Positive Plant Interactions and Community Dynamics / Edition 1

by Francisco Pugnaire

Overview

Ever since the concept of the "struggle for life" became the heart of Darwin’s theory of evolution, biologists have studied the relevance of interactions for the natural history and evolution of organisms. Although positive interactions among plants have traditionally received little attention, there is now a growing body of evidence showing the effects of positive interactions between higher plant species. Written by international experts, Positive Plant Interactions and Community Dynamics reviews these developments with particular emphasis on positive interactions and spatial and temporal gradients.

The text addresses key issues in plant ecology and anthropogenic impacts through reviews, syntheses, and the proposition of new concepts. The book begins with coverage of the different approaches used over time and the tools currently available for analyzing the direction, intensity, and importance of plant interactions, and to quantify them accurately. It explains, at least in part, the success of invasive plant species. The book also shows the existence of evolutionary relationships among plants, a decidedly non-individualistic process, which plays an important role in the organization of communities. The book’s focus then shifts to the scale at which facilitation works, assessing its effects from the individual plant to the landscape level, and the impacts of climate change on plant-plant interactions using case studies to illustrate underlying fundamental points relevant to all plant communities. After analyzing the role of positive and negative interactions and their relationship with biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, the text reviews the role of mychorrizal symbiosis in plant-plant interactions, focusing on the effect of mychorhizal-mediated facilitation on the structure and dynamics of plant communities.

A good understanding of natural processes is necessary to manage natural habitats properly, prevent environmental risks, and secure continued ecosystem services. Clearly and concisely written, this book challenges the paradigm that interactions should be considered independently, with little regard to context. Addressing the complex processes at the foundation of ecosystem diversity, the book promotes more rigorous experimental design and opportunities for further research developments in this field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439824948
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/09/2010
Pages:	182
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Francisco Pugnaire

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Editor ix

Contributors xi

Positive Plant Interactions and Community Dynamics: An Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Do Positive Interactions among Plants Matter? Ragan M. Callaway 1

Chapter 2 Plant Interaction Indices Based on Experimental Plant Performance Data Zaal Kikvidze Cristina Armas 17

Chapter 3 Consequences of Facilitation on Species Diversity in Terrestrial Plant Communities Lohengrin A. Cavieres Ernesto I. Badano 39

Chapter 4 Biotic Interactions, Biodiversity, and Community Productivity Richard Michalet Blaise Touzard 59

Chapter 5 Arbuscular Mycorrhizae and Plant-Plant Interactions: Impact of Invisible World on Visible Patterns Mari Moora Martin Zobel 79

Chapter 6 Plant Communities, Plant-Plant Interactions, and Climate Change Rob W. Brooker 99

Chapter 7 Synthetic Analysis of the Stress-Gradient Hypothesis Christopher J. Lortie 125

Index 149

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"In short, the quality and timeliness of this book's contents make it an indispensable tool for PhD students and researchers interested in the organization, functioning and evolution of plant communities and in their conservation and restoration, which cannot be achieved without understanding the biotic interactions that shape ecosystems."
— S. Rodríguez-Echeverría, University of Coimbra, Portugal; in Ecosistemas 19 (1): 100-102. 2010 (translated from Spanish)

" … reviews and integrates a decade’s worth of growth in one of ecology’s most exciting fields, incorporating new analyses and results that nicely demonstrate the principles discussed and point to directions for future research. The book is refreshingly focused on how positive and negative plant interactions are important beyond the population level, influencing the structure of communities and the functioning of ecosystems, with implications for understanding processes as diverse as succession, invasion, restoration, global environmental change and evolution."
—Paul J. Richardson, in Annals of Botany

Editorial Reviews

"In short, the quality and timeliness of this book's contents make it an indispensable tool for PhD students and researchers interested in the organization, functioning and evolution of plant communities and in their conservation and restoration, which cannot be achieved without understanding the biotic interactions that shape ecosystems."
— S. Rodríguez-Echeverría, University of Coimbra, Portugal; in Ecosistemas 19 (1): 100-102. 2010 (translated from Spanish)

" … reviews and integrates a decade’s worth of growth in one of ecology’s most exciting fields, incorporating new analyses and results that nicely demonstrate the principles discussed and point to directions for future research. The book is refreshingly focused on how positive and negative plant interactions are important beyond the population level, influencing the structure of communities and the functioning of ecosystems, with implications for understanding processes as diverse as succession, invasion, restoration, global environmental change and evolution."
—Paul J. Richardson, in Annals of Botany

"In short, the quality and timeliness of this book's contents make it an indispensable tool for PhD students and researchers interested in the organization, functioning and evolution of plant communities and in their conservation and restoration, which cannot be achieved without understanding the biotic interactions that shape ecosystems."
— S. Rodríguez-Echeverría, University of Coimbra, Portugal; in Ecosistemas 19 (1): 100-102. 2010 (translated from Spanish)

" … reviews and integrates a decade’s worth of growth in one of ecology’s most exciting fields, incorporating new analyses and results that nicely demonstrate the principles discussed and point to directions for future research. The book is refreshingly focused on how positive and negative plant interactions are important beyond the population level, influencing the structure of communities and the functioning of ecosystems, with implications for understanding processes as diverse as succession, invasion, restoration, global environmental change and evolution."
—Paul J. Richardson, in Annals of Botany

From the Publisher