Advances in serpentine geoecology: A retrospective

(In absence of a text abstract the first paragraph of the paper is provided.)Serpentine habitats have long provided model settings for geoecological research (reviewed in Alexander et al. 2007, Brady et al. 2005, Brooks 1987, Kazakou et al. 2008, Kruckeberg 1984, Proctor and Woodell 1975, Raja-karuna et al 2009). Serpentine loosely refers to a broad group of minerals associated with the weathering of ultramafi c (high iron and magnesium-rich) rocks found along continental margins and orogenic belts. Soils associated with such rocks often differ from more widespread soils, being less fertile and having high concentrations of some heavy metals. The unique geochem-istry of serpentine soils generates habitats worldwide that are biologically unique, providing model settings for research on how geology and soils can shape the biotic world around us.