Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Volume II, Ecology of Central European non-forest vegetation : coastal to alpine, natural to man-made habitats

Description

This handbook in two volumes synthesises our knowledge about the ecology of Central Europe’s plant cover with its 7000-yr history of human impact, covering Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Based on a thorough literature review with 5500 cited references and nearly 1000 figures and tables, the two books review in 26 chapters all major natural and man-made vegetation types with their climatic and edaphic influences, the structure and dynamics of their communities, the ecophysiology of important plant species, and key aspects of ecosystem functioning. Volume I deals with forests and scrub vegetation and analyses the ecology of Central Europe’s tree flora, whilst Volume II is dedicated to the non-forest vegetation covering mires, grasslands, heaths, alpine habitats and urban vegetation. The consequences of over-use, pollution and recent climate change over the last century are explored and conservation issues addressed. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxxiv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Salt Marshes and Inland Saline Habitats (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 3-61 Sand Dunes and Their Vegetation Series (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 63-115 Mires (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 117-187 Vegetation of Freshwater Habitats (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 189-269 Vegetation of the Alpine and Nival Belts (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 271-431 Front Matter ....Pages 433-433 Dwarf Shrub Heaths and Nardus Grasslands (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 435-494 Nutrient-Poor Dry Grasslands (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 495-596 Agricultural Grassland on Mesic to Wet Soils (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 597-731 Communities on Heavy Metal-Rich Soils (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 733-749 Banks, Shorelines and Muddy Habitats Influenced by Man (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 751-764 Ruderal Communities on Drier Soils (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 765-778 Vegetation of Arable Fields, Gardens and Vineyards (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 779-839 Vegetation of Human Settlements (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 841-860 Syntaxonomic Overview of the Vascular Plant Communities of Central Europe: Non-Forest Formations (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 861-872 Back Matter ....Pages 873-1093