Soil Ecology in Northern Forests

Book excerpt: Forest soils form the foundation that underpins the existence of all forests. This book encapsulates soil ecology and functioning in northern forests, focusing on the effects of human activity and climate change. The authors introduce the fundamental principles necessary for studying forest soils, and explain the functioning and mutual influence of all parts of a forest soil ecosystem. A chapter is dedicated to each of soil acidity and heavy metal pollution, elevated carbon dioxide, nitrogen deposition and climate change, highlighting the most important anthropogenic factors influencing forest soil functioning and how these soils are likely to respond to environmental change. With its unique view of the functioning of the soils found under temperate and boreal forests in today's rapidly changing world, this book is of interest to anyone studying forestry and forest ecology in European, North American and North Asian contexts.