Plant Litter: Decomposition, Humus Formation, Carbon Sequestration

Book Description

The present book gives a modernized and comprehensive overview of the degradation of major litter components as well as the sum of processes when forest plant litter decomposes, releases nutrients and turns into humus. Covering mainly boreal and temperate forests, the book gives a synthesis of the different sub-processes on the basis that decomposition is microbially mediated and develops a system in the decomposition processes leading to chemical changes in litter. Further, it introduces a conceptual model for litter transformations from litter fall until the decomposing litter accumulates as humus. The effects of substrate quality, climate, and their interactions on decomposition are presented as well as examples of litter types that break the basic pattern. A system is suggested for humus accumulation rates among forest systems, a system that may be a starting point for estimates of carbon sequestration in forest systems.

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The latest installment of the lavishly illustrated Most Beautiful Villages series focuses on the picturesque hamlets of Brittany in northwest France. Written by James Bentley and photographed by Hugh Palmer, The Most Beautiful Villages of Brittany depicts the rich history of the proud and independent Bretons (who trace their ancestry back to the Celts). With 2,100 miles of coastline, the region's livelihood has forever been intertwined with a sometimes unforgiving sea, and the still-standing granite Romanesque homes and churches built centuries ago reflect the considerable Breton resilience. Well organized, the book is divided into four chapters, each dedicated to an area of Brittany (Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d'Armor), with villages listed alphabetically. Highlights include Josselin's medieval fortifications, Treguier's unique half-timbered houses, the steeply pitched roofs in Becherel, and the stunning rock formations and sandy beaches found along the famous pink granite coast of Ploumanac'h'. Throughout the book are wonderful shots of harbors dotted with colorful fishing boats, charming flower-filled town squares, intricate stained glass, and windows adorned with delicate Brittany lace. The last chapter, "Traveller's Guide," lists practical information (hotels, restaurants), as well as downright necessities (local creperies). --Jill Fergus

Book Description

Geography and geology have combined to make Brittany a land distinct from the rest of France. A place of dramatic contrasts, it occupies the great northwestern peninsula of the French landmass where a jagged coastline, fertile plains, and wild moorland lie beneath a sky by rapid turns sullen and sunny. A strong sense of separateness, reflected in the continuing strength of local village traditions, has remained a characteristic of the Bretons who, alone among the peoples of France, are Celts rather than Gauls. The architecture of the Breton villages is a testimony to centuries of religious piety: calvaries and ossuaries abound, including remarkable Gothic examples like those at Rochefort-en-Terre in Morbihan. Josselin in the same dpartement is home to a magnificent chateau with a Gothic inner facade generally hailed as a masterpiece of sculpture in granite. In Lhon, Ctes-du-Nord, you can stand and admire the ruined grandeur of its priory and chateau or, in Ille-et-Vilaine, explore the restored keep of Grand-Fougeray's thirteenth-century castle. The local houses are often built of granite, an ideal material for resisting the Atlantic winter storms. Though the ocean is sometimes a savage surround to the Breton peninsula, it also provides the seafood that makes any visit to the villages and small towns of Brittany a gastronomic delight. The sea yields succulent lobsters and langoustines, while the villages of the river estuaries enjoy mussels and oysters. Brittany's vigorous and varied village life and architecture are captured in James Bentley's perceptive commentaries and Hugh Palmer's stunning photographs. Complete with a traveler's guide, The Most Beautiful Villages of Brittany offers an evocative portrayal of the coastal and inland communities of this resilient land.

Customer Reviews:

Most Beautiful, Indeed........2000-11-17

Speaking as a native New Englander, I feel like I've seen enough terrific-looking towns that I can appreciate a really beautiful village. The ones photographed in this book are spectacular. This really is a great coffee table book. The colors in the photos just draw the eye in. It's hard to describe... You will see a whole village of ancient stone buildings, with rock walls in a sort of dusky brown, and suddenly, off to the side, a brightly colored painted boat. Or maybe just a little flower garden, with lots of little Manet-esque red blossoms. And the architecture, or course, is uniformly, yet diversely, amazing. Roman, medieval, and (slightly) more modern, it all just fits together so beautifully. Furthermore, the whole book is full of cool little articles talking about historically interesting tidbits of history, legend, etc. from the region.

Also -- if anyone who enjoys this book has reading ability in French, I'd like to recommend "La Langue Gauloise", by P.Y. Lambert. It talks about the original language of France, "Gaulish", an early Celtic tongue, from before the days of Caesar and friends. I think that one of the intriguing things about Brittany is that this original, pre-Romance-languages tongue of the region was largely reinstated, in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D., by Celtic-speaking refugees when Britain was being overrun by the Germanic-speaking Angles and Saxons. I think it's interesting to look at the place names in Brittany, and try to learn whether they were named back in prehistoric times, or in the era since the 5th and 6th century. This is the kind of question that this book raises -- the concatenated sense of sedimentary century laid upon century, laid upon century, is absolutely enthralling.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Brittany.......2000-08-19

This book is one in a series of "The Most Beautiful Villages of...". Although they all have different authors the photography is exceptional. The book concentrates on four areas and the villages that make up each area. There is a short history of each region as well as interesting information on the villages and captions on the photos. In my opinion it is the photographs that give this book five stars. It is a wonderful "coffee table" book to own.

