Biotic Interactions in the Tropics: Their Role in the Maintenance of Species Diversity (Ecological Reviews) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521609852 ISBN 13: 9780521609852

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2005

Synopsis

Tropical ecosystems house a significant proportion of global biodiversity. To understand how these ecosystems function we need to appreciate not only what plants, animals and microbes they contain, but also how they interact with each other. This volume, first published in 2005, synthesises the state of knowledge in this area, with chapters providing reviews or case studies drawn from research conducted in both Old and New World tropics and including biotic interactions among taxa at all trophic levels. In most chapters plants (typically trees) are the starting point, but, taken together, the chapters consider interactions of plants with other plants, with micro-organisms and with animals, and the inter-relationships of human-induced disturbance with interactions among species. An underlying theme of the volume is the attempt to understand the maintenance of high diversity in tropical regions, which remains one of the most significant unexplained observations in ecological studies.

About this title

Review:

“Key topics include the maintenance of tree species richness, ant-plant interactions, mycorrhizal fungi, seed dispersal, and pollination biology. An extensive index, literature review, and handsome production make this volume a valuable addition to libraries.”
Choice

"I am convinced this volume will be useful for a variety of readers, ranging from students to experienced researchers in tropical biology."
Rodolfo Dirzo, ECOLOGY

Book Description:

To understand how tropical ecosystems work we need to appreciate how the organisms within them interact with each other. This volume, first published in 2005, synthesises the state of knowledge in this area, providing reviews or case studies from both Old and New World tropics and dealing with taxa at all trophic levels.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0521609852
• ISBN 13: 9780521609852
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 580
• Editor: Burslem David, Pinard Michelle, Hartley Sue