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Plant Life of Southwestern Australia - Adaptations for Survival (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R3,422
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Plant Life of Southwestern Australia - Adaptations for Survival (Hardcover)
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The southwestern Australian flora is unique in the world, not only
for its biodiversity and endemism, but also for its functional
biodiversity. It also contains the world's most
nutrient-impoverished soils, has a prolonged-summer period and the
vegetation is extremely fire-prone. These conditions have
engendered an array of survival adaptations that have evolved in
these harsh conditions across a diverse range of species. It is
well recognised that the southwest flora has the toughest and most
spiny vegetation of the world, the greatest number of species that
store their seeds in woody fruits, and the most specialised means
of obtaining limited soil nutrients and water. This book focuses on
the survival mechanisms, adaptations and ecology of the unique
Southwest Australian flora (restricted here to flowering plants).
The book begins with an examination of how the flora has evolved
into the present forms. It describes further in detail the adaptive
responses of the flora to the main environmental pressures
influencing survival - fire, summer drought, nutrient-impoverished
soils, pollination and seed dispersal agents. Specialised responses
to obtain essential nutrients are presented in three chapters -
carnivorous plants, parasitic plants and specialised roots. An
entire chapter is devoted to leaves, with an insight into how
leaves may assist in protecting flowers and fruits from herbivores
and seed-eaters. The book provides an ecological perspective on how
the flora has evolved complex strategies to ensure species survival
in the relatively harsh seasonal climate of a Mediterranean-type
ecosystem.
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