Vegetation Ecology is a comprehensive account of plant communities and their environments. Written by leading experts in their field from four continents, this up-to-date, innovative text: covers the composition, structure, ecology, diversity, distribution and dynamics of plant communities, with an emphasis on functional adaptations to the abiotic and biotic processes governing plant communities; reviews the modern developments in vegetation ecology in a historical perspective; presents a coherent view on vegetation ecology while integrating population ecology, dispersal biology, biotic interactions, herbivory, interactions with soil organisms and ecosystem ecology; and tackles applied aspects of vegetation ecology, notably nature management, restoration ecology and global change studies. Aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduates and researchers in plant ecology, geography, forestry and nature conservation, Vegetation Ecology takes an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach and will be welcomed as an essential reference for plant ecologists the world over.