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Zusatztext [A] comprehensive introduction into the biology of alpine habitats. Informationen zum Autor Laszlo Nagy obtained his first degree in Hungary before moving to the University of Stirling! Scotland! where he obtained his Ph.D. and went on to work as a Post-doctoral research fellow. He is currently an independent researcher at EcoScience Scotland and is affilliated with the Department of Conservation Biology! University of Vienna. He is editor of Plant Ecology and Diversity! the journal of the Botanical Society of Scotland.Georg Grabherr studied at the University of Innsbruck where he stayed on to become assistant professor. In 1986 he moved to the University of Vienna as a Professor of Vegetation Ecology and Conservation Biology. He has over 150 publications and sits on numerous Advisory Boards and Committees. Klappentext A concise but comprehensive introduction to the biology of alpine (mountain) habitats. As with other books in the Biology of Habitats Series! the emphasis will be on the organisms that dominate alpine environments although global change! management and conservation aspects (including restoration) will also be considered. Zusammenfassung This book is unique in providing a global overview of alpine (high mountain) habitats that occur above the natural (cold-limited) tree line! describing the factors that have shaped them over both ecological and evolutionary timescales. The broad geographic coverage helps synthesise common features whilst revealing differences in the world's major alpine systems from the Arctic to the Tropics. The words "barren" and "wasteland" have often been applied to describelandscapes beyond the treeline. However! a closer look reveals a large diversity of habitats! assemblages and individual taxa! largely connected to topographic diversity within individual alpine regions. The book considers habitat-forming factors (landforms! energy and climate! hydrology! soils! and vegetation) individually! as well as their composite impacts on habitat characteristics. Evolution and population processes are examined in the context of the responsiveness / resilience of alpine habitats to global change. Finally! a critical assessment of the potential impacts of climate change! atmospheric pollutants and land use is made and related to the management and conservation optionsavailable for these unique habitats. ...
