Open Ecosystems: ecology and evolution beyond the forest edge

William J. Bond (Professor Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa)

Open Ecosystems: ecology and evolution beyond the forest edge
Format
Hardback
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Country
United Kingdom
Published
21 August 2019
Pages
192
ISBN
9780198812456

Open Ecosystems: ecology and evolution beyond the forest edge

William J. Bond (Professor Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa)

This book explores the geography, ecology, and antiquity of ‘open ecosystems’, which include grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. They occur in climates that can support closed forest ecosystems and often form mosaics with forest patches. With the aid of remote sensing, it is now clear that open ecosystems are a global phenomenon and occur over vast areas in climates that could also support forests. This book goes beyond regional narratives and seeks general explanations for their existence. It develops the theme of open ecosystems as being widespread and ancient, with a distinct biota from that of closed forests. It examines hypotheses for their maintenance in climate zones favouring the development of forests, including fire, vertebrate herbivory, and soils hostile for tree growth. Open Ecosystems: ecology and evolution beyond the forest edge provides an accessible introduction for graduate students and researchers of open (non-forested) ecosystem ecology in departments of ecology, geography, and environmental science. It will also be of relevance and use to professional ecologists, biogeographers, and global change biologists requiring a concise, authoritative overview of the topic.

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