Provides a comprehensive review of the role of species interactions in the process of plant community assembly.

This richly illustrated field guide serves as an introduction to the wildflowers and plant communities of the southern Appalachians and the rolling hills of the adjoining piedmont. Rather than organizing plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, by flower color or family characteristics, as is done in most guidebooks, botanist Tim Spira takes a holistic, ecological approach that enables the reader to identify and learn about plants in their natural communities. This approach, says Spira, better reflects the natural world, as plants, like other organisms, don't live in isolation; they coexist and interact in myriad ways. Full-color photo keys allow the reader to rapidly preview plants found within each of the 21 major plant communities described, and the illustrated species description for each of the 340 featured plants includes fascinating information about the ecology and natural history of each plant in its larger environment. With this new format, readers can see how the mountain and piedmont landscapes form a mosaic of plant communities that harbor particular groups of plants. The volume also includes a glossary, illustrations of plant structures, and descriptions of sites to visit. Whether you're a beginning naturalist or an expert botanist, this guidebook is a useful companion on field excursions and wildflower walks, as well as a valuable reference. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

The book portrays New Jersey as an ecosystem--its geology, topography and soil, climate, plant-plant and plant-animal relationships, and the human impact on the environment. The authors describe in detail the twelve types of plant habitats distinguished in New Jersey and suggest places to observe good examples of them.

The wetlands of Minnesota and Wisconsin are categorized into fifteen plant communities. Each community is described and illustrated by color photographs, along with descriptions and color photographs of a total of 115 representative plant species. The descriptions include taxonomic characteristics, habitat, and notes on wildlife use and economic values.

In this new approach to understanding the dynamics occurring among plant populations at the community level, Tilman sets forth an exciting hypothesis to aid in explaining the factors operative in vegetation change. He emphasizes nutrient allocation, especially nitrogen and light, as a critical factor in addition to others in accounting for what is referred to as "succession" by most ecologists. Tilman initially presents some basic concepts--plant competition, resource allocation, and succession--followed by his extensive old field experiments on the Minnesota sand plain. These add support to his hypothesis concerning the role of nutrient allocation as a factor involved in vegetation change. Illustrations, including tables and figures, greatly enhance the text. A most readable book, and students of vegetation science will find it a welcome addition to their libraries. It also should find its way to all academic libraries since it is aimed primarily at professional plant ecologists. W.A. Niering Connecticut College--Choice Reviews.

Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/vandermaarelfranklin/vegetationecology. Vegetation Ecology, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive, integrated account of plant communities and their environments. Written by leading experts in their field from four continents, the second edition of this book: covers the composition, structure, ecology, dynamics, diversity, biotic interactions and distribution of plant communities, with an emphasis on functional adaptations; reviews modern developments in vegetation ecology in a historical perspective; presents a coherent view on vegetation ecology while integrating population ecology, dispersal biology, soil biology, ecosystem ecology and global change studies; tackles applied aspects of vegetation ecology, including management of communities and invasive species; includes new chapters addressing the classification and mapping of vegetation, and the significance of plant functional types Vegetation Ecology, 2nd Edition is aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduates and researchers and teachers in plant ecology, geography, forestry and nature conservation. Vegetation Ecology takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach and will be welcomed as an essential reference for plant ecologists the world over.