Michael J. Crawley, FRS, is with the Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He is the author of three bestselling Wiley statistics titles and five life science books.

"The second edition Plant Ecology is outstandingly good. If you enjoyed the first edition, read the second. It is new. It can be recommended to teachers, research workers and able students. Complex theory is explained clearly; current issues are brought to the fore. Above all, it is inspiring. As Crawley says of plant taxonomy, 'It's fun'." Journal of Ecology "The first edition of the book was one of the most successful publishing events in the field of plant ecology in the 1980s. As the new edition seems to be improved in several directions it has a good chance to become a benchmark text in plant ecology even at the beginning of the new millennium. I can recommend it to anybody who wants to refresh his/her knowledge on the particular topic of plant ecology and as a supplementary text to students of a general ecology course." Leos Klimes, Folia Geobotanica, 2002, (37)

• List of Contributors xiPreface to the Second Edition xiiiPreface to the First Edition xv1 Photosynthesis 1Harold A. Mooney And James R. Ehleringer1.1 Introduction1.2 Background1.3 Environmental influences on photosynthetic capacity1.4 Seasonality of photosynthesis1.5 Photosynthetic capacity and defence against herbivores1.6 Variations on the basic photosynthetic pathway1.7 Ecological consequences of different photosynthetic pathways1.8 Climate change and photosynthesis1.9 Conclusions2 Plant Water Relations 28John Grace2.1 Introduction: water and life2.2 Transpiration rate2.3 Soil–plant–atmosphere continuum2.4 Water relations and plant distribution patterns2.5 Water, carbon and nutrient relations2.6 Concluding remarks3 Nutrient Acquisition 51Alastair Fitter3.1 Availability of nutrients3.2 Nutrient uptake by root system:3.3 Responses to nutrient deficiency3.4 Heterogeneity3.5 Summary4 Life History and Environment 73Michael J. Crawley4.1 Introduction4.2 Neighbourhoods4.3 Lite history4.4 Trade-offs4.5 Canopy architecture4.6 Environmental factors affecting plant performance4.7 Conclusions5 Plant Secondary Metabolism 132Jeffrey R. Harborne.5.1 Introduction5.2 Secondary metabolites5.3 Terpenoid metabolites5.4 Nitrogen-containing metabolites5.5 Phenolic metabolites5.6 Conclusions6 Sex 156Michael J. Crawley6.1 Introduction6.2 Sex: why bother?6.3 Mating systems6.4 Inbreeding and outbreeding6.5 Sex types6.6 Incompatibility systems6.7 Prevention of self-pollination6.8 Limits to reproductive output6.9 Monocarpy and polycarpy6.10 Pollination by wind6.11 Pollination by animals6.12 Sexual investment by hermaphrodites6.13 Agamospermy: seeds without sex6.14 Sex ratios and variable sex expression6.15 Population genetics and genetic neighbourhoods6.16 Gene flow through migration6.17 Sex on islands6.18 Local mate competition6.19 Mate choice in plants6.20 Conflicts of interest6.21 Case studies6.22 Conclusions7 Seed Dormancy 214Mark. Rees7.1 Introduction7.2 Seeds and the environment7.3 Seed banks7.4 Population persistence7.5 Population dynamics and coexistence7.6 Evolution of dormancy7.7 Conclusions8 Mechanisms of Plant Competition 239David Tilman8.1 Introduction8.2 