Ecology and management of North American savannas

by Guy R. McPherson

Savannas are ecosystems with a continuous grass layer and scattered trees or shrubs. These lands occupy nearly a third of the earth's land surface and are an important resource not only in world economies but also as repositories of biodiversity. Because savannas are generally thought of as tropical ecosystems, most reviews of the literature have tended to disregard savannas found in temperate zones. Yet these ecosystems are both extensive and diverse in North America, ranging from longleaf pine habitats along the Atlantic coastal plain to xeric pinyon-juniper communities of the Great Basin - ecosystems seemingly disparate, yet similar enough to merit study as savannas. This book provides an overview of the patterns and processes shared by these ecosystems and offers substantive ideas regarding future management and research efforts. It describes the composition, geographic distribution, climate, soils, and uses of savannas throughout North America, summarizing and integrating a wide a