Grassland Ecosystems of the World

About this book

First published in 1976, this volume describes the structure and functioning of grassland ecosystems. Five kinds of grassland are considered, namely natural temperate grasslands, semi-natural temperate meadows and pastures, tropical grasslands, arable grassland and cropland. Descriptions of the abundance and biomass of plants, animals and micro-organisms are provided, as well as an assessment of the activities of each functional group of organisms in relation to production, consumption and decomposition. Static models of energy flow and nutrient cycling are included, and the effects on the ecosystem of the management of grazing land and cropland are also considered. The volume is based on data collected in more than 50 studies made during the International Biological Programme studies in 22 countries.

Contents

Foreword J. B. Cragg; Part I. Introduction: 1. Background R. T. Coupland; 2. The nature of grassland R. T. Coupland; 3. Problems in studying grassland ecosystems R. T. Coupland; Part II. Natural Temperate Grasslands: 4. Introduction N. R. French; 5. Producers P. L. Sims and R. T. Coupland; 6. Consumers M. I. Dyer; 7. Micro-organisms E. A. Paul, F. E. Clark and V. O. Biderbeck; 8. Systems synthesis R. T. Coupland and G. M. Van Dyne; 9. Use and management R. T. Coupland; Part III. Semi-Natural Temperate Meadows and PasturesM. Rychniovska: 10. Introduction E. Balatova-Tulackova; 11. Primary producers in meadows M. Numata; 12. Consumers in meadows and pastures H. Haas and G. A. E. Ricou; 13. Micro-organisms in meadows B. Ulehlova; 14. Ecosystem synthesis of meadows M. Rychniovska, A. A. Titlyanova and M. I. Bazilvich; 15. Use and management of meadows B. Speidel; Part IV. Tropical Grasslands R. Misra: 16. Introduction K. C. Misra; 17. Primary production J. S. Singh and M. C. Joshi; 18. Consumers M. C. Dash; 19. Micro-organisms R. S. Dwivedi; 20. Ecosystem synthesis J. S. Singh, K. P. Singh and P. S. Yadava; 21. Use and management R. K. Gupta and R. S. Ambasht; Part V. Arable Grasslands W. M. Willoughby: 22. Introduction W. M. Willoughby and P. J. Vickery; 23. Producers P. J. Vickery; 24. Consumers K. J. Hutchinson and K. L. King; 25. Micro-organisms R. L. Davidson; 26. Nutrient cycling A. R. Till; 27. Use, management and conservation W. M. Willoughby and R. L. Davidson; Part VI. Croplands L. Ryszkowski: 28. Introduction L. Ryszkowski; 29. Producers Z. Wojcik; 30. Consumers L. Ryszkowski; 31. Micro-organisms J. Gotebiowska; 32. Ecosystem synthesis L. Ryszkowski; Part VII. Conclusion: 33. Conclusion R. T. Coupland; References; Index.

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