This book examines the treeline phenomenon from sub-arctic to equatorial latitudes, exploring tree morphology, anatomy, climatology, stress physiology, treeline modeling, paleo-ecology and more. Includes more than 100 illustrations, plus tables and diagrams.

High elevation treelines.- Definitions and conventions.- Treeline patterns.- Treeline climate.- Global mountain statistics based on treeline elevation.- Structure and stature of treeline trees.- Growth and development.- Evolutionary adjustments to life at treeline.- Reproduction, early life stages and tree demography.- Freezing and other forms of stress.- Water, nutrient and carbon relations.- Treeline formation - currently, in the past and in the future.- References.- Taxonomic index.- Subject index.

Alpine treelines mark the low-temperature limit of tree growth and occur in mountains world-wide. Presenting a companion to his book Alpine Plant Life, Christian Körner provides a global synthesis of the treeline phenomenon from sub-arctic to equatorial latitudes and a functional explanation based on the biology of trees. The comprehensive text approaches the subject in a multi-disciplinary way by exploring forest patterns at the edge of tree life, tree morphology, anatomy, climatology and, based on this, modelling treeline position, describing reproduction and population processes, development, phenology, evolutionary aspects, as well as summarizing evidence on the physiology of carbon, water and nutrient relations, and stress physiology. It closes with an account on treelines in the past (palaeo-ecology) and a section on global change effects on treelines, now and in the future. With more than 100 illustrations, many of them in colour, the book shows alpine treelines from around the globe and offers a wealth of scientific information in the form of diagrams and tables. From the reviews of the companion book Alpine Plant Life by Christian Körner (2nd ed. 2003)‘... well written with plenty of good quality photographs, graphs and diagrams. It hits a happy compromise in being accessible to novices in upland areas and/or plants but with sufficient depth to leave the reader feeling that they have got to grips with the topic. ... A superb textbook that should be read and used by all ecology students.’Bulletin of the British Ecological Society, Vol. 35(1), 2004

From the reviews:“Christian Körner synthesizes the extensive literature on alpine treelines and presents new explanations and a theory for global treeline formation. … Photos are particularly well selected, exemplifying key points and a range of taxa in context, as well as being of a good photographic standard. … Alpine Treelines will surely stand the test of time as a definitive work on the subject and is a critical reference for the approach to analysis and interpretation of treeline data.” (Melanie Smith, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 33 (3), August, 2013)“Körner is well known for his book Alpine Plant Life … . This volume is designed as a companion to the former book, covering the biotic and abiotic aspects of treelines around the world from the sub-Arctic to the equator. … There is a very useful chapter on treeline movement in the recent and distant past and what is likely to happen in the future. … Full of detailed information with main points highlighted in bold this makes a very useful textbook.” (BES Bulletin, June, 2013)

A comprehensive textbook on the global treeline phenomenon Provides a biological, mechanism-based explanation at a global scale Each chapter starts with an introduction into the subject, terms and concepts Includes an extensive reference list Richly illustrated in colour A companion book to Christian Körner’s Alpine Plant Life Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras