Description
Book SynopsisNorth America contains an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting unique systems of plant and animal life. These systems, the largest of which are biomes, form intricate webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. This richly illustrated book introduces readers to this extraordinary array of natural communities and their subtle biological and geological interactions.
Completely revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this successful text takes a qualitative, intuitive approach to the subject, beginning with an overview of essential ecological terms and concepts, such as competitive exclusion, taxa, niches, and succession. It then goes on to describe the major biomes and communities that characterize the rich biota of the continent, starting with the Tundra and continuing with Boreal Forest, Deciduous Forest, Grasslands, Deserts, Montane Forests, and Temperature Rain Forest, among others. Coastal environments, including the Laguna
Trade Review
"The disciplines of ecology and biogeography are so closely intertwined that many scholars of these
respective fields are, by necessity and shared interest, well versed in both (Jenkins and Ricklefs
2011). This overlap is evident in the layout of Ecology of North America. With a scalable subject such
as ecosystems, the authors could have approached the discussion of their material from various angles. Their decision to employ a biomestructured theme to describe the assemblage of North American ecosystems is both logical and practical. This approach is certain to be appealing to biogeographers who use the textbook. In fact, this book could be used as a supplementary textbook
in a biogeography class. Ecology of North America will serve as a good introductory text for students interested in the ecology of the continent. The book begins with an overview chapter of basic ecological principles and terms, including sound explanations of succession, biodiversity, and biogeography. Subsequent chapters are individually devoted to various North American ecosystems/biomes. These chapters define the unique attributes of each biome and fluidly address the important abiotic and biotic components of each, along with representative plant and animal assemblages, interactions, and
adaptations, as well as characteristic biome-level disturbances and ecological challenges. Both authors
are wildlife ecology experts, yet their knowledge and understanding of plant ecology and their success in balancing the text between floral and faunal ecological discussions are both refreshing and impressive.....The inclusion of “infoboxes” is a meaningful addition; this type of aside succeeds in adding interest and depth to textbooks. Comprehensive bibliographies are included after each chapter,
and the division of each one by chapter subheadings is helpful......The new edition of Ecology of North
America is a welcome addition to contemporary ecology textbook offerings. The authors have updated
a good introductory text that is highly approachable and readable. It offers a worthy addition
to textbook options in the discipline, and I recommend it as an essential resource for students
and teachers of North American ecosystems" (Frontiers of Biogeography- December 2016)
Table of Contents
Foreword viii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 Introduction 1
A brief overview of ecology 1
The ecosystem 2
Abiotic limits 3
Climate and topography 4
Soils and soil profiles 4
Biotic community 6
Community succession 6
Plant succession: from pioneer to climax 6
Primary and secondary succession 6
Succession and species abundance 7
The biome concept 7
Biodiversity 7
The “species richness gradient” 8
Biodiversity “hotspots” 8
Patterns of distribution 9
Continental patterns 9
Geographical and ecological distribution 10
Some ecological concepts 10
Niches 10
Ecological equivalents 12
Bergmann’s rule 12
Allen’s rule 13
Readings and references 14
2 Tundra 17
Climatic and glacial influences 17
Soils and geological influences 17
Permafrost 18
Patterned ground 18
Eskers and tundra wildlife 20
Glacial refugia 21
Features and adaptations 21
Plant adaptations to harsh conditions 21
Plant growth and reproduction 22
Decomposition and soil nutrients 23
Some animal adaptations 23
Major vegetative communities 24
Shrub tundra 25
Dwarf birch heath 25
Cottongrass heath 25
Fellfields 25
Invertebrates and tundra ecology 25
Selected tundra mammals 26
Lemmings 26
Arctic ground squirrels 27
Arctic foxes 28
Barren]ground caribou 28
Selected tundra birds 29
Gyrfalcons 29
Snowy owl 30
Ross goose 30
Highlights 31
Absentees: amphibians and reptiles 31
Lichens and “reindeer moss” 31
Snow goose “eat outs” 32
Alpine Tundra 33
Fragile Tundra 34
Impacts of human activity 34
Global warming 35
Readings and references 36
3 Boreal Forest 41
Climatic boundaries and soils 41
Features and adaptations 42
Plant adaptations 42
Animal adaptations 42
Frequent fires 42
Niches in the Boreal Forest 43
Selected biotic communities 44
Tree line and forest tundra 44
Muskeg 46
Coniferous swamps 46
Comparative ecology of lakes 46
Appalachian Extension 48
Mountain balds 48
Highlights 49
The 10]year cycle 49
Wolves and moose 50
A wealth of salamanders 52
Red squirrels 53
Ecological challenges 54
Acid rain 54
Spruce budworm and DDT 55
Balsam woolly adelgid 55
The Boreal Forest Agreement 56
