Karel Prach is Professor of Botany in the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, and Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republic. He has published extensively in the areas of succession, restoration, river floodplains and ecology of alien plants. He is current President of the Czech Botanical Society. Lawrence R. Walker is Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on succession, disturbance ecology and restoration. He taught ecology, conservation biology and scientific writing for thirty years. He has published ten previous books, is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher and was the Wilder Chair in Botany at the University of Hawaii (2009–2010).

• Part I. Plant Succession and Biomes: 1. Introduction; 2. Humans and succession; 3. Terrestrial biomes; Part II. Succession by Disturbance Type: 4. Comparative approach; 5. Volcanoes; 6. Glaciers; 7. Cyclones; 8. Dunes; 9. Landslides; 10. Floods; 11. Fire; 12. Clearcuts; 13. Plowed fields; 14. Mines; 15. Other disturbances; Part III. Synthesis: 16. Synthesis; 17. Conclusions and future research challenges.

'… a useful reference volume for students of succession … Prach and Walker … succeed in their comprehensive survey of plant succession, and in highlighting the many gaps for future research.' Gillian L Rapson, Conservation Biology

Karel Prach is Professor of Botany in the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, and Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republic. He has published extensively in the areas of succession, restoration, river floodplains and ecology of alien plants. He is current President of the Czech Botanical Society. Lawrence R. Walker is Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on succession, disturbance ecology and restoration. He taught ecology, conservation biology and scientific writing for thirty years. He has published ten previous books, is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher and was the Wilder Chair in Botany at the University of Hawaii (2009–2010).

• Part I. Plant Succession and Biomes: 1. Introduction; 2. Humans and succession; 3. Terrestrial biomes; Part II. Succession by Disturbance Type: 4. Comparative approach; 5. Volcanoes; 6. Glaciers; 7. Cyclones; 8. Dunes; 9. Landslides; 10. Floods; 11. Fire; 12. Clearcuts; 13. Plowed fields; 14. Mines; 15. Other disturbances; Part III. Synthesis: 16. Synthesis; 17. Conclusions and future research challenges.

'… a useful reference volume for students of succession … Prach and Walker … succeed in their comprehensive survey of plant succession, and in highlighting the many gaps for future research.' Gillian L Rapson, Conservation Biology

Karel Prach is Professor of Botany in the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, and Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republic. He has published extensively in the areas of succession, restoration, river floodplains and ecology of alien plants. He is current President of the Czech Botanical Society. Lawrence R. Walker is Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on succession, disturbance ecology and restoration. He taught ecology, conservation biology and scientific writing for thirty years. He has published ten previous books, is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher and was the Wilder Chair in Botany at the University of Hawaii (2009–2010).

• Part I. Plant Succession and Biomes: 1. Introduction; 2. Humans and succession; 3. Terrestrial biomes; Part II. Succession by Disturbance Type: 4. Comparative approach; 5. Volcanoes; 6. Glaciers; 7. Cyclones; 8. Dunes; 9. Landslides; 10. Floods; 11. Fire; 12. Clearcuts; 13. Plowed fields; 14. Mines; 15. Other disturbances; Part III. Synthesis: 16. Synthesis; 17. Conclusions and future research challenges.

'… a useful reference volume for students of succession … Prach and Walker … succeed in their comprehensive survey of plant succession, and in highlighting the many gaps for future research.' Gillian L Rapson, Conservation Biology