Ebook: Arctic and Alpine Biodiversity: Patterns, Causes and Ecosystem Consequences

As human populations expand and have increasing access to technol­ ogy, two general environmental concerns have arisen. First, human pop­ ulations are having increasing impact on the earth system, such that we are altering the biospheric carbon pools, basic processes of elemental cycling and the climate system of the earth. Because of time lags and feedbacks, these processes are not easily reversed. These alterations are occurring now more rapidly than at any time in the last several million years. Secondly, human activities are causing changes in the earth's biota that lead to species extinctions at a rate and magnitude rivaling those of past geologic extinction events. Although environmental change is potentially reversible at some time scales, the loss of species is irrevo­ cable. Changes in diversity at other scales are also cause for concern. Habitat fragmentation and declines in population sizes alter genetic di­ versity. Loss or introduction of new functional groups, such as nitro­ gen fixers or rodents onto islands can strongly alter ecosystem processes. Changes in landscape diversity through habitat modification and frag­ mentation alter the nature of processes within and among vegetation patches. Although both ecological changes altering the earth system and the loss of biotic diversity have been major sources of concern in recent years, these concerns have been largely independent, with little concern for the environmental causes the ecosystem consequences of changes in biodiversity. These two processes are clearly interrelated. Changes in ecological systems cause changes in diversity.

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This book provides a synthesis of the patterns, causes and consequences of biodiversity in cold-dominated ecosystems.
The first chapters document patterns and causes of genetic and species diversity of plants and animals emphasizing the interaction between historical and contemporary factors in governing biodiversity. The second section addresses how biotic diversity has changed in the past, how it is currently changing, and how it will likely respond to future changes in climate and land use. The third section treats both the conceptual basis and the evidence that biodiversity influences the functioning of arctic and alpine ecosystems. Also included are the implications of terrestrial patterns of biodiversity for landscape patterns and for patterns of diversity in aquatic ecosystems.

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This book provides a synthesis of the patterns, causes and consequences of biodiversity in cold-dominated ecosystems.
The first chapters document patterns and causes of genetic and species diversity of plants and animals emphasizing the interaction between historical and contemporary factors in governing biodiversity. The second section addresses how biotic diversity has changed in the past, how it is currently changing, and how it will likely respond to future changes in climate and land use. The third section treats both the conceptual basis and the evidence that biodiversity influences the functioning of arctic and alpine ecosystems. Also included are the implications of terrestrial patterns of biodiversity for landscape patterns and for patterns of diversity in aquatic ecosystems.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Patterns and Causes of Arctic Plant Community Diversity....Pages 3-20
Causes of Arctic Plant Diversity: Origin and Evolution....Pages 21-32
Patterns and Causes of Genetic Diversity in Arctic Plant....Pages 33-43
Alpine Plant Diversity: A Global Survey and Functional Interpretations....Pages 45-62
Origin and Evolution of the Mountain Flora in Middle Asia and Neighbouring Mountain Regions....Pages 63-80
Diversity of the Arctic Terrestrial Fauna....Pages 81-95
Animal Diversity at High Altitudes in the Austrian Central Alps....Pages 97-108
Front Matter....Pages 109-109
Arctic Tundra Biodiversity: A Temporal Perspective from Late Quaternary Pollen Records....Pages 111-125
Effects of Mammals on Ecosystem Change at the Pleistocene-Holocene Boundary....Pages 127-135
Paleorecords of Plant Biodiversity in the Alps....Pages 137-149
Implications for Changes in Arctic Plant Biodiversity from Environmental Manipulation Experiments....Pages 151-166
Patterns and Current Changes in Alpine Plant Diversity....Pages 167-181
Anthropogenic Impacts on Biodiversity in the Arctic....Pages 183-196
Front Matter....Pages 197-197
Plant Functional Diversity and Resource Control of Primary Production in Alaskan Arctic Tundras....Pages 199-211
Direct and Indirect Effects of Plant Species on Biogeochemical Processes in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 213-224
Causes and Consequences of Plant Functional Diversity in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 225-237
Ecosystem Consequences of Microbial Diversity and Community Structure....Pages 239-254
Diversity of Biomass and Nitrogen Distribution Among Plant Species in Arctic and Alpine Tundra Ecosystems....Pages 255-269
The Plant-Vertebrate Herbivore Interface in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 271-281
Insect Diversity, Life History, and Trophic Dynamics in Arctic Streams, with Particular Emphasis on Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae)....Pages 283-295
Front Matter....Pages 197-197
Land-Water Interactions: The Influence of Terrestrial Diversity on Aquatic Ecosystems....Pages 297-310
Front Matter....Pages 311-311
Patterns, Causes, Changes, and Consequences of Biodiversity in Arctic and Alpine Ecosystems....Pages 313-320
Back Matter....Pages 321-334

