Aboveground-Belowground Linkages

• The first book to give a mechanistic understanding of how biological interactions serve as terrestrial ecosystem drivers
• Strong emphasis on interactions, linking the study of soil biota, plants, and their consumers with wider ecological issues such as biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and global change
• Draws together a large body of literature that tackles the topic from a range of perspectives and at vastly different spatial and temporal scales
• Ideal graduate seminar course material

Readership: This accessible text is suitable for senior undergraduate and graduate level students taking courses in community and ecosystem ecology, biodiversity, and global change, as well as research scientists requiring a modern overview of this fast emerging topic.

Richard D. Bardgett, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK, and David A. Wardle, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden

"This book is clearly organized which makes it a pleasure to read. Each chapter is nicely introduced and there is discussion about how it fits with the rest of the book. Both of the authors have successfully used conceptual diagrams to illustrate their work in their numerous empirical and review papers, and this book is no exception." - Aimée T. Classen, Ecology

"The topics in this short and affordable book are well integrated and up to date. Given that the authors are pioneering leaders in this field and have had a long and productive collaboration, it is no surprise that their new book is excellent." - Aimée T. Classen, Ecology

"Is Aboveground-Belowground Linkages just another synthesis? Certainly not. An excellent and up-to-date overview of the field of plant and soil community interactions and ecosystem functioning... in my opinion, a book that all plant and soil ecologists should read. It will undoubtedly have a strong influence on the direction of the future research of many scientists in this field." - T. Martijn Bezemer, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

"This is the most interesting book I read in 2010. It should appeal to a wide range of researchers, is an excellent source of reference and a potentially useful teaching resource." - John Hopkins, Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

Preface
1: Introduction
2: Biotic Interactions in Soil as Drivers of Ecosystem Properties
3: Plant Community Influences on the Soil Community and Plant-Soil Feedbacks
4: Ecosystem Level Significance of Aboveground Consumers
5: Aboveground and Belowground Consequences of Species Losses and Gains
6: Underlying Themes and Ways Forward
References
Index