Ecology of Woodlands and Forests Quotes

“Exotic plantations can thus be useful storehouses of biodiversity (and, as in New Zealand, sometimes more diverse than native forests).”
― Peter A. Thomas, Ecology of Woodlands and Forests: Description, Dynamics and Diversity

“Though many pioneer tree species are intolerant of shade and so cause little problem in southern beech forests, Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii has considerable shade tolerance and its wildings invade canopy gaps in indigenous forest, while sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is the most shade-tolerant tree in the country, is multileadered, coppices, and is very difficult to remove as European foresters know only too well. Fortunately, herbivores find it highly palatable and it is not commonly planted.”
― Peter A. Thomas, Ecology of Woodlands and Forests: Description, Dynamics and Diversity

“Having stressed the value of stable conditions, non-equilibrium mechanisms (such as variation in habitat across an area, or variation in time by periodic disturbance or gentle changes in local climate) can contribute to species co-existence by giving spatial or temporary advantage to different sets of species, again preventing one set from driving others out.”
― Peter A. Thomas, Ecology of Woodlands and Forests: Description, Dynamics and Diversity