Mountain ecosystems belong to the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Especially, the treeline ecotone acts as an indicator for environmental change. However, ecological processes in the treeline ecotone are not yet completely understood. The studies provided in this book may contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between vegetation, climate, fauna, and soils in the treeline ecotone. An introductory chapter is given on plants living under extreme conditions, climate change aspects, and methods for characterization of alpine soils. The following articles focus on mountainous areas in America, Europe and Asia. The Working Group on Mountain and Northern Ecosystems at the Insti- te of Landscape Ecology, University of Munster (Germany), has been working on topics related to the treeline ecotone for several decades. This period under the chairmanship of Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier has come to an end now when he retired in 2004. He initiated numerous studies in high mountains and in the North. Many of his students, who became infected by the 'mountain virus', will continue these investigations on ecological processes in the altitudinal and northern treeline ecotones. With this compilation of studies in mountain ecosystems we want to thank Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier for his excellent guidance in these cold and fascinating environments.

Mountains Ecosystems Studies in Treeline Ecology General Aspects of Vegetation and Soils in Cold Environments.- Guideline for Describing Soil Profiles in Mountain Ecosystems.- Peripheral Plant Population Survival in Polar Regions.- Climate Change and High Mountain Vegetation Shifts.- Mountain Ecosystems Studies in Treeline Ecology Regional Treeline Studies in America.- Regeneration of Whitebark Pine in the Timberline Ecotone of the Beartooth Plateau, U.S.A.: Spatial Distribution and Responsible Agents.- Structure and the Composition of Species in Timberline Ecotones of the Southern Andes.- Pocket Gopher — Actor under the Stage. Studies on Niwot Ridge, Colorado Front Range, U.S.A..- The Impact of Seed Dispersal by Clark’s Nutcracker on Whitebark Pine: Multi-scale Perspective on a High Mountain Mutualism.- Mountain Ecosystems Studies in Treeline Ecology Regional Treeline Studies in Europe.- Humus Forms and Reforestation of an Abandoned Pasture at the Alpine Timberline (Upper Engadine, Central Alps, Switzerland).- A Discontinuous Tree-ring Record AD 320–1994 From Dividalen, Norway: Inferences on Climate and Treeline History.- Woodland Recolonisation and Postagricultural Development in Italy.- Mountain Ecosystems Studies in Treeline Ecology Regional Treeline Studies in Asia.- Isolated Mountain Forests in Central Asian Deserts: A Case Study from the Govi Altay, Mongolia.- The Upper Timberline in the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorum: a Review of Geographical and Ecological Aspects.

Mountain ecosystems belong to the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Especially, the treeline ecotone acts as an indicator for environmental change. However, ecological processes in the treeline ecotone are not yet completely understood. The studies provided in this book may contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between vegetation, climate, fauna, and soils in the treeline ecotone. An introductory chapter is given on plants living under extreme conditions, climate change aspects, and methods for characterization of alpine soils. The following articles focus on mountainous areas in America, Europe and Asia. The Working Group on Mountain and Northern Ecosystems at the Insti- te of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster (Germany), has been working on topics related to the treeline ecotone for several decades. This period under the chairmanship of Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier has come to an end now when he retired in 2004. He initiated numerous studies in high mountains and in the North. Many of his students, who became infected by the ‘mountain virus’, will continue these investigations on ecological processes in the altitudinal and northern treeline ecotones. With this compilation of studies in mountain ecosystems we want to thank Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier for his excellent guidance in these cold and fascinating environments.