Plants and Vegetation

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Plants make up 99 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 functions and processes of the biosphere. This vibrant new introductory textbook integrates important classical themes with newer ideas, models and data.

The book begins by covering the origins of plants and their role in creating the biosphere before discussing plant functional types and evolutionary patterns. Having established this context, the coverage moves logically through exploration of causation with chapters, amongst others, on resources, stress, competition, predation and mutualism. It concludes with a chapter on conservation, addressing the risk 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 and plant habitats. Paul Keddy's lively and thought-provoking style will appeal to students at all levels.