This volume contains most of the contributions presented at the Symposium on Vegetation dynamics in grasslands, heathlands, and mediterranean ligneous formations, which took place at the Centre d'Etudes Phytosociologiques et Ecologiques 'Louis Emberger' (locally organized by the Department of General Ecology and the Directory Staff of this institute) at Montpellier. It was organized by the Working Group for Succession research on permanent plots, and the Working Group for Data-processing in phytosociology, both of the International Society for Vegetation Science. The editors of this volume represent both working groups and the organizing institute. They acknowledge the considerable material assistance provided by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Direction des relations exterieures de l'information, and Programme lnterdisciplinaire de Recherche sur I'Environnement (PIREN); the Conseil general de I'Herault; and the Ministere de I'Environnement et du Cadre de Vie. The Symposium was opened by Prof. M. Godron. The many lectures and poster contributions were organized around five themes. A complete list is added to this volume (Appendix). Abstracts of these contributions were sent in prior to the Symposium and collected by the CEPE in a volume 'Actes du Symposium sur Dynamique de la Vegetation dans les formations herbacees, les landes et les formations mediterraneennes ligneuses'. The 27 ela borated papers accepted for this volume are presented in roughly the same sequence.

Symposium of the Working Group for Succession Research on Permanent Plots, and Data-Processing of the International Society for Vegetation Sciences, Held at Montpellier, France, September 1980

Contenu
Permanent quadrats: An interface for theory and practice.- Modelling ecological succession, with particular reference to Markovian models.- An analysis of succession along an environmental gradient using data from a lawn.- Probing time series vegetation data for evidence of succession.- Towards the analysis of vegetation succession.- Problems in heathland and grassland dynamics.- Zur Sukzession der mediterranen Vegetation auf der Insel Lokrum bei Dubrovnik.- Processus dynamiques de reconstitution dans la série du Quercus ilex en Corse.- Development of flora, vegetation and grazing value in experimental plots of a Quercus coccifera garrigue.- Changes in the floristic composition of a Quercus coccifera L. garrigue in relation to different fire regimes.- The effects of protection on steppic vegetation in the Mediterranean arid zone of Southern Tunisia.- Vegetation dynamics in a coastal grassland of Hawaii.- Dynamics of some Western Australian ligneous formations with special reference to the invasion of exotic species.- Community dynamics in relation to management of heathland vegetation in Scotland.- Vegetation dynamics in Brittany heathlands after fire.- Pattern development of the vegetation during colonization of a burnt heathland in Brittany (France).- The spatial autocorrelation matrix.- The effect of fertilization and irrigation on the vegetation dynamics of a pine-heath ecosystem.- Conservation of Calluno-Vaccinietum heathland in the Belgian Ardennes, an experimental approach.- Grassland dynamics under sheep grazing in an Australian Mediterranean type climate.- Rates of change in vegetation during secondary succession.- Temporal variation of species composition and species diversity in permanent grassland plots with different fertilizer treatments.- The effect of cutting and fertilizing on the floristic composition and production of an Arrhenatherion elatioris grassland.- From intensively agricultural practices to hay-making without fertilization.- Fluctuations in a coastal dune grassland due to fluctuations in rainfall: Experimental evidence.- Succession, diversité et amplitude de niche dans les pâturages du centre de la péninsule ibérique.- The effect of cement factory air pollution on thermophilous rocky grassland.- List of lectures and poster contributions presented at the Symposium.