Vegetation, soil and climate are the most important components of ecological systems. This long-awaited fourth edition of the well-established textbook by Heinrich Walter summarizes our knowledge of the earth's ecology and constitutes the basis for a deeper understanding of the larger interrelations on a global scale.
While Walter's general concept remains unchanged, the individual chapters have been completely revised, enlarged and updated. The author's intimate knowledge of practically all classes of plants and climatic zones allows him to describe the various ecological systems in close detail.
This richly illustrated textbook is a must for every student in the plant sciences.

and Remarks

1 Aims of Ecological Science
2 Significance of Present-Day Ecology as a Philosophy
3 Human Impact on Ecosystems
4 Significance of Systematics and Taxonomy for Biology
5 Importance of Scientific Documentation
6 Importance of Excursions for Young Scientists
General Section
Ecological Fundamentals
Ecological Systems and Biology of Ecosystems
Special Section
I Zonobiome of the Evergreen Tropical Rain Forest (Zonobiome of the Equatorial Humid Diurnal Climate)
II Zonobiome of Savannas and Deciduous Forests and Grasslands (Zonobiome of the Humido-arid Tropical Summer Rain Region)
III Zonobiome of Hot Deserts (Zonobiome of Subtropical Arid Climates)
IV Zonobiome of Sclerophyllic Woodlands (Zonobiome of the Arido-Humid Winter Rain Region)
V Zonobiome of Laurel Forests (Zonobiome of the Warm-Temperate Humid Climate)
VI Zonobiome of Deciduous Forests (Zonobiome of the Temperate Nemoral Climate)
VII Zonobiome of Steppes and Cold Deserts (Zonobiome of the Arid-Temperature Climate)
VIII Zonobiome of the Taiga (Zonobiome of the Cold-Temperature Boreal Climate)
IX Zonobiome of the Tundra (Zonobiome of the Arctic Climate)
Summary and Conclusions
References
Explanations of Foreign Technical Words Used.