Introduction

Abstract

In this chapter, the concept and thus the outline of the revised edition is introduced. This edition includes five parts: “Molecular Ecology”, “Physiological and Biophysical Ecology”, “Ecosystem Ecology”, “Community Ecology” and “Global Ecology”. Many links across these five parts facilitate reading and, hopefully, the understanding of plant ecological concepts and mechanisms on different organizational scales. Agriculture and silviculture are addressed, as well as global change, and their impacts on plants, communities and terrestrial ecosystems.