Book Description

"… an excellent overview of past and present Native American life." — Library Journal "Best research tool." — Lingua Franca Wide-ranging, authoritative, and timely, here is an illuminating portrait of America's Native peoples, combining information about their history and traditions with insight into the topics that most affect their lives today. From the upheaval of first contacts to the policies of removal to contemporary issues of self-determination, this useful sourcebook provides information on all aspects of Native American life. The Native American Almanac outlines topics of particular interest, such as the history of Native—white relations, the location and status of Native American tribes, religious traditions and ceremonies, language and literature, and contemporary performers and artists, and includes dozens of useful reference features such as:

Maps of tribal areas, historical conflicts, and present-day reservations
A detailed chronology of significant events
Names and addresses of hundreds of organizations concerned with Native American affairs
A listing of Native American landmarks, museums, and cultural centers from coast to coast
More than 100 black-and-white photographs and drawings

Visit us online at http://www.mgr.com

The Native North American Almanac: A Reference Work on Native North Americans in the United States and Canana (Native North American Almanac)

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The Native North American Almanac: A Reference Work on Native North Americans in the United States and Canana (Native North American Almanac)

Manufacturer: Multiculture In Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q3WDT2

Product Description

2 Volume Set, 1st Edition, 1998 2nd Printing

Student Almanac of Native American History: Two Volumes] (Middle School Reference)

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Student Almanac of Native American History: Two Volumes] (Middle School Reference)

Manufacturer: Middle School Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0313325995

Book Description

Native Americans arrived in the Americas over 35,000 years ago. Hundreds of different cultures existed in North America alone. Some lived nomadic lives as hunters, while others settled in farming villages or even cities with thousands of people. Then, in 1492, the first Europeans arrived. For the next 400 years, native peoples in North America would struggle to preserve their ways of life and, in many cases, simply survive. Yet despite their many hardships and tragedies, Native American peoples did survive. This two-volume set teaches students about great leaders like Tecumseh, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo. Students will learn how Native Americans adapted to white culture in the 20th century, and how they kept their own traditions alive for future generations. Volume 1: From Prehistoric Times to the Trail of Tears, 35,000 BCE-1838 Volume 2: From the Trail of Tears to the Present, 1839-Today Set Features:

288 pages in 2 volumes

7 x 10

2-color interior

100 Photographs

40 Maps, Charts, and Graphs

Sidebars and Fact boxes

Timelines

Primary Documents

Glossary

Index. Curriculum Themes:

Arrival of Europeans on Native American lands

Cultural characteristics of Native American tribes

Struggle to retain lands as the United States formed and expanded

Life on reservations

Reclaiming the Native American culture. Reading Level: 6th-8th Grades

Volume 2: UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes

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Volume 2: UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes

Manufacturer: U·X·L
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Almanacs | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Children's | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0787628409

Book Description

Today's students are not only faced with changes in curriculum requirements, they are caught in the flux of a rapidly changing culture. If your cultural and social science references are more reflective of America in the 50s rather than Y2K, it's time to fill in the gaps with U·X·L®'s up-to-date line of multicultural titles. They cover America's most studied minority groups as well as groups with emerging school-age populations.

U·X·L® Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes offers students detailed studies of approximately 80 tribes from all over the United States and Canada, including small tribes and some that no longer exist. The Encyclopedia gives detailed yet accessible information on history, religion, art, government, economy, daily life and current social and political issues.

Each essay contains consistent rubrics that make it easier for young researchers to compare the histories and cultures of different groups -- a frequent assignment for students. The essays are broken down uniformly into the following sections:

Introduction: An explanation of tribal roots, location, population, language and current status
History: A brief tribal history prior to European settlement and over the last 500 years
Oral Literature: Stories passed down through the tribe over the years, including information on cultural significance of the story and a bibliography of its source
Culture: Information on the tribe's religion, language, buildings, subsistence methods, clothing and adornment, healing practices and customs
Current Tribal Issues: Land claims, rights to natural resources, health care, civil rights, preservation of culture, etc.

Bibliography and further reading sections supply resources for more information and study. More than 250 photographs and illustrations and 100 maps line the volumes, providing a window into the tribal experience and culture. Native American Tribes is divided into four regional volumes for ease of use.

Volume One -- Northeast and Southeast includes tribes such as the Chickasaw, Fox, Iroquois, Pequot, Powhatan and many more
Volume Two -- The Great Basin and Southwest includes the Paiute, Shoshone, Anasazi, Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo and more
Volume Three -- Arctic, Subarctic, Great Plains and Plateau includes tribes such as the Inuit, Cree, Lakota, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Nez Perce and more
Volume Four -- California and Pacific Northwest includes the Chumash, Kwakiutl, Tlingit, Cahuilla, Maidu and more

Reference Library of Native North America: The Native North American Almanac

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Reference Library of Native North America: The Native North American Almanac

Manufacturer: Afro Amer Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9998296544

Book Description

Patricia Bennett Hoffman was, for many years, the AKC Gazette's principle Book Reviewer. David Kline is a long time luminary in Border Terriers. Their original work builds upon the breed's rising popularity in America by tracing the development of the breed in England and its importation into this country. Well written and detailed with chapters on structure, movement, breeding, and singling out the top dogs and their breeders for particular acclaim.

