Academic Press Ecology of Desert Systems

Nearly one-third of the land area on our planet is classified as arid or desert. Therefore, an understanding of the dynamics of such arid ecosystems is essential to managing those systems in a way that sustains human populations. This second edition of Ecology of Desert Systems provides a clear, extensive guide to the complex interactions involved in these areas.This book details the relationships between abiotic and biotic environments of desert ecosystems, demonstrating to readers how these interactions drive ecological processes. These include plant growth and animal reproductive success, the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation and animals, and the influence of invasive species and anthropogenic climate change specific to arid systems. Drawing on the extensive experience of its expert authors, Ecology of Desert Systems is an essential guide to arid ecosystems for students looking for an overview of the field, researchers keen to learn how their work fits in to the overall picture, and those involved with environmental management of desert areas. Review An updated guide to desertification and techniques for its monitoring and quantification, examined in the framework of desert ecosystem patterns and processes From the Back Cover Nearly one third of the land area of the planet is classified as arid or desert, and an understanding of the dynamics of such arid ecosystems is essential to managing those systems in a way that sustains human populations. The second edition of Ecology of Desert Systems provides a clear, extensive guide to the complex interactions involved in these areas.This book provides detailed information on how the abiotic environment interacts with the biotic environment to determine the structure and function of desert ecosystems, revealing how these interactions drive processes such as plant growth and animal reproductive success, plus spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation and animals. Drawing on the extensive experience of its expert authors, this second edition of Ecology of Desert Systems is an important guide to arid ecosystems for students looking for an overview of the field, researchers keen to learn how their work fits in to the overall picture, and all those involved with environmental management of desert areas. About the Author Professor Walter G. Whitford received his PhD from the University of Rhode Island in Physiolgical-Ecology. He spent the next fifty years working in the Chihuahuan Desert as a faculty member in Biology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) where he was principal investigator in the Desert Biome Program which was part of the International Biological Program. His research focused on field experiments and studies of termites and seed harvesting ants. That program stimulated his commitment to the importance of soil in arid ecosystems and the organisms that are involved in nutrient cycling. He also served as the first principal investigator for the Jornada Long Term Ecological Research Program. As principal investigator, he published more than 150 papers in peer reviewed journals dealing with most aspects of desert ecology. In 1993, he left the university to work as a senior research ecologist with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency with a focus on monitoring and assessing the health of arid ecosystems. After retiring from the EPA he produced the first edition of Ecology of Desert Systems and continued to teach and do research in the Chihuahuan Desert. While a professor, he did research in Israel and Australia, evaluated arid lands research programs in South Africa, and organized a symposium on the Atacama and long-term ecological research in Chile. Before embarking on the 2nd edition of Ecology of Desert Systems, he was author or co-author of more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.Benjamin D. Duval is Assistant Professor of biology at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. His resea