This volume comprises invited contributions on aspects of plant-animal interactions in Mediterranean-type ecosystems, which was the subject of the Sixth International Conference on Mediterranean Climate Ecosystems held in Crete, Greece, from September 23 - 27, 1991.

Evolutionary progress has long been associated with the extinction of species. So why should we be concerned now, even when the number of species at risk is substantial, such as one tenth of the Australian flora? The reasons for concern are many stranded. Compassion is one strand. Remember the instructions to Noah: 'And you shall bring living creatures of every kind into the ark and keep them alive with you'. Guilt may be another strand, that our hunting, clearing, collecting, pollution, introduction of competitors and other human activities may have endangered species such as the...