Forest ecosystems are characterized by a steady change in their structure of function. Natural developments are more and more radically disturbed by human impact. Air pollution leads to soil acidification, change in nutrient budget and to a decreasing vitality of the trees. Forest management can prevent natural succession and often leads to less stable forests. In this book, selected results of 10 years of interdisciplinary ecosystem research are presented. Not only growth and physiologica...

Over half a century of brilliant scientific detective work, the Nobel Prize-winning biologist Karl von Frisch learned how the world, looks, smells, and tastes to a bee. More significantly, he discovered their dance language and their ability to use the sun as a compass. Intended to serve as an accessible introduction to one of the most fascinating areas of biology, Bees (first published in 1950 and revised in 1971), reported the startling results of his ingenious and revolutionary experime...

Peatlands form important landscape elements in many parts of the world and play significant roles for biodiversity and global carbon balance. This new edition has been fully revised and updated, documenting the latest advances in areas such as microbial processes and relations between biological processes and hydrology. As well as thoroughly referencing the latest research, the authors expose a rich older literature where an immense repository of natural history has accumulated. The Biolog...

This textbook is aimed at the majority of students, who need to quickly acquire a concise overview of soil science. Many current soil science textbooks still cater for a traditional student market where students embark on three years study in a narrow discipline. The growth in modular degree schemes has meant that soil science is now often taught as self-standing unit as part of broad based degree program. Students pursuing this type of course are increasingly reluctant to purchase expensi...

The Chemistry Of Pottery by Karl Langenbeck. Most of the technical publications on pottery, in book form, dwell on the mechanical technology of the clay industries, the chemical parts consisting merely of receipts, claiming a practical origin. While to many of our chemists, engaged in developing the natural resources of the country the clays found on every side have seemed to offer a fruitful field for investigation, the information at command concerning the chemical needs of the potter ha...

This fully revised and expanded edition of Fundamentals of Soil Ecology continues its holistic approach to soil biology and ecosystem function. Students and ecosystem researchers will gain a greater understanding of the central roles that soils play in ecosystem development and function. The authors emphasize the increasing importance of soils as the organizing center for all terrestrial ecosystems and provide an overview of theory and practice of soil ecology, both from an ecosystem and e...

Food security and environmental conservation are two of the greatest challenges facing the world today. It is predicted that food production must increase by at least 70% before 2050 to support continued population growth, though the size of the world's agricultural area will remain essentially unchanged. This updated and thoroughly revised second edition provides in-depth coverage of the impact of environmental conditions and management on crops, resource requirements for productivity and...

Miscanthus is a promising non-food crop yielding high quality lignocellulosic material which can be used in a number of ways, including energy and fibre production, thatching, and industrial use.This book encompasses the results and recommendations arising from extensive trials and experiments carried out by the leading European research organisations and institutions in the field.Much of the research was performed under the auspices of the Miscanthus Productivity Network, ...

Forest soils form the foundation that underpins the existence of all forests. This book encapsulates soil ecology and functioning in northern forests, focusing on the effects of human activity and climate change. The authors introduce the fundamental principles necessary for studying forest soils, and explain the functioning and mutual influence of all parts of a forest soil ecosystem. A chapter is dedicated to each of soil acidity and heavy metal pollution, elevated carbon dioxide, nitrog...

The leading book on the market just got better: With its unique approach covering all aspects of setting up and running a biogas plant, this new edition has been expanded to include recent advances in biomass processing.The author is a key player in the field, who has designed numerous small- and industrial-scale biogas plants, and who is also a long-time lecturer on biogas production, thus combining didactical skill with real-life expertise. As such, he covers both the biological a...

Fungi play important roles in the cycling of elements in the biosphere but are frequently neglected within microbiological and geochemical research spheres. Symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi are responsible for major transformations and redistribution of inorganic nutrients, while free-living fungi have major roles in the decomposition of organic materials, including xenobiotics. Fungi are also major biodeterioration agents of stone, wood, plaster, cement and other building materials, and are im...

With pressure increasing to utilise wastes and residues effectively and sustainably, the production of biogas represents one of the most important routes towards reaching national and international renewable energy targets. The biogas handbook: Science, production and applications provides a comprehensive and systematic guide to the development and deployment of biogas supply chains and technology.Following a concise overview of biogas as an energy option, part one explores biomass resourc...