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This book provides a synthesis of the patterns, causes and consequences of biodiversity in cold-dominated ecosystems.
The first chapters document patterns and causes of genetic and species diversity of plants and animals emphasizing the interaction between historical and contemporary factors in governing biodiversity. The second section addresses how biotic diversity has changed in the past, how it is currently changing, and how it will likely respond to future changes in climate and land use. The third section treats both the conceptual basis and the evidence that biodiversity influences the functioning of arctic and alpine ecosystems. Also included are the implications of terrestrial patterns of biodiversity for landscape patterns and for patterns of diversity in aquatic ecosystems.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Patterns and Causes of Arctic Plant Community Diversity....Pages 3-20
Causes of Arctic Plant Diversity: Origin and Evolution....Pages 21-32
Patterns and Causes of Genetic Diversity in Arctic Plant....Pages 33-43
Alpine Plant Diversity: A Global Survey and Functional Interpretations....Pages 45-62
Origin and Evolution of the Mountain Flora in Middle Asia and Neighbouring Mountain Regions....Pages 63-80
Diversity of the Arctic Terrestrial Fauna....Pages 81-95
Animal Diversity at High Altitudes in the Austrian Central Alps....Pages 97-108
Front Matter....Pages 109-109
Arctic Tundra Biodiversity: A Temporal Perspective from Late Quaternary Pollen Records....Pages 111-125
Effects of Mammals on Ecosystem Change at the Pleistocene-Holocene Boundary....Pages 127-135
Paleorecords of Plant Biodiversity in the Alps....Pages 137-149
Implications for Changes in Arctic Plant Biodiversity from Environmental Manipulation Experiments....Pages 151-166
Patterns and Current Changes in Alpine Plant Diversity....Pages 167-181
Anthropogenic Impacts on Biodiversity in the Arctic....Pages 183-196
Front Matter....Pages 197-197
Plant Functional Diversity and Resource Control of Primary Production in Alaskan Arctic Tundras....Pages 199-211
Direct and Indirect Effects of Plant Species on Biogeochemical Processes in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 213-224
Causes and Consequences of Plant Functional Diversity in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 225-237
Ecosystem Consequences of Microbial Diversity and Community Structure....Pages 239-254
Diversity of Biomass and Nitrogen Distribution Among Plant Species in Arctic and Alpine Tundra Ecosystems....Pages 255-269
The Plant-Vertebrate Herbivore Interface in Arctic Ecosystems....Pages 271-281
Insect Diversity, Life History, and Trophic Dynamics in Arctic Streams, with Particular Emphasis on Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae)....Pages 283-295
Front Matter....Pages 197-197
Land-Water Interactions: The Influence of Terrestrial Diversity on Aquatic Ecosystems....Pages 297-310
Front Matter....Pages 311-311
Patterns, Causes, Changes, and Consequences of Biodiversity in Arctic and Alpine Ecosystems....Pages 313-320
Back Matter....Pages 321-334
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