Preface to the second edition
Preface to the first edition
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part One THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The physical environment
Chapter 1 The nature and organisation of matter
Chapter objectives
Introduction
1.1 Atoms and elements
1.2 Ions and ionic compounds
1.3 Molecules and covalent compounds
1.4 Valency and the Periodic Table of the elements
1.5 Oxidation states
1.6 Compounds, mixtures, chemical species and chemical reactions
1.7 The atomic nucleus and nuclear reactions
1.8 Summary
1.9 Problems
1.10 Further reading
Chapter 2 Energy flow, equilibrium and change
Chapter objectives
Introduction
2.1 The laws of energy flow
2.2 Dynamic equilibrium and spontaneous change
2.3 Chemical kinetics
2.4 Summary
2.5 Problems
2.6 Further reading
Chapter 3 The Earths surface
Chapter objectives
Introduction
3.1 The crust
3.2 Soils
3.3 The hydrosphere
3.4 Summary
3.5 Problems
3.6 Further reading
Chapter 4 The atmosphere
Chapter objectives
Introduction
4.1 The structure and composition of the atmosphere
4.2 Weather and climate
4.3 Summary
4.4 Problems
4.5 Further reading
Chapter 5 Bioelement cycling
Chapter objectives
Introduction
5.1 The oxygen cycles
5.2 The carbon cycle
5.3 The nitrogen cycle
5.4 The phosphorus cycle
5.5 The sulfur cycle
5.6 Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium cycles
5.7 Summary
5.8 Problems
5.9 Further reading
The biological environment
Chapter6 The cellular basis of life
Chapter objectives
Introduction
6.1Prokaryotes and eukaryotes
6.2 A comparison between the ultrastructure of
eukaryotic plant and animal cells
6.3 Mitochondria and the process of cell
respiration
6.4 Chloroplasts and the process of photosynthesis
6.5 The structure of DNA and RNA
6.6 Protein synthesis
6.7 Chromosomes and cell division
6.8 The study of genetics (heredity)
6.9 Recombinant DNA technology
6.10 Summary
6.11 Problems
6.12 Further reading
Chapter7 Population dynamics
Chapter objectives
Introduction
7.1 Population growth
7.2 population regulation
7.3 Human population dynamics
7.4 Summary
7.5 Problems
7.6 Further reading
Chapter 8 Biological communities
Chapter objectives
Introduction
8.1 Interactions between species
8.2 Natural selection
8.3 Species richness
8.4 ECological succession
8.5 Summary
8.6 Problems
8.7 Further reading
Chapter9 Ecosystems and biomes
Chapter objectives
Introduction
9.1 Food chains and food webs
9.2 Primary production
9.3 Energy flow in ecosystems
9.4 Secondary productivity
9.5 Decomposition
9.6 Ecosystem stability
9.7 Terrestrial and aquatic biomes
9.8 Summary
9.9 Problems
9.10 Further reading
Part Two HUMAN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Natural resources
Chapter 10 Biological resources
Chapter objectives
Introduction
10.1 The nature of biological resources
10.2 The importance of biological resources
10.3 Direct damage to biological resources
10.4 Introduced species
10.5 Habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation
10.6 The conservation of biological resources
10.7 Summary
10.8 Problems
10.9 Further reading
……
Appendices
Glossary
Index