Contents Preface.xi Acknowledgments . xiii Author .xv Chapter 1 Environment and Ecosystems: Physiological Basis of Ecology .1 The Lumenosphere .1 The Biosphere .2 The Organism-Environment Relationships .3 Energy and Nutrient Flows through Ecosystems .
4 Food Chains .5 Food Web .6 Ecological Pyramids .7 Ecological Pyramid of Numbers .7 Ecological Pyramid of Biomass .8 Ecological Pyramid of Energy .9 The Sixth Trophic Level . 10 The Seventh Trophic Level .
10 What Is Environmental Physiology? . 11 Climate and Its Changing Behavior . 12 Scope of Environmental Plant Physiology . 13 Applications in Food Production . 13 Environmental Physiology: The Basis for a Climate-Smart Planet . 14 Summary . 17 References . 18 Websites .
18 Chapter 2 Energy Relations . 19 Energy and Life . 19 Trophic Diversity in Nature . 19 The Light of Life .20 Leaf and Light . 21 Leaf-Energy Balance .22 Energy Inputs and Energy Outputs of a Leaf .24 Net Radiation .
24 Sensible Heat Loss (Conduction and Convection) .25 Latent and Chemical Energy .25 Photosynthetic Pathways .26 C3 Photosynthesis .27 C4 Photosynthesis .28 CAM Photosynthesis .29 E = mc 2 in the Context of Earth''s Ecosystems.30 Sun-Soil-Plant: The Evolutionary Ladder of Life .
31 Photosynthesis and Soil Fertilization . 32 Energy from Inorganic Molecules . 33 Energy from Organic Molecules . 35 Chemical Composition vis-à-vis Nutrient Requirements . 35 Herbivory .36 Carnivory .36 Detritivory . 37 Energy Limitations .
38 Optimal Foraging by Animals .38 Optimal Foraging by Plants. 39 Energy Flow in the Biosphere . 39 Summary . 41 References . 42 Websites . 43 Chapter 3 Nutrient Relations . 45 The Pedosphere .
45 Soil as an Ecosystem . 45 Diversity of the World''s Soils .46 Soil Types . 47 Soil Biodiversity . 47 Pedodiversity-Biodiversity Relations .48 Essential Elements .49 Sources of Plant Nutrients .50 Nutrient Availability for Plants .
51 Interactions among Ions . 51 Cycles in the Soil . 53 Ion-Uptake Physiology .54 Kinetics .54 Internal Control . 58 Morphological Responses . 59 Root:Shoot Ratio and Root:Weight Ratio . 59 Root Diameter and Root Hairs .
60 Root Density and Distribution .60 Soil Microorganisms . 61 Rhizosphere . 61 Impact on Nutrient Uptake . 62 Nitrogen Fixation . 62 Influence of Environmental Factors .63 Mycorrhizas .64 Summary .