Australian Rainforests (Oxford Biogeography) [Paperback]

Paul Adam (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 1994 | Series: Oxford Biogeography (Book 6)

Once the dominant vegetation type of the entire continent, the Australian rainforests have shrunk over many millions of years to their present limited size. The forests and their history, however, continue to hold valuable lessons for biogeographers and environmentalists. This book gives a general account of the Australian rainforests, detailing their composition and location as well as how their present distribution has evolved. Throughout, the book provides a broad, biogeographical framework that enables new information to be considered from 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'a valuable and timely reference for scholars who seek not only an introduction and an overview but also direction in exploring questions as yet unanswered or unasked.' David. J. Yates, Botany, The University of Queensland

'A comprehensive review of Australian rainforest ... It will be of interest not only to ecologists and biogeography, but also to conservationists.' Nature, Vol. 372, December 1994

`Australian Rainforests is a scholarly presentation about an important subject, drawing together for the first time most of the work on the topic. It provides a valuable and timely reference for scholars who seek not only an introduction and an overview but also direction in exploring questions as yet unanswered or unasked.' David J. Yates, The University of Queensland, American Scientist, Volume 82

`Overall this book is a highly useful text as an introduction to the literature on Australian rainforests. In a European context, it is to be recommended to forest ecology students, travellers to Australia, rainforest researchers, and those interested in the politics of forestry.' J.H.R. Heuch, Forestry, Vol. 69, No. 2, 1996

About the Author

Paul Adam, Lecturer, School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 24, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198548729
• ISBN-13: 978-0198548720
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,576,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, November 25, 2009

By 

Kouta Räsänen (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Australian Rainforests (Oxford Biogeography) (Paperback)

A very informative, interesting and well written book about Australian rainforests from monsoonal forests of northern Australia to cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania. Covers definition, classification, overview of various types and regions, ecology, origins, fauna, human influence and conservation. The peculiar Australian definition of rainforest is revisited repeatedly, and comparisons of Australian rainforests in a world context are particularly interesting.