The stability of forest ecosystems is affected by changes of environment conditions, like by increasing temperatures, increasing atmospheric CO2 and decreasing deposition rates of nutrients and acidity. This volume integrates the results of long term interdisciplinary ecosystem research at two forested watersheds in Germany with special emphasis on the biogeochemistry of carbon, dissolved organic matter and mineral elements in response to changing environmental conditions and management. Despite the reduction in acidic deposition, forest ecosystems are still threatened by soil acidification, nutrient depletion and eutrophication and criteria of sustainability are not yet achieved. The results highlight the complex interactions between vegetation, animals and soils in terrestrial ecosystems that are triggered by changes in environmental conditions.
Introduction.- The Lehstenbach and Steinkreuz catchments.- Trace gases and particles in the atmospheric boundary layer at the Waldstein site.- Climate change in the Lehstenbach region.- Atmospheric and structural controls on carbon and water relations in mixed-forest stands of beech and oak.- Impacts of canopy internal gradients on carbon and water exchange of beech and oak trees.- Soil CO2 fluxes in spruce forests - Temporal and spatial variation, and environmental controls.- Carbon budget of a spruce forest ecosystem.- Structure of carbon dioxide exchange processes above a spruce forest.- Modeling the vegetation atmospheric exchange with a transilient model.- Fog deposition and its role in biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and pollutants.- Turbulent deposition of ozone to a mountainous forest ecosystem.- The emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds and their relevance to atmospheric particle dynamics.- Trends in deposition and canopy leaching of mineral elements as indicated by bulk etc.
From the reviews: "This volume is an important contribution to the literature with particular respect to the effects of acidic deposition effects in Central Europe. ... The strengths of the volume include the combination of approaches on the same sites including monitoring (at both catchment and plot scales), experiments, and modeling for evaluating biogeochemical processes. ... Investigators involved with research on forested ecosystems and catchments in Central Europe will undoubtedly benefit by having this volume. Investigators throughout the world will also find this compendium particularly useful with respect to acidification effects and recovery." (Journal of Plant Nutrition) "This book presents the results obtained during ten years of research on the biochemistry of small forest catchment areas ! . The Editor is a soil science specialist, renowned for his word on soil acidification and forest decline. ! It is an interesting source of information about the ecosystems considered." (Etienne Dambrine, Annals of Forest Science, Vol. 62 (5), 2005) "This edited volume describes a series of investigations undertaken by the Bayreuth Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology (BITOK) in Germany. ! The general focus is on ecosystem biogeochemistry ! . This volume is an important contribution to the literature ! . The strengths of the volume include the combination of approaches ! . Investigators involved with research on forested ecosystems and catchments in Central Europe will undoubtedly benefit by having this volume. Investigators throughout the world will also find this compendium particularly useful with respect to acidification effects and recovery." (Myron J. Mitchell, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Vol. 168 (1), 2005) "The framework conditions, problems, goals, strategy and methods of the BITOk project are succinctly and concisely described. ! the book provides an excellent introduction to the intricacies of forest ecosystem functioning and responses to exogenous interference for students and provide an invaluable brush-up of knowledge for forest managers and policy formulators. ! Anti-production-forestry eco-warriors, tree-huggers and dreamy protection ideologists should read this book." (Eberhard F. Bruenig, International Forestry Review, Vol. 7 (3), September, 2005)