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Vegetation of the Earth and Ecological Systems of the Geo-biosphere

  • Textbook
  • © 1979

Overview

Authors:
  1. Heinrich Walter

    1. University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Federal Republic of Germany

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Part of the book series: Heidelberg Science Library (HSL)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
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  2. Introduction: The Classification of Ecological Systems

    1. Introduction: The Classification of Ecological Systems

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 1-21

  3. General Section

    1. General Section

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 22-41

  4. Zonobiome of the Equatorial Diurnal Climate With Evergreen Tropical Rain Forest

    1. Zonobiome of the Equatorial Diurnal Climate With Evergreen Tropical Rain Forest

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 42-67

  5. Semievergreen Forest

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 68-71
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    2. Zonobiome of the Tropical Summer-Rain Region With Deciduous Forests

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 72-90

  6. Climatic Savannas

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 91-95
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    2. Zonobiome of the Subtropical Deserts

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 96-130

  7. Semidesert

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-132
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    2. Zonobiome of the Winter-Rain Region and the Zonoecotone Toward More Humid Zones

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 133-153

    3. Zonobiome of the Warm-Temperate Humid Climate Region

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 154-162

    4. Zonobiome of the Temperate-Nemoral Climate

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 163-188

  8. Forest-Steppe

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 189-192
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    2. Zonobiome of the Arid-Temperate Climate

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 193-226

  9. Boreonemoral Zone

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 227-229
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    2. Zonobiome of the Cold-Temperate Boreal Climate

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 230-244

  10. Forest Tundra

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 245-246
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    2. Zonobiome of the Tundra Climate

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 247-253

  11. Summary

    1. Summary

      • Heinrich Walter
      Pages 254-260

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 260-276
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Keywords

About this book

Phytomass and Primary Production of the Various Vegetational Zones and of the Entire Biosphere The biosphere is that thin layer at the earth's surface in which living organisms exist and biological cycling takes place. It includes the upper horizons of the soil in which plants root, the atmosphere near the ground, (insofar as organisms penetrate this space), and all the surface waters. More than 99% of the earth's biomass is phytomass, to which we shall limit our discussion. Amounts of phytomass are distinctly related to vegeta­ tional zones. Because accurate determination of phytomass and primary production is difficult, only gross estimates have been available until recently. However, in 1970, Bazilevich et al. published (in Russian) more accurate calculations, based on the rapidly accumulating literature, for the various thermal zones and bioclimatic regions of the earth. These authors calculated mean phyto­ mass and mean annual primary production for the various regions as dry mass (in tons) per hectare. On the basis of measurements of the areas covered by the individual regions, excluding rivers, lakes, glaciers, and permanent snow, total phytomass and total annual primary production for the various regions were obtained (see table). The sum of these figures is the phytomass and annual production of the land surface of the earth. In addition, the table gives corresponding data for the waters of the earth. The values involved are potential i. e. , they are based on natural vegetation uninfluenced by man.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Federal Republic of Germany

    Heinrich Walter

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Vegetation of the Earth and Ecological Systems of the Geo-biosphere

  • Authors: Heinrich Walter

  • Series Title: Heidelberg Science Library

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0468-5

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag New York Inc. 1979

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4684-0468-5Published: 06 December 2012

  • Series ISSN: 0073-1595

  • Edition Number: 2

  • Additional Information: Translation of the 3rd revised edition of the original German edition

  • Topics: Plant Sciences, Earth Sciences, general

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