Synopses & Reviews
The book provides a synthesis of population ecology, popula- tion genetics and plant physiology, applied to the question, which properties contribute to fitness of populations of Plantago species. Five species, P. major, P. lanceolata, P. media, P. maritima and P. coronopus were investigated for demographic and genetic structures. Ecophysiological data were obtained in the laboratory and in the field. Together with data on soils andmicrometeorologic characteristics of the sites, an analysis of factors, contributing to fitness was carried out. Moreover, complex interactions as mycorrhi- za, N-cycling in the rhizosphere and co-adaptation with pa- rasitic fungi and animals are included.