Biotic Interactions in the Tropics: Their Role in the Maintenance of Species Diversity

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Biotic Interactions in the Tropics: Their Role in the Maintenance of Species Diversity
Authors and Contributors      Edited by David Burslem
Edited by Michelle Pinard
Edited by Sue Hartley
SeriesEcological Reviews
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:580
Dimensions(mm): Height 248,Width 155
Category/GenreEcological science
Conservation of the environment
ISBN/Barcode 9780521609852
ClassificationsDewey:577.0913
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 7 Halftones, unspecified; 78 Line drawings, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 8 September 2005
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

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 synthesises the current 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.

Author Biography

David Burslem is Senior Lecturer in Tropical Plant Science at the University of Aberdeen. His current research focuses on tropical forest sites in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Ecuador. Michelle Pinard is Lecturer in Tropical Forestry at the University of Aberdeen. Her research focuses on sites in Ghana, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Bolivia. Sue Hartley is Reader in Ecology at the University of Sussex, specialising in the study of plant-animal interactions.

Reviews

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