This full-color illustrated textbook offers the first comprehensive introduction to all major aspects of tropical ecology. It explains why the world's tropical rain forests are so universally rich in species, what factors may contribute to high species richness, how nutrient cycles affect rain forest ecology, and how ecologists investigate the complex interrelationships among flora and fauna. It covers tropical montane ecology, riverine ecosystems, savanna, dry forest—and more.
Tropical Ecology begins with a historical overview followed by a sweeping discussion of biogeography and evolution, and then introduces students to the unique and complex structure of tropical rain forests. Other topics include the processes that influence everything from species richness to rates of photosynthesis: how global climate change may affect rain forest characteristics and function; how fragmentation of ecosystems affects species richness and ecological processes; human ecology in the tropics; biodiversity; and conservation of tropical ecosystems and species.
Drawing on real-world examples taken from actual research, Tropical Ecology is the best textbook on the subject for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
Offers the first comprehensive introduction to tropical ecology
Describes all the major kinds of tropical terrestrial ecosystems
Explains species diversity, evolutionary processes, and coevolutionary interactions
Features numerous color illustrations and examples from actual research
Covers global warming, deforestation, reforestation, fragmentation, and conservation
The essential textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students
Suitable for courses with a field component
Leading universities that have adopted this book include:
John Kricher is professor of biology at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. His books include The Balance of Nature: Ecology's Enduring Myth and A Neotropical Companion (both Princeton).
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter 1: What and Where Are the Tropics? 6 Chapter 2: Biogeography and Evolution in the Tropics 38 Chapter 3: Inside Tropical Rain Forests: Structure 79 Chapter 4: Inside Tropical Rain Forests: Biodiversity 109 Chapter 5: A Study in Biodiversity: Rain Forest Tree Species Richness 154 Chapter 6: A Shifting Mosaic: Rain Forest Development and Dynamics 188 Chapter 7: Biotic Interactions and Coevolution in Tropical Rain Forests 227 Chapter 8: Trophic Dynamics in Evolutionary Context 272 Chapter 9: Carbon Flux and Climate Change in Tropical Ecosystems 323 Chapter 10: Nutrient Cycling and Tropical Soils 359 Chapter 11: Tropical Savannas and Dry Forests 390 Chapter 12: Other Tropical Ecosystems: From the Mountains to the Rivers to the Sea 422 Chapter 13: Humans as Part of Tropical Ecosystems: Focus on the Neotropics 469 Chapter 14: Forest Fragmentation and Biodiversity 500 Chapter 15: Conservation Outlook for the Tropics 530 APPENDIX: GEOLOGIC TIME CHART 565 LITERATURE CITED 566 ILLUSTRATION CREDITS 594 INDEX 606
"Finally, an appropriate general text to use in tropical biology courses. Other books on tropical rain forest ecology are either too general or too technical for use in undergraduate or even graduate courses, so this book definitely fills a need."—Robert A. Askins, Connecticut College"Kricher does a remarkable job of bringing the wonder and diversity of tropical ecosystems together into one text, while providing a solid framework in ecological and evolutionary theory. The task of treating the tropics in one accessible book is daunting, and Tropical Ecology comes closer to accomplishing that goal than any book I have seen."—Gregory S. Gilbert, University of California, Santa Cruz"This is an excellent book that fills a significant need for a course text to accompany both upper-level lecture classes and field courses in tropical ecology. Kricher has an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural history of tropical organisms. I feel confident that this book will be adopted widely."—James Dalling, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
