Quantitative approaches to phytogeography

Many aspects of phytogeography have gained loped numerical techniques which allow the com­ greatly from the recent development of analytical bination of quantitative floristic and vegetational and numerical methods. The new methods have analyses with mapping and causal or evolu­ opened up new avenues of research, leading to a tionary deductions. The papers selected for the better understanding of the distribution and book show approaches for higher and lower plant evolutionary patterns of species and communities. forms. Several papers dealing with relevant in­ During the 1987 Botanical Congress in Berlin, formation on vegetation for the respective areas Drs Nimis and Haeupler organized a symposium appear for the first time. The combination of in which examples of present-day phytogeogra­ new approaches successfully applied to new phic work were discussed. After the symposium problems should be very stimulating to young it was agreed that a proceedings volume should scientists as many papers demonstrate how to be edited by Drs Nimis and Crovello. From the make efficient use of the new developments in lectures presented, those dealing primarily with information science for species-oriented phyto­ numerical methods were selected for the book. geography. This is the second volume of the T: VS series that While the book does not intend to serve as a deals with new aspects and methods of phyto­ textbook, it can be viewed as a guide to the geography.

'In conclusion, the book is a useful reference work deserving a place in larger libraries....No doubt phytogeography will always remain a largely descriptive subject, but one could wish that this characteristic was not so prominent here.' Journal of Biogeography 19:3 1992