[Studyguide for Physiological Ecology of Forest Production: Principles, Processes and Models by Landsberg, J., ISBN 9780123744609] (By: Cram101 Textbook Reviews) [published: April, 2011]

Process-based models open the way to useful predictions of the future growth rate of forests and provide a means of assessing the probable effects of variations in climate and management on forest productivity. As such they have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional forest growth and yield models, which are based on mensuration data and assume that climate and atmospheric CO2 concentrations will be the same in the future as they are now. This book discusses the basic physiological processes that determine the growth of plants, the way they are affected by environmental factors and how we can improve processes that are well-understood such as growth from leaf to stand level and productivity. A theme that runs through the book is integration to show a clear relationship between photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrient requirements, transpiration, water relations and other factors affecting plant growth that are often looked at separately. This integrated approach will provide the most comprehensive source for process-based modelling, which is valuable to ecologists, plant physiologists, forest planners and environmental scientists.* Includes explanations of inherently mathematical models, aided by the use of graphs and diagrams illustrating causal interactions and by examples implemented as Excel spreadsheets * Uses a process-based model as a framework for explaining the mechanisms underlying plant growth * Integrated approach provides a clear and relatively simple treatment * Includes access to electronic and printed spreadsheet examples of the variations of the ecophsyiological model Process-based models open the way to useful predictions of the future growth rate of forests and provide a means of assessing the probable effects of variations in climate and management on forest productivity. As such they have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional forest growth and yield models, which are based on mensuration data and assume that climate and atmospheric CO2 concentrations will be the same in the future as they are now.

This book discusses the basic physiological processes that determine the growth of plants, the way they are affected by environmental factors and how we can improve processes that are well-understood such as growth from leaf to stand level and productivity. A theme that runs through the book is integration to show a clear relationship between photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrient requirements, transpiration, water relations and other factors affecting plant growth that are often looked at separately. This integrated approach will provide the most comprehensive source for process-based modelling, which is valuable to ecologists, plant physiologists, forest planners and environmental scientists.

• Includes explanations of inherently mathematical models, aided by the use of graphs and diagrams illustrating causal interactions and by examples implemented as Excel spreadsheets
• Uses a process-based model as a framework for explaining the mechanisms underlying plant growth
• Integrated approach provides a clear and relatively simple treatment
• Includes access to electronic and printed spreadsheet examples of the variations of the ecophsyiological model

Process-based models open the way to useful predictions of the future growth rate of forests and provide a means of assessing the probable effects of variations in climate and management on forest productivity. As such they have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional forest growth and yield models, which are based on mensuration data and assume that climate and atmospheric CO2 concentrations will be the same in the future as they are now. This book discusses the basic physiological processes that determine the growth of plants, the way they are affected by environmental factors and how we can improve processes that are well-understood such as growth from leaf to stand level and productivity. A theme that runs through the book is integration to show a clear relationship between photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrient requirements, transpiration, water relations and other factors affecting plant growth that are often looked at separately. This integrated approach will provide the most comprehensive source for process-based modelling, which is valuable to ecologists, plant physiologists, forest planners and environmental scientists. * Includes explanations of inherently mathematical models are aided by the use of graphs and diagrams illustrating causal interactions, and by examples implemented as Excel spread sheets * Uses process-based model as a framework for explaining the mechanisms underlying plant growth * Integrated approach provides a clear and relatively simple treatment * Includes access to electronic and printed spreadsheet examples of the variations of the ecophsyiological model Process-based models open the way to useful predictions of the future growth rate of forests and provide a means of assessing the probable effects of variations in climate and management on forest productivity. As such they have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional forest growth and yield models, which are based on mensuration data and assume that climate and atmospheric CO 2 concentrations will be the same in the future as they are now. This book discusses the basic physiological processes that determine the growth of plants, the way they are affected by environmental factors and how we can improve processes that are well-understood such as growth from leaf to stand level and productivity. A theme that runs through the book is integration to show a clear relationship between photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrient requirements, transpiration, water relations and other factors affecting plant growth that are often looked at separately. This integrated approach will provide the most comprehensive source for process-based modelling, which is valuable to ecologists, plant physiologists, forest planners and environmental scientists. Includes explanations of inherently mathematical models, aided by the use of graphs and diagrams illustrating causal interactions and by examples implemented as Excel spreadsheets Uses a process-based model as a framework for explaining the mechanisms underlying plant growth Integrated approach provides a clear and relatively simple treatment Includes access to electronic and printed spreadsheet examples of the variations of the ecophsyiological model Content: Series Editors Page ii Copyright Page iv Acknowledgements Page vi J.J. Landsberg, P.J. Sands Preface Pages vii-ix Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Table of Symbols Pages xi-xix J.J. Landsberg, P.J. Sands Chapter 1 - Introduction Pages 1-12 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 2 - Weather and Energy Balance Pages 13-48 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 3 - Physiological Processes Pages 49-79 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 4 - Stand Structure and Dynamics Pages 81-114 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 5 - The Carbon Balance of Trees and Stands Pages 115-149 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 6 - Nutrient Dynamics and Tree Growth Pages 151-184 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 7 - Hydrology and Plant Water Relations Pages 185-219 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 8 - Modelling Tree Growth: Concepts and Review Pages 221-240 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 9 - The 3-PG Process-Based Model Pages 241-282 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Chapter 10 - Future Developments Pages 283-290 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands Appendices Pages 291-299 Joe Landsberg, Peter Sands References Pages 301-323 Index Pages 325-331 "Physiological ecology of forest production: principles, processes and models analyses and explains the growth of forest trees in terms of physiological processes involved ad the way these processes are affected by environmental factors. The treatment is generally quantitative: the authors present the basic essential mathematics of the biophysical processes involved in stand x atmosphere interactions (radiation interception, transpiration, and hence the water balance) and the of the processes themselves (stomatal behaviour, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake from the soil). The coverage and explanation of all topics has been made accessible to the non-numerate as well as those comfortable with a quantitative approach"--back cover