{"product_id":"resolving-ecosystem-complexity-9780691128498","title":"Resolving Ecosystem Complexity","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow should an ecosystem be conceptualized to blend its biotic and biophysical components? How should evolutionary ecological principles be used to derive an operational understanding of complex, adaptive ecosystems? This book addresses the critical questions of contemporary ecology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2011 \"Within the fast-growing landscape of ecological literature, this book emerges as a rare yet inspiring attempt to explain ecosystem complexity. Schmitz does this by introducing contingencies in nature and synthesizing up-to-date knowledge on species interactions, trophic structure, and ecosystem function and dynamics through stimulating questions, theoretical thinking, and empirical evidence... This is a model book in ecology, and should be used as a critical reference source for academics interested in ecological theory and recent developments in the field.\"--Choice \"This book would be a great starting point for undergraduates considering careers in ecology and is a goldmine for graduate students looking for dissertation topics. But most importantly, this book reminds all of us that we can indeed understand the complexity of ecological systems.\"--Aaron M. Ellison, Ecology \"Although they are strongly focused on the experimental side of ecology the range of topics covered in this book is large and coupled with at least initial experimental evidence, sometimes with fascinating hypothesis-generating extrapolations.\"--John H. Vandermeer, BioScience\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eList of Illustrations ix  List of Tables xiii  Preface xv      Chapter 1: Introduction 1  Philosophical Musings 2  Explaining Contingency: A Worldview 4  Contingency and Emergence 5  Preparing the Mind for Discovery 7  Structure of the Book 8      Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Ecosystem Structure 10  Abstracting Complexity 11  Whole System vs. Building Blocks Approach 13  Defining Species Interaction Modules 15  Identifying Interaction Modules in a Grassland Ecosystem 16  Conception of Ecosystem Structure 20      Chapter 3: Trophic Dynamics: Why Is the World Green? 23  Trophic Control as an Emergent Property of Resource Limitation 24  Explaining Contingency in Trophic Control of Ecosystem Function 26  The Nature of Resource Limitation and Trophic Control of Food Chains 28  The Mechanism Switching Hypothesis of Trophic Control 32  Effects of Herbivore Feeding Mode 36  Collective Effects of Herbivore Species with Different Feeding Modes 38  Plant- Antiherbivore Defense and Strength of Trophic Control 39  Herbivore Resource Selection and Ecosystem Function 41  Stoichiometry and Herbivore Resource Use 42  Resource Selection and Ecosystem Function 43  Herbivore Indirect Effects and Engineering of Green Worlds 46  Herbivore- Mediated Carnivore Indirect Effects on Ecosystems 47  Carnivore Indirect Effects on Plant Diversity 47  Carnivore Indirect Effects on Ecosystem Function 50      Chapter 4: The Green World and the Brown Chain 55  Conceptualizing Functions along Detritus- Based Chains 56  Resource Limitation and Trophic Control 57  Trophic Control of Decomposition 59  Trophic Control of Mineralization 61  Mechanisms of Top- Down Control 62  Trophic Coupling between Detritus- Based and Plant- Based Chains 64      Chapter 5: The Evolutionary Ecology of Trophic Control in Ecosystems 68  Carnivore Species and the Nature of Trophic Interactions in an Old- Field System 69  Carnivore Hunting Mode and the Nature of Trophic Interactions 74  The Evolutionary Ecology of Trophic Cascades 86      Chapter 6: The Whole and the Parts 99  Developing Predictive Theory for Emergence 100  Contingency and Carnivore Diversity Effects on Ecosystems 101  Carnivore Diversity and Emergent Effects on Ecosystem Function 106  Shifting Down One Trophic Level: Intermediate Species Diversity and Ecosystem Function 110  Herbivore Diversity and Mediation of Top- Down Control of Ecosystem Function 112  Detritivore Diversity and Mediation of Top- Down Control of Ecosystem Function 117  The Basal Trophic Level: Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Function 118  Functional Classifications 119  Resource Identity Effects on Trophic Interactions 121  Moving Forward on Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Function 122      Chapter 7: The Ecological Theater and the Evolutionary Ecological Play 125  Phenotypic Variation and State- Dependent Trade- Offs 127  Attacked Plants Attract Predators 129  Predators That Avoid Predation 130  The Nonconsumptive Basis of Trophic Transfer Efficiencies 132  Trophic Interactions in a Changing Theater 133  Rapid Change in Hunting Strategy 135  Landscapes of Fear and Ecosystem Management 135  Closing Remarks 139  References 143  Index 167","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49403745861975,"sku":"9780691128498","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/resolving-ecosystem-complexity-9780691128498","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}