Until recently, few people would have associated rainforest with Australia. The present-day distribution of Australian rainforest is limited but it was formerly more widespread and was the dominant vegetation type of the entire continent. The contraction to its present limits reflects environmental changes that have taken place over many millions of years. This book gives a general account of the Australian rainforests: what they are, where they are, and how their
present distribution has evolved. The aim is to provide a broad framework that will enable new results to be placed in context. The book concludes with a historical account of human interaction with the rainforest from late Pleistocene times to the present. The history of the exploitation of the
Australian rainforests and the development of a conservation ethic have important lessons for the conservation of rainforests world-wide.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
'a valuable and timely reference for scholars who seek not only an introduction and an overview but also direction in exploring questions as yet unanswered or unasked.'
David. J. Yates, Botany, The University of Queensland 'A comprehensive review of Australian rainforest ... It will be of interest not only to ecologists and biogeography, but also to conservationists.'
Nature, Vol. 372, December 1994 Australian Rainforests is a scholarly presentation about an important subject, drawing together for the first time most of the work on the topic. It provides a valuable and timely reference for scholars who seek not only an introduction and an overview but also direction in exploring questions as yet unanswered or unasked. * David J. Yates, The University of Queensland, American Scientist, Volume 82 * Overall this book is a highly useful text as an introduction to the literature on Australian rainforests. In a European context, it is to be recommended to forest ecology students, travellers to Australia, rainforest researchers, and those interested in the politics of forestry. * J.H.R. Heuch, Forestry, Vol. 69, No. 2, 1996 *
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
halftones, line drawings, tables
Maße
Höhe: 248 mm
Breite: 189 mm
Dicke: 16 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-19-854872-0 (9780198548720)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Autor*in
Lecturer, School of Biological ScienceUniversity of New South Wales
Introduction: The Australian environment ; 1. Rainforest - definition and classification ; 2. An overview of Australian rainforests ; 3. Rainforest boundaries and the problem of mixed forests ; 4. Regeneration and responses to disturbance ; 5. Origins and history of Australian rainforest ; 6. The rainforest fauna ; 7. Mangroves ; 8. The human influence ; References ; Index
