Biological diversity, the variety of living organisms on Earth, is traditionally viewed as the diversity of taxa, and species in particular. However, other facets of diversity also need to be considered for a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes. This novel book demonstrates the advantages of adopting a functional approach to diversity in order to improve our understanding of the functioning of ecological systems and their components. The focus is on plants, which are major components of these systems, and for which the functional approach has led to major scientific advances over the last 20 years.
Plant Functional Diversity presents the rationale for a trait-based approach to functional diversity in the context of comparative plant ecology and agroecology. It demonstrates how this approach can be used to address a number of highly debated questions in plant ecology pertaining to plant responses to their environment, controls on plant community structure, ecosystem properties, and the services these deliver to human societies. This research level text will be of particular relevance and use to graduate students and professional researchers in plant ecology, agricultural sciences and conservation biology.
Industry Reviews
Each of the ten chapters is excellently structured... The book is also nicely illustrated, extremely well referenced and has a useful index. In a nutshell, the book is an absolute must-read for graduate students, ecologists, agricultural scientists and conservation biologists interested in the functional approach to biological diversity. * Yvonne Buchholz, Basic and Applied Ecology Journal *
The book is well written with good examples, figures and conceptual graphs to explain theoretical and applied concepts and effects of diversity... Plant functional diversity is likely to be a key reference when studying and synthesising information about plant functional diversity and its effects... I will certainly both use and recommend this book. * Paloma Ruiz-Benito, Frontiers of Biogeography *
This book is a convincing synthesis of the principles of plant functional ecology in that it provides a profound introduction and theoretical background to the field and lists application possibilities ... It is an excellent textbook for students and will also be useful for researchers. * Conservation Biology *
I expect this book to be the best entry point for any researcher interested in trait-based plant ecology. It provides an authoritative overview of trait-based ecology, while simultaneously revealing the power and limitations of this field as it currently stands. By providing a concise and nicely illustrated volume, the authors have done a tremendous service to the field. * Nathan G. Swenson, Ecology. *
This book lays out with impressive clarity, depth, and breadth the conceptual framework of plant functional diversity as it stands today ... The book provides a definitive reading for a graduate-level seminar on plant functional diversity and an excellent desk reference for any biologist interested in the evolutionary and ecological implications of trait variation. * Martin J. Lechowicz, Bioscience *
Functional ecology has proven productive in understanding ecosystem structure and function, but currently, it is often not widely addressed in general ecology texts. Therefore, this book will be useful to advanced undergraduates and graduate students. ... Highly recommended. * W. E. Williams, CHOICE *
