Annals of Botany 89: 797, 2002
© 2002 Annals of Botany Company
Saugier, B., Roy, J. and Mooney, H.A. Terrestrial global productivity
Terrestrial global productivity.
Saugier B, Roy J, Mooney HA. 2001.
London: Academic Press.US$99.95 (hardback). 573 pp.
Concerns about global climate change and predicted changes in terrestrial ecosystems highlight the need for the accurate quantification of productivity at all scales. This book provides an excellent overview of productivity measurements ranging from photosynthetic processes at the leaf scale to global estimates of productivity. It initially addresses community processes, trophic interactions, biodiversity and our changing climate. This is followed by an overview of specific ecosystems, from the Arctic to the Tropics, including sources and sinks of carbon. The book then addresses global estimates, present and future, culminating in an attempt to produce a value for global terrestrial productivity. The editors are very well respected in their fields, and the author list contains some of the most highly regarded scientists in the US and Europe. They should be collectively congratulated for effectively bringing together research at all scales of productivity in an integrated and well presented single text.
I particularly approve of the bottom-up approach, as it is rare to see a progression of studies in this manner in a single text. This was an ambitious but successful undertaking as reading the chapters poses even further questions and areas for future research. It also highlights the need for interaction at all levels if we are to effectively quantify global productivity on land. Modellers need to base their models on appropriate measurements, whilst physiologists need to know which parameters to measure in the future.
The book is very well presented and organized; diagrams and figures are clear and appropriate. Colour figures are used only in the final chapters, which is appropriate for global perspectives. There are some very minor typographical errors and some legends are missing but the content remains excellent and worthwhile. The chapters are generally short but concise. This is a benefit as readers can then address specific subjects in more detail via the reference lists.
This book includes excellent material for undergraduate teaching and is also of use to specialists who would like to expand their knowledge in related and even quite distant research areas. I have not identified a comparable text and can only describe this as unique. All university libraries should purchase multiple copies of this book.
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