Grassland structure and function

• 1. Distribution and Regional Patterns of Californian Grasslands.- 1.1 Grassland Distribution.- 1.2 Patch Size and Distribution.- 1.3 Species Distribution Within the Grassland.- 1.4 Summary.- 2. Characterization and Analysis of Abiotic Factors and Their Influences on Vegetation.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Microscale Weather.- 2.3 Edaphic Factors.- 2.4 Summary.- 3. Sources of the Naturalized Grasses and Herbs in California.- 3.1 Early History.- 3.2 Affinities of California Grasslands.- 3.3 Types of Grasslands.- 3.4 The Invaders.- 3.5 Desirable Future Study.- 3.6 Summary.- 4. Seed Production and Germination Dynamics in California Annual Grasslands.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Seed Production Dynamics.- 4.3 Seed Germination Dynamics.- 4.4 Summary.- 5. Phenology of California Grasslands.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Climate.- 5.3 Germination.- 5.4 Vegetative Phase.- 5.5 Reproductive Phase.- 5.6 Biotic Interactions as Evolutionary Conrols on Phenology.- 5.7 Phenological Ecotypes.- 5.8 Discussion.- 6. Competitive Interactions in California Annual Grasslands.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Patterns of Diversity and Considerations of Scale.- 6.3 Summary.- 7. Local Temporal and Spatial Structure.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Temporal Variations.- 7.3 Spatial Variation.- 7.4 Summary.- 8. Comparative Ecology of Annual Grasses: Native Versus Californian Habitats and Populations.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Biogeographical Comparisons.- 8.3 Growth and Phenology of Grasses.- 8.4 Discussion.- 8.5 Summary.- 9. The Importance of Species Differences in the Development of Mathematical Models of California Grasslands.- 9.1 Mathematical Models of Ecological Systems.- 9.2 Modeling Ecosystems and Populations.- 9.3 Population Models for Grassland Ecosystems.- 9.4 Models of the California Prairie.- 9.5 A Population Model of the California Prairie.- 9.6 Summary.- 10. The Effects of Ants on Grasslands.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Numbers, Biomass and Energetics.- 10.3 Effects of Mound Construction on Grassland Vegetation.-10.4 Effects of Mound Construction on Grassland Soils.- 10.5 Effects of Seed Harvesting Ants on Grassland Vegetation.- 10.6 Other Possible Effects of Ants on Grassland Vegetation.- 10.7 Summary.- 11. Insect Herbivory in the Transition to California Annual Grasslands: Did Grasshoppers Deliver the Coup de Grass?.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Grasshopper Diversity in California.- 11.3 Patterns and Effects of Herbivory by Grasshoppers.- 11.4 Impact of Grasshopper Populations on Vegetation.- 11.5 Effects of Host Plants on Grasshopper Populations.- 11.6 Summary.- 12. Impacts of Non-domesticated Vertebrates on California Grasslands.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Who are the Vertebrate Players?.- 12.3 What are the Potential Impacts?.- 12.4 What Species Are Likely to Have Major Effects?.- 12.5 The California Ground Squirrel.- 12.6 The Valley Pocket Gopher.- 12.7 The California Vole.- 12.8 Discussion.- 12.9 Summary.- 13. Grazers, Past and Present.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 The Late Pliocene-Pleistocene Epochs.- 13.3 The “Pristine” State.- 13.4 Historic Trends in Native Ungulates.- 13.5 Development of the Domestic Herds.- 13.6 Comments on the Microfauna.- 13.7 Some Animal-related Vegetation Questions.- 13.8 Summary.- 14. Simulated Water Budgets for an Annual Grassland Site in the Sierra Foothills.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Model Description.- 14.3 Model Testing.- 14.4 Annual Water Budgets.- 14.5 Summary.- 15. Management Controls on Productivity.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Technologies for Enhancing Productivity.- 15.3 Ecology of Grazed Annual Grassland and Oak Savannas.- 15.4 Efficient Use of Annual Grassland.- 15.5 Stability of Intensively Managed Grassland.- 15.6 Summary.- 16. Conservation Biology of California’s Remnant Native Grasslands.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Native Grasslands Today.- 16.3 Biogeography of Grasslands on Serpentine.- 16.4 Ecology of Serpentine Grasslands.- 16.5 Conservation of Native Grasslands.- 16.6 Summary.- 17. The California Annual Grassland: An Overview.-17.1 Patterning and Species Distributions Within the California Grasslands.- 17.2 Links Between the Traits of Individual Component Species and Ecosystem Structure and Function.- 17.3 Direct Influence of Physical Environment on Ecosystem Structure and Function.- 17.4 History of Invasions and Displacement of the Native Flora.- Index of Scientific Names.

'The book has been very well edited and printed. It is informative and represents well the integration of the dynamism of causes and their effects on grassland. It is very valuable to those interested in research on grassland and their management for sustainable maintenance and production.' Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 60:10, 1990