Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Plants and the origin of the biosphere
- Chapter 2 Description of vegetation: the search for global patterns
- Chapter 3 Resources
- Chapter 4 Stress
- Chapter 5 Competition
- Chapter 6 Disturbance
- Chapter 7 Herbivory
- Chapter 8 Positive interactions: mutualism, commensalism, and symbiosis
- Chapter 9 Time
- Chapter 10 Gradients and plant communities: description at local scales
- Chapter 11 Diversity
- Chapter 12 Conservation and management
- Questions for Review
- References
- Index
Preface
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Plants and the origin of the biosphere
- Chapter 2 Description of vegetation: the search for global patterns
- Chapter 3 Resources
- Chapter 4 Stress
- Chapter 5 Competition
- Chapter 6 Disturbance
- Chapter 7 Herbivory
- Chapter 8 Positive interactions: mutualism, commensalism, and symbiosis
- Chapter 9 Time
- Chapter 10 Gradients and plant communities: description at local scales
- Chapter 11 Diversity
- Chapter 12 Conservation and management
- Questions for Review
- References
- Index
Summary
For many years it has been apparent to me that there is a need for a good textbook in plant ecology. This book is aimed at middle to senior level undergraduates. I also hope that it will serve graduate students, fellow professors, and resource managers. Since many of the topics I include were new to me, I assume that they will be new to even relatively advanced readers.
In writing this book, I made two key assumptions regarding the experience of my audience and the availability of introductory biological information. I deliberately wrote for an audience who already had some exposure to both botany and ecology – an audience having had, perhaps, a first semester course in botany and another first semester course in general ecology, or a comprehensive introductory biology course. I assumed my readers would own, or at least would have access to, a basic introductory text in biology. I have not tried to repeat or rewrite such texts and have taken for granted that readers will have a working familiarity with topics in plant biology such as photosynthesis, transpiration, and meiosis. I have also not tried to repeat basic ecological concepts such as primary production, population growth, decomposition, and nutrient cycling, nor provide a broad illustrated summary of biomes. My impression is that such topics are not only well-covered in good biology texts, but are gradually filtering their way even into the elementary school system.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Plants and VegetationOrigins, Processes, Consequences, pp. xvii - xxiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007