• 1. Geography, geology, climate and the communities studied.- 2. Soils and nutrient turnover.- 3. Plant geographical description of the area.- 4. Alpine plant communities: syntaxonomy, floristic composition and richness.- 5. Structure and dynamics of closed alpine communities.- 6. Population biology of alpine plants.- 7. Experimental study of plant relationships.- 8. Soil algae and cyanobacteria in the alpine plant communities.- 9. Fungi, mycorrhiza, and microbiological processes in the alpine ecosystems.- 10. Animals and their influence on plant communities.- 11. Human activity and nature conservation problems.- References.- Species index.

From the reviews: "This volume contains the main results of 20 years of fieldwork in the northwest Caucasus. ... it can serve as a solid basis for further research and monitoring in alpine environments ... . The book combines a comprehensive overview with the results of in-depth research. ... the volume may be recommended for all interested in the Caucasus and in high mountain ecology in general, as it presents a rich diversity of scientific approaches to the study of relevant topics." (Jorg Stadelbauer, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 25 (3), 2005)

• 1. Geography, geology, climate and the communities studied.- 2. Soils and nutrient turnover.- 3. Plant geographical description of the area.- 4. Alpine plant communities: syntaxonomy, floristic composition and richness.- 5. Structure and dynamics of closed alpine communities.- 6. Population biology of alpine plants.- 7. Experimental study of plant relationships.- 8. Soil algae and cyanobacteria in the alpine plant communities.- 9. Fungi, mycorrhiza, and microbiological processes in the alpine ecosystems.- 10. Animals and their influence on plant communities.- 11. Human activity and nature conservation problems.- References.- Species index.

From the reviews: "This volume contains the main results of 20 years of fieldwork in the northwest Caucasus. ... it can serve as a solid basis for further research and monitoring in alpine environments ... . The book combines a comprehensive overview with the results of in-depth research. ... the volume may be recommended for all interested in the Caucasus and in high mountain ecology in general, as it presents a rich diversity of scientific approaches to the study of relevant topics." (Jorg Stadelbauer, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 25 (3), 2005)

• 1. Geography, geology, climate and the communities studied.- 2. Soils and nutrient turnover.- 3. Plant geographical description of the area.- 4. Alpine plant communities: syntaxonomy, floristic composition and richness.- 5. Structure and dynamics of closed alpine communities.- 6. Population biology of alpine plants.- 7. Experimental study of plant relationships.- 8. Soil algae and cyanobacteria in the alpine plant communities.- 9. Fungi, mycorrhiza, and microbiological processes in the alpine ecosystems.- 10. Animals and their influence on plant communities.- 11. Human activity and nature conservation problems.- References.- Species index.

From the reviews: "This volume contains the main results of 20 years of fieldwork in the northwest Caucasus. ... it can serve as a solid basis for further research and monitoring in alpine environments ... . The book combines a comprehensive overview with the results of in-depth research. ... the volume may be recommended for all interested in the Caucasus and in high mountain ecology in general, as it presents a rich diversity of scientific approaches to the study of relevant topics." (Jorg Stadelbauer, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 25 (3), 2005)