Alpine Plant Life

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

   PDF

2. Plant ecology at high elevations

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 1-22

3. The alpine life zone

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 23-51

4. Alpine climate

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 53-64

5. The climate plants experience

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 65-88

6. Life under and in snow: protection and limitation

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 89-118

7. Alpine soils

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 119-140

8. Alpine treelines

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 141-173

9. Climatic stress

   • Christian Körner

   Pages 175-201

10. Water relations

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 203-236

11. Mineral nutrition

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 237-268

12. Uptake and loss of carbon

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 269-308

13. Carbon investments

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 309-333

14. Growth and development

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 335-353

15. Cell division and tissue formation

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 355-373

16. Plant biomass production

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 375-394

17. Plant reproduction

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 395-449

18. Global change at high elevation

    • Christian Körner

    Pages 451-483

19. Back Matter

    Pages 485-500

    PDF

This book is a completely revised, substantially extended treatment of the physical and biological factors that drive life in high mountains. The book covers the characteristics of alpine plant life, alpine climate and soils, life under snow, stress tolerance, treeline ecology, plant water, carbon, and nutrient relations, plant growth and productivity, developmental processes, and two largely novel chapters on alpine plant reproduction and global change biology. The book explains why the topography driven exposure of plants to dramatic micro-climatic gradients over very short distances causes alpine biodiversity to be particularly robust against climatic change. Geographically, this book draws on examples from all parts of the world, including the tropics. This book is complemented with novel evidence and insight that emerged over the last 17 years of alpine plant research. The number of figures – mostly in color – nearly doubled, with many photographs providing a vividimpression of alpine plant life worldwide.



Christian Körner was born in 1949 in Austria, received his academic education at the University of Innsbruck, and was full professor of Botany at the University of Basel from 1989 to 2014. As emeritus Professor he is continuing alpine plant research in the Swiss Alps.

• alpine ecology
• ecosystem
• high mountains
• plant ecology
• alpine climate
• alpine treelines
• cold stress
• alpine soils
• life under snow
• carbon reserve formation
• plant biomass production
• climate change
• drought stress

“For me, the greatest appeal of this book is its strong anchoring in our shared cultural history of scientific research on alpine systems and its more personal, respectful attention towards alpine plants. … Körner’s book provides a valuable reference that points to how we may consider modifying our interactions to support the long-term integrity of life at the edges of the earth. … it provides motivation and tools for improving our responsible stewardship of life beyond the treeline.” (Jill Johnstone,Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 41 (4), 2021)

• Department of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

  Christian Körner

Christian Körner was born in 1949 in Austria, received his academic education at the University of Innsbruck, and was full professor of Botany at the University of Basel from 1989 to 2014. As emeritus Professor he is continuing alpine plant research in the Swiss Alps.

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