Winter Survival: Nature's Ways of Coping with the Cold

Book Description

The global environment is constantly changing and our planet is getting warmer at an unprecedented rate. The study of the carbon cycle, and soil respiration, is a very active area of research internationally because of its relationship to climate change. It is crucial for our understanding of ecosystem functions from plot levels to global scales. Although a great deal of literature on soil respiration has been accumulated in the past several years, the material has not yet been synthesized into one place until now. This book synthesizes the already published research findings and presents the fundamentals of this subject. Including information on global carbon cycling, climate changes, ecosystem productivity, crop production, and soil fertility, this book will be of interest to scientists, researchers, and students across many disciplines.

* A key reference for the scientific community on global climate change, ecosystem studies, and soil ecology
* Describes the myriad ways that soils respire and how
this activity influences the environment
* Covers a breadth of topics ranging from methodology
to comparative analyses of different ecosystem types
* The first existing "treatise" on the subject

Changes in lead availability affect bacterial community structure but not basal respiration in a microcosm study with forest soils [An article from: Science of the Total Environment, The]

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Changes in lead availability affect bacterial community structure but not basal respiration in a microcosm study with forest soils [An article from: Science of the Total Environment, The]
A. Lazzaro , R. Schulin , F. Widmer , and B. Frey
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000PBZX6K

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Science of the Total Environment, The, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
This study investigates the effects of Pb during time on the bacterial communities of forest soils using water-extractable Pb concentrations in the soil solution as predictors of Pb bioavailability. In a microcosm experiment we applied increasing concentrations of Pb(NO"3)"2 solutions (0.5, 2, 8, 32 mM) to 5 forest soils of pH <5 and to a calcareous soil of pH>6.5. Sampling of the microcosms was performed after 3, 30 and 90 days of incubation. Community analysis included basal respiration rates and changes in the structure of the bacterial communities through T-RFLP fingerprinting. We also investigated functional stability in terms of resistance, expressed as the effects on basal respiration after 3 days of incubation, and of resilience, expressed as the recovery of bacterial community structure and of respiration rates after 90 days of incubation. Water-extractable Pb increased with time in most of the soils, in parallel with an increase of water-extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The increased concentrations slightly affected bacterial community structure, although OTU (operational taxonomic unit) richness was not significantly reduced with Pb concentrations in any of the soils. The highest Pb treatment (32 mM) caused significant effects on basal respiration in some of the acidic soils, but no clear trend was observed in relation to increased Pb bioavailability with time. Resistance to Pb additions was evident in five of the six soils, but only two showed resilience after 90 days. This is the first study showing the effects of time on Pb bioavailability in soils and on the resulting reactions of the soil microbial communities.

Decoupling of soil biological properties by deforestation [An article from: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment]

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Decoupling of soil biological properties by deforestation [An article from: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment]
F. Nourbakhsh
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000PDYOW2

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Diel pattern of soil respiration in N-amended soil under maize cultivation [An article from: Atmospheric Environment]

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Diel pattern of soil respiration in N-amended soil under maize cultivation [An article from: Atmospheric Environment]
W. Ding , Y. Cai , Z. Cai , and X. Zheng
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RR93YA

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Atmospheric Environment, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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To understand maize- and N-induced diel variations in CO"2 emission, we examined hourly CO"2 emissions during the three typical growth stages of maize in sandy loam soil. There was a distinct diel pattern in soil CO"2 emissions, with the peak occurring between 14:00 and 18:00 and the trough occurring between 0:00 and 4:00. Maize presence delayed the time of the peak. The absolute amount and diel fluctuation of CO"2 emissions tended to diminish with time in the bare soil fertilized with 150kgNha^-^1 (BS). In contrast, N-fertilized maize (N150) significantly enhanced the total amount of CO"2 emissions and the peak-trough differences in CO"2 emissions, which reached a maximum at the pollination stage and then decreased. Control soil (CK) containing maize but no N fertilizer had highest overall CO"2 emissions but reduced diel fluctuation because rhizosphere respiration was elevated in the nighttime. Soil temperature accounted for 61-71% of diel variation in the BS treatment but for only 44-59% and 38-58% in the N150 and CK treatments, respectively. Photosynthesis rates affected diel variation at the seedling and pollination stages. Both temperature and photosynthesis rates together explained up to 67-84% of diel variation at the seedling and pollination stages in the N150 treatment, but only 61% at the seedling stage in the CK treatment due to more CO"2 released in the nighttime. The increased nighttime CO"2 release, in turn, decreased the effect of temperature and even reduced the influence of photosynthesis rate on diel variations in CO"2 release. Based on the present results, the best time for obtaining a representative daily CO"2 measurement was found to be approximately 8:00 at the seedling stage and 9:00-11:00 at the other growth stages. The current findings indicate that N addition reduces soil CO"2 emissions and its diel fluctuation.

