Forest ecosystems

Introduction. Basic terminology and concepts. Forests as part of the global ecosystem. Major forest types and their climatic controls. Local variation in community type: the landscape mosaic. Change in time: an overview. Disturbance in forest ecosystems. Patterns and mechanisms of succession. The structure of local ecosystems. How biodiversity is created and maintained. The biological web: interactions among species. Size-density relationships in forests over time and across space. Genetic and evolutionary aspects of species interactions. Soil: the fundamental resource. Primary productivity. Forest nutrition. Biogeochemical cycling: nutrient inputs to and losses from local ecosystems. Biogeochemical cycling: the intrasystem cycle. Herbivores in forest ecosystems. Ecosystem stability I: introduction and case studies. Ecosystem stability II: the role of biodiversity. Ecosystem stability III: conserving species. The future

Introduction -- Basic terminology and concepts -- Forests as part of the global ecosystem -- Major forest types and their climatic controls -- Local variation in community type: the landscape mosaic -- Change in time: an overview -- Disturbance in forest ecosystems -- Patterns and mechanisms of succession -- The structure of local ecosystems -- How biodiversity is created and maintained -- The biological web: interactions among species -- Size-density relationships in forests over time and across space -- Genetic and evolutionary aspects of species interactions -- Soil: the fundamental resource -- Primary productivity -- Forest nutrition -- Biogeochemical cycling: nutrient inputs to and losses from local ecosystems -- Biogeochemical cycling: the intrasystem cycle -- Herbivores in forest ecosystems -- Ecosystem stability I: introduction and case studies -- Ecosystem stability II: the role of biodiversity -- Ecosystem stability III: conserving species -- The future.