Ebook: Forest Succession: Concepts and Application

Succession-nothing in plant, community, or ecosystem ecology has been so elaborated by terminology, so much reviewed, and yet so much the center of controversy. In a general sense, every ecologist uses the concept in teaching and research, but no two ecologists seem to have a unified concept of the details of succession. The word was used by Thoreau to describe, from a naturalist's point of view, the general changes observed during the transition of an old field to a forest. As data accumulated, a lengthy taxonomy of succession developed around early twentieth century ecologists such as Cooper, Clements, and Gleason. Now, nearer the end of the century, and after much discussion concerning the nature of vegetation communities, where do ecologists stand with respect to knowledge of ecological succession? The intent of this book is not to rehash classic philosophies of succession that have emerged through the past several decades of study, but to provide a forum for ecologists to present their current research and present-day interpretation of data. To this end, we brought together a group of scientists currently studying terrestrial plant succession, who represent research experience in a broad spectrum of different ecosystem types. The results of that meeting led to this book, which presents to the reader a unique summary of contemporary research on forest succession.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction....Pages 1-6
Concepts, Theory, and Models of Forest Succession....Pages 7-9
Succession and Ecological Theory....Pages 10-23
Some Causes of Variety in Patterns of Secondary Succession....Pages 24-35
Causality and Succession....Pages 36-55
The Role of Disturbance in the Gap Dynamics of a Montane Rain Forest: An Application of a Tropical Forest Succession Model....Pages 56-73
Patterns and Dynamics of Forests: An Application of Simulation Models....Pages 74-94
Long-Term Forest Dynamics....Pages 95-106
Plant Succession and Soil Development in Coastal Sand Dunes of Subtropical Eastern Australia....Pages 107-131
Quaternary History and the Stability of Forest Communities....Pages 132-153
Simulating the Role of Climate Change and Species Immigration in Forest Succession....Pages 154-177
Patterns of Succession in Different Forest Ecosystems....Pages 178-184
Forest Succession in Relation to Nutrient Cycling in the Boreal Forest of Alaska....Pages 185-211
Aspects of Succession in the Coniferous Forests of the Pacific Northwest....Pages 212-229
Secondary Forest Succession on the North Carolina Piedmont....Pages 230-245
Successional Studies of a Rain Forest in Mexico....Pages 246-266
Process Studies in Succession....Pages 267-276
Successional Processes: Comparisons among Biomes with Special Reference to Probable Roles of and Influences on Animals....Pages 277-304
Canopy-Understory Interaction and the Internal Dynamics of Mature Hardwood and Hemlock-Hardwood Forests....Pages 305-323
Changes in Biomass and Production During Secondary Forest Succession....Pages 324-338
Above-Ground Biomass Accumulation and Net Primary Production During the First 70 Years of Succession in Populus grandidentata Stands on Poor Sites in Northern Lower Michigan....Pages 339-360
Below-Ground Processes in Forest Succession....Pages 361-373
Fire and Succession in the Conifer Forests of Northern North America....Pages 374-405
Vegetation Change in Chaparral and Desert Communities in San Diego County, California....Pages 406-430
Is Succession a Viable Concept in African Savanna Ecosystems?....Pages 431-447
Back Matter....Pages 449-517

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction....Pages 1-6
Concepts, Theory, and Models of Forest Succession....Pages 7-9
Succession and Ecological Theory....Pages 10-23
Some Causes of Variety in Patterns of Secondary Succession....Pages 24-35
Causality and Succession....Pages 36-55
The Role of Disturbance in the Gap Dynamics of a Montane Rain Forest: An Application of a Tropical Forest Succession Model....Pages 56-73
Patterns and Dynamics of Forests: An Application of Simulation Models....Pages 74-94
Long-Term Forest Dynamics....Pages 95-106
Plant Succession and Soil Development in Coastal Sand Dunes of Subtropical Eastern Australia....Pages 107-131
Quaternary History and the Stability of Forest Communities....Pages 132-153
Simulating the Role of Climate Change and Species Immigration in Forest Succession....Pages 154-177
Patterns of Succession in Different Forest Ecosystems....Pages 178-184
Forest Succession in Relation to Nutrient Cycling in the Boreal Forest of Alaska....Pages 185-211
Aspects of Succession in the Coniferous Forests of the Pacific Northwest....Pages 212-229
Secondary Forest Succession on the North Carolina Piedmont....Pages 230-245
Successional Studies of a Rain Forest in Mexico....Pages 246-266
Process Studies in Succession....Pages 267-276
Successional Processes: Comparisons among Biomes with Special Reference to Probable Roles of and Influences on Animals....Pages 277-304
Canopy-Understory Interaction and the Internal Dynamics of Mature Hardwood and Hemlock-Hardwood Forests....Pages 305-323
Changes in Biomass and Production During Secondary Forest Succession....Pages 324-338
Above-Ground Biomass Accumulation and Net Primary Production During the First 70 Years of Succession in Populus grandidentata Stands on Poor Sites in Northern Lower Michigan....Pages 339-360
Below-Ground Processes in Forest Succession....Pages 361-373
Fire and Succession in the Conifer Forests of Northern North America....Pages 374-405
Vegetation Change in Chaparral and Desert Communities in San Diego County, California....Pages 406-430
Is Succession a Viable Concept in African Savanna Ecosystems?....Pages 431-447
Back Matter....Pages 449-517
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