Das Buch beschreibt die großen Ökosysteme der Erde nach ihren abiotischen und biotischen Strukturen sowie ihre stofflichen und energetischen Umsätze. Für jede Ökozone werden außerdem die agrare Nutzung und deren naturgegebenes Potential dargestellt.

Recent studies have greatly contributed to a better understanding of the earth's ecosystem. This abundantly illustrated book provides a fundamental introduction to the ecological zones of the geosphere. Nine terrestrial ecozones have been distinguished and described in individual chapters with respect to: distribution, climate, relief/hydrology, soil vegetation/animal lifeand land use. The first chapter provides the reader with a general introduction to each subject area.

The second edition is a competely revised and updated version. A large number of new Anglo-American ecological studies are included. The book also includes more than 70 new figures and tables and detailed maps on global agricultural regions and soil classification. Another new feature is the discussion of the correlation between northern ecosystems and the carbon dioxide balance in the global atmosphere.

Completely revised and updated edition Fundamental introduction to the ecological zones of the geosphere Includes more than 70 new figures and tables Includes detailed maps on agricultural regions and soil classification Includes also recent Anglo-American studies Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
General: the treatment of the ecozones and global overviews of selected characteristics.- Distribution.- Climate.- Relief and drainage.- Soils.- Vegetation and animals.- Land use.- Regional section: The individual ecozones.- Polar subpolar zone.- Boreal zone.- Temperate midlatitudes.- Dry midlatitudes.- Subtropics with winter rain.- Subtropics with year-round rain.- Dry tropics and subtropics.- Tropics with summer rain.- Tropics with year-round rain.