Purchase textbook

Ecology of Desert Systems,

Edition 1

Editors: By Walter G. Whitford

Publication Date: 25 Mar 2002

0 Reviews

Ways Of Reading

This e-publication is accessible to the full extent that the file format and types of content allow, on a specific reading device, by default, without necessarily including any additions such as textual descriptions of images or enhanced navigation.

Navigation

The contents of the PDF have been tagged to permit access by assistive technologies as per PDF-UA-1 standard.
Page breaks included from the original print source

Additional Accessibility Information

All (or substantially all) textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order (including text that is visually presented as separate from the main text flow, e.g., in boxouts, captions, tables, footnotes, endnotes, citations, etc.). Non-textual content is also linked from within this logical reading order. (Purely decorative non-text content can be ignored).
The language of the text has been specified (e.g., via the HTML or XML lang attribute) to optimise text-to-speech (and other alternative renderings), both at the whole document level and, where appropriate, for individual words, phrases or passages in a different language.

Conformance

The publication was certified on 20250728
Accessibility addendum
For detailed accessibility information, see Elsevier’s website at https://www.elsevier.com/about/accessibility
For queries regarding accessibility information, contact [email protected]

Note

This product relies on 3rd party tooling which may impact the accessibility features visible in inspection copies. All accessibility features mentioned would be present in the purchased version of the title.

Conventional wisdom considers deserts stark, harsh regions that support few living things. Most people also believe that water alone makes the desert bloom. Ecology of Desert Systems challenges these conventional views.

This volume explores a broad range of topics of interest to ecosystem, population, community, and physiological ecologists. Climate, weather patterns, geomorphology, and wind and water processes are examined as variables that affect the distribution of biota through fundamental ecosystem processes. Descriptions of morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations of desert biota illuminate, through the lens of patch dynamics, principles for understanding observed patterns of primary production, nutrient cycling, and the effects of consumers. Desertification, and the techniques for monitoring and quantifying it, is examined within the framework of desert ecosystem patterns and processes.

Key Features

* Focuses on the interactions of climate, soil, and biota along a spectrum of spatial and temporal scales
* Details the role of animals in desert ecosystems and landscape processes
* Examines watershed scale processes, the ecology of ephemeral lakes, and the ecological changes identified with desertification
* Outlines the fundamental concepts relevant to sustainable development of arid lands

About the author

By Walter G. Whitford, USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA

Conceptual Framework and Paradigms.
Landforms, Geomorphology, and Vegetation.
Characterization of Desert Climates.
Wind and Water Processes.
Patch—Mosaic Dynamics.
Adaptations.
Primary Production.
Consumers, Consumption, and Secondary Production.
Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling.
Desertification.
Monitoring and Assessment.
Desert Ecosystems in the Future.

ISBN: 9780127472614

Page Count: 343

Retail Price (USD) :

Chapman: DESERTIFIED GRASSLANDS (1992;
ISBN: 0-12-168570-5)

Cody: LONG-TERM STUDIES OF VERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES (1996; ISBN: 0-12-178075-9)

Senior undergraduates and 1st year postgraduates; Land management agencies - their employees including researchers.