Impacts of Point Polluters on Terrestrial Biota

Impacts of Point Polluters on Terrestrial Biota

 
This book is unique in identifying general patterns in responses of terrestrial biota to industrial pollution and the sources of variation in these responses. The meta-analysis is based on extensive original data on soils, plants and animals collected around 18 industrial polluters in six countries. The colour section is self-explanatory and informative, showing examples of severely polluted landscapes compared to pristine environment. This book will be a valuable source of information for ecologists, ecotoxicologists, and anyone interested to learn on how pollution affects wildlife on our planet.

Contents

1 Introduction
1.1 'Pollution science' – applied or basic ecology?
1.2 Pollution, polluters and pollutants
1.3 Extent and severity of impacts
1.4 The state of pollution-oriented studies and the need for generalization
1.5 Impact zones of point polluters as models for ecological and environmental research
1.6 Summary
2 Methodology of the research and description of polluters
2.1 Selection of polluters
2.2 History of the selected polluters and their environmental impact
2.3 Study sites and general sampling design
2.4 Environmental contamination at study sites
2.5 Statistical approaches
2.6 Summary
3 Soil quality
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Materials and methods
3.3 Results
3.4 Discussion
3.5 Summary
4 Plant growth and vitality
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Materials and methods
4.3 Results
4.4 Discussion
4.5 Summary
5 Fluctuating asymmetry of woody plants
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Materials and methods
5.3 Results
5.4 Discussion
5.5 Summary
6 Structure of plant communities
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Materials and methods
6.3 Results
6.4 Discussion
6.5 Summary
7 Insect herbivory
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Materials and methods
7.3 Results
7.4 Discussion
7.5 Summary
8 Methodology of pollution ecology: problems and perspectives
8.1 Importance of observational studies
8.2 Interpretation of experimental results
8.3 The amount of reliable information
8.4 Quality of information
8.5 Research and publication biases
8.6 Summary
9 Effects of industrial polluters: general patterns and sources of variation
9.1 The state of knowledge
9.2 Myths of pollution ecology
9.3 Changes of ecosystem components along pollution gradients: structure of phenomenological model
9.4 Sources of variation in biotic responses to pollution
9.5 Exploring effects of industrial pollution: prospects and limitations
9.6 Summary
Correspondence between vernacular and Latin names of plant species
Appendix I: List of abbreviations and
Appendix II: Color plates