Competition in natural plant communities8.3 A single limiting resource8.4 Competition for two resources8.5 Multispecies communities8.6 Conclusion9 Ecology of Pollination and Seed Dispersal 262Itenry F Howe And Lynn C. Westley9.1 Introduction9.2 Challenges of a sedentary existence9.3 Adaptive trends9.4 Reproductive imperatives of success and failure9.5 Adjusting tophysical and biological reality9.6 Conclusions10 Plant Chemistry and Herbivorv, or Why the World is Green 284Susan E. Hartley And Clive G. Jones10.1 Why is the world green?10.2 Plants are poor food: they have 'cruddy' ingredient10.3 Plants are poor food: they are unpredictable10.4 Herbivores are between the devil and the deep blu1: sea10.5 Conclusions11 The Structure of Plant Populations 325Michael J. Hutchings11.1 Introduction11.2 Performance structure in plant populations11.3 Spatial structure of plant populations11.4 Age structure in plant populations11.5 Generic structure of plant populations11.6 Abiotic influences on population structure12 Plant Population Dynamics 359Andrew R. Watkinson12.1 Introduction12.2 Population flux12.3 Population regulation12.4 The individual and the population12.5 The fates of individuals12.6 Population models12.7 Density-dependence12.8 Population dynamics12.9 Interactions in mixtures of species12.10 Concluding remarks13 Plant–Herbivore Dynamics 401Michael J. Crawley13.1 Introduction13.2 Herbivores and plant performance13.3 Herbivores and plant vigour13.4 Plant compensation13.5 Herbivores and plant fitness13.6 Overgrazing13.7 Herbivores and plant genetics13.8 Herbivores and atmospheric CO213.9 Herbivores and plant population dynamics13.10 Case studies13.11 Herbivores and plant diversity13.12 Herbivores and plant succession13.13 Summary14 The Structure of Plant Communities 475Michael J. Crawley14.1 Introduction14.2 Definition of plant community14.3 The niche concept14.4 Species richness14.5 Evenness and relative abundance14.6 Physical structure of plant communities14.7 Succession14.8 Models or spatial dynamics14.9 Conclusions15 Dynamics of Plant Communities 532Stephen W. Pacala15.1 Introduction15.2 Simple models of ideas15.3 Empirical tests15.4 Models of natural systems15.5 Spatial segregation hypothesis15.6 Empirical evidence for the spatial segregation hypothesis15.7 Conclusions16 Plants in Trophic Webs 556James P. Grover And Robert D. Holt17 Plants and Pollution 568Mike Ashmore17.1 Introduction17.2 Effects on individual plants17.3 Effects on species interactions17.4 Evolutionary responses17.5 Community-level effects17.6 Concluding remarks18 Climate Change and Vegetation 582J. Philip Grime18.1 Introduction18.2 Importance of land use18.3 Current predictions18.4 Current research18.5 Conclusions19 Biodiversity 595Michael. J. Crawley19.1 Introduction19.2 The number of plant species19.3 Origins of plant biodiversity19.4 Postglacial changes in plant biodiversity19.5 Current geographical distribution of biodiversity19.6 Variation in plant biodiversity within the British Isles19.7 Threats to biodiversity19.8 Alien plants19.9 Plant conservation19.10 Food plant conservation19.11 Economics, of plant conservation19.12 ConclusionsReferences 633Index 701Colour plates fall between pp. 366 and 367

