Synopsis
Section A: Ecosystem Function.- 1 Biological Diversity and Terrestrial Ecosystem Biogeochemistry.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Semantics.- 1.3 Biological Diversity and Biogeochemistry.- 1.3.1 Experimental Tests.- 1.3.2 Biogeographic Patterns.- 1.4 Other Potential Effects of Plant Diversity on Biogeochemistry.- 1.5 Conclusions.- References.- 2 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Agricultural Systems.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Characteristics of Agricultural Ecosystems.- 2.2.1 Diversity and Complexity.- 2.2.2 Classification in Relation to Diversity and Complexity.- 2.2.3 Sustainability.- 2.3 Productive Attributes of Low Number Multiple Cropping Systems.- 2.4 Biodiversity and the Function of the Decomposer Subsystem.- 2.4.1 Biodiversity in Relation to Function.- 2.4.2 Decomposer Diversity and Function in Agricultural Systems.- 2.4.3 Interactions Between Plants and the Soil Biota.- 2.5 Biodiversity and the Function of the Herbivore Subsystem.- 2.6 Conclusions.- 2.6.1 A Hypothesis of the Importance of Plant Diversity in Ecosystem Regulation.- 2.6.2 The Importance of Increasing Plant Species Number.- 2.6.3 The Importance of Plant Species Composition.- 2.6.4 Assessment of Long-Term Trends.- References.- 3 Biodiversity and Interactions Within Pelagic Nutrient Cycling and Productivity.- 3.1 Introduction: Explanations to the Paradox of the Plankton.- 3.2 Further Determinants of Biodiversity.- 3.2.1 Plasticity and Cell Shape.- 3.2.2 Turbulence.- 3.3 Selection and Succession.- 3.3.1 Descriptive Model of Plankton Succession.- 3.4 Microbial Loop: Structure and Function.- 3.4.1 Structure.- 3.5 Structural Diversity Indices.- 3.6 Ataxonomic Approach to Assess Ecosystem Stability.- 3.7 Conclusions.- References.- Section B: Functional Groups.- 4 Functional Groups of Microorganisms.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Free-Living Components of the Soil Microbiota.- 4.3 Metabolic Types of Bacteria.- 4.4 The Role of Microorganisms in the Decomposition of Organic Material.- 4.4.1 Cellulose.- 4.4.2 Lignin.- 4.4.3 Proteins, Peptides, and Amino Acids.- 4.4.4 Pectin.- 4.5 The Role of Microorganisms in the Biogeochemical Cycle of Nitrogen.- 4.5.1 Nitrification.- 4.5.2 Denitrification.- 4.5.3 N2 Fixation.- 4.6 The Role of Microorganisms in the Biogeochemical Cycle of Sulfur.- 4.6.1 The Oxidation of Reduced Sulfur Compounds.- 4.6.2 Desulfurication.- 4.7 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Plant Traits and Adaptive Strategies: Their Role in Ecosystem Function.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Schemes to Classify Plants on the Basis of Their Ecological Traits.- 5.2.1 Single-Character Functional Classification of Vascular Plants.- 5.2.2 Attempts to Classify Species Based on Their Overall Ecological Adaptability.- 5.3 Adaptive Strategies.- 5.3.1 Optimization.- 5.3.2 Plant Adaptive Strategies.- 5.3.3 Why Optimally Criteria Are Not Always Sufficient.- 5.4 Definition of Ecosystem Functional Properties.- 5.5 The Meaning of Adaptive Strategy in a Complex, Nonlinear World.- 5.6 Conclusions: The Importance of Diversity in a Nonequilibrium Situation.- References.- 6 Scaling from Species to Vegetation: The Usefulness of Functional Groups.- 6.1 Introduction: What Are Functional Groups and Why Use Them?.- 6.2 Selecting Functional Groups.- 6.3 Narrow or Wide Grouping: The Dilemma of Experimental Safety and Ecological Applicability.- 6.4 Grouping of Plant Species with Respect to Their Structural, Physiological, and Life Strategy Characteristics.- 6.4.1 Life-Forms and Structures: The Morphotype.- 6.4.2 Dry Matter Partitioning: Investment Type.- 6.4.3 The Physiotype.- 6.4.4 The Physiomorphotype.- 6.4.5 Life Strategies.- 6.5 The Spatial Definition of Functional Groups within Plant Communities.- 6.6 Ecosystems: The Largest Functional Group.- 6.7 Integration of Contrasting Levels of Complexity: A Compromise.- 6.8 A Promising Tool: Using Functional Groups in Controlled Ecosystems.- 6.9 Conclusions.- References.- Section C: Species Interaction.- 7 Evolution of Functional Groups in Basidiomycetes (Fungi).- 7.1 I
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