Climate and plant distribution /

Woodward discusses the neglected area of climate as the central thesis for plant ecology: ``Within a vegetation type smaller-scale variations in distribution may be controlled by smaller-scale features of the environment such as soil types, human activity or topography. However, at all spatial scales the response of the plant to climate is a crucial feature in its presence.'' Woodward proposes new and different approaches to the subject, and states that although these approaches may not find general acceptance, they should create interest and debate at the professional as well as the graduate level. Reflecting the author's interests, the examples used deal exclusively with vascular plants as examples of distribution types and responses. Excellent end-of-chapter references will aid readers in pursuit of the study both from the historical perspective as well as from the current research dealing with climate and plant distribution. Many good figures, tables, and mathematical formulae are given. Although this book will have little appeal to the general public, it should be available to graduate and upper-division undergraduates as well as professionals involved in plant ecology.-K.T. Settlemyer, Lock Haven University