Topics in ecology: structure and function in plants and ecosystems

Topics in ecology: structure and function in plants and ecosystems is a volume dedicated to Prof. Dr. ir. Ivan Impens who retired from the University of Antwerp, UIA, on 1 October 2000 after an academic career of nearly 40 years, of which 27 years at UIA. An international symposium in honour of Ivan Impens was held in Antwerp on 21 October 2000. Papers presented at this symposium are included in this volume together with a range of others contributed by various scientists from Europe and the USA. The papers deal with various aspects of plant and vegetation ecology covering different hierarchical levels of organisation: leaf, plant, stand, ecosystem, landscape, region and globe. All papers are authored by former or present co-workers, friedns and peers of Ivan Impens, who are all active in disciplines related to plant and vegetation ecology. An editorial board has peer reviewed and edited all contributed papers. The papers are grouped in six different sections: (i) Forest production ecology, (ii) Patterns and processes from landscape to global scale, (iii) Biodiversity and ecosystem function, (iv) Impact of rising CO2 concentration on vegetation, (v) Adaptation and response to the physical environment, and (vi) Human disturbance upon ecosystems.