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Spanning millennia of history and ecological transformation, this book explores the forested and non-forested ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians and Interior Highlands regions of the United States. It examines their fauna and flora, highlighting both shared and regionally distinct species.
The volume provides a comprehensive treatment of the terrestrial biota, with chapters devoted to forest composition, vegetation structure, and fungal diversity. Additional chapters focus on the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of the Appalachians and Ozarks, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and non-insect arthropods.
Beyond taxonomy and ecology, the authors investigate the historical and contemporary forces that have shaped these landscapes—from the Woodland Period and European colonization to industrial exploitation and modern conservation efforts. Particular attention is given to the ecological impacts of logging, mining, invasive pathogens, and climate change, as well as to the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems.
Rich in detail and imagery, and grounded in scientific rigor, this volume is an essential resource for ecologists, conservation biologists, forest managers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the ecological heritage and future of these two mountain regions.
List of contents
Chapter 1. The Southern Appalachian Highlands and Interior Highlands of the United States .- Chapter 2. History of Appalachian and Ozark Forests.- Chapter 3. Forests of the Appalachians.- Chapter 4. Forests of the Ozarks. - Chapter 5. Beneath the Canopy in Forests of the Appalachians and Ozarks.- Chapter 6. Non-forested Habitats of the Appalachians and Ozarks.- Chapter 7. Animals of the Appalachians and Ozarks.- Chapter 8. Insects and Other Invertebrates.- Chapter 9. Fungi of the Appalachians and Ozarks.- Chapter 10. Plants of Special Interest.- Chapter 11. History of Settlement, Land Use, and Logging.- Chapter 12. Areas of Forests Within the Appalachians and Ozarks.- Chapter 13. Threats to Forests. - Chapter 14. Climate Change.
About the author
Steven L. Stephenson recently retired from the University of Arkansas, where he was a Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and taught at Fairmont State University for 27 years before moving to the University of Arkansas. During his academic career, he has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar at Himachal University in India, a Visiting Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division, and the William Evans Visiting Fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He also has received Fulbright Specialist awards to India and Vietnam. In addition to his studies in the Southern Appalachians and Ozarks, Stephenson has carried out research in the forests of India, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. He is the author or coauthor of twenty books on eumycetozoans, fungi, and various aspects of ecology.
Rose-Marie Muzika received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Forestry with an emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. For 20 years Muzika was a Professor of Forest Ecology and Forest Health at the University of Missouri, where she also served as Department Head of Forestry and Associate Director of the School of Natural Resources. Before joining the faculty of the University of Missouri, she held positions as a research ecologist and research entomologist with the USDA Forest Service Research in Oregon and West Virginia. Since her retirement, Muzika served as director of science at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and a senior scientist at the Powdermill Nature Reserve Field Station near Rector, Pennsylvania. During her career she received a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Iceland and a Bullard Fellowship in Forest Research at the Harvard Forest.
Summary
Spanning millennia of history and ecological transformation, this book explores the forested and non-forested ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians and Interior Highlands regions of the United States. It examines their fauna and flora, highlighting both shared and regionally distinct species.
The volume provides a comprehensive treatment of the terrestrial biota, with chapters devoted to forest composition, vegetation structure, and fungal diversity. Additional chapters focus on the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of the Appalachians and Ozarks, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and non-insect arthropods.
Beyond taxonomy and ecology, the authors investigate the historical and contemporary forces that have shaped these landscapes—from the Woodland Period and European colonization to industrial exploitation and modern conservation efforts. Particular attention is given to the ecological impacts of logging, mining, invasive pathogens, and climate change, as well as to the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems.
Rich in detail and imagery, and grounded in scientific rigor, this volume is an essential resource for ecologists, conservation biologists, forest managers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the ecological heritage and future of these two mountain regions.
