * Earth's Climate System * Geology and Soils * II. MECHANISMS * Terrestrial Water and Energy Balance * Carbon Input to Terrestrial Ecosystems * Terrestrial Production Processes * Terrestrial Decomposition * Terrestrial Plant Nutrient Use * Terrestrial Nutrient Cycling * Aquatic Carbon and Nutrient Cycling * Trophic Dynamics * Community Effects on Ecosystem Processes * III. PATTERNS * Temporal Dynamics * Landscape Heterogeneity and Ecosystem Dynamics * IV. INTEGRATION * Global Biogeochemical Cycles * Managing and Sustaining Ecosystem * Abbreviations * Glossary * References
F. Stuart Chapin III, known to his friends as “Terry,” is an Alaskan ecologist who has written leading textbooks in ecosystem stewardship, ecosystem ecology, and plant physiological ecology. Based on his stewardship work, for which he was awarded the 2019 Volvo Environment Prize, he wrote “Grassroots Stewardship: Sustainability Within Our Reach” to explore stewardship with a general audience. This book presents a positive and pragmatic strategy by which individual citizens can shape a more sustainable future for nature and society.
Chapin’s research addresses the effects of changes in climate and wildfire on Alaskan ecology and rural communities. He explores ways that communities and agencies can increase sustainability of ecosystems and human communities over the long term despite rapid climatic and social changes. In this way, society can proactively shape changes toward a more sustainable future. He pursues this internationally through the Resilience Alliance, nationally through the Ecological Society of America, and in Alaska through partnerships with rural indigenous communities.
I read this for a graduate course in Ecosystems Ecology. This text is well organized with clear focus, good and readable explanations, meaningfully connected to current issues and concerns, and has a good chapter summary for each chapter and helpful review questions. If you have a basic background (a good introductory course), you will benefit from this text especially with regard to understanding systems biology, the impact of human activity (the Anthropocene), and global climate change.
read current events (:puke:) about dutch farmers revolt, realized (as is usually the case) that i know nothing, just wanted to read about nitrogen. did not get nothing out of it - surprising given my undirected approach.
Basic, fairly technical ecology at the ecosystem scale. I thought this covered ecosystems processes with good depth and some breadth. Not a systems approach, but this book plus a rigorous systems ecology text would make for a good foundation if you're trying to learn about basic ecology.
Quite intensive, definitely not for those with little knowledge in the sciences. Lots of great information in here, I would recommend for those looking to learn about ecosystem science.