The work offerred here is a companion volume to the work by K. FAEGRI and L. VAN DER PI]L "Principles of pollination ecology", which deals with the preceding phase of reproduction in plants. In the present work too, the emphasis is on principles and ecology. It is neither an enumeration of mechanisms, nor a compilation of cases. RIDLEY'S monumental work "The dispersal of plants throughout the world" already comprises 700 large pages of small print, and research has proceeded since then. Though this work is more than just 'a compilation and contains much insight and thoughts on principles in addition to reviews, its completeness hinders its use as a textbook. As a reference work, it is unsurpassed and the writer made frequent use of it. The writer paid special attention to functional backgrounds for the use of taxonomists working with "characters" and to biosystematics at the macro-level. He is indebted to Dr. P. MULLER-SCHNEIDER (Chur, Switzerland) for the permission to translate parts of his "Verbreitungsbiologie der Bliiten pflanzen" - of which permission a modest use has been made. Thanks are also due to 'the Director of the Rijksherbarium at Leyden, and to its librarian for the use of the library. Mr. F. J. NATAN was so kind as to make a number of photographs at the author's wishes.

From the reviews: "...the present work is an invaluable addition to the literature on reproductive biology of plants... Few botanists today are better qualified than van der Pijl to write on dispersal (and pollination) biology... an excellent up-to-date treatment of a long neglected subject... this splendid volume is unlikely to be surpassed for quite some time..." Science

Reviewers from diverse branches of botany have exerted pressure to have chapters dealing with their field extended. If only to cover his incompetence, the author could not accede to these requests. Nor was it possible to respond to Eastern European urgings to extend the classificatory terminology, especially in ChapterX. He is grateful for indications of factual shortcomings in the chosen field, especially for those by Dr. RUDOLF SCHMID (Ann Arbor), who provided exten sive comment. L. VAN DER PIlL The Hague, spring 1972 Preface to the First Edition The work offered here is a companion volume to the work by K. FAEGRI and 1. VAN DER PIJL, Principles of Pollination Ecology, whim. deals with the preced ing phase of reproduction in plants. In the present work too, the emphasis is on principles and ecology. It is neither an enumeration of mechanisms, nor a compilation of cases. RIDLEY'S monumental work The Dispersal of Plants Throughout the World comprises 700 large pages of small print, and research has proceeded since then. Though this work is more than just a compilation and contains much insight and thoughts on principles in addition to reviews, its completeness hinders its use as a text book. As a reference work, it is unsurpassed and the writer made frequent use of it. The writer paid special attention to functional backgrounds for the use of taxonomists working with "characters" and to biosystematics at the macro-level.

This book argues that organisms and their interactions create and maximize biodiversity. The evidence for this autocatalytic hypothesis has been collated and integrated into this provocative argument. Natural selection favors the increase of biodiversity. Organisms can be causative agents contributing to major macroevolutionary transitions. Species tend to have a net positive effect on biodiversity. All species are ecosystem engineers. Mutualism and commensalism are common and fundamental, and these coevolved interspecific interactions frequently generate enormous increases in biodiversity. Competition generally does not decrease biodiversity, and often leads to evolutionary innovation. Plants are ecosystem engineers that have made Earth more favorable to life and increased diversity in many ways. Herbivores and predators increase the diversity of the species they consume, and are necessary for ecosystem stability. Decomposers are essential to ecosystem health. All these examples illustrate the focus of this book – that organisms and their interactions stimulate biodiversity, and ecosystems maximize it. Key Features • Describes a hypothesis that life itself generates higher biodiversity • Suggests a highly modified version of the established paradigm in population biology and evolution • Asserts that all species are ecosystem engineers with a net positive effect on biodiversity and their ecosystems • Suggests that mutualism and commensalism are the rule • Presents a novel view likely to elicit deeper discussions of biodiversity Related Titles Dewdney, A. K. Stochastic Communities: A Mathematical Theory of Biodiversity (ISBN 978-1-138-19702-2) Curry, G. B. and C. J. Humphries, eds. Biodiversity Databases: Techniques, Politics, and Applications (ISBN 978-0-367-38916-1) Pullaiah, T, ed. Global Biodiversity. 4 Volume Set (ISBN 978-1-77188-751-9)