Processes of Vegetation Change (Studies; 141) - Softcover

Burrows, C.J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0045800138 ISBN 13: 9780045800131

Publisher: Springer, 1990

Synopsis

This book is about ideas on the nature and causes of temporal change in the species composition of vegetation. In particular it examines the diverse processes of inter­ action of plants with their environment, and with one another, through which the species composition of vegetation becomes established. The first chapter considers the general nature of vegetation and the ways in which vegetation change is perceived by ecologists. Chapters 2 and 3 provide essential background about the relationships between plants and their abiotic and biotic environment. Anyone who is familiar with the fundamentals of plant ecology may prefer to pass over Chapters 2 and 3 which, of necessity, cover their subject matter very briefly. Sequences of development of vegetation on new volcanic rocks, sand dunes and glacial deposits, respectively, are outlined in Chapters 4, 5 and 6. Chapter 7 is about the patterns of vegetation change which occur in severe habitats around the world, and Chapter 8 discusses wetlands. Chapter 9 discusses the diverse responses of temperate forests to a variety of disturbing influences, and Chapter 10 deals with change in the species-rich forests of the Tropics. Chapter 11 treats, in detail, the empirical and inferential data on the biological processes occurring during vegetation change sequences. Chapter 12 considers the plant community phenomena which are implicated in the development of theory about vegetation change. The final chapter, Chapter 13, draws the diverse themes together into a unified theoretical structure by which the vegetation change phenomena may be understood.

About this title

Review

This is a very readable, straightforward, open-minded account - The Biologist

Synopsis

Covering ideas on the nature and causes of temporal change in the species composition of vegetation, this book examines in particular the diverse processes of interaction of plants with their environment and with one another, through which the species composition of vegetation becomes established. Areas covered range from the tropics to sub-polar regions and from sea shores, through deserts, grasslands and forests to alpine regions. The text focuses on the nature of reciprocal interaction between plants and their habitats and other organisms ; outlines events that occur during the colonization of new sites and consequent modifications of habitat; explores long-term consequences of change, using chrono-sequences and fossil data from wetland sites; and considers cyclical replacement sequences, direct replacements and fluctuations in the context of short-term and long-term change.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0045800138
• ISBN 13: 9780045800131
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 570