Australian Rainforests
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Author Description
Once the dominant vegetation type of the entire continent, the Australian rainforests have shrunk over many millions of years to their present limited size. However the forests and their history continue to hold valuable lessons for biogeographers and environmentalists. This book gives a general account of the Australian rainforests: their composition and location, and how their present distribution has evolved. The author's aim is to provide a broad, biogeographical framework that will enable new information to be considered in a global perspective. The book concludes with a historical account of human interaction with the rainforest from late Pleistocene times to the 1980s. Biogeographers, botanists, and ecologists at all levels will find this to be a rich source of information and an inspiration for continuing efforts to conserve existing rainforests around the world.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the evolutionary history, current composition, and ecological significance of Australian rainforests within a global biogeographical framework. Paul Adam, an expert in plant ecology, synthesizes geological data and botanical research to explain how these once-dominant ecosystems contracted over millions of years. The text provides a structured analysis of how historical climate shifts and environmental factors shaped the present-day distribution of these forests. By situating Australian rainforests in a broader context, the author establishes a foundation for understanding their conservation needs and ecological value.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed analysis of rainforest composition and geographical distribution across the Australian continent.
- A comprehensive historical timeline of human interaction with rainforest environments from the late Pleistocene to the 1980s.
- A biogeographical framework designed to integrate new ecological data into a global perspective.
- Scientific examination of the evolutionary processes that led to the current limited extent of these ecosystems.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and researchers in the fields of botany and ecology recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the unique development of Australian vegetation. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a reliable reference for those studying the intersection of environmental history and biogeography.
Page Count:
322
Publication Date:
1992-11-05
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198542232
ISBN-13:
9780198542230
Science
Biogeography
Australia
Rain forests
Ecology
Botany
Biology
