Air pollutants provide environmental conditions that drastically differ in many respects from those to which forest trees are naturally adapted. Leading experts in the field here consider these questions of immediate relevance arising from the changing environment: (1) Do air pollutants introduce effects of selection that differ from those known for populations that are not subject to such stress conditions? (2) If air pollutants introduce quantitatively or even qualitatively novel selective effects, which consequences might arise from the adaptation of forest tree populations to the present conditions as well as for the preservation of adaptability to future conditions? In addition to these questions, concepts for preservation of genetic resources are discussed.

The effects of air pollution on biota may be subtle and elusive because of their interactions with natural stresses. Studies based on a network of sites in the Carpathian Mountains form the core of the content presented during this workshop. To this core are added key components on ecological sustainability, overviews on forest health in Europe and the world and several in-depth case studies.

Human activities influence the chemical and physical properties of the atmosphere; examples are increases in troposphere concentrations of ozone, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, heavy metals and UV-B radiation. Many of these changes can alter the physiological status of terrestrial vegetation through either inhibition or enhancement of growth and reproduction, thereby influencing the ability of sensitive plants to compete for limited resources. As a result, air pollution stress may be changing the genetic structure of plant populations. In this book, leading researchers with a broad, interdisciplinary range of expertise discuss the known and measurable effects of pollution on terrestrial vegetation within the framework of ecological genetics, as well as suitable experimental methodologies to analyze the often novel or unusual effects of such environmental stresses. For environmental researchers and managers, Ecological Genetics and Air Pollution will be a welcomed introduction to this field of growing importance for long-term ecological studies.

Tropical climates, which occur between 23°30'N and S latitude (Jacob 1988), encompass a wide variety of plant communities (Hartshorn 1983, 1988), many of which are diverse in their woody floras. Within this geographic region, temperature and the amount and seasonality of rainfall define habitat types (UNESCO 1978). The F AO has estimated that there 1 are about 19 million km of potentially forested area in the global tropics, of which 58% were estimated to still be in closed forest in the mid-1970s (Sommers 1976; UNESCO 1978). Of this potentially forested region, 42% is categorized as dry forest lifezone, 33% is tropical moist forest, and 25% is wet or rain forest (Lugo 1988). The species diversity of these tropical habitats is very high. Raven (1976, in Mooney 1988) estimated that 65% of the 250,000 or more plant species of the earth are found in tropical regions. Of this floristic assemblage, a large fraction are woody species. In the well-collected tropical moist forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, 39. 7% (481 of 1212 species) of the native phanerogams are woody, arborescent species (Croat 1978). Another 21. 9% are woody vines and lianas. Southeast Asian Dipterocarp forests may contain 120-200 species of trees per hectare (Whitmore 1984), and recent surveys in upper Amazonia re corded from 89 to 283 woody species ~ 10 cm dbh per hectare (Gentry 1988). Tropical communities thus represent a global woody flora of significant scope.

Biodiversity is the delicate ecological balance within biological systems such as species and populations. Evidence suggests air pollution disrupts and impoverishes ecosysytems processes, and genetic and population diversity. Based on a symposium conducted by the EPA's Environmental Research Laboratory, this book pulls together current knowledge on the subject, assesses its relevance, and offers a framework for future research on the impact of air pollution on biodiversity through all levels of biological organization. This text is particularly timely due to acid rain and other toxic problems. The text also discusses the best available control technology, management practices, alternative chemicals, and legislative ways to reduce the impact of air pollution on biodiversity.

During the 4th International Consultation on Forest Genetics and Tree Building, held in 1998 in Beijing, China, leading scientists were invited to review past achievements, to redefine the role of forest genetics and breeding in contemporary forestry, and to set priorities for future research and development. On the basis of the invited presentations, the volume summarizes the state of knowledge in various fields, such as the impact of forest management and of changing environmental conditions on genetic resources, and the value of genetic markers as indicators for adaptational potential, as well as the tasks of conservation. Detailed reports from the different continents provide a comprehensive diagnosis of the global situation of forest genetics and tree breeding research. The book offers not only an overview of contemporary trends and expected future developments, but also identifies current main problems in funding and cooperation. It may prove therefore useful not only for scientists, university lecturers and advanced students in the field of forestry, ecology and conservation biology, but also for decision makers and managers in companies and conservation organizations.

Forest management must be sustainable not only in ecological, economic and social, but also genetic terms. Many forest managers are advocating and developing management strategies that give priority to conserving genetic diversity within production systems, or that recognise the importance of genetic considerations in achieving sustainable management. Forest Conservation Genetics draws together much previously uncollected information relevant to managing and conserving forests. The content emphasises the importance of conserving genetic diversity in achieving sustainable management. Each chapter is written by a leading expert and has been peer reviewed. Readers without a background in genetics will find the logical sequence of topics allows easy understanding of the principles involved and how those principles may impact on day-to-day forest planning and management decisions. The book is primarily aimed at undergraduate students of biology, ecology, forestry, and graduate students of forest genetics, resource management policy and/or conservation biology. It will prove useful for those teaching courses in these fields and as such help to increase the awareness of genetic factors in conservation and sustainable management, in both temperate and tropical regions.

"Air Pollution and Plant Life" - Ein idealer Studienbegleiter zu Lehrveranstaltungen in den Bereichen Umwelt- und Pflanzenwissenschaft. Jetzt neu in der 2. Auflage. Dieser Band bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über die direkten und indirekten Auswirkungen der Luftverschmutzung auf die Pflanzenwelt und ihre Folgen für die allgemeine pflanzliche Produktivität. Untersucht werden verschiedene Schadstoffe, wie z.B. Oxidantien, Stickstoffoxide, Schwefeloxide, Fluoride und Feststoffteilchen, Schadstoffquellen sowie die Aufnahme und Speicherung einzelner Schadstoffe durch die Pflanzen. Darüber hinaus werden die aktuellen Richtlinien zur Luftqualität und deren Rolle in der Umweltpolitik umfassend erläutert. "Air Pollution and Plant Life" ist aber nicht nur ein wichtiges Lehrbuch für Studienanfänger und fortgeschrittene Studenten, sondern auch ein ideales Nachschlagewerk für Forscher in diesem Bereich.