Effect of arsenic contamination on microbial biomass and its activities in arsenic contaminated soils of Gangetic West Bengal, India [An article from: Environment International]

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Effect of arsenic contamination on microbial biomass and its activities in arsenic contaminated soils of Gangetic West Bengal, India [An article from: Environment International]
A.K. Ghosh , P. Bhattacharyya , and R. Pal
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RQZDZY

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Environment International, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A study was conducted to see the effect of arsenic contamination on soil quality indicators, viz., microbial biomass, soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate and dehydrogenase (DHG) activity in arsenic contaminated soils of West Bengal. All the parameters were significantly and negatively correlated with all the form of arsenic (bioavailable and total) but the microbial metabolic quotient was significantly and positively correlated with all forms of arsenic, indicating arsenic induced stress to the soil microbial community. This may be due to part of the microbial biomass, which is located in the inner parts of the micro-aggregates of soil, which is affected by arsenic accumulates present in soil particles. Linear regression analysis revealed that the bioavailable arsenic exerted greater inhibitory effect on the soil microbial population than the total arsenic content of soils. Water-soluble arsenic showed more inhibitory effect than NaHCO"3 extractable form, in their association with biological properties of the contaminated soils. Water-soluble form of arsenic was much more toxic than insoluble forms. This signified that with increase in bioavailability, the arsenic exerted more inhibitory effect on these parameters. It is thus suggested that the microbial biomass, fluorescein diacetate and dehydrogenase activity alone and expressed on a soil organic matter basis along with the soil respiration parameters can be helpful in assessing the effects of arsenic on the size and activity of microbial biomass in soils.

Effects of past and current disturbance on carbon cycling in grassland mesocosms [An article from: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment]

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Effects of past and current disturbance on carbon cycling in grassland mesocosms [An article from: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment]
K. Klumpp , J.F. Soussana , and R. Falcimagne
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000PDTULC

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, published by Elsevier in 2007. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
In species rich grasslands, management factors may affect carbon storage both directly (e.g. defoliation) and indirectly, by altering plant community structure. We set up a mesocosm experiment to separate these direct and indirect effects. Monoliths were sampled from two plots of a semi-natural, species-rich pasture at Theix (France), which had been subjected to contrasted disturbance levels, high versus low grazing, for 14 years. These monoliths were placed in transparent enclosures in natural light and temperature conditions. At the start of the experiment, half of the monoliths in each disturbance treatment were shifted to the opposite disturbance regime. Above and below ground CO"2 fluxes were then measured continuously over 2 years. The net below ground carbon storage was positively correlated (P <0.001) with net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and was negatively correlated (P <0.001) with above ground net primary productivity. The net canopy photosynthesis, net ecosystem productivity and net below ground carbon storage were significantly higher for ecosystems previously adapted to a low rather than a high disturbance regime, irrespective of the disturbance level during the mesocosm experiment. In contrast, above ground net primary productivity (ANPP) was significantly enhanced by a high disturbance level during the experiment. ANPP and NEP showed a faster response to an increase rather than a decrease in disturbance level during the experiment. Grassland ecosystems adapted to frequent disturbance by grazing and cutting stored less carbon compared to ecosystems adapted to a low disturbance regime.

Effects of temperature and soil water-content on soil respiration of grazed and ungrazed Leymus chinensis steppes, Inner Mongolia [An article from: Journal of Arid Environments]

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Effects of temperature and soil water-content on soil respiration of grazed and ungrazed Leymus chinensis steppes, Inner Mongolia [An article from: Journal of Arid Environments]
B. Jia , G. Zhou , Y. Wang , F. Wang , and X. Wang
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RRA1QY

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Arid Environments, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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The dynamics and the controlling factors of soil respiration measured with a closed static chamber method for continuous 2 years in grazed and ungrazed typical Leymus chinensis steppes, Inner Mongolia, PR China were analysed. There were similar diurnal and seasonal dynamics between the grazed and ungrazed plots. The diurnal patterns of soil respiration could be expressed as one-humped curves, reaching to the maximum at 11:00-14:00 and falling to the minimum at 1:00-3:00. During the growing season, the rates of soil respiration increased from the middle of June to the end of July and then gradually decreased. The seasonal changes of soil respiration were mainly influenced by moisture and temperature. When temperature was an independent controlling factor, it played a good role under the conditions of lower temperature ( <15^oC) and lower moisture ( <12%). However, the temperature models (e.g. linear, quadratic, power, exponential and Arrhenius models) did not reflect the stimulation effect of moisture on soil respiration with increasing temperature and moisture. Moisture was the single best predictor of hourly soil respiration rate in the arid and semi-arid grassland, but the mutual regulation by temperature and moisture did improve the predictive capacity of the models. Linear models could give better simulations than others did, and account for above 82% of the variation in soil respiration at the ungrazed plot. Although there was no further improvement in exponential, exponential-power and exponential-Arrhenius models for the simulation at the ungrazed plot, they did enhance the predictive capacity of soil respiration at the grazed plot (R^2=0.87-0.88).

