A Classification of North American Biotic Communities/North American Biotic Community Map. Brown, D. E., F. Reichenbacher, S. E. Franson, 1998. ISBN 0-87480-562-7 (paper US$19.95) ISBN 0-87480-567 (map US$20.00) (Book and map set US$34.95) x + 141 pp. University of Utah Press, 1795 E. South Campus Drive, Suite 101, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-9402.
- Biotic Communities presents a slightly modified version of the classification system of Brown, Lowe, and Pase (1979), which is reprinted in Appendix I in Brown (1982) and in Brown (1994). Further, the older version of the classification system has been expanded to cover all of the terrestrial biotic communities of Mexico, as well as those of Central America. On p. 17, the authors state that, "Our purpose in presenting this classification system is neither to promote a new concept nor to replace existing classifications. Instead, we are attempting to present a hierarchial synthesis of existing works on North American biogeography to aid in the development of a universal classification system" (emphasis added).The book contains a two and one-half page introduction, three chapters, and fairly extensive Literature Cited and Literature Consulted Sections. Chapter one is a good short historical review of "The Biogeographic Approach" to defining and classifying vegetation and biogeographic regions. Brief accounts are given of the contributions of some of the world's most distinguished ecologists and biogeographers - e.g., Linnaeus', von Humboldt (considered the father of biogeography), Agassiz, Sclater, Wallace, Engler, Drude, Clements, Gleason, Braun-Blanquet, Shreve, Shelford, Holdridge, and Whittaker. Interestingly, the substantial contributions of E. Lucy Braun are not discussed.
Chapter 2 describes "The Classification System," which is hierarchial and numerically-coded. Thus, a full classification/description of a stand of vegetation would contain eight digits, the first of which is followed by a comma and the fourth by a decimal, e.g., 1,111.1111. The number preceding the comma distinguishes one of the world's seven biogeographic realms. Only the Nearctic and Neotropical realms are represented in North America (Fig. 2, p. 18), which includes Central America and Greenland (sensu Brown, Reichenbacher, and Franson). The first digit after the comma refers to one of two hydrologic regimes, i.e., upland and wetland. Other tentative hydrologic regimes are not included in the present classification system. Of course, both upland and wetland hydrologic regimes occur in North America. The second digit following the comma refers to formation-type. Six wetland/upland plant formations are shown on the North American map (Fig. 3, p. 22): Tundra, Forest and Woodland, Shrublands and Swamps, Grasslands and Marshes, Deserts, and Non-vegetated.
The third digit following the comma refers to the four world climatic zones: Arctic-Boreal, Cold-Temperate, Warm Temperate, and Tropical-Subtropical; all four occur in North America (Fig. 4, p. 26). Most of Canada is in the Arctic-Boreal climatic zone, and most of the United States is in the Cold Temperate zone. The southeastern Coastal Plain, Lower Mississippi River Valley, and parts of California and the Southwestern United States are in the Warm Temperate Zone. The climate of the Sonoran Desert in southern California/ southwestern Arizona, extreme southern Texas, and the southern tip of Florida are included in the Tropical Subtropical climatic zone and in the Neotropical biogeographic realm.
The fourth digit after the comma (=first digit after decimal) refers to biotic communities or regional formations within a biogeographic province, e.g., Great Basin [=biogeographic province] Interior Marshland [=biotic community]. Thirty-two biotic (or biogeographic) provinces are shown for North America (Fig. 5, p. 28). Some of the biotic communities within each of the 32 biotic provinces are listed. The fifth level after the comma (second digit following decimal) refers to the series (recognized by one or more indicator plants) within biotic communities, e.g., Cottongrass Series within the Alaskan Grassland biotic community.
The sixth digit after the comma (third digit after decimal) refers to an association, i.e. a plant community having a particular floristic composition, uniform habitat conditions, and uniform physiognomy." (p. 35) An example is the Pinus ponderosa Association of the Yellow Pine Series of the Rocky Mountain Conifer Forest. The seventh digit following the comma (fourth digit after decimal) "...accommodates detailed assessment of composition, structure, density, or other quantitative determinations for plant and animal series within a plant association." (p. 36) No examples are provided.
Tables 4 and 5 (pp. 36-48, chapter 2) contain Brown, Reichenbacher, and Franson's classification scheme for the biotic communities of North America, i.e., to the fourth level, following the comma, in the hierarchy; series (fifth level) or series and association (sixth level) is (are) given in some cases. A classification of the Pinus ponderosa association to the sixth level following the comma is as follows: Biogeographic Realm - Nearctic (1,000); Hydrologic Regime - Natural Upland Vegetation (1,100); Formation-Forest and Woodland (1,120); Climatic Zone-Cold Temperate Forest and Woodland (1,122); Biotic Community-Rocky Mountain Montane Conifer Forest (1,122.6); Series-Yellow Pine (1,122.62); and Association-Pinus ponderosa (1,122.621). A seventh digit following the comma would refer to description of the composition and structure of the Pinus ponderosa association, but no vegetation in the classification system is described at this (stand) level.
