Volume 8. Biogeochemistry

"Most of the chapters in this volume are easy and agreeable to read. They avoid long historical description of the evolution of the subject and are generally well focused on the latest developments of our knowledge. This is well reflected in the references cited which are mainly covering the last ten years (except for chapters 3 and 4). (...) The Treatise on Geochemistry is without any doubt a very useful reference book for a large scientific community and especially for students and teachers." (Prof. Roland Wollast^†, Oceanographie Chimique, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium)

William H. Schlesinger
James B. Duke Professor of Biogeochemistry
Dean, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
A 237 Levine Science Research Center
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0329
USA
E-mail: schlesin@duke.edu

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Final contents
About the editor

For the past 3.8 billion years, the geochemistry of the Earth's surface - its atmosphere, waters and exposed crust - has been determined by the presence of biota. Photosynthetic organisms exposed the Earth's surface to oxygen, denitrifying bacteria have maintained the nitrogen concentration in Earth's atmosphere, and land plants have determined the rate of chemical weathering. Life determines the global biogeochemical cycles of the elements of biochemistry, especially C, N, P and S. Volume 8 traces the origin and impact of life on the geochemistry of the Earth's surface, with special emphasis on the current human impact on global biogeochemical cycles.

Introduction: William H. Schlesinger
1. The Early History of Life: Euan G. Nisbet, C. Mary R. Fowler
2. Evolution of Metabolism: Kenneth H. Nealson, Rob Rye
3. Sedimentary Hydrocarbons, Biomarkers for Early Life: Roger E. Summons, Jochen J. Brocks
4. Biomineralization: H. Catherine W. Skinner, A. Hope Jahren
5. Biogeochemistry of Primary Production in the Sea: Paul G. Falkowski
6. Biogeochemistry of Terrestrial Net Primary Production: F. Stuart Chapin, III, Valerie T. Eviner
7. Biogeochemistry of Decomposition and Detrital Processing: Jonathan Sanderman, Ronald Amundson
8. Coupled Anaerobic-Aerobic Metabolism: J. Patrick Megonigal
9. The Geological History of the Carbon Cycle: Eric T. Sundquist
10. The Contemporary Carbon Cycle: Richard A. Houghton
11. The Global Oxygen Cycle: Steven T. Petsch
12. The Global Nitrogen Cycle: James N. Galloway
13. The Global Phosphorus Cycle: Kathleen C. Ruttenberg
14. The Global Sulfur Cycle: Peter Brimblecombe