Monitoring microbial biomass and respiration in different soils from the Czech Republic-a summary of results [An article from: Environment International]

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Monitoring microbial biomass and respiration in different soils from the Czech Republic-a summary of results [An article from: Environment International]
J. Hofman , L. Dusek , J. Klanova , J. Bezchlebova , and H
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RQZDUY

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Environment International, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
The microbial biomass (C"b"i"o), respiration (basal respiration (BR) and potential respiration (PR)), and derived indices for 520 independent soil samples of 117 different soils from the Czech Republic were statistically analysed. The broad range of soil samples allowed the stepwise breakdown of the database into six reasonable categories of soil: arable soils, loamy grassland soils, sandy grassland soils with weak organic matter content, sandy grassland soils with moderate organic matter content, forest soils with moderate organic matter content, and forest organic soils with rich organic matter content. Because soil microbiology lacks benchmarking values, the ranges of the microbial characteristics for these categories were stated and are presented here. The separation into soil groups narrowed the ranges enough to be useful for comparative purposes. The groups displayed significant differences in basal microbial parameters. The lowest microbial biomass was found in arable soils and grassland sandy soils with weak organic matter content. The highest microbial biomass was shown by loamy grassland soils and organic forest soils. Respiration displayed similar results to the microbial biomass. The derived indices revealed less significant differences confirming their inner-standard nature. The relationships between the soil contamination and microbial parameters were not explored because of the confounding effect of soil organic matter. However, it was not shown by the category of grassland sandy soils with weak organic matter content suggesting they could be especially suitable for the biomonitoring of harmful effects of chemicals on soil microorganisms.

Seabird guano influences on desert islands: soil chemistry and herbaceous species richness and productivity [An article from: Journal of Arid Environments]

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Seabird guano influences on desert islands: soil chemistry and herbaceous species richness and productivity [An article from: Journal of Arid Environments]
D.A. Wait , D.P. Aubrey , and W.B. Anderson
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR31L6

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Arid Environments, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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An understanding of the effects of guano deposition on arid soil chemistry and the consequences for plant communities is lacking. This study examined patterns of herbaceous species richness and productivity, soil chemistry, soil moisture and soil respiration on 11 islands in the Gulf of California, six of which receive seabird guano deposition. Species richness was significantly lower on islands with guano (''Bird'' islands) than islands without guano (''Non-bird'' islands), with very little overlap in species composition; however, productivity was significantly greater on Bird than on Non-bird islands. As expected, Bird island soils had higher concentrations of NO"3^-, NH"4^+ and total nitrogen (N) than Non-bird island soils; and, measurements of @d^1^5N indicate that the higher concentrations of N were derived from guano. We also found that soil moisture and respiration were significantly higher, but pH was significantly lower, on Bird than Non-bird islands. These results suggest that guano deposition in deserts stimulates productivity-even in dry years-due to elevated N and, indirectly, soil moisture. Guano deposition also results in a decrease in species richness and a change in species composition probably due to elevated N, N toxicity, or low pH. However, we also found that pH varied more on Bird than on Non-bird islands; and that salinity-while not different between island types-was significantly patchier on Bird than on Non-Bird islands. These results suggest that guano deposition affects not only the general chemical composition of soils, but also results in greater spatial variation in soil chemical composition, which may ultimately affect species richness and composition. Therefore, understanding spatial patterning in soil chemistry as a result of guano deposition is critical for understanding guano effects on plant richness and productivity.

