Ecological Processes Handbook

About this book

Ecology is cross-disciplinary field involving many different aspects of science. Written with this in mind, Ecological Processes Handbook introduces ecological processes, ranging from physical processes, to chemical processes and biological processes. It contains all the necessary information on an ecological process: a clear, detailed but not too lengthy definition, some practical examples, the main mathematical models which have been used to describe the process, the key interconnections with other ecological processes that must be known in order to apply what has been learned from Ecological Processes Handbook.

Contents

INTRODUCTION
The Ecosystem as an Object for Research
Introduction
Holism versus Reductionism
Interpreting Ecosystem Reality
Ecosystem Structure
Complexity and Self-Organization
Energy Flows through the Biosphere
Brief History of the Biosphere

Conservation Principles
Introduction
Space Conservation
Mass Conservation
Energy Conservation: Thermodynamics’ First Principle
Information

Energy Dissipation
Introduction
The Second Principle
Dissipative Structures
Irreversible Processes
Entropy Production

A Perspective from Information and Systems Theory
Introduction
Information: Definition and Measure
Thermodynamic Entropy and Shannon’s Information
Solar Energy and Information
Ecological Network Analysis
Exergy

Ecological Processes: An Overview

PHYSICAL PROCESSES
Space and Time
Introduction
Scale and Hierarchy
Space Delimitation: Boundaries
Flows through Open Systems
Equilibrium, Stability, and Steady State

Mass Transport
Introduction
Advection and Diffusion
Dispersion
Mass Balance and Reactors
Settling and Resuspension
Transport in Porous Media
Transport at Interfaces
Reaeration
Volatilization
Transport over Membranes

Energetic Factors
Introduction
Solar Radiation
Light Extinction
Evapotranspiration
Effects of Waves in Aquatic Ecosystems

CHEMICAL PROCESSES
Chemical Reactions
Introduction
Chemical Equilibrium
Enzymatic Processes
Redox
Acid–Base
Solutions, Precipitation, and Flocculation

Chemical Lysis
Introduction
Hydrolysis
Proteolysis
Photolysis

Phase Partition
Introduction
Adsorption and Partition of Organic Compounds
Ion Exchange
Complex Formation
Activities and Activities Coefficients

BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
Biogeochemical Cycles
Introduction
Oxygen Cycle
Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions
The Carbon Cycle and Biosphere Stability Conditions
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Growth
Introduction
The Metabolic Growth Model
Allometric Principles

Primary Production
Introduction
Limitation
Respiration
Nutrient and Metal Uptake
Excretion
Fixation
Mortality

Production of Upper Trophic Levels
Introduction
Grazing
Predation

Microbial Processes
Introduction
Microbial Loop
The Role of Detritus
Biological Decomposition

Ecotoxicological Processes
Introduction
Biodegradation
Bioaccumulation, Bioconcentration, and Biomagnification
The Equilibrium between Spheres: Partition of Toxic Substances between Air, Water, Soil, and Biota

Biological Interactions
Introduction
Adaptation and Shift in Species’ Composition
Competition
Other Biological Interactions
Trophic Networks

LANDSCAPE PROCESSES
Aquatic Ecosystems
Introduction
Eutrophication
Lakes
Wetlands, Transitional Water Ecosystems
Rivers
Open Sea
Fishery

Terrestrial Ecosystems
Introduction
Decomposition of Organic Matter in Soil
Toxic Substances in Soil
Erosion and Leaching
Ecosystem Transitions

Landscapes and Urban Ecosystems
Introduction
Landscape Processes
Population Growth
Environmental Processes and Urban Ecosystems
Urban Solid Waste Management

The Atmosphere
Introduction
Atmospheric Pollution by Gases and Particles
Modifying the Distribution Patterns
Ozone Depletion
Henry’s Law
Acidification
References
Appendix: The Double Logarithmic Representation
Index

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