ENGLISH

Australian rainforests: islands of green in a land of fire

By D. M. J. S. Bowman

Book information

Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
2000
ISBN
0521465680, 9780521465687
Google Books ID
5pQZlbzJvTkC
Open Library ID
OL7741843M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
6 MB (5993046 bytes)
Pages
357\357
Topic
Biology Ecology
Orientation
yes
Scanned
no
Time added
2012-03-17 06:00:00
Экологические дисциплины;Ландшафтная экология

Description

Why do Australian rainforests occur as islands within the vast tracts of Eucalyptus? Why is fire a critical ecological factor in every Australian landscape? What were the consequences of the use of fire by the Ice Age colonists? In this original and challenging book, David Bowman critically examines all hypotheses that have been advanced to answer these questions. He demonstrates that fire is the most critical factor in controlling the distribution of rainforest throughout Australia. Furthermore, while Aboriginal people used fire to skillfully manage and preserve habitats, he concludes that they did not significantly influence the evolution of Australia's unique flora and fauna. This volume, the first comprehensive overview of the diverse literature on this topic, solves the puzzle of the archipelago of rainforest habitats in Australia. It is essential reading for all ecologists, foresters, conservation biologists, and others interested in the biogeography and ecology of Australian rainforests.

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