Section 1: Introduction 1. Introduction Section 2: Ecological Energetics 2. Primary Production 3. Secondary Production 4. Decomposition 5. Microbially Mediated Redox Reactions Section 3: Biogeochemistry 6. Intro to Element Cycling 7. Carbon Cycle 8. Nitrogen Cycle 9. Phosphorus Cycle Section 4: Synthesis 10. Revisiting the Ecosystem Concept: Important Features that Promote Generality and Understanding 11. Ecosystems in a heterogeneous world 12. Controls on ecosystem structure and function Section 5: Case Studies 13. Streams and their valleys 14. Ecology of lyme disease 15. Understanding Ecosystem Effects of Dams 16. Acid Rain 17. Surprising ecosystem changes in the Naragannsett Bay 18. From global environmental change to sustainability science: Ecosystem studies in Yaqui Valley Mexico Section 6: Frontiers 19. Ecosystem science: the continuing evolution of our discipline

Covers both aquatic (freshwater and marine) and terrestrial ecosystems with updated information Includes a new chapter on microbial biogeochemistry Features vignettes throughout the book with real examples of how an ecosystem approach has led to important change in policy, management, and ecological understanding Demonstrates the application of an ecosystem approach in synthesis chapters and case studies Contains new coverage of human-environment interactions