One of the most important of the world's ecosystems, the tropical rain forest is rapidly being converted to other uses, yet it is a poorly known and under-utilized natural resource. This volume is based on a modern ecological examination of tropical forests and treats both basic and applied aspects. Structural features are dealt with first, including the taxonomic and physical-chemical organisation of forests. Next is a section on the function of forests which considers production, nutrient cycling, decomposition processes, succession, trophic dynamics and reproductive biology. The behavioral and physiological phenomena underlying forest structure and function are then considered and, finally, some of the most important applied aspects are examined, including the production of timber, rates of exploitation and loss of forests, conservation, traditional human use of forests and disease in tropical forests.
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Elsevier Science & Technology
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 250 mm
Breite: 190 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-444-41986-6 (9780444419866)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
1. Introduction (F.B. Golley). Section I. Forest Structure. 2. Structural Elements on the Rain Forest (P.B. Tomlinson). 3. Spatial Aspects of Vegetation Structure (P.S. Bourgeron). 4. Vegetation Structure and Growth (E.F. Brunig). 5. Animal Species Diversity in Tropical Forests (F. Bourliere). 6. The Abundance and Biomass of Forest Animals (D.F. Owen). 7. The Abundance of Energy and Chemical Elements (F.B. Golley). II. Forest Function. 8. Productivity of Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems and the Implications for their Use as Future Wood and Energy Sources (C.F. Jordan). 9. Nutrient Cycling and Nutrient Conservation (F.B. Golley). 10. Decomposition (F.B. Golley). 11. Food Webs: Who Eats What, Why, How and with What Effects in a Tropical Forest? (D.H. Janzen). 12. Reproductive Biology of Plants in Tropical Forests (H.G. Baker, K.S. Bawa, G.W. Frankie and P.A. Opler). 13. Succession (J. Ewel). III. Physiological and Behavioral Aspects of Tropical Forest Biology. 14. Adaptations of Tropical Trees to Moisture Stress (E. Medina). 15. Physiological Responses of Animals to Moisture and Temperature (H. Heatwole). 16. Behavioral Adaptations of Higher Vertebrates to Tropical Forests (J.F. Eisenberg). Section IV. Applications and Human Use of Forests. 17. Production of Usable Wood from Tropical Forest (F.H. Wadsworth). 18. Conversion Rates in Troppical Moist Forests (N. Myers). 19. Patterns of Resource Use and Human Settlement in Tropical Forests (C. Padoch and A.P. Vayda). 20. Disease-Causing Organisms: Components of Tropical Forest Ecosystems (T.M. Yuill). 21. Conservation of Rain Forests for Scientific Research, for Wildlife Conservation, and for Recreation and Tourism (N. Meyers). 22. Ecodevelopment (F.B. Golley). Systematic List of Genera. Author Index. Systematic Index. General Index.
