Primary Succession and Ecosystem Rehabilitation

This 2003 book examines ecological recovery following natural and human-induced disturbances.

Lawrence R. Walker (Author), Roger del Moral (Author)

9780521529549, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 February 2003

456 pages, 115 b/w illus. 25 tables
22.9 x 15.4 x 2.4 cm, 0.769 kg

' ... a comprehensive and facinating overview on theories and impications of primary succession and community of development. The book is an inspiration for disturbance, vegetation and landscape ecologists as well as thoseinvolved in restoration and ecosystem management. This book can read like a profound review, summarizing current knowledge from the pioneer works to very recent findings and including short summaries at the end of most chapters.' Phytocoenlogica

Natural disturbances such as lava flows, landslides and glacial moraines, and human-damaged sites such as pavement, road edges and mine wastes often leave little or no soil or biological legacy. This 2003 book provided the first comprehensive summary of how plant, animal and microbial communities develop under the harsh conditions following such dramatic disturbances. The authors examine the basic principles that determine ecosystem development and apply the general rules to the urgent practical need for promoting the reclamation of damaged lands. Written for ecologists concerned with disturbance, landscape dynamics, restoration, life histories, invasions, modeling, soil formation and community or population dynamics, this book will also serve as an authoritative text for graduate students and a valuable reference for professionals involved in land management.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Denudation: the creation of a barren substrate
3. Successional theory
4. Soil development
5. Life histories of early colonists
6. Species interations
7. Successional patterns
8. Applications of theory for rehabilitation
9. Future directions
Glossary
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Conservation of the environment [RNK], Environmental management [RNF], Applied ecology [RNC], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]