Book Description

For 100 million years the Gondwanan vegetation of Australia has survived and developed in the face of vast changes in climate and soils. The pressure imposed on the vegetation by European settlers during the last 200 years is in clear contrast to the minimal impact of Aborigines. Environmental managers and planners predicting the short- and long-term effects of environmental changes on ecosystems need to understand the basic principles of plant community physiology. Australian Plant Communities: The Dynamics of Structure, Growth and Biodiversity is the first synthesis of the physiological processes that shape Australian vegetation at the level of the entire plant community. It examines the basic principles of community physiology by referring to the vegetation of Australia, with its great diversity of natural plant communities, many of which are still relatively undisturbed. The principles developed are applicable to landscapes throughout the world. By revealing the fundamental determinants of vegetation structure, the book enables the effects of climate change on biodiversity, of both vegetation and its associated fauna, to be predicted. Plant Communities in Australia, lavishly illustrated with figures and graphs, is written in a clear and concise style and refers to many studies of the processes operating in Australian vegetation. It is an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental science, resource management, and environmental planning and impact assessment. It is also an invaluable reference for practising environmental scientists, planners, and managers.