This book provides a wealth of high-quality scientific information on the patterns and processes of vegetation change across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, concentrating on Southwestern China, mostly on the Yunnan region, and extending to the Yangtze River valley near the boundaries separating Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou.

An accessible introduction to the theory and practice of multivariate analysis for graduates, researchers and professionals dealing with ecological problems.

When two of us (Jifi Kolbek, Miroslav Sriltek) were working in North Korea on the Czech Slovak field expeditions of the early 1990s, we did not think initially of comparing our results with the vegetation of surrounding areas or of writing a book. Our efforts mainly involved observing and documenting the vegetation as completely as possible and initial recognition of vegetation units. At first we focused on the most obvious vegetation types, but eventually also any important types that we could discern. Later we focused more on forests, since almost ali of northeastern Asia has forest potential and forests stiH do form the landscape matrix in most areas. First we studied suburban woods and forests, most of which are strongly affected by human activities. Later, though, we also had chances to visit and study lovely mountain regions, including Myohyang-san, Kumgang-san, Su jang-san, and the high, especially beautiful Changbai-shan on the border between North Korea and China. The Changbai-shan is the highest mountain system in the Korean Peninsula, including the highest peak Paektu-san. We gradually changed our goal from an evaluation of forest data from North Korea to comparison with available field data and literature sources from comparable surrounding areas. These include South Korea, the Russian Far East, northeastern China (Manchuria), and northem Japan, including the Kuril Islands. Finally we decided to prepare a preliminary survey of the forest vegetation of the Russian Far East and eventually of aII of northeastem Asia, which would be published in English.

In the last two decades, plant biology has developed rapidly, ranging from molecular genetics, cell biology, and physiology to ecology and evolutionary issues, both for economic species and species unrelated to humans. These topics have received intensive attention, however, there is still a large gap in the study of plant biology in prehistoric times, especially those closely related to humans. The identification of plant species in archaeological sites plays an important role in exploring the paleoenvironment, the origin and spread of agriculture, and the relationship between humans and nature. In this research topic, we welcome progress in all aspects of ancient plant fossil research, especially phytoliths, starches, pollen and carbonized seeds, from the mechanisms of plant fossil formation to their phytosystematics, and the associated paleoecology and paleoenvironment.

Original studies address key aspects of the conservation and biodiversity of plants. Articles are all peer-reviewed primary research papers, contributed by leading biodiversity researchers from around the world. Collectively, these articles provide a snapshot of the major issues and activities in global plant conservation. Many of the articles can serve as excellent case studies for courses in ecology, restoration, biodiversity, and conservation.

The novelty of the book is a strong focus on perception, perspectives and prediction by scientists with profound insight into the ecology of ecosystems or into human demands and activity. The challenge is to bridge from empirical data and the knowledge of the past to the possibilities of the performance in the future. We assume that there is scope for more cooperation between the fields of ecology and practical philosophy or other social sciences in organising ecosystems and shaping the cultural future of humankind, and that such collaboration should be accorded considerably more priority. This book deals with environmental processes seen within a framework of the nature of ecosystems and human cultures. The future of the environment, the development of ecosystems and effective nature conservation management are the essentials of this book. Human nature and culture, and in particular their interactions, are interpreted as a set of rules and as given. The aim is not only to assess the significance of human influence on species composition and biodiversity but also to weigh up the subsequent potentials for action. In this book we will analyze the problems independently of one another, even if they are interconnected. This book focuses on perspectives and prognoses for the impacts of anthropogenic activity on ecosystems and thus on species conservation. Its goal is to improve assessments of the impacts of human activity on the environment. We are aware that prognoses have very often proven to be false. It is difficult to impossible to be able to predict with precision how evolution and ecosystems will change in future under anthropogenic influence. This strengthens our resolve to attempt to retain the highest possible degree of scientific integrity and professionalism and not to shy away from expressing the uncertainty of our own ideas and prognoses. We venture prognoses in this book and we will fail. However, we hope that we will be wrong on the right side.

This book presents an overview study about plant biogeography and vegetation of the high mountains of Central and South-West Asia, by a group of specialists familiar with its area and plant growth and ecology. This book discusses its ecological and evolutionary drivers and also its conservation priorities. Central and South-West Asia is one of the most diverse areas in the northern hemisphere and several biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in this region. Most of the biodiversity hotspots are associated with high mountain ranges of the region. Moreover, these mountains have been immigration corridors for the Central Asian flora to reach Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean regions. Despite its importance, there is no overview publication to present the plant biogeography and vegetation of these mountains and most of the publications are local or rather imprecise