Laszlo Nagy obtained his first degree in Hungary before moving to the University of Stirling, Scotland, where he obtained his Ph.D. and went on to work as a Post-doctoral research fellow. He is currently an independent researcher at EcoScience Scotland and is affilliated with the Department of Conservation Biology, University of Vienna. He is editor of Plant Ecology and Diversity, the journal of the Botanical Society of Scotland.Georg Grabherr studied at the University of Innsbruck where he stayed on to become assistant professor. In 1986 he moved to the University of Vienna as a Professor of Vegetation Ecology and Conservation Biology. He has over 150 publications and sits on numerous Advisory Boards and Committees.

• 1. Introduction: what is alpine? ; 2. High mountains in latitude life zones - a worldwide perspective ; 3. Elevation gradients ; 4. The alpine environment - energy and climate ; 5. Habitat creating factors: landforms, hydrology, and soils ; 6. Alpine terrestrial habitats and community types / assemblages ; 7. Biogeography, adaptation and evolution of alpine organisms ; 8. Temporal and spatial dynamics ; 9. Global change impacts on alpine habitats: climate and nitrogen deposition ; 10. Land use and conservation of alpine landscapes, ecosystems, and species ; 11. Concluding remarks ; References ; Index

[A] Unique global overview of alpine habitats.