Many trace gases are exchanged between the atmosphere and the biosphere. Although much research has been published on the photosynthetic exchanges of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor, this book focuses on the importance of biogenic trace gases on atmosphere chemistry and ecosystem stability. Included are methane and its effect on the radiative properties of the atmosphere, hydrocarbons (isoprene and monoterpenes), and their role in the production of ozone and carbon monoxide. Also covered are sulfur and nitrogen gases, both of which can lead to ecosystem acidification. The biochemistry and physiology of production of these and other gases are investigated. Plant physiologists, ecologists, and atmospheric chemists and modelers will benefit from this book.

Biological invasion of native plant communities is a high-priority problem in the field of environmental management. Resource managers, biologists, and all those involved in plant communities must consider ecological interactions when assessing both the effects of plant invasion and the long-term effects of management. Sections of the book cover human perceptions of invading plants, assessment of ecological interactions, direct management, and regulation and advocacy. It also includes an appendix with descriptive data for many of the worst weeds.

A growing interest has been shown recently in the dymanics of nitrogen in agricultural and natural ecosystems. This has been caused by increasing demands for food and fibre by a rapidly expanding world population, and by a growing concern that increased land clearing, cultivation and use of both fertilizer and biologically fixed nitrogen can have detrimental effects on the environment. These include effects on water quality, eutrophication of surface waters and changes in atmospheric composition all caused by increased cycling of nitrogenous compounds. The input and availability of nitrogen frequently affects the productivity of farming systems more than any other single management factor, but often the nitrogen is used inefficiently. Much of the fertilizer nitrogen applied to the soil is not utilised by the crop: it is lost either in solution form, by leaching of nitrate, or in gaseous forms as ammonia, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide or dinitrogen. The leached nitrate can contaminate rivers and ground waters, while the emitted ammonia can contaminate surface waters or combine with atmospheric sulfur dioxide to form aerosols which affect visibility, health and climate. There is also concern that increased evolution of nitrous oxide will deplete the protective ozone layer of the stratosphere. The possibility of a link between the intensity of agricultural use of nitrogen, nitrous oxide emissions and amounts of stratospheric ozone has focussed attention on these interactions.

Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition in Global Forests: Spatial Variation, Impacts, and Management Implications provides the most comprehensive knowledge on spatial variation and ecological impacts of reactive nitrogen deposition in global forests, as well as forest management options to mitigate the negative impacts. Written and edited by international experts in the field, this book synthesizes recent research developments and insights in monitoring and modeling nitrogen deposition in global forests. The book also assesses ecological impacts of enhanced nitrogen deposition on forest structure and function and responses of forest ecosystems to decreasing nitrogen deposition in regions such as the European Union and North America. Finally, the book reviews indicators and thresholds for nitrogen saturation in global forests and analyzes remediation options to reduce impacts of excess nitrogen deposition. This is an important resource for researchers in forestry and biodiversity conservation, as well as graduate students, policymakers and others who want to understand environmental issues of reactive nitrogen deposition in global forests. Offers a systematic view of the ecological impacts of enhanced nitrogen deposition Provides the most comprehensive knowledge on spatial variation and the ecological impacts of reactive nitrogen deposition in global forests Presents expert research and findings on forest management options to remediate negative impacts

This edited book provides an ensemble of contemporary research related to the challenges, impacts and precautionary measures for tackling plant invasions in the context of changing climate in different regions of the world. In current scenario, plant invasions are expansive and significant component of anthropogenic global climate change. Temperature variations may compromise the adaptability of native species, thereby stressing them and decreasing the resistance potential of natural communities to invasion. Invasive alien species under the current scenario have been suggested as a major threat to biodiversity. It is also predicted that increasing disturbances or extreme events such as fires, floods, cyclones, storms, heat-waves, droughts, etc. will be direct consequences of changing climate supporting the invasive alien species. A comprehensive understanding of the interaction between species invasion and climate change will be supplemental in forecasting future shifts in biodiversity. Further, different predictive models indicate a plausible increase in the abundance and impact of invasive alien species which may have direct implications for future research and target-oriented policy and decision making. However, these predictions become more complicated considering the complexity of interactions between the impacts of changing climate with other components of global change (changes in land use, nitrogen deposition, etc.) which are affecting the distribution of native plant species, ecosystem dynamics as well as non-native/invasive species. This book will be suitable for students (undergraduate and postgraduates) of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences; teachers, researchers, and climate change scientists in academic and research institutions. It will also be applicable to environmental management agencies, government agencies and policy makers.