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One of the central research themes in ecology is evaluating the extent to which biological richness is necessary to sustain the Earth's system and the functioning of individual ecosystems. In this volume, for the first time, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes in forests is thoroughly explored. The text examines the multiple effects of tree diversity on productivity and growth, biogeochemical cycles, animals, pests, and disturbances. Further, the importance of diversity at different scales, ranging from stand management to global issues, is considered. The authors provide both extensive reviews of the existing literature and own datasets. The volume is ideally suited for researchers and practitioners involved in ecosystem management and the sustainable use of forest resources. TOC:An introduction to the functional diversity of temperate forest trees.- Diversity and productivity in forests: evidence from long-term experimental plots.- Confounding factors of the observational productivity-diversity relationship in forests.- Genetic diversity parameters associated with viability selection, reproductive efficiency and growth in forest tree species.- Functioning of mixed-species stands: evidence from a long-term forest experiment.- The role of biodiversity on the evaporation of forests.- Effects of tree species diversity on litter quality and decomposition.- The effect of biodiversity on carbon storage in soils.- Silviculture and its interaction with biodiversity and the carbon balance of forest soils.- Linkages between tree diversity, soil fauna and ecosystem processes.- A test of the biodiversity-stability theory: meta-analysis of tree species diversity effects on insect pest infestations, and re-examination of responsible factors.- Susceptibility to fungal pathogens of forests differing in tree diversity.- Implication of forest diversity for the resistance to strong winds.- Fire regime and tree diversity in boreal forests: implications for the carbon cycle.- The design of experimental tree plantations for functional biodiversity research.
