By combining the analysis of biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, this volume provides a synthesis of material on arid and semiarid landscapes, which is currently scattered in a number of books and journal articles. The focus on water-limited ecosystems is motivated by their high sensitivity to daily, seasonal, and decadal perturbations in water availability, and by the ecologic, climatic, and economic significance of most of the world's drylands.
Conceived as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. The chapters have been contributed by authors with different expertise, who work in several arid areas around the world. They describe the various interactions among the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, starting from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns.
Conceived as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. The chapters have been contributed by authors with different expertise, who work in several arid areas around the world. They describe the various interactions among the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, starting from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns.
"The diversity of the subject areas treated in this single book is quite amazing."
"...the book calls on authors worldwide as contributors, lending itself to a very refreshing international perspective on the research being conducted in arid areas of Africa and Australia, as well as the United States."
"...the authors have done a good job in linking together the subject matter and in unifying the formatting and tone..."
"...for those who want a taste of the diversity of dryland processes and the role that vadose zone hydrology playes in those processes, this may be the book for you."
Vadose Zone Journal 5:1065 (2006)
"...the book calls on authors worldwide as contributors, lending itself to a very refreshing international perspective on the research being conducted in arid areas of Africa and Australia, as well as the United States."
"...the authors have done a good job in linking together the subject matter and in unifying the formatting and tone..."
"...for those who want a taste of the diversity of dryland processes and the role that vadose zone hydrology playes in those processes, this may be the book for you."
Vadose Zone Journal 5:1065 (2006)