Customer Reviews:

not what I was looking for.......2001-08-26

This book is more about showing the border terrier, and I was looking more for a book with general information about the breed.

Average customer rating:
The 1901 Editions of the T. Eaton Co. Limited Catalogues for Spring & Summer, Fall & Winter

Manufacturer: Stoddart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Shopping & Commerce | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0773759239

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The 1901 editions of the T. Eaton co Limited Catalogues for Spring & Summer Fall & Winter
Jack (introduction by) Stoddart
Manufacturer: Musson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000X25T7O

Average customer rating:
The 1901 Editions of the T.eaton Co. Limited Catalogues for Spring & Summer Fall & Winter

Manufacturer: MUSSON BOOK CO.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0773710043

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful book............2001-05-21

I love PERENNIALS:ENDURING CLASSICS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY GARDEN, by Rob Proctor. Pretty books of this sort are a means to solace the soul on a dreary day. The photographs by Rob Gray lead me to daydream --first I'm looking at the picture of the garden, then I'm in that garden in my mind. For some, daydreams may be the only way to garden but for those with access to dirt and a little ambition, all things are possible.

Recently, various authors have produced a spate of books on antique roses but what about antique perennials? These are the perennials people used to grow, and in some cases still do because they are so tough. While the modern growers offer hybrids of every persuasion, some folks want to restore an older garden, or create a garden with an "older look." If so, this book is filled with ideas for "antique" gardening -- in plots and in pots.

Proctor's book contains an overview of the story of perennials: antique perennials, the written history of flowers, and the history of the perennial gardening style. He then provides a portfolio of antique perennials, laid out A-Z. Each entry covers one or more pages. Various garden shots as well as close-ups of plants, in many cases in floral arrangements (in vases, pots, or other containers, for example Gooseneck Loosestrife in a tuba) are provided.

The photographs in the front section show various old-style gardens from garden parterres (literally parted earth) expansions of the French knot gardens of the Middle Ages to fields of flowers such as Goldenrod or Solidago growing in England (introduced from America). Further along the book contains the separate plant listings that range from Acanthus Mollis grown in the Middle Ages and Achillea grown in 19th Century Romantic Gardens to Zantedeschia aethiopia the Calla Lily from Ethiopia.

PERENNIALS is not exhaustive, but it does include a solid listing of plants that will work in the "antique" garden. Having grown all of them at one time or another, I can assure you they will mostly do well in Zone 7 if you "follow the growing instructions" found in the ordinary gardening manual (not PERENNIALS which is more concerned with showing you what might be grown and how it might be grown, not how to grow them). Some of these old-timers do so well they'll take over, but that's another book.

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Perennials : Enduring Classics for the Contemporary Garden
Rob Proctor
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OA2D06

Book Description

This exquisite photographic book takes readers on a colourful journey through Nelson/Marlborough -one of the fastest growing tourist and lifestyle regions in New Zealand. With wine, food, and scenery galore, the authors travel this stunning area, capturing perfect images.

Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka =: A History of Maori of Nelson and Marlborough

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Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka =: A History of Maori of Nelson and Marlborough

Manufacturer: Huia Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1869690877

Blue banner: The life story of the Rev. Thomas Dickson Nicholson, Presbyterian minister of Nelson and Marlborough

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Blue banner: The life story of the Rev. Thomas Dickson Nicholson, Presbyterian minister of Nelson and Marlborough
R. S Miller
Manufacturer: Presbyterian Bookroom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007JHTMG

Christchurch, Nelson & Blenheim complete street directory: 77 Marlborough, West Coast, and North Canterbury towns

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Christchurch, Nelson & Blenheim complete street directory: 77 Marlborough, West Coast, and North Canterbury towns
New Zealand Minimaps Ltd
Manufacturer: New Zealand Minimaps Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

Six great Englishmen: Drake, Dr. Johnson, Nelson, Marlborough, Keats, Churchill

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Six great Englishmen: Drake, Dr. Johnson, Nelson, Marlborough, Keats, Churchill
Aubrey De Selincourt
Manufacturer: Folcroft Library Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0841436584

Six great Englishmen: Drake, Nelson, Marlborough, Keats, Churchill

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Six great Englishmen: Drake, Nelson, Marlborough, Keats, Churchill
Aubrey De Sélincourt
Manufacturer: Norwood Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006WQIF8

Tarnished coronets,: Studies in the history of the British peerage

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Tarnished coronets,: Studies in the history of the British peerage
Muriel Nelson d' Auvergne
Manufacturer: T. Werner Laurie
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00086WJ2S

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Tarnished coronets;: Studies in the history of the British peerage,
Mauriel Nelson D'Auvergne
Manufacturer: T.W. Laurie
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BK4RU

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