Methods in Ecosystem Science

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

   PDF

2. Introduction. Methods in Ecosystem Science: Progress, Tradeoffs, and Limitations

   1. Introduction. Methods in Ecosystem Science: Progress, Tradeoffs, and Limitations

      • Osvaldo E. Sala, Robert B. Jackson, Harold A. Mooney, Robert W. Howarth

      Pages 1-3

3. Carbon and Energy Dynamics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-5

      PDF

   2. Stand Structure in Terrestrial Ecosystems

      • Frank W. Davis, Dar Roberts

      Pages 7-30

   3. Methods of Estimating Aboveground Net Primary Productivity

      • Osvaldo E. Sala, Amy T. Austin

      Pages 31-43

   4. Global Terrestrial Gross and Net Primary Productivity from the Earth Observing System

      • Steven W. Running, Peter E. Thornton, Ramakrishna Nemani, Joseph M. Glassy

      Pages 44-57

   5. Methods of Estimating Belowground Net Primary Production

      • William K. Lauenroth

      Pages 58-71

   6. The Measurement of Primary Production in Aquatic Ecosystems

      • Robert W. Howarth, Anthony F. Michaels

      Pages 72-85

   7. Benthic Respiration in Aquatic Sediments

      • Bo Thamdrup, Donald E. Canfield

      Pages 86-103

   8. Decomposition and Soil Organic Matter Dynamics

      • G. Philip Robertson, Eldor A. Paul

      Pages 104-116

   9. Stable Isotope Tracers and Mathematical Models in Soil Organic Matter Studies

      • Ronald Amundson, W. Troy Baisden

      Pages 117-137

   10. Microbial Carbon Cycling in Pelagic Ecosystems: Microbial Methods for Ecosystem Scientists

       • Jonathan J. Cole

       Pages 138-150

   11. Herbivory in Terrestrial Ecosystems

       • Martín Oesterheld, Samuel J. McNaughton

       Pages 151-157

4. Nutrient and Water Dynamics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 159-159

      PDF

   2. Canopy Fluxes

      • John B. Moncrieff, Paul G. Jarvis, Ricardo Valentini

      Pages 161-180

   3. Assessing Ecosystem-Level Water Relations Through Stable Isotope Ratio Analyses

      • James R. Ehleringer, John Roden, Todd E. Dawson

      Pages 181-198

   4. Measuring Water Availability and Uptake in Ecosystem Studies

      • Robert B. Jackson, Laurel J. Anderson, William T. Pockman

      Pages 199-214

   5. Nutrient Transformations

      • John M. Stark

      Pages 215-234

   6. Biogenic Trace Gas Exchanges

      • Pamela Matson, Allen Goldstein

      Pages 235-248

   7. Ecosystem Nutrient Balance and Dynamics

      • Kate Lajtha

      Pages 249-264

Ecology at the ecosystem level has both necessitated and benefited from new methods and technologies as well as those adapted from other disciplines. With the ascendancy of ecosystem science and management, the need has arisen for a comprehensive treatment of techniques used in this rapidly-growing field. Methods in Ecosystem Science answers that need by synthesizing the advantages, disadvantages and tradeoffs associated with the most commonly used techniques in both aquatic and terrestrial research.
The book is divided into sections addressing carbon and energy dynamics, nutrient and water dynamics, manipulative ecosystem experiements and tools to synthesize our understanding of ecosystems. Detailed information about various methods will help researchers choose the most appropriate methods for their particular studies. Prominent scientists discuss how tools from a variety of disciplines can be used in ecosystem science at different scales.

• biomass
• decomposition
• ecology
• ecosystem
• energy
• energy balance
• growth
• mineralization
• nitrogen
• plankton
• production
• research
• soil
• terrestrial ecosystem
• terrestrial ecosystems

• IFEVA, Cátedra de Ecología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  Osvaldo E. Sala

• Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, USA

  Robert B. Jackson

• Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

  Harold A. Mooney

• Program in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Change, Section of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  Robert W. Howarth

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