Destruction of tropical rain forests has increased exponentially in recent years, as have efforts to conserve them. However, information essential to these conservation programs—an understanding of the population dynamics of the community at risk—is often unavailable to the scientists and resource managers who need it most.
This volume helps fill the gap by presenting a comprehensive description and analysis of the animal community of the tropical rain forest at El Verde, Puerto Rico. Building on more than a decade of field research, the contributors weave the complex strands of information about the energy flow within the forest—who eats whom—into a powerful tool for understanding community dynamics known as a food web. This systematic approach to organizing the natural histories of the many species at El Verde also reveals basic patterns and processes common to all rain forests, making this book a valuable contribution for anyone concerned with studying and protecting these fragile ecosystems.
Edited by:
Douglas P. Reagan,
Robert B. Waide
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 2nd ed.
Dimensions:
Height: 23mm,
Width: 15mm,
Spine: 2mm
Weight: 680g
ISBN: 9780226705996
ISBN 10: 0226705994
Pages: 623
Publication Date: 01 September 1996
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Undergraduate
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface 1: The Rain Forest Setting Robert B. Waide, Douglas P. Reagan. 2: Plants: The Food Base William T. Lawrence, Jr 3: Microorganisms D. Jean Lodge 4: Termites Elizabeth A. McMahan 5: Litter Invertebrates William J. Pfeiffer 6: Arboreal Invertebrates Rosser W. Garrison, Michael R. Willig. 7: Arboreal Arachnids William J. Pfeiffer 8: Amphibians Margaret M. Stewart, Lawrence L. Woolbright. 9: Anoline Lizards Douglas P. Reagan 10: Nonanoline Reptiles Richard Thomas, Ava Gaa Kessler. 11: Birds Robert B. Waide 12: Mammals Michael R. Willig, Michael R. Gannon. 13: The Stream Community Alan P. Covich, William H. McDowell. 14: The Community Food Web: Major Properties and Patterns of Organization Douglas P. Reagan, Gerardo R. Camilo, Robert B. Waide. Glossary Contributors Bibliography Index