The Terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change: Implications for Natural and Managed Ecosystems. Synthesis Volume

IGBP Book Series No. 4

This new synthesis summarises the international research effort in the Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems (GCTE) Core Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. Five major thematic areas are covered: ecosystem physiology; ecosystem structure and composition; terrestrial production systems; global biogeochemistry; ecological complexity (biodiversity). A summary of the integrated and interactive effects of global change on the terrestrial biosphere for four key regions of the world is presented, as well as a projection of future trends in the terrestrial component of the global carbon cycle. The book also includes a section on tools developed or modified for global change research. Table of Contents The nature of global change 1 The study of ecosystems in the context of global change 19 Networks and consortia 45 The IGBP Terrestrial Transects 66 Data needs and limitations for broad-scale ecosystem modelling 88 Use of models in global change studies 106 Ecosystem physiology responses to global change 141 Ecosystem composition and structure 190 Managed production systems 229 Biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems 271 Global change, biodiversity and ecological complexity 304 Interactive and integrated effects of global change on terrestrial ecosystems.