Harrison - Serpentine: the evolution and ecology of a model system

We are fortunate to belong to a thriving international community of scientists interested in serpentine ecosystems. In the past several decades, the efforts of this community have laid a solid foundation for understanding serpentine rocks, soils, floras, and faunas (see reviews in Proctor and Woodell, 1975; Kruckeberg, 1984, 2005; Brooks, 1987; Baker et al., 1992; Roberts and Proctor, 1992; Jaffre et al., 1997; Balkwill, 2001; Boyd et al., 2004; Alexander et al., 2006; Chiariucci and Baker, 2007; Rajakaruna and Boyd, 2009; Rajakaruna et al., 2009).

We are extremely grateful to our contributors for the expertise and dedication that made this book possible. We also thank our reviewers, who include David Ackerly, Paul Aigner, Bruce Baldwin, Robert Boyd, Emilio Bruna, Jean Burns, Sharon Collinge, Stella Copeland, Curtis Daehler, Katrina Duglosch, Elizabeth Elle, Anu Eskelinen, Paul Fine, Lila Fishman, Sophie Karrenberg, Scott Loarie, D'Arcy Meyer-Dombard, Risa Sargent, Matthew Schrenk, Mark Stromberg, and many of the chapter authors.

Finally, we especially thank three of the leaders in interdisciplinary studies of serpentinesoil scientist Earl Alexander, geologist Robert Coleman, and botanist Arthur Kruckebergfor the incomparable generosity and enthusiasm with which they have shared their knowledge.

LITERATURE CITED

Alexander, E. A., Coleman R. G., Keeler-Wolf, T., and Harrison, S. (2006) Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Baker, A. J. M., Proctor, J., and Reeves, R. D. (1992) The Vegetation of Ultramafic (Serpentine) Soils. Intercept, Andover, U.K.

Balkwill, K. (2001) Proceedings: Third international conference on serpentine ecology. South African Journal of Science, 97 (special issue).

Boyd, R. S., Baker, A. J. M., and Proctor, J. (2004) Ultramafic Rocks: Their Soils, Vegetation, and Fauna. Science Reviews, St. Albans, U.K.

Brooks, R. R. (1987) Serpentine and Its Vegetation: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Dioscorides Press, Portland, OR.

Chiarucci, A., and Baker, A. J. M. (2007) Proceedings of the fifth international conference on serpentine ecology. Plant and Soil, 293 (special issue).

Jaffr, T., Reeves, R. D., and Becquer, T. (1997) The ecology of ultramafic and metalliferous areas. Proceedings of the second international conference on serpentine ecology. ORSTOM Noumea, Documents Scientifi ques et Techniques III (special issue).

Kruckeberg, A. R. (1984) California Serpentines: Flora, Vegetation, Geology, Soils and Management Problems. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Kruckeberg, A. (2005) Geology and Plant Life. University of Washington Press, Seattle.

Proctor, J., and Woodell, S. R. J. (1975) The ecology of serpentine soils. Advances in Ecological Research, 9, 255366.

Rajakaruna, N., and Boyd, R. (2009) Soil and biota of serpentine: A world view. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Serpentine Ecology. Northeastern Naturalist, 16 (special issue 5). Eaglehill Press, Steuben, ME.

Rajakaruna, N., Harris, T. B., and Alexander, E. B. (2009). Serpentine geoecology of eastern North America: A review. Rhodora, 111, 21108.

Roberts, B. A., and Proctor, J. (1992) The Ecology of Areas with Serpentinized Rocks: A World View. Kluwer, Dordrecht.