Permafrost Ecosystems

Permafrost Ecosystems
Siberian Larch Forests

 
Drawing from a decade-long collaboration between Japan and Russia, this important volume presents the first major synthesis of current knowledge on the ecophysiology of the coniferous forests growing on permafrost at high latitudes. It presents ecological data for a region long inaccessible to most scientists, and raises important questions about the global carbon balance as these systems are affected by the changing climate.
Making up around 20% of the entire boreal forests of the northern hemisphere, these ‘permafrost forest ecosystems’ are subject to particular constraints in terms of temperature, nutrient availability, and root space, creating exceptional ecosystem characteristics not known elsewhere. This authoritative text explores their diversity, structure, dynamics and physiology. It provides a comparison of these forests in relation to boreal forests elsewhere, and concludes with an assessment of the potential responses of this unique biome to climate change.
The book will be invaluable to advanced students and researchers interested in boreal vegetation, forest ecology, silviculture and forest soils, as well as to researchers into climate change and the global carbon balance.

Contents
Part 1: Introduction. 1. Introduction - Background and objectives of the field study in Siberia; A. Osawa.- Part 2: Ecological setting. 2. Floristic diversity and its geographical background in Siberia ; O.A. Zyryanova et al.- 3. Geographic distribution and genetics of Siberian larch; A.P. Abaimov.- 4. Wildfire ecology in continuous permafrost zone; M. Sofronov, A. Volokitina.- 5. Recovery of forest vegetation after fire disturbance; A.P. Abaimov et al.- Part 3: Ecosystem dynamics and function. 6. Biomass and productivity of Siberian larch forest ecosystems; T. Kajimoto et al.- 7. Development of stand structure in larch forests; A. Osawa, T. Kajimoto.- 8. Soil carbon and nitrogen storage in Siberian permafrost region; Y. Matsuura.- 9. Soil respiration in larch forests; T. Morishita et al.- 10. Net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) in a permafrost larch ecosystem; Y. Nakai.- 11. Behavior of dissolved organic carbon in larch ecosystems; A.S. Prokushkin, S. Hobara.- 12. Nitrogen cycling in larch ecosystem; N. Tokuchi et al.- Part 4: Tree physiology and the environment. 13. Photosynthesis of larch trees; T. Koike et al.- 14. Respiration of larch trees; S. Mori.- 15. Root system development of Siberian larch trees; T. Kajimoto.- 16. Seasonal changes in radial growth of Larix gmelinii in central Siberia in relation to its climatic responses; K. Yasue et al.- 17. Dendrochronology of larch trees growing on Siberian permafrost; E.A. Vaganov et al.- Part 5: Ecosystem comparisons. 18. The permafrost larch forests of North America; R.W. Wein.- 19. Characteristics of larch forests in Daxingan Mountains, northeast China; F. Shi et al.- 20. Carbon dynamics of larch plantations in northeast China and Japan; M. Jomura et al.- 21. The role of ectomycorrhizae in boreal forest ecosystems: a forestry perspective; L. Qu et al.- Part 6: Responses to climate change: synthesis. 22. From vegetation zones to climatypes: effects of climate warming on Siberian ecosystems; N.M. Tchebakova et al.- 23. The modeling of forest floors in boreal forests: implications for forest dynamics and climate change; I.A. Nalder, R.W. Wein.- 24. Effects of global warming on ecophysiological responses of larch trees; T. Koike et al.- 25. Climate change and larch forest ecosystems of Siberia: implications for ecosystem structure and function; A. Osawa.-