Ecosystems of China

Due to the paucity of content on Chinese ecosystems in the English literature, the extension and incorporation of relevant Chinese research into the larger international knowledge base has been substantially impeded. The book series Ecosystems of China generally deals with four categories of Chinese ecosystems, namely grassland, forest, cropland, and hygro-ecosystems. Each category accounts for one to several volumes. Each volume will be authored by 4-5 experts from top Chinese institutes, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences. The synthesis volumes mainly expound the structural aspects of the ecosystems, whereas the component volumes focus more specifically on the functional mechanisms and ecological processes of relevance. Of special note, the series will build on a total of more than 10,000 research papers and hundreds of specialised books written in Chinese and published in domestic journals or magazines. Most of this literature concerns fundamental knowledge as regards the flora, fauna and microorganisms characterizing the structure and biotic composition, as well as physical features and environmental conditions underpinning and driving the functions and survival of various Chinese ecosystems. It is exactly this content that is crucial in better understanding Chinese biomes as a whole by our foreign colleagues and international institutions.

The series can be used as textbooks and research literature for undergraduate and graduate students in ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, agriculture, and other relevant fields. It can be also used as a major reference for researchers studying ecosystems in China, Asia, or globally.