Readings and references 57
4 Eastern Deciduous Forest 61
Climatic boundaries and soils 61
Features and adaptations 61
The forest primeval 63
The layered forest 63
Autumn leaves 64
Ground and leaf litter 64
Mast 65
Biotic associations 66
Northern hardwoods conifer forests 66
Beech–Maple–Basswood 67
Mesophytic forest 68
Oak–Hickory 69
Mississippi alluvial plain 70
Southern Mixed Forest 70
Some associated communities 71
Longleaf pine forests 71
New Jersey Pine Barrens 73
Carolina bays 74
Highlights 75
Acorns and blue jays 75
Deer yards 75
Kirtland’s warblers and fire 76
Franklin’s lost tree 77
Cicadas: buzz in the forest 77
Ecological challenges 78
Declines of neotropical migrants 78
Forest destruction by exotic organisms 80
Reintroduction of red wolves 81
Readings and references 82
5 Grasslands: Plains and Prairies 89
Major associations 89
Tallgrass prairie 89
Midgrass prairie 90
Shortgrass prairie 90
Transition zones 93
Aspen parklands 93
Cross Timbers 96
Western transition 96
Features and adaptations 97
Seasonal grasses 97
Soils 99
Role of fire 101
Prairie streams 101
Prairie wetlands and waterfowl 102
Pleistocene extinctions 103
Selected prairie mammals 104
Bison 104
Prairie dogs 104
Pronghorns 106
Selected prairie birds 106
Burrowing owls 106
Prairie chickens 107
Highlights 108
Riparian forests 108
The Platte River 108
Nebraska Sandhills 109
Ants 109
Isolation and contact on the plains 110
Grassland settlement 110
Prairie preservation 111
Readings and references 113
6 Regional Grasslands and Related Areas 120
Regional associations 120
Palouse prairie 120
California Annual Grasslands 122
Southwestern desert grasslands 124
Edwards Plateau 126
Tamaulipan Mezquital 127
Highlights 129
Rodents and vegetation 129
Channeled Scablands 130
Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area 130
Mima mounds 131
Desertification 132
Readings and references 132
7 Deserts 136
Physical geography 136
Why deserts are dry 136
Desert mountains and bajadas 138
Ancient lakes 138
Features and adaptations 139
Desert soils and surfaces 139
Plant adaptations 140
Animal adaptations 141
The major deserts 144
Chihuahuan Desert 144
Sonoran Desert 145
Mojave Desert 147
Great Basin Desert 149
Highlights 150
Nurse trees 150
“Trees” for desert woodpeckers 151
Boojums and elephants: unique trees 153
Yucca moths 154
Desert fishes 154
Realm of reptiles 155
Of soils and mice 156
Deserts and predators 157
Pygmies of the sagebrush steppe 158
Desert quail rainfall and vitamin A 159
Sailing stones 159
Wheeled threats to deserts 159
Readings and references 160
8 Chaparral and Pinyon]Juniper Woodlands 167
Features and adaptations of chaparral 168
Coastal (California) chaparral 171
Chamise chaparral 171
Manzanita chaparral 171
Ceanothus chaparral 171
Other chaparral communities 171
Interior (Arizona) chaparral 172
Pinyon]juniper woodlands 172
Distribution and ecology 172
Human uses 173
Chaparral and fire 173
Water]repellant soils 173
Post]fire vegetation 174
Wildlife and chaparral fires 174
Highlights 174
Allelopathy in chaparral 174
Animal associates in coastal chaparral 175
Lizards and burned chaparral 175
Pinyon jays 176
Human influences 176
Readings and references 176
9 Montane Forests 180
Features and adaptations 180
Montane Forest zones 181
Lower montane zone 181
Upper montane zone 181
Subalpine zone 182
Associated habitats 183
Mountain parks and meadows 183
Black Hills 185
Redwoods and sequoias 186
Bristlecone pine forest 188
Fire in montane forests 190
Highlights 192
Western chipmunks and competitive exclusion 192
Squirrels bears and pine cones 194
Sky islands in Arizona 195
Monarchs in winter 196
Bears and moths 196
Readings and references 198
10 Temperate Rain Forest 203
What is old]growth forest? 203
Features and adaptations 204
Valleys of rain forest 204
Epiphytes canopy roots and “scuzz” 206
More about logs 207
Succession on glacial till 208
Highlights 209
Bears salmon and forest enrichment 209
A seabird in the forest 212
Some small mammals and their ecology 213
Banana slugs 213
Pacific yew 214
Giant salamanders and other amphibians 214
Mount St Helens 215
Ecological controversy 217
Readings and references 218
11 Coastal Environments 223
Currents and climates 223
Features and adaptations 224
Rocky seashores and tidal pools 224
Sandy seashores 225
Chesapeake Bay 227
Mother Lagoon 228
Submergent communities 230
Seagrass meadows 230
Forests in the ocean 232
Oyster reefs 233
Emergent communities 235
Atlantic tidal marshes 235
Marshes of the Gulf Coast 236
Mangrove islands and thickets 238
Some associated communities 239
Barrier islands 239
Coral reefs 241
Maritime forests 243
Highlights 243
Synchrony at Delaware Bay 243
Waterbird colonies 245
A whale of a success 247
Ecological challenges 248
Natural disturbances 248
Sea]level rise 250
Readings and references 251
12 A Selection of Special Environments 259
The Grand Canyon 259
Caves 262
Arctic ice cap 265
Niagara Escarpment 267
The “Father of Waters” 268
The Everglades 271
Fossil Lagerstätten: Windows into North America’s ecological past 275
Burgess Shale 275
La Brea tar pits 277
The Florida Keys 278
The Great Lakes 280
Habitat highlights 282
Rivers of ice 282
Hot springs and geysers 283
Forest in the clouds 284
Granite outcrops and inselbergs 285
Palm forest 285
Mineral licks 286
Bogs and their carnivorous plants 287
Readings and references 288
Appendix 296
Glossary 309
Index 321
