Agroecology : The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems

Section I: Introduction to Agroecology The Need for Sustainable Food Production Systems 3(20) The Agroecosystem Concept 23(12) Section II: Plants and Environmental Factors The Plant 35(8) Light 43(16) Temperature 59(14) Humidity and Rainfall 73(14) Wind 87(12) Soil 99(16) Water in the Soil 115(16) Fire 131(16) Biotic Factors 147(16) The Environmental Complex 163(8) Section III: System-Level Interactions The Population Ecology of Agroecosystems 171(12) Genetic Resources in Agroecosystems 183(22) Species Interactions in Crop Communities 205(12) Agroecosystem Diversity and Stability 217(20) Disturbance, Succession, and Agroecosystem Management 237(18) The Energetics of Agroecosystems 255(14) Animals in Agroecosystems 269(20) Section IV: The Transition to Sustainability Converting to Ecologically Based Management 289(10) Indicators of Sustainability 299(14) Landscape Diversity and Agroecosystem Management 313(14) Culture, Community, and Sustainability 327(14) From Sustainable Agroecosystems to Sustainable Food Systems 341(16) References 357(12) Glossary 369(6) Index 375