Natural Grasslands : Introduction and Western Hemisphere - Volume 8A

The most detailed review of all major grassland regions of the world by ecologists who have worked extensively in these regions is provided in this volume.

Grasslands have been modified to a large extent by the activities of man and his domesticated animals and these stresses are evaluated in terms of ecosystem structure and the activities of its organisms.

The book begins with an overview of characteristics applicable to natural grasslands in general: climate, soils, water flow, productivity, micro-organisms, decomposition and nutrient cycling. Because of its length, it is published in two parts.

The first includes these eight synthesis chapters and eleven regional chapters of the grasslands of the Western Hemisphere.

The Eastern Hemisphere and resume compose Volume 8B.

The uniform treatment of each region includes: consideration of distinctive abiotic features (climatic, edaphic, geologic) related to the biotic subsystems; a description of floral, faunal and microbial components; a consideration of the processes involved in energy flow and cycling of nutrients throughout the ecosystem; discussion of the application of this fundamental information to conservation of resources and land use and management.

Natural Grasslands will be particularly useful for conservationists, land managers of and terrestrial ecologists in general, and those of subhumid regions in particular.

It is very well illustrated and referenced and contains much information in tabular form.