Grassland structure and function

1. Distribution and Regional Patterns of Californian Grasslands.- 1.1 Grassland Distribution.- 1.2 Patch Size and Distribution.- 1.3 Species Distribution Within the Grassland.- 1.4 Summary.- 2. Characterization and Analysis of Abiotic Factors and Their Influences on Vegetation.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Microscale Weather.- 2.3 Edaphic Factors.- 2.4 Summary.- 3. Sources of the Naturalized Grasses and Herbs in California.- 3.1 Early History.- 3.2 Affinities of California Grasslands.- 3.3 Types of Grasslands.- 3.4 The Invaders.- 3.5 Desirable Future Study.- 3.6 Summary.- 4. Seed Production and Germination Dynamics in California Annual Grasslands.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Seed Production Dynamics.- 4.3 Seed Germination Dynamics.- 4.4 Summary.- 5. Phenology of California Grasslands.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Climate.- 5.3 Germination.- 5.4 Vegetative Phase.- 5.5 Reproductive Phase.- 5.6 Biotic Interactions as Evolutionary Conrols on Phenology.- 5.7 Phenological Ecotypes.- 5.8 Discussion.- 6. Competitive Interactions in California Annual Grasslands.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Patterns of Diversity and Considerations of Scale.- 6.3 Summary.- 7. Local Temporal and Spatial Structure.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Temporal Variations.- 7.3 Spatial Variation.- 7.4 Summary.- 8. Comparative Ecology of Annual Grasses: Native Versus Californian Habitats and Populations.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Biogeographical Comparisons.- 8.3 Growth and Phenology of Grasses.- 8.4 Discussion.- 8.5 Summary.- 9. The Importance of Species Differences in the Development of Mathematical Models of California Grasslands.- 9.1 Mathematical Models of Ecological Systems.- 9.2 Modeling Ecosystems and Populations.- 9.3 Population Models for Grassland Ecosystems.- 9.4 Models of the California Prairie.- 9.5 A Population Model of the California Prairie.- 9.6 Summary.- 10. The Effects of Ants on Grasslands.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Numbers, Biomass and Energetics.- 10.3 Effects of Mound Construction on Grassland Vegetation.- 10.4 Effects of Mound Construction on Grassland Soils.- 10.5 Effects of Seed Harvesting Ants on Grassland Vegetation.- 10.6 Other Possible Effects of Ants on Grassland Vegetation.- 10.7 Summary.- 11. Insect Herbivory in the Transition to California Annual Grasslands: Did Grasshoppers Deliver the Coup de Grass?.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Grasshopper Diversity in California.- 11.3 Patterns and Effects of Herbivory by Grasshoppers.- 11.4 Impact of Grasshopper Populations on Vegetation.- 11.5 Effects of Host Plants on Grasshopper Populations.- 11.6 Summary.- 12. Impacts of Non-domesticated Vertebrates on California Grasslands.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Who are the Vertebrate Players?.- 12.3 What are the Potential Impacts?.- 12.4 What Species Are Likely to Have Major Effects?.- 12.5 The California Ground Squirrel.- 12.6 The Valley Pocket Gopher.- 12.7 The California Vole.- 12.8 Discussion.- 12.9 Summary.- 13. Grazers, Past and Present.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 The Late Pliocene-Pleistocene Epochs.- 13.3 The "Pristine" State.- 13.4 Historic Trends in Native Ungulates.- 13.5 Development of the Domestic Herds.- 13.6 Comments on the Microfauna.- 13.7 Some Animal-related Vegetation Questions.- 13.8 Summary.- 14. Simulated Water Budgets for an Annual Grassland Site in the Sierra Foothills.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Model Description.- 14.3 Model Testing.- 14.4 Annual Water Budgets.- 14.5 Summary.- 15. Management Controls on Productivity.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Technologies for Enhancing Productivity.- 15.3 Ecology of Grazed Annual Grassland and Oak Savannas.- 15.4 Efficient Use of Annual Grassland.- 15.5 Stability of Intensively Managed Grassland.- 15.6 Summary.- 16. Conservation Biology of California's Remnant Native Grasslands.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Native Grasslands Today.- 16.3 Biogeography of Grasslands on Serpentine.- 16.4 Ecology of Serpentine Grasslands.- 16.5 Conservation of Native Grasslands.- 16.6 Summary.- 17. The California Annual Grassland: An Overview.- 17.1 Patterning and Species Distributions Within the California Grasslands.- 17.2 Links Between the Traits of Individual Component Species and Ecosystem Structure and Function.- 17.3 Direct Influence of Physical Environment on Ecosystem Structure and Function.- 17.4 History of Invasions and Displacement of the Native Flora.- Index of Scientific Names.