Tropical ecology / John Kricher.

includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

What and where are the tropics -- Biogeography and evolution in the tropics -- Inside tropical rain forests : structure -- Inside tropical rain forests : biodiversity -- A study in biodiversity : rain forest tree species richness -- A shifting mosaic : rain forest development and dynamics -- Biotic interactions and coevolution in tropical rain forests -- Trophic dynamics in evolutionary context -- Carbon flux and climate change in tropical ecosystems -- Nutrient cycling and tropical soils -- Tropical savannas and dry forests -- Other tropical ecosystