Most people can readily identify a forest, or a grassland, or a wetland - these are the simple labels we give different plant communities. The aim of this book is to move beyond these simple descriptions to investigate the 'hidden' structure of vegetation, asking questions such as how do species in a community persist over time? What prevents the strongest species from taking over? And, are there rules that confer stability and produce repeatable patterns? Answers to these questions are fundamental to community ecology, and for the successful management of the world's varied ecosystems, many of which are currently under threat. In addition to reviewing and synthesising our current knowledge of species interactions and community assembly, this book also seeks to offer a different viewpoint - to challenge the reader, and to stimulate ecologists to think differently about plant communities and the processes that shape them.
‘For anyone working in the large field of plant ecology, and teaching courses in ecology and other topics, this book may provide some new food for thought. It might be used in a graduate seminar course or as background reading for students new to the field as they are developing their career foundations and graduate research plans
Suzanne Koptur Source: Plant Science Bulletin
'… a very enjoyable read.'
Scott L. Collins Source: The Quarterly Review of Biology
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