Includes bibliographical references (p. 483-513) and index.

Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Metric equivalents -- 1. Introduction : Forest basics -- 1.1. Characteristics of woodlands and forests-- 1.2. The value of woodlands and forests -- 1.3. Tree biology and how it influences woodland ecology -- 1.4. Spatial structure -- 1.5. The woodland ecosystem : food chains, food webs and the plant, animal and decomposition subsystems -- 1.6. Forest types and classification -- 1.7. Regional classifications of forests and woodlands -- 2. Forest soils, climate and zonation -- 2.1. Soils and trees -- 2.2. Features of forest soils -- 2.3. Roots, foraging and competition -- 2.4. Forest zonation and site quality -- 2.5. Rain forests : climate, soils and variation -- 3. Primary production and forest development -- 3.1. Plant life forms and biological spectra -- 3.2. Light and shade -- 3.3. Water -- 3.4. Temperature and pollutant influences on tree growth -- 3.5. Altitudinal zonation and timberlines -- 3.6. Evergreen and deciduous strategies: aspects of competitive advantage -- 3.7. Contrasts between three widespread tree genera : the pines, beeches and oaks -- 3.8. Ecology and significance of ageing trees --

4. Reproductive strategies of forest plants -- 4.1. Plant strategies -- 4.2. Regenerative strategies and vegetative spread -- 4.3. Reproduction and fruiting -- 4.4. Masting -- 4.5. Roles and influences of animals -- 4.6. Time constraints -- 5. Biotic interactions -- 5.1. Producers and consumers -- 5.2. The interdependence of producers and consumers -- 5.3. Insect defoliation and damage -- 5.4. Forest fungi -- 5.5. Specialized heterotrophs : epiphytes, parasites and saprotrophs -- 5.6. Exotic plants -- 5.7. Herbivorous mammals and birds -- 5.8. The impact of woodland carnivores and omnivores -- 5.9. Herbivores and the Holocene : did the lowland European forest have a closed canopy? -- 6. Biodiversity in woodlands -- 6.1. Genetic variation in populations and its implications -- 6.2. Selection pressures and biodiversity -- 6.3. Biodiversity at organism, population and habitat levels -- 6.4. Changes in species diversity over time -- 6.5. What allows species to co-exist in a woodland? -- 6.6. Conservation, biodiversity, population integrity and uniqueness --

7. Decomposition and renewal -- 7.1. The vital key to a working forest -- 7.2. Decomposition -- 7.3. Degradative stages -- 7.4. How much dead material is there? -- 7.5. What controls the rate of decomposition? -- 7.6. Rates of decomposition -- 7.7. Woody material -- 8. Energy and nutrients -- 8.1. Growth of forests -- 8.2. Energy flow through forest ecosystems -- 8.3. Nutrient cycling -- 8.4. Nitrogen -- 8.5. Nutrient dynamics in different forests -- 8.6. Human influences -- 9. Forest change and disturbance -- 9.1. Ecology of past forests -- 9.2. Ecological processes that govern change -- 9.3. Disturbance, patch dynamics and scales of change -- 9.4. Examples of forest change -- 9.5. Stability and diversity -- 10. Working forests -- 10.1. Forest resources and products -- 10.2. Single- and multi-use forests -- 10.3. Silviculture and the replacement of trees -- 10.4. Improving the forest : choice of species and provenance -- 10.5. Forest practices -- 10.6. Sustainable forest management -- 10.7. Landscape ecology and forests -- 11. The future - how will our forests change? -- 11.1. Threats to forests and the increasing demand for timber -- 11.2. Desertification -- 11.3. Climate change -- 11.4. Other causes of forest decline -- 11.5. Problems in urban forests - the social interface -- 11.6. Agroforestry and new forests -- 11.7. The final challenge -- References -- Index.