Integrated Experimental Ecology, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1971 Methods and Results of Ecosystem Research in the German Solling Project Ecological Studies Series, Vol. 2

In the first volume of this series (edited by D. E. REICHLE) an international panel of experts treated various aspects of ecosystems research, using deciduous forests of the temperate zone as an example. That collection of articles gave a general view of the extent of our present knowledge and established a conceptual framework for the analysis of an ecosystem. The present volume carries on from there, although it serves a different purpose. It is a report on their methods and their experiences by the members of a research group working as a team. Under the direction of Prof. ELLENBERG, one of the pilot projects of the Inter­ national Biological Program has been begun in the Solling, a forest and grassland area near Gottingen, West Germany. Here scientists representing a variety of disciplines - meteorology, soil science, hydrology, botany, zoology, microbiology, agriculture and forestry - got together to ascertain the practical possibilities of the analysis of ecosystems. The research, which began in 1966, is still going on. Nevertheless, there are good reasons for making a report on experience so far.

Introductory Survey.- I. Ecology and the International Biological Program.- II. Structure and Functioning of Ecosystems.- III. Organization of the Integrated Research.- IV. The Research Area and the Experimental Plots.- References.- 1: Primary Production.- A. Measurement of CO2 Gas-Exchange and Transpiration in the Beech (Fagus silvatica L.).- B. Estimation of Photosynthetically Active Leaf Area in Forests.- C. Phenological Observations on Beech and Spruce as a Function of Climate.- D. Structure and Timber Production of the Forest Stands. — Report on the Methods Used and Some Results.- E. Estimation of Biomass of Forests.- F. Distribution of Root Tips and Tender Roots of Beech.- G. The Primary Production of the Ground Vegetation of the Luzulo-Fagetum.- H. Chemical Composition of Plants of the Field Layer. — Preliminary Report.- I. Primary Production of a Meadow (Trisetetum flavescentis hercynicum) with Different Fertilizer Treatments. — Preliminary Report.- J. Green Area Indices of Grassland Communities and Agricultural Crops under Different Fertilizing Conditions.- K. Methodological Studies to Distinguish Functional from Non-functional Roots of Grassland Plants.- L. Determination of Energy Values.- 2: Secondary Production.- M. Food and Energy Turnover of Leaf-eating Insects and their Influence on Primary Production.- N. Studies in the Productivity of Lepidoptera Populations.- O. Food and Energy Turnover of Phytophagous and Predatory Arthropods — Methods Used to Study Energy Flow.- P. Food and Energy Turnover of Predatory Arthropods of the Soil Surface. — Methods Used to Study Population Dynamics Standing Crop and Production.- Q. On the Abundance of Bacteria and Other Microorganisms.- R. Microbial Transformation of Organic Material in the Soil.- 3:Environmental Conditions.- S. The Measurement of Climatic Elements which Determine Production in Various Plant Stands. — Methods and Preliminary Results.- T. The Characterization of the Woodland Light Climate.- U. Aspects of Soil Water Behavior as Related to Beech and Spruce Stands. — Some Results of the Water Balance Investigations.- Va. Methods of Investigating Micromorphology of Humus.- Vb. Methods Used in Micromorphological and Micromorphometric Soil Studies.- W. Soil Chemical Differences between Beech and Spruce Sites — an Example of the Methods Used.- X. Investigations of the Content and the Production of Mineral Nitrogen in Soils.- 4: Range of Validity of the Results.- Y. Phenological Comparisons of the Forest Research Area in the Soiling with Similar Forests in Other Mountain Ranges.- Z. Results of a Grassland Mapping in the High Soiling.