Plants make up 99.9 percent of the world''s living matter, provide food and shelter, and control the Earth''s climate. The study of plant ecology is therefore essential to understanding the biological functions and processes of the biosphere. This vibrant new introductory textbook integrates important classical themes with recent ideas, models and data. The book begins with the origin of plants and their role in creating the biosphere as the context for discussing plant functional types and evolutionary patterns. The coverage continues logically through the exploration of causation with chapters, amongst others, on resources, stress, competition, herbivory, and mutualism. The book concludes with a chapter on conservation, addressing the concern that as many as one-third of all plant species are at risk of extinction. Each chapter is enriched with striking and unusual examples of plants (e.g., stone plants, carnivorous plants) and plant habitats (e.g., isolated tropical tepui, arctic cliffs). Paul Keddy's lively and thought-provoking style will appeal to students at all levels.Read more
- Describes the origin of plants and their role in creating the biosphere
- Enriched with striking and unusual examples of plant natural history
- Integrates classical themes with newer ideas, models and data
Reviews & endorsements
"Overall, this is a surprisingly easy to read, remarkably thorough, and balanced textbook. The author has focused less on exhausting every aspect of plant ecology and more on creating a critical, engaging, multi-discliplinary, and pragmatic approach to some major aspects. The ultimate goal of this book seems to be to instruct and to train plant ecologists, and in this it will be successful."
Sean Hoban, Plant Sciences Bulletin
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- Date Published: June 2007
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521864800
- length: 706 pages
- dimensions: 235 x 191 x 38 mm
- weight: 1.42kg
- contains: 367 b/w illus. 81 tables
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
1. Plants and the origin of the biosphere
2. Description of vegetation: the search for global patterns
8. Positive interactions: mutualism, commensalism, and symbiosis
10. Gradients and plant communities: description at local scales
12. Conservation and management
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- Plant Natural History
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