A few conifers are found in nature only in narrow, discontinuous bands bordering continental margins. Despite their maritime location, these trees cannot thrive in saline waters and soils. What enables them to grow in challenging habitats? Why don't these species naturalize inland? What characteristics allow them to succeed only near salt water?
A strange combination of qualities is seen: the trees are catastrophe-dependent, stress-tolerant, with broad niche potential, but are poor competitors in "easy" sites. They all possess moisture-conserving features usually associated with arid...

A growing concern for environmental quality and resource scarcity has led to numerous policy debates regarding resource utilization around the world. This is especially true when it comes to agriculture. This textbook brings together economic theory and resource-specific problems of agriculture, and includes aggregate- and micro-level models and examples for most resource and environmental issues. Although the book's emphasis is on cropland agriculture, there are also examples from livestock, poultry, grazing, fisheries, orchards, and forestry. Students and professionals in resource...