Seasonal variations in decomposition processes in a valley-bottom riparian peatland [An article from: Science of the Total Environment, The]

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Seasonal variations in decomposition processes in a valley-bottom riparian peatland [An article from: Science of the Total Environment, The]
S.A.F. Bonnett , N. Ostle , and C. Freeman
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PAUNB6

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Science of the Total Environment, The, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A year-long field survey was carried out at a valley-bottom riparian peatland site in North Wales, UK from January 2002 to December 2002 to examine the seasonal variation of decomposition processes and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Peat temperature, physicochemistry, organic carbon pools, basal CO"2 respiration and extracellular enzyme activities (@b-glucosidase, phosphatase, sulphatase and phenol oxidase) were monitored monthly. The results of a principle component eigenanalysis of field data show that concentrations of basal CO"2 respiration, soil solution DOC and phenolics were positively correlated to soil temperature (P <0.01, F=12.25; P <0.001, F=59.8; P <0.001, F=141.27) with Q"1"0 responses of 2.29, 6.42 and 14.42, respectively. Extracellular enzyme activities, however, were more strongly associated with seasonal changes in ion concentrations and did not correspond significantly to temperature alone suggesting limitations attributable to a combination of continuous anaerobiosis and/or the suppressive compounds. Restraints on soil enzyme activities may limit the loss of CO"2 from the microbial community that is dependent on soil enzyme activities for nutrient availability. The seasonal effect of temperature on DOC may be explained by increased plant rhizodeposition and microbial activity. These results do not imply that the long-term increasing trend in DOC export is explainable by temperature increase but suggest that temperature may be a key factor regulating the seasonal variation in DOC concentrations. Thus, seasonal temperature effects on DOC may represent an important component of long-term models of DOC export.

Book Description

A Winner of the Malice Domestic Agatha Award, and a Doubleday Mystery Guild Selection, Mystery Reader's Walking Guide: Washington D.C. has 8 walking tours based on over 200 mysteries.

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Mystery Reader's Walking Guide Washington, D.C.

Manufacturer: Passport Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739405624

Product Description

Agatha Award-winning author Alzina Stone Dale brings Washington, D.C. to life in eight walking tours of the capital's neighborhoods as they are described by over 200 acclaimed mystery writers. Each walk is accompanied by an easy-to follow map of the route as well as recommended restaurants and places of inteest alon the way, presented in a style that is evocative of the great writers, books and sleuths identified with Washington, D.C.

Product Description

The Black Curtain has ripped open, massive and dark. The Stompers swarm through it, elusive and frightening. The Black Coma consumes the people of the Earth. Shadow Ka rule the lands with a mighty vengeance. Everything has come to a head, and the world is grim. Jimmy Fincher is the only one who can save it. To accomplish the impossible, he must solve the Riddle of the Red Disk. He must find the Dream Warden and receive the Fourth Gift. He must go to a place where nightmares liveand face them alone. But most important of all, Jimmy must face the shocking and terrible truth of what lies beneath his enemys true nature. The War has just begun.

Book Description

The Biology of Particles in Aquatic Systems, Second Edition presents the latest information on particulate and dissolved matter found in aquatic habitats ranging from small streams to oceans. Only by studying this matter can we gain an understanding of the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and thus be able to predict changes that may occur as these systems become stressed. Updated and extensively revised, this new edition covers such topics as classification of particulate and dissolved matter, origin and formation of particles aquatic systems, factors affecting particle aggregation, methods for capturing particles by benthic and planktonic animals, and the use of particulate and dissolved organic matter as food.

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Alalysis of Organoaluminium and Organozinc Compounds - International Series of Monographs in Analytical Chemistry, Vol 31
T. R. Crompton
Manufacturer: Pergamon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NOEJZA

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ANALYSIS OF ORGANOALUMINIUM AND ORGANOZINC COMPOUNDS.
T.R. Crompton
Manufacturer: Pergamon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O8T46Y

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Organoaluminium Compounds
T Mole , and E.A. Jeffery
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Organic | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0444409114

Customer Reviews:

The Singer story .......2005-09-23

What makes the Singer story so remarkable?
First of all, the Singer story is always a story. A beginning, a middle an end, and things which happen. Secondly, its language is lively and humorous, rich in Yiddish idiom, colorful alive. Thirdly, the Singer story has remarkable, memorable characters .
Fourthly the Singer story creates a whole world usually a Jewish world usually a world resembling some past Jewish historical world. Fifthly, the Singer story gives insight, wisdom into life. Sixthly, the Singer story is alive, word by word, line by line, scene by scene.
It lives and makes us want to live more.

Singer is in the highest rank of short story authors.......2005-02-12

I had read the collected stories of Singer many years ago and many of the images remained embedded in my mind and it was with great joy that I am able to relive them. Even though he wrote novels, I do not believe that Singer would have won the Nobel Prize without his short story output.
It is interesting to witness the growth of Singer as a human and an artist. This middle volume of the LOA series contains stories written after he moved to the US. It is hard to believe that these stories are translated from Yiddish because they read as if they were written in English.
If you can afford all three volumes buy them. The collected stories are still available but Singer's stories are consistenly wonderful. Very view of these stories are not among the very best stories in world literature. Bravo to the Libray of America for reintroducng the reading public to these gems.

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