Directing Ecological Succession

Succession, the tendency of plant communities to change through time, presents a challenge to those who must satisfy goals established for the use and preservation of natural resources. The practical application of what is known about successional changes has not advanced quickly; subsequently plant community management is often carried out without recourse to the latest scientific data. This book maintains that any attempt to manage plant communities will be successful only if based on site-specific research and current ecological theories. It outlines a general model of successional management and then applies it to a variety of management techniques. Long-term effects of these techniques on community development are examined. It is therefore an extremely useful practical book for those involved in the management of natural resources, although it will also be of interest to the more theoretical ecologist. This book will be of interest to all those involved in the management of plant communities, e.g. natural resource managers and planners, wildlife biologists, foresters, landscape architects, as well as academic ecologists.