Functional Ecology of Woodlands and Forests [Paperback]

Functional Ecology of Woodlands is firmly based on the factors which govern the composition of woodland communities, but goes on to explore the dynamics of interactions between various ecosystem components. This is an authoritative text on the functioning of forest ecosystems, which will also assist readers to reach informed decisions about issues such as the greenhouse effect, acid precipitation, the greening of cities and agroforestry.Preface. Introduction. Primary production: the autotrophs. Reproductive strategies of woodland plants. Soils, climate and zonation. Forest change. The herbivore subsystem and the exploitation of living autotrophs. Community change and stability. Decomposition and renewal. Energy and nutrients. Working forests. Contemporary problems and the future of forests. Epilogue. Further reading. References. Index.`Very readable ... recommendable to a wide audience.'
Bulletin of the British Ecological Society
`I found the book to be a good introductory overview of these ecosystems. As a university professor who teaches classes in plant ecology, I found the book to be equally good as a textbook.'
The Quarterly Review of Biology
`This is quite the best forestry textbook that has been published for a long time. Its comprehensive yet concise treatment of all aspects of woodland ecology is stimulating to read...Despite being a comprehensive textbook full of information, it is clearly written with an excellent economy of words. Unlike many multi-author books, it is a truly joint work with the presentations consistent throughout so that one has no sense of different writers...Diverse examples of relevant worldwide research findings are skilfully drawn togethelóc