Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Volume I, Ecology of Central European forests

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 the 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. This is a comprehensive handbook in two volumes covering the heart of the continent, including Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Based on a thorough literature review with 5500 cited references and illustrated with nearly 1000 informative figures and tables, all vegetation types of this region are analysed in terms of the climatic and edaphic influences, the structure and dynamics of their communities, the ecophysiological constitution of the main plant species, important aspects of ecosystem functioning, and recent conservation issues. This volume deals with forest and scrub vegetation, be it natural or man-made, whilst Volume II is dedicated to the open habitats containing non-forest vegetation such as mires, grasslands, heaths, alpine habitats and urban vegetation. Chapters 1 and 2 of this volume present the climatic, geological and pedological characteristics of Central Europe and provide a short introduction to its phytogeography. Chapter 3 gives a concise overview of the pervasive impact of man on the ecosystems and landscapes of this region over the last 7000 years, referring to both forests and non-forest vegetation. General aspects of the ecology of Central European tree species and forests are summarised in Chapter 4, which also contains a brief review of recent anthropogenic stressors of forest ecosystems, notably over-use, climate change, and the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and strong acids. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 deal with the broadleaved and coniferous forest communities not shaped by flooding or high water tables. Forest plantations are the topic of Chapter 8, followed by floodplain and swamp forests (Chapter 9), forest epiphytic vegetation (Chapter 10), and the scrub vegetation of forest edges and hedges (Chapter 11). The summarising chapter (12) gives an overview of the most important plant communities of Central Europe Front Matter ....Pages i-xxxiv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Environmental and Historical Influences on the Vegetation of Central Europe (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 3-21 Life Forms and Growth Types of Central European Plant Species (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 23-28 Front Matter ....Pages 29-29 The Central European Vegetation as the Result of Millennia of Human Activity (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 31-116 Front Matter ....Pages 117-117 Abiotic Conditions, Flora, Ecosystem Functions and Recent Human Influence (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 119-347 Front Matter ....Pages 349-349 Beech and Mixed Beech Forests (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 351-441 Mixed Broadleaved Forests Poor in Beech Outside of Floodplains or Mires (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 443-519 Pure and Mixed Coniferous Forests (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 521-606 Forest Plantations and Clearings (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 607-632 Woody Vegetation of Floodplains and Swamps (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 633-728 Epiphyte Vegetation (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 729-746 Forest Edges, Scrub, Hedges and Their Herb Communities (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 747-774 Syntaxonomic Overview of the Vascular Plant Communities of Central Europe: Forest and Scrub Formations (Christoph Leuschner, Heinz Ellenberg)....Pages 775-779 Back Matter ....Pages 781-971