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Ecological Climatology: Concepts and Applications, Second Edition

Article  in  Austral Ecology · August 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02195.x

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Austral Ecology (2011) 36, e20–e21
Book Review aec_2195 20..21
Ecological Climatology: Concepts and
Applications, Second Edition
Gordan Bonan. Cambridge University Press, Cam-
bridge, 2008. xv + 558 pp. Price AUD $130.00
(paperback). ISBN: 9780521693196.
Ecological Climatology is an impressive book covering a
wide range of topics in much detail, using simple,
accessible language. A key strength of the book is the
underlying theme that terrestrial ecosystems, in par-
ticular forested ecosystems, influence climate. This
theme is in contrast to, or perhaps should be in addi-
tion to, what has been commonly taught in the past –
that climate influences the function and structure of
ecosystems. In this second edition (the first edition
was published in 2002) the author uses a simple,
accessible writing style, and describes topics in easy-
to-understand language that undergraduates should
find useful, which is a considerable feat for such a
wide array of subjects. At the end of each chapter
review questions are provided, with answers available
on the Internet. These review questions provide a
good test of how the reader has understood (or not)
each chapter.
I enjoyed reading the book, and learned much
about a wide range of topics. Bonan covers topics such
as ecological traits, the impact of vegetation on
climate (a topic which is not mentioned enough in
discussion of ecosystem services such as carbon and
water fluxes, in my opinion), the influences of climate
on vegetation, water, energy balances and plant pro-
cesses such as leaf energy, photosynthesis and plant
canopy processes. This book has much strength,
including the diverse range of topics, with up-to-date
references (1975 references according to one source,
not a small list!).
The book contains seven Parts, with a total of 30
Chapters. Part I focuses on the earth system, its com-
ponents (atmosphere, cryosphere, etc.) and global
cycles. Part II delves further into global physical clima-
tology including a look at the earth’s climate, climate
variability and the mechanisms of climate change. Part
III is all about soil processes: physics and biogeochem-
istry. Hydrometeorology is covered in Part IV, starting
with the basics such as the cycling of water on land and
catchment runoff, then leading to topics such as surface
energy fluxes and turbulent fluxes. Part V Biometerol-
ogy, begins with the finer details of leaf energy fluxes
and leaf photosynthesis and then scales up to the plant
canopy level. PartVITerrestrial Plant Ecology, includes
many topics familiar to the well practiced ecologist:
plant strategies, populations and communities, ecosys-
tem structure and function, vegetation dynamics, dis-
© 2011 The Author
Journal compilation © 2011 Ecological Society of Australia
turbances and landscapes and global biogeography.
Within Chapter 22Vegetation dynamics, is a section on
Succession illustrated by case studies only from north-
ern hemisphere ecosystems. Finally, PartVIITerrestrial
Forcings and Feedbacks, includes an array of Chapters
which expand upon the theory already covered. In
particular, Chapter 27 ‘Land use and land cover
change’ includes a section on Australia. Case studies
populate Chapter 28 ‘Coupled climate-vegetation
dynamics’ and Chapter 29,‘Carbon cycle–climate feed-
backs’, discusses carbon storage issues and climate.The
final Chapter of PartVII discusses everything to do with
climatology and urbanization.
In meetings and workshops, comments are fre-
quently made that modellers are often experienced in
atmospheric sciences, and there is much experimental
data available describing vegetation processes, yet there
is frequently a disconnect between climate modelling
and vegetation processes. A key strength of this book is
that it has the potential to bridge the divide between
these disciplines. Additionally, the simple explanations
within each section will be easily understood by stu-
dents and researchers from a range of disciplines.
There are some small issues, for example, the author
states that pre-dawn leaf water potential equilibrates
with soil, and that stomata of C3 plants are closed at
night, both points that have recently been disproved
by recent studies (see Tree Physiology (2007) Special
Edition, Volume 27). In addition, the maps of New
Zealand and Australia often depict shrub, grassland
and savanna, with no forest. One could interpret
figure 2.1 (unless the colours are unclear) as suggest-
ing that Australia contains no temperate forest (the
forests are marine, subtropical, tropical and savanna).
Tropical forests are present in other regions but absent
from Australia, whereas figure 2.8 contains some tem-
perate forest. Although the author is based in the
United States, some clearer description of Australia’s
forest would be an improvement for southern hemi-
sphere readers. Also, figure 2.5, showing biogeography
of natural vegetation prior to human land use, which
shows modelled potential vegetation for Australia
includes only shrubland, grassland and savanna, with
no forest in south-west Western Australia and savanna
reaching to south-east Australia, with minimal temper-
ate forest.
Despite these minor issues, this is an enjoyable and
easy-to-read book which covers a wide range of topics
in detail, using concise and simple language. Students
and researchers alike will benefit from using this book.
In particular, the undergraduate student may enjoy
the uncomplicated style of writing, which clearly
conveys many important and topical issues in ecologi-
cal climatology.
doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02195.x

The book contains an impressively broad array of
topics, and for those who are experienced in one field,
it is possible to read a chapter on a different discipline
and learn some key concepts about another discipline,
because of the simple, non-technical language and
good cross-disciplinary structure of the book. In addi-
tion, one can then read about case studies which high-
light the relevant points. Current students will have a
strong start to their education if they are able to gain
an understanding of the broad range of disciplines
contained in this book. By gaining understanding of
climatology, plant ecology, as well as terrestrial forc-
ings and feedbacks (and in particular coupled climate–
vegetation feedbacks; Chapters 28 and 29) the reader
may obtain an improved knowledge about climate
models. I suspect we are likely to encounter climate
© 2011 The Author
Journal compilation © 2011 Ecological Society of Australia
View publication stats
BOOK REVIEW e21
models more frequently as topics such as carbon
sequestration and the impact of climate change on
ecosystems and humans are being discussed more
often in research, policy and politics.
I recommend Ecological Climatology to undergradu-
ates and postgraduate students, as well as researchers
looking to expand their knowledge of other disciplines.
In fact, in the past year Ecological Climatology has been
recommended to me twice by other researchers, which
really suggests a high-quality book.
MELANIE ZEPPEL
Department of Biology, Centre for Climate Risk
Macquarie University
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Email: melzeppel@gmail.com
doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02195.x