Trees, Truffles, and Beasts: How Forests Function

by Chris Maser, Andrew W Claridge, James M Trappe, Charles Krebs (Foreword by)

Overview

In today's world of specialization, people are attempting to protect the Earth's fragile state by swapping limousines for hybrids and pesticide-laced foods for organic produce. At other times, environmental awareness is translated into public relations gimmicks or trendy commodities. Moreover, simplistic policies, like single-species protection or planting ten trees for every tree cut down, are touted as bureaucratic or industrial panaceas.

Because today's decisions are tomorrow's consequences, every small effort makes a difference, but a broader understanding of our environmental problems is necessary to the development of sustainable ecosystem policies. In Trees, Truffles, and Beasts, Chris Maser, Andrew W. Claridge, and James M. Trappe make a compelling case that we must first understand the complexity and interdependency of species and habitats from the microscopic level to the gigantic. Comparing forests in the Pacific Northwestern United States and Southeastern mainland of Australia, the authors show how easily observable speciesùtrees and mammalsùare part of a complicated infrastructure that includes fungi, lichens, and organisms invisible to the naked eye, such as microbes.

Eminently readable, this important book shows that forests are far more complicated than most of us might think, which means simplistic policies will not save them. Understanding the biophysical intricacies of our life-support systems just might.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813544656
Publisher:	Rutgers University Press
Publication date:	02/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

CHRIS MASER is a writer, environmental consultant, and master's level zoologist who has written over twenty books, including Mammals of the Pacific Northwest and Forest Primeval: The Natural History of an Ancient Forest.

ANDREW W. CLARIDGE is a research scientist with the Department of Environment and Conservation in New South Wales, Australia. He has authored or co-authored over fifty publications about the interactions among trees, truffles, and animals and undertaken research at postgraduate and postdoctoral levels in both Australia and the United States of America.

JAMES M. TRAPPE is a professor of forest science specializing in forest fungi at Oregon State University, Corvallis, and the author of almost four hundred journal articles and book chapters.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Charles J. Krebs     xi
Acknowledgments     xv
Introduction     1
The Scope of This Book, from the Microlevel to Infinity     1
Forests Are a Study in Complexity     4
Soil Is Every Forest's Foundation     6
People and Forests Are Inseparable     9
The Forest We See     14
Composition, Structure, and Function     15
Pacific Northwestern United States versus Southeastern Mainland Australia     17
The Unseen Forest     35
The Genesis of Soil     35
Physical Weathering     36
Chemical Weathering     36
The Addition of Organic Material to Mineral Soil     37
The Living Community within the Soil     38
The Nitrogen Fixers     40
Scavengers, the Recyclers in the Soil     43
The Environment Is a Seamless Whole     45
Trees, Truffles, and Beasts: Coevolution in Action     50
In the Beginning     50
Mycorrhizae Enter the Scene     51
Fungal Nourishment: Decomposition and Symbiosis     55
Global Diversification of Organisms, Unification of Functions     60
Host Specificity and Forest Succession     61
Trees, Truffles, and Beasts: Spore Dispersal through Mycophagy     67
Of Animals and Fungi     75
Obligate Mycophagists     76
Preferential Mycophagists     79
Casual or Opportunistic Mycophagists     85
Accidental Mycophagists     88
Preferences in Fungal Diets     89
Invertebrate Mycophagists     90
The Importance of Mycophagy     92
The Fungal Feast: Nutritional Rewards of Mycophagy     92
Macroelements     94
Microelements     94
Proteins and Amino Acids     95
Carbohydrates     95
Fats and Fatty Acids     96
Vitamins     96
Nutrient Availability, Symbiosis, and Digestive Strategy     97
Truffle Diversity, the Key to Mycophagist Nutrition     100
Ecosystem Services of Mycophagy     100
Mycophagy Interactions with Soil Moisture     101
Mycophagy Initiates and Maintains Truffle Diversity     102
Landscape Patterns and Fire     105
Landscape Patterns     105
The Role of Fire in Forests     110
Fire in the Western United States     111
Fire in Southeastern Mainland Australia      121
Lessons from Byadbo, Mount St. Helens, Omeo, and Beyond     134
The Mycorrhizal Response to Disturbance     137
The Role of Spore Dispersal by Mycophagy     139
Emulating Fire Patterns     142
Forest Succession and Habitat Dynamics     145
Developmental Stages of the Forest     146
Autogenic Succession above Ground     146
Autogenic Succession below Ground     152
The Dynamics of Habitat     154
Food     155
Water     155
Shelter     156
Privacy     157
Space     157
Landscape Patterns     159
United States     161
Australia     162
Humankind's Fragmentation     163
Equality among Species     173
Of Lifestyles and Shared Habitats     175
A Glimpse of Two U.S. Forests     175
A Glimpse of Two Australian Forests     190
Ecological Services of Mycophagous Mammals     202
The Fungal Connection     203
The Fruit-Body Connection     203
The Squirrel Connection     203
The Pellet Connection     204
Mycophagy as a Basis of Infrastructural Relationships     206
Putting It All Together     207
Partitioning Habitat in the United States     207
Partitioning Habitat in Australia     213
Partitioning Food in the United States     217
Partitioning Food in Australia     221
Temporal Segregation in the United States     221
Temporal Segregation in Australia     221
The Importance of Ecological "Backups"     223
Lessons from the Trees, the Truffles, and the Beasts     225
Shifting Our Focus     227
Products and Biological Capital     228
North American Common and Scientific Names     233
Australian Common and Scientific Names     237
Notes     241
Glossary     259
Index     267

