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Plant Functions in Mountain Environment explores functional dynamics of plants in mountains. It provides a much needed pan-world synthesis of the vast mountain plant related literature from numerous mountain ecosystems around the world. The emphasis is on impact of altitudinal gradient on plant functions. Not all functional and eco physiological traits are influenced similarly by altitudinal gradient and not all species express similar trend. This book provides a holistic view of mountain environment and its effect on plants’ functions and distribution. Mountains are most vulnerable to climate change and its impact on different characteristics of plants had been discussed in the book.

Process based approach has been adapted in arranging different chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief history of work carried out in mountains during last 200 hundred years. It also provides an outline of the driving forces operating in mountains. Chapter 2 introduces the readers to seed ecology i.e. seed germination and seedling establishment. Chapter 3 examines rooting pattern and associated mycorrhize in mountain plants. Chapter 4 provides the nutrient contents in soil, plant leaves and possible impacts of climate change on soil and nutrient contents. Chapter 5 describes the leaf morphology, anatomy and how changes in leaf morphology and anatomy impact other functions of the plants. Chapter 6 discuss photosynthesis of mountain plants. The climate change impact is predicted to be largest on this process and all this information has been incorporated in this chapter. Chapter 7 provides insight into mechanism of respiration in mountain plants which is as important as photosynthesis. Chapter 8 on reproduction examines different types of reproductive mechanisms in mountain plants and impact of climate change on it. The chapter 9 introduces readers to Timberline-its formation and hypothesis explaining why and how it is formed. The last chapter 10 examines the diversity, species richness and various theories to explain the diversity and species richness in mountain and impact of climate change on it.

The intent of this book is to act as both a foundation and a stimulus for future research in mountain plant functional aspects.