Biomes and Ecosystems

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

ISBN: 9781615303021 | 1615303022
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 1/15/2011

eBook

Available Instantly

Online: 180 Days

Downloadable: 180 Days

*To support the delivery of the digital material to you, a digital delivery fee of $3.99 will be charged on each digital item.

$26.38*

Earths biosphere supports several unique biomes and ecosystems. Though they operate as self-contained units, these regions also operate as part of a global network, nurturing interdependence among greatly diverse plant and animal species. The evolution of these wondrous realmsboth aquatic and terrestrialand the various natural elements that distinguish them from one another are the subjects of this comprehensive volume.

Introduction	p. x
Earth's Biosphere	p. 1
The Diversity of Life	p. 4
The Importance of the Biosphere	p. 7
The Flow of Energy	p. 9
Nutrient Cycling	p. 13
The Carbon Cycle	p. 14
Autotrophs and Heterotrophs	p. 15
The Nitrogen Cycle	p. 18
The Sulfur Cycle	p. 21
The Phosphorus Cycle	p. 22
The Hydrologic Cycle	p. 23
Links Among the Nutrient Cycles	p. 24
Earth's Environmental Conditions	p. 26
The Role of Temperature	p. 27
Humidity	p. 30
The pH Scale	p. 31
The Salinity of Earth's Water Bodies	p. 32
Water Currents	p. 35
Atmospheric Pressure	p. 35
Hydrostatic Pressure	p. 36
The Evolution of the Biosphere	p. 38
Earth's Geologic History and Early Life-Forms	p. 40
Lynn Margulis	p. 41
The Development of Life	p. 43
The First Life-Forms	p. 44
The Growing Complexity	p. 45
The Challenges to the Development of Life	p. 45
The Greenhouse Effect	p. 46
Extinction and Diversification	p. 48
The Cambrian Explosion	p. 49
The Emergence of Terrestrial Life	p. 51
The Progression of Evolution	p. 54
Glaciation and Drought During the Permian Period	p. 54
The Reptilian Radiation	p. 55
Gymosperms	p. 56
The Diversity of Cretaceous Life	p. 58
The Effects of Climate	p. 59
Mass Extinction	p. 60
The Early Paleogene Transition	p. 61
The Rise of the Mammals	p. 61
The Emergence of the Primates	p. 63
Cenozoic Climatic Fluctuation	p. 63
Quaternary Extinctions	p. 66
Biomes and Ecosystems	p. 69
The Concept of Biogeography	p. 70
Biotic Distributions	p. 72
Dispersalist and Vicariance Biogeography	p. 73
Endemism	p. 74
Land Bridge	p. 75
Components of Species Diversity	p. 76
Species Adaptations to Changing Environments	p. 78
The Effects of Geologic Changes on Biotic Distributions	p. 79
The Distribution Boundaries of Flora and Fauna	p. 81
The Floral Kingdoms	p. 83
A Geographic Breakdown of the Boreal Kingdom	p. 83
The Paleotropical Kingdom and Its Subkingdoms	p. 86
The Neotropical Kingdom	p. 88
The South African Kingdom	p. 89
The Australian Kingdom	p. 89
The Antarctic Kingdom	p. 90
The Faunal Realms	p. 90
The Holarctic Realm	p. 92
Wallace's Line	p. 93
The Paleotropical Realm	p. 93
The Notogaean Realm	p. 98
The Neogaean Realm	p. 99
The Antarctic Realm	p. 100
Ecosystems	p. 100
Biological Communities	p. 102
Ecotones	p. 103
Terrestrial Ecosystem Case Studies	p. 104
The Mountain Ecosystem	p. 104
The Origin of Mountain Ecosystems	p. 105
Mountain Environments	p. 106
Biodiversity	p. 107
The Flora of Mountain Ecosystems	p. 112
The Fauna of Mountain Ecosystems	p. 115
The Development and Structure of Populations and Communities in Mountain Ecosystems	p. 116
Biological Productivity in Mountain Ecosystems	p. 117
The Polar Ecosystem	p. 118
The Origin of Polar Flora and Fauna	p. 119
Polar Environments	p. 121
Biota of the Arctic	p. 123
Biota of the Antarctic	p. 131
The Development and Structure of Populations and Communities in Polar Ecosystems	p. 132
Biological Productivity in Polar Ecosystems	p. 134
Aquatic Ecosystem Case Studies	p. 136
The Marine Ecosystem	p. 136
The Origins of Marine Life	p. 136
The Shape of the Oceans	p. 137
The Physical and Chemical Properties of Seawater	p. 141
Ocean Currents	p. 143
Marine Biota	p. 144
Plankton	p. 145
Nekton	p. 148
Benthos	p. 151
Links Between the Pelagic Environments and the Benthos	p. 154
Organisms of the Deep-Sea Vents	p. 155
The Distribution and Dispersal of Marine Organisms	p. 156
Migrations of Marine Organisms	p. 157
The Dynamics of Populations and Species Assemblages in Marine Ecosystems	p. 159
Biological Productivity	p. 161
The Pelagic Food Chain	p. 162
Upwelling	p. 162
Seasonal Cycles of Production	p. 163
Riverine and Lacustrine Ecosystems	p. 164
The Boundary Ecosystem	p. 165
Boundary Systems Between Waters	p. 166
Estuaries	p. 166
Lagoons	p. 170
Aquaculture	p. 171
Wetlands	p. 172
Bogs	p. 172
Marshes	p. 175
Swamps	p. 178
Functions and Values of Wetlands	p. 180
Conclusion	p. 181
Appendix: Significant Ecosystem Components and Concepts	p. 183
Glossary	p. 199
Bibliography	p. 201
Index	p. 209
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Please wait while the item is added to your bag...

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Biomes and Ecosystems

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Biomes and Ecosystems

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License