Editorial Reviews

The authors. all keenly qualified to write on the topic, begin by discussing the importance of sustainable ecosystem policies and preserving our environment, and then point out that to be able to do that, one must understand those environmental systems. What follows is an entire college course on just how forests work.

Funghi

Trees, Truffles, and Beasts reveals a belowground world that we cannot see, and for that reason, often overlook when thinking about forests. The authors deftly link this belowground world of fungi and soil microorganisms to the aboveground world that we know. The story-telling style of writing makes the book engaging and easy to read, and at the same time, the book is packed with interesting facts.

Northwest Science

This book is an excellent introduction to the world of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their importance in food webs as highlighted by truffles. This book should encourage readers to investigate further the intricate and essential interactions occurring in forests, which make them work.

professor and director of Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station - John Dighton

"Lucidly written and accessible to professionals and the general public alike, the authors adeptly tease out the intimate details and fascinating ecological interactions of a world hidden within the soil. I highly recommend this book for a fascinating glimpse into the wondrous web life and complex ecological relationships that sustain our natural forests."

Trees for Life, Scotland - Alan Watson Featherstone

Accurate and authentic, Trees, Truffles, and Beasts makes a major contribution to the field of natural resource management. This is a clear and compelling argument that there's much more to forests than meets the eye.

Deputy Chief (ret.), USDA Forest Service - Jim Furnish

These authors weave together a broad array of personal observations and pertinent scientific research into a sweeping account of forest ecology and conservation. This book is an interesting and well-priced addition to the mycologist's bookshelf.

Inoculum

"The book provides excellent coverage of the symbiosis between trees, fungi, and animals, an orverarching theme. . . . Few works take these personal views into account to give such a holistic view of the forested landscape. Highly recommended."

Choice

"The book provides excellent coverage of the symbiosis between trees, fungi, and animals, an orverarching theme. . . . Few works take these personal views into account to give such a holistic view of the forested landscape. Highly recommended."-- "Choice"

The authors. all keenly qualified to write on the topic, begin by discussing the importance of sustainable ecosystem policies and preserving our environment, and then point out that to be able to do that, one must understand those environmental systems. What follows is an entire college course on just how forests work.-- "Funghi"

These authors weave together a broad array of personal observations and pertinent scientific research into a sweeping account of forest ecology and conservation. This book is an interesting and well-priced addition to the mycologist's bookshelf.-- "Inoculum"

Trees, Truffles, and Beasts reveals a belowground world that we cannot see, and for that reason, often overlook when thinking about forests. The authors deftly link this belowground world of fungi and soil microorganisms to the aboveground world that we know. The story-telling style of writing makes the book engaging and easy to read, and at the same time, the book is packed with interesting facts. -- "Northwest Science"

"Lucidly written and accessible to professionals and the general public alike, the authors adeptly tease out the intimate details and fascinating ecological interactions of a world hidden within the soil. I highly recommend this book for a fascinating glimpse into the wondrous web life and complex ecological relationships that sustain our natural forests."--Alan Watson Featherstone "Trees for Life, Scotland"

Accurate and authentic, Trees, Truffles, and Beasts makes a major contribution to the field of natural resource management. This is a clear and compelling argument that there's much more to forests than meets the eye.--Jim Furnish "Deputy Chief (ret.), USDA Forest Service"

This book is an excellent introduction to the world of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their importance in food webs as highlighted by truffles. This book should encourage readers to investigate further the intricate and essential interactions occurring in forests, which make them work.--John Dighton "professor and director of Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station"

From the Publisher