Permafrost ecosystems: Siberian larch forests

Drawing from a decade-long collaboration between Japan and Russia, this important volume presents the first major synthesis of current knowledge on the ecophysiology of the coniferous forests growing on permafrost at high latitudes. It presents ecological data for a region long inaccessible to most scientists,and raises important questions about the global carbon balance as these systems are affected by the changing climate. Making up around 20% of the entire boreal forests of the northern hemisphere, these ‘permafrost forest ecosystems’ are subject to particular constraints in terms of temperature, nutrient availability, and root space, creating exceptional ecosystem characteristics not known elsewhere. This authoritative text explores their diversity, structure, dynamics and physiology. It provides a comparison of these forests in relation toboreal forests elsewhere, and concludes with an assessment of the potential responses of this unique biome to climate change. The book will be invaluable to advanced students and researchers interested in boreal vegetation, forest ecology, silviculture and forest soils, as well as to researchers into climate change and the global carbon balance. A synthesis of forest ecology in Siberia where field investigation was impossible for scientists outside of the Soviet-block countries until the beginning of 1990s Description of forests growing over the vast areas of continuous permafrost, a biome unique to Siberia Scientific result of a long-term collaboration between Russian and Japanese scientistsA comprehensive approach to ecosystem functioning INDICE: From the contents 1. Introduction: permafrost forest biome and brief history of investigation.- 2. Floristic diversity and its geographical background in Central Siberia.- 3. Geographic distribution and genetics of Siberian larch.- 4. Wildfire ecology in continuous permafrost zone.- 5. Recovery of forest vegetation after fire disturbance.- 6. Biomass and productivity of Siberian larch forest ecosystems.- 7. Development of stand structure in larch forests.- 8. Soil carbon and nitrogen storage in Siberian permafrost region.- 9. Soil respiration in larch forests.- 10. Net ecosystem exchange in permafrost larch ecosystems.- 11. Behavior of dissolved organic carbon in larch ecosystems.-12. Soil nitrogen dynamics in larch ecosystem.- 13. Hydrological aspects in aSiberian larch forest.- 14. Photosynthesis of larch trees.- 15. Respiration of larch trees.- 16. Root system development of Siberian larch trees.- 17. Seasonal changes in radial growth of Larix gmelinii in central Siberia in relationto its climatic responses.

• ISBN: 978-1-4020-9692-1
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 520
• Fecha Publicación: 01/11/2009
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés