Ebook: Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: The Role of Nutrients
- Tags: Ecology
- Series: Ecological Studies 43
- Year: 1983
- Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
The theory of ecological convergence underlies the biogeographers' maps of world biome-types. It also determines the degree to which ecological principles, derived from research on particular populations, communities or ecosystems, are generally valid, and hence also to what extent resource management principles are general. To quote Di Castri and Mooney (1973): "In effect, in order to assess the transfer of technology, it is essential to know to what extent information acquired from studying one particular ecosystem is applicable to another ecosystem of the same type but situated in a different location. " The five relatively small, isolated, mediterranean-climate zones of the earth, each with its distinct fauna and flora, have provided the ideal testing grounds for this theory. A heritage of precisely focused ecosystems research has resulted, beginning with the international comparative analyses conducted by Specht (l969a, b) but with antecedents in earlier studies in South Australia (Specht and Rayson 1957, Specht 1973). Cody and Mooney (1978) reviewed the information available at the time for the four zones excepting Australia and concluded that the arrays of strategy-types to be found among the different biotas were so similar that they could be explained only in terms of the convergence hypothesis; nevertheless, evident differences in community organization and dynamics, especially phenol ogy, required closer study of resource availability and resource-use patterns to better explain relations between form and function overall, and to assess the degree of convergence at higher levels of organization than the population.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-2
The Comparative Evolution of Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: A Southern Perspective....Pages 3-40
Mediterranean-Type Heathlands and Sclerophyllous Shrublands of the World: An Overview....Pages 41-65
Ecological Control of the Vegetation of Southwestern Australia: Moisture versus Nutrients....Pages 66-73
Influence of Nutrients on the Composition and Distribution of Plant Communities in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Israel....Pages 74-85
Approaches to the Definition of Mediterranean Growth Forms....Pages 86-100
Front Matter....Pages 101-102
Carbon-Gaining Capacity and Allocation Patterns of Mediterranean-Climate Plants....Pages 103-119
Moisture Regime and Nutrient Control of Seasonal Growth in Mediterranean Ecosystems....Pages 120-132
Canopy Structure of Mediterranean-Type Shrubs in Relation to Heat and Moisture....Pages 133-166
Carbon and Nitrogen Economy of Diplacus aurantiacus, a Californian Mediterranean-Climate Drought-Deciduous Shrub....Pages 167-176
Front Matter....Pages 177-178
Nutrient Cycling in Australian Heath and South African Fynbos....Pages 179-191
Impact of Fire on Nutrient Cycles in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems with Reference to Chaparral....Pages 192-207
Decomposition and Mineralization Processes in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems and in Heathlands of Similar Structure....Pages 208-232
The Effects of Different Fire Regimes on Soil Nutrient Levels in Quercus coccifera Garrigue....Pages 233-243
Front Matter....Pages 244-245
Strategies for Maximizing Nutrient Uptake in Two Mediterranean Ecosystems of Low Nutrient Status....Pages 246-273
The Effects of Fire on Photosynthesis in Chaparral Resprouts....Pages 274-285
Mineral Nutrient and Nonstructural Carbon Pools in Shrubs from Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of California and Chile....Pages 286-299
Comparative Phenology of Mediterranean-Type Plant Communities....Pages 300-317
Front Matter....Pages 319-321
Some Thoughts on Resource Competition and Diversity in Plant Communities....Pages 322-336
On Alpha Diversity and the Richness of the Cape Flora: A Study in Southern Cape Fynbos....Pages 337-356
Continental Diversity Patterns and Convergent Evolution in Bird Communities....Pages 357-402
Front Matter....Pages 319-321
Distribution and Species Diversity of Birds and Plants in Fynbos Vegetation of Mediterranean-Climate Zone, South Africa....Pages 403-416
Plant Community Structure — Spatial Partitioning of Resources....Pages 417-445
Plant Community Diversity and Dynamics in Relation to Fire....Pages 446-472
Mammal Species Diversity in Australian Heathlands: the Importance of Pyric Succession and Habitat Diversity....Pages 473-489
Animal Demography in Relation to Fire and Shortage of Food: Some Indicative Models....Pages 490-505
Front Matter....Pages 507-508
The Role of Sclerophyllous Leaves in Determining Insect Grazing Damage....Pages 509-524
Defoliation Patterns in Matorral Ecosystems....Pages 525-542
Back Matter....Pages 543-552
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-2
The Comparative Evolution of Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems: A Southern Perspective....Pages 3-40
Mediterranean-Type Heathlands and Sclerophyllous Shrublands of the World: An Overview....Pages 41-65
Ecological Control of the Vegetation of Southwestern Australia: Moisture versus Nutrients....Pages 66-73
Influence of Nutrients on the Composition and Distribution of Plant Communities in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of Israel....Pages 74-85
Approaches to the Definition of Mediterranean Growth Forms....Pages 86-100
Front Matter....Pages 101-102
Carbon-Gaining Capacity and Allocation Patterns of Mediterranean-Climate Plants....Pages 103-119
Moisture Regime and Nutrient Control of Seasonal Growth in Mediterranean Ecosystems....Pages 120-132
Canopy Structure of Mediterranean-Type Shrubs in Relation to Heat and Moisture....Pages 133-166
Carbon and Nitrogen Economy of Diplacus aurantiacus, a Californian Mediterranean-Climate Drought-Deciduous Shrub....Pages 167-176
Front Matter....Pages 177-178
Nutrient Cycling in Australian Heath and South African Fynbos....Pages 179-191
Impact of Fire on Nutrient Cycles in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems with Reference to Chaparral....Pages 192-207
Decomposition and Mineralization Processes in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems and in Heathlands of Similar Structure....Pages 208-232
The Effects of Different Fire Regimes on Soil Nutrient Levels in Quercus coccifera Garrigue....Pages 233-243
Front Matter....Pages 244-245
Strategies for Maximizing Nutrient Uptake in Two Mediterranean Ecosystems of Low Nutrient Status....Pages 246-273
The Effects of Fire on Photosynthesis in Chaparral Resprouts....Pages 274-285
Mineral Nutrient and Nonstructural Carbon Pools in Shrubs from Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems of California and Chile....Pages 286-299
Comparative Phenology of Mediterranean-Type Plant Communities....Pages 300-317
Front Matter....Pages 319-321
Some Thoughts on Resource Competition and Diversity in Plant Communities....Pages 322-336
On Alpha Diversity and the Richness of the Cape Flora: A Study in Southern Cape Fynbos....Pages 337-356
Continental Diversity Patterns and Convergent Evolution in Bird Communities....Pages 357-402
Front Matter....Pages 319-321
Distribution and Species Diversity of Birds and Plants in Fynbos Vegetation of Mediterranean-Climate Zone, South Africa....Pages 403-416
Plant Community Structure — Spatial Partitioning of Resources....Pages 417-445
Plant Community Diversity and Dynamics in Relation to Fire....Pages 446-472
Mammal Species Diversity in Australian Heathlands: the Importance of Pyric Succession and Habitat Diversity....Pages 473-489
Animal Demography in Relation to Fire and Shortage of Food: Some Indicative Models....Pages 490-505
Front Matter....Pages 507-508
The Role of Sclerophyllous Leaves in Determining Insect Grazing Damage....Pages 509-524
Defoliation Patterns in Matorral Ecosystems....Pages 525-542
Back Matter....Pages 543-552
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