Michael J. Crawley, FRS, is with the Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He is the author of three bestselling Wiley statistics titles and five life science books.

"The second edition Plant Ecology is outstandingly good. If you enjoyed the first edition, read the second. It is new. It can be recommended to teachers, research workers and able students. Complex theory is explained clearly; current issues are brought to the fore. Above all, it is inspiring. As Crawley says of plant taxonomy, 'It's fun'." Journal of Ecology "The first edition of the book was one of the most successful publishing events in the field of plant ecology in the 1980s. As the new edition seems to be improved in several directions it has a good chance to become a benchmark text in plant ecology even at the beginning of the new millennium. I can recommend it to anybody who wants to refresh his/her knowledge on the particular topic of plant ecology and as a supplementary text to students of a general ecology course." Leos Klimes, Folia Geobotanica, 2002, (37)

• List of Contributors xiPreface to the Second Edition xiiiPreface to the First Edition xv1 Photosynthesis 1Harold A. Mooney And James R. Ehleringer1.1 Introduction1.2 Background1.3 Environmental influences on photosynthetic capacity1.4 Seasonality of photosynthesis1.5 Photosynthetic capacity and defence against herbivores1.6 Variations on the basic photosynthetic pathway1.7 Ecological consequences of different photosynthetic pathways1.8 Climate change and photosynthesis1.9 Conclusions2 Plant Water Relations 28John Grace2.1 Introduction: water and life2.2 Transpiration rate2.3 Soil–plant–atmosphere continuum2.4 Water relations and plant distribution patterns2.5 Water, carbon and nutrient relations2.6 Concluding remarks3 Nutrient Acquisition 51Alastair Fitter3.1 Availability of nutrients3.2 Nutrient uptake by root system:3.3 Responses to nutrient deficiency3.4 Heterogeneity3.5 Summary4 Life History and Environment 73Michael J. Crawley4.1 Introduction4.2 Neighbourhoods4.3 Lite history4.4 Trade-offs4.5 Canopy architecture4.6 Environmental factors affecting plant performance4.7 Conclusions5 Plant Secondary Metabolism 132Jeffrey R. Harborne.5.1 Introduction5.2 Secondary metabolites5.3 Terpenoid metabolites5.4 Nitrogen-containing metabolites5.5 Phenolic metabolites5.6 Conclusions6 Sex 156Michael J. Crawley6.1 Introduction6.2 Sex: why bother?6.3 Mating systems6.4 Inbreeding and outbreeding6.5 Sex types6.6 Incompatibility systems6.7 Prevention of self-pollination6.8 Limits to reproductive output6.9 Monocarpy and polycarpy6.10 Pollination by wind6.11 Pollination by animals6.12 Sexual investment by hermaphrodites6.13 Agamospermy: seeds without sex6.14 Sex ratios and variable sex expression6.15 Population genetics and genetic neighbourhoods6.16 Gene flow through migration6.17 Sex on islands6.18 Local mate competition6.19 Mate choice in plants6.20 Conflicts of interest6.21 Case studies6.22 Conclusions7 Seed Dormancy 214Mark. Rees7.1 Introduction7.2 Seeds and the environment7.3 Seed banks7.4 Population persistence7.5 Population dynamics and coexistence7.6 Evolution of dormancy7.7 Conclusions8 Mechanisms of Plant Competition 239David Tilman8.1 Introduction8.2 Competition in natural plant communities8.3 A single limiting resource8.4 Competition for two resources8.5 Multispecies communities8.6 Conclusion9 Ecology of Pollination and Seed Dispersal 262Itenry F Howe And Lynn C. Westley9.1 Introduction9.2 Challenges of a sedentary existence9.3 Adaptive trends9.4 Reproductive imperatives of success and failure9.5 Adjusting tophysical and biological reality9.6 Conclusions10 Plant Chemistry and Herbivorv, or Why the World is Green 284Susan E. Hartley And Clive G. Jones10.1 Why is the world green?10.2 Plants are poor food: they have 'cruddy' ingredient10.3 Plants are poor food: they are unpredictable10.4 Herbivores are between the devil and the deep blu1: sea10.5 Conclusions11 The Structure of Plant Populations 325Michael J. Hutchings11.1 Introduction11.2 Performance structure in plant populations11.3 Spatial structure of plant populations11.4 Age structure in plant populations11.5 Generic structure of plant populations11.6 Abiotic influences on population structure12 Plant Population Dynamics 359Andrew R. Watkinson12.1 Introduction12.2 Population flux12.3 Population regulation12.4 The individual and the population12.5 The fates of individuals12.6 Population models12.7 Density-dependence12.8 Population dynamics12.9 Interactions in mixtures of species12.10 Concluding remarks13 Plant–Herbivore Dynamics 401Michael J. Crawley13.1 Introduction13.2 Herbivores and plant performance13.3 Herbivores and plant vigour13.4 Plant compensation13.5 Herbivores and plant fitness13.6 Overgrazing13.7 Herbivores and plant genetics13.8 Herbivores and atmospheric CO213.9 Herbivores and plant population dynamics13.10 Case studies13.11 Herbivores and plant diversity13.12 Herbivores and plant succession13.13 Summary14 The Structure of Plant Communities 475Michael J. Crawley14.1 Introduction14.2 Definition of plant community14.3 The niche concept14.4 Species richness14.5 Evenness and relative abundance14.6 Physical structure of plant communities14.7 Succession14.8 Models or spatial dynamics14.9 Conclusions15 Dynamics of Plant Communities 532Stephen W. Pacala15.1 Introduction15.2 Simple models of ideas15.3 Empirical tests15.4 Models of natural systems15.5 Spatial segregation hypothesis15.6 Empirical evidence for the spatial segregation hypothesis15.7 Conclusions16 Plants in Trophic Webs 556James P. Grover And Robert D. Holt17 Plants and Pollution 568Mike Ashmore17.1 Introduction17.2 Effects on individual plants17.3 Effects on species interactions17.4 Evolutionary responses17.5 Community-level effects17.6 Concluding remarks18 Climate Change and Vegetation 582J. Philip Grime18.1 Introduction18.2 Importance of land use18.3 Current predictions18.4 Current research18.5 Conclusions19 Biodiversity 595Michael. J. Crawley19.1 Introduction19.2 The number of plant species19.3 Origins of plant biodiversity19.4 Postglacial changes in plant biodiversity19.5 Current geographical distribution of biodiversity19.6 Variation in plant biodiversity within the British Isles19.7 Threats to biodiversity19.8 Alien plants19.9 Plant conservation19.10 Food plant conservation19.11 Economics, of plant conservation19.12 ConclusionsReferences 633Index 701Colour plates fall between pp. 366 and 367