An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests
Published on 1. July 1990
Book
Paperback/Softback
238 pages
978-0-19-854276-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides an introduction to the world's tropical rain forests for a broad readership, describing their structure and functioning, their value to man and what he is doing to them. Examples are drawn from all parts of the humid tropic. Today there is more research being conducted in tropical rain forests than ever before. Some is driven by curiousity, some by desire to harness these forests to mankind's needs. The author addresses questions such as to what extent are there real differences between rain forests in different places, and what are the current frontiers of knowledge?, and is present-day concern about man's impacts on tropical rain forests justified? Previous books by T.C.Whitmore include "Tropical Rain Forest Ecology and Management" and "Rain Forest Regeneration and Management".
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
halftones and line figures, tables, bibliography
ISBN-13
978-0-19-854276-6 (9780198542766)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/1998
2nd Edition
Oxford University Press
€78.12
Shipment within 15-20 days
Content
Part 1 What are tropical rain forests?: forest maintenance - the growth cycle; floristics. Part 2 Plant life: climbers and epiphytes. Part 3 Rain forest animals: richness and diversity of animals; modes of co-existence. Part 4 Interconnections between plants and animals - the web of life: animals as pollinators; animals as dispersers; food webs, mobile links, and keystone species. Part 5 Tropical rain forests through time: palaecogeography; palaeoclimates; pleistocene refugia. Part 6 Forest dynamics: forest microclimates; growth and shade tolerance analysed; silviculture; forest recovery after human disturbance. Part 7 Nutrients and their cycles: shifting agriculture; nutrient pools and cycles in primary rain forest; heath forest - a fragile ecosystem; the upper montane forest enigma. Part 8 Species richness: historical plant geography. Part 9 Tropical rain forests yesterday, today and tomorrow: indigenous cultures; the colonial era; genetic resource conservation.(Part contents)