One-hundred of the 118 plates (glossy black and white photographs) illustrate upland biotic communities (fourth level following comma) - e.g., Polar (High Arctic) Tundra (1,111.1; note digit preceding comma has been dropped from plate captions) and 18 wetland vegetation types to the climatic (third) level, e.g., Arctic Wet Tundra (1,211; note digit preceding comma has been dropped from plate captions). Most of the photographs are acceptable to good (but not excellent) quality. However, some are poor (i.e., Plates 16, 38, 94) or only fair (i.e., Plates 60, 67, 69, 97, 100) quality pictures.
I noted several misspellings of Latin names in the plate captions: Plate 6 - Geum rossii, not G. rossi; Plate 20 - Quercus kelloggii, not Q. kelloggi and Pseudotsuga macrocarpa, not P. macrocapa; Plate 25 - Pseudotsuga menziesii, not P. menziesi; Plate 27 - Pinus palustris, not P. palustrus; Plate 28 - Juglans califomica, not J. california; Plate 46 - Quercus havardi, not Q. harvardi; Plate 50 - Ceanothus gregii, not C. greggi; Plate 59 Pseudotsuga menziesii, not P. menziesi; Plate 65 - Acacia gregii, not A. greggi; Plate 80 - Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum, not Pachyereus p.-a.; Plate 88 - Stenocereus thurberi, not Stenocerus t.; Plate 93 - Hyparrhenia rufa, not Hyparrahenia r.; and Plate 101 - Caltha palustris, not Coetha palustrus.
Chapter 3 is a description/justification of the 1:10,000,000 color map; it shows the geographical extent of the biotic communities of North America (fourth level following comma). Upland communities less than 100 km2 and "all but the largest wetlands" are omitted from the map. Table 5 (chapter 3, pp. 51-53) contains areal estimates of the biotic communities. The Neartic Realm contains 21,720 x 103 km2 (98.6% of it upland) and the Neotropical Realm 1,847 x 103 km2 (96.6% upland. The largest biotic communities (all in the Neartic Realm) (in 103 km2 ) are the: Canadian Taiga, 4,631; Northeastern Deciduous Forest, 2,712; Plains Grassland, 2,341; and Canadian (Low Arctic) Tundra, 2,262. The four largest biotic communities in the Neotropical Realm (in 101 km2) are the Sonoran Desertscrub, 306; Tamulipan Thornscrub, 188; Central American Evergreen Rain Forest, 161; and Guerreran Dry Deciduous Forest, 139.
The authors point out (p. 49) that, "Some potential users and reviewers have objected to the large uniform areas of Northeastern Deciduous Forest, Canadian Taiga, and Plains Grassland when compared to the smaller, more numerous biotic communities in Mexico and the American Southwest." They defend these differential delineations by stating figures showing that biotic diversity is higher in the latter than in the former regions - e.g., the Mexican state of Chiapas (74,000 km2) has 8,250 known species of [vascular?] plants compared to 2,750 in Ohio (115,719 km2).
For the Northeastern Deciduous Forest biotic community, Brown, Reichenbacher, and Franson recognize six series (fifth level after comma): Oak-Hickory, Oak-Chestnut, Beech-Maple, Oak-Pine, Maple-Basswood, and Hemlock-White Pine-Northern Hardwood. These are six of E. L. Braun's (1950) nine forest regions of the Eastern Deciduous Forest. Her Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest Region in put in the Southeastern Deciduous and Evergreen Forest biotic community (fourth level after comma). Thus, it appears that Braun's Mixed Mesophytic- and Western Mesophytic forest regions are not included in the present classification. For the Adirondack-Appalachian Subalpine Conifer Forest, the authors included only one series in their classification system: Red Spruce-Balsam Fir. Should not a Red Spruce-Fraser Fir series be distinguished for the Southem Appalachians?
This reviewer thinks that there was a poor choice of map color schemes for distinguishing adjacent biotic communities as well as those near one another. Thus, for example, the dull-blue depicting the Northeastern Deciduous Forest does not contrast well with the grey depicting the Adirondack-Appalachian Subalpine Conifer Forest. Nor is the dark-grey depicting the Southeastern Deciduous and Evergreen Forest easy to distinguish from the dull dark-grey depicting the Southeastern Swamp and Riparian Forest. I thought that perhaps the PSB Editor had received a "bad" copy of the map. Whereupon, I phoned the University of Utah Press, explained the problem to them, and asked for another copy of it. However, the copy I received directly from them was no different from the one set to me by Joe Leverich.
I have another criticism of the map: there are no reference points per se on it, which makes it very difficult to locate a given area with any degree of precision. Thus, another way to increase the usefulness of the map would be to add to it state/provincial boundaries, and perhaps even the locations of one or two of the largest cities in each state/province. In these respects, as well as in color scheme and in number of vegetation types distinguished, Küchler's (1964) map is much more useful and user-friendly. I cannot imagine that the map of Brown, Reichenbacher, and Franson will be useful to anyone interested in any or all types of vegetation (or biotic communities), especially those east of the Rockies.
