Author Description

"Mountain ecosystems belong to the most endangered ecosystems in the world. The treeline ecotone in particular acts as an indicator for environmental change. However, ecological processes in the treeline ecotone are not yet completely understood. The studies provided in this book may contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between vegetation, climate, fauna and soils in the treeline ecotone. An introductory chapter on plants living under extreme conditions, climate change aspects and methods for characterization of alpine soils provides a solid foundation. The subsequent chapters focus on mountainous areas in America, Europe and Asia."--BOOK JACKET.