During the last decade, forest decline has become increasingly apparent. The decline in forest health was often reported to be associated with air pollution. The present study on Norway spruce stands in the Fichtelgebirge analyses various processes interacting within forest ecosystems. It covers transport and deposition of air pollutants, the direct effects of pollutants on above-ground plant parts, the responses of soil to acid rain, and the changing nutrient availability, and the accompanying effects on plant metabolism and growth. The role of fungi, microorganisms and soil animals in the decline of these stands is also assessed. The volume is concluded with a synthesis evaluation of the influence of different factors, and their interactions on forest decline.

Autorentext
Ram Oren, 1936 in Tel Aviv geboren, gilt als "der israelische John Grisham" (Publishers Weekly)und ist einer der erfolgreichsten Autoren des Landes. Bevor er sich dem Schreiben zuwandte, arbeitete er als Journalist und Rechtsanwalt. Ram Oren hat 25 in zahlreiche Sprachen übersetzte Bestseller geschrieben.

Inhalt
1 Introduction: The Problem of Forest Decline and the Bavarian Forest Toxicology Research Group..- 2 The Vegetation of the Fichtelgebirge: Origin, Site Conditions, and Present Status..- 1 Introduction.- 2 Vegetation History.- 3 Natural Forest Vegetations.- 4 Present Forest Vegetation.- 5 Vegetation of Raised Bogs.- 6 Vegetation of Boulder Streams and Summit Rocks.- 7 Water Plants and Acidic Swamp Vegetation.- 8 Vegetation of Farmland.- 9 Conclusion.- References.- 3 Potentials and Limitations of Field Studies on Forest Decline Associated with Anthropogenic Pollution..- 1 Introduction.- 2 Defining Forest Decline.- 3 Inference of Causality.- 4 The Study of a Decline in the Fichtelgebirge a First Step in an Integrated Approach.- 5 Conclusion.- References.- 1: Air Pollution: Transport and Deposition: Preface.- 1-A Long-Range Transport and Deposition of Pollutants in the Fichtelgebirge..- 1-B Air Pollution and Deposition..- 2: The Role of Fungi, Microorganisms and Soil Animals: Preface.- 2-A Soil Fungi and Other Microorganisms..- 2-B Endophytic Needle Fungi: Culture, Ultrastructural and Immunocytochemical Studies..- 2-C Soil Fauna Comparisons in Healthy and Declining Norway Spruce Stands..- 3: Direct Effects of Pollutants on Above-Ground Plant Parts: Preface.- 3-A The Cuticles of Conifers: Structure, Composition and Transport Properties..- 3-B Organic Micropollutants and Plants.- 3-C Leaching and Uptake of Ions Through Above-Ground Norway Spruce Tree Parts..- 3-D Atmospheric Pollutants and Plant Metabolism.- 4: Soil Responses to Acid Rain and Associated Effects on Plants: Preface.- 4-A Mineral Nutrition of Forest Trees: A Regional Survey.- 4-B Effects of Acid Rain on Soil Chemistry and Nutrient Availability in the Soil..- 4-C Water Relations of Two Norway Spruce Stands atDifferent Stages of Decline..- 4-D CO2- Assimilation and the Carbon Balance of Healthy and Declining Norway Spruce Stands.- 4-E Root and Mycorrhizal Development in Healthy and Declining Norway Spruce Stands..- 4-F Nutrient Relations of Trees in Healthy and Declining Norway Spruce Stands..- 4-G Effects of Fertilization..- 4-H Nutritional Disharmony and Forest Decline: A Conceptual Model.- 4-I Nutrient Balance and Element Cycling in Healthy and Declining Norway Spruce Stands..- 5.- Processes Leading to Forest Decline: A Synthesis.