In all fairness to the authors, however, this is a "progress report" on a large, complex, and ongoing project. Future editions, more than likely, will result not only in a map with better color and with a more detailed delineation of the biotic communities of North America, but also in some fine-tuning of a classification system, which appears to be workable. - Jerry M. Baskin, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0225.
Literature Cited
Eucalypt Ecology: Individuals to Ecosystems Williams, Jann and Woinarski, John, eds., 1997. ISBN 0-521-49740-X (cloth US$150.00) 430 pp. Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20'h Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. This book is composed of 16 independently authored chapters covering (1) introduction to the biology of eucalypts, (2) phylogeny and classification, (3) reproductive biology, (4) genetics and genecology, (5) biogeography, (6) niche modeling, (7) fire ecology, (8) ecophysiology, (9) nutrient cycling, (10) vascular plant-eucalypt interactions, (I 1) fungal associations wi eucalypts, (12) invertebrates and (13) vertebrates ass ciated with eucalypt formations, (14) herbivory, (15) conservation and management, and (16) overview and outlook.
In general the quality of the individual chapters is commendable, and the coverage of many is excellent. Some of the subject areas, especially the non-eucalypt components of eucalypt ecosystems, are reviewed for the first time. The same topic is often covered in several chapters: seed and seedling ecology (3,4,7,8), mycorrhizae (9,11), fire (3,7,8,9,15). The authors only touch upon many interesting questions. For example, why eucalypts only rarely occur as shrubs or subdominants? This is in striking contrast to the otherwise enormous range of adaptations in this genus.
A real synthesis is still needed. Most of the conclusions about differences between individual species are derived from patterns of their geographic/environmental distributions (a beautiful summary by Austin et al. can be found in chapter 6). Surprisingly, there has not been any broad survey of the physiological or life-history characteristics of the eucalypts. This genus (or, if you wish, collection of closely related genera) provides a unique opportunity to test of many ecological and evolutionary hypotheses developed on other continents. For anybody who will try to do that, this book will be a mine of information and inspiration. Also, I would like to recommend this book to anyone interested in biology of eucalypts either in Australia or in one of the more than 50 countries where eucalypts are cultivated.
Finally, more good news about eucalypts. Given the large number of species and the apparent fine distinction among many, identification of eucalypts can be difficult, especially for beginners. However, if you are in southeastern Australia or the species you are trying to identify is native there (about 75% of species cultivated in the US), an interactive, random access CD key is now available from the CSIRO (Brooker et al. 1997). Identification with this key is an enjoyable experience. - Marcel Rejminek, Section of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.
Literature Cited
Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin Dailman, Peter R., 1998. ISBN 0-520-20808-0 (cloth US$50.00) 0520-20809 (paper US$29.95) 257 pp. California Native Plant Society and University of California Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94720. An abundance of maps, diagrams, and photographs complements a text that is rich in information on the geography, ecology, and biology of these peculiar, isolated plant communities. Considered by itself, the biodiversity of regions with mild, rainy winters and dry, warm summers is spectacular. A well-considered, brightly illustrated discussion of what makes plants tick under these conditions provides a real incentive for learning more. A clear index and rich (if not brimming) bibliography finish the icture. Dallman seems to touch on everything large and small. Pollination biology, fire response, and drought adaptation are illustrated as skillfully as plate tectonics and world climate. He looks at past human settlement and human migration to these regions, both of which have had profound effects. But he doesn't ignore the present. Our prescient author provides a useful chapter on planning a trip to the Cape Region of South Africa or even to Western Australia!
'Me book is a visual delight. Its pages are crowded with the vintage maps of Erwin Raisz (marvelous) and luscious color and black-and-white photographs, most of which are the author's. Is there anything to criticize? I guess as a mycologist I would have liked to see more detail on mycoffhizal associations-particularly as they affect the growth of ericoid species in the chaparral. The geophytic habit of plants was discussed in various contexts, but hypogeous fungi, an important analogous phenomenon, were not mentioned. Finally, the unnamed lichen from South Australia pictured on page 166 is a member of the genus Cladia. With all the names in this book, it would have been easy to get an identification for that one. My criticisms are minor though, and I rush to add my name to the list of botanists who endorse this book.
In summary, this is a luminous volume that provides a clear guide to the why's and wherefore's of plant life in Mediterranean climates. While it may be most useful for non-botanists, particularly travelers to these regions, it has a place in any library as a resource for students and general readers. I received the book only last week, but I hurried to review it in time for the giftgiving season. Even if you do not know someone lucky enough to spend winter break in one of the southern hemisphere regions covered in this book, I recommend it highly. - Samuel Hammer, College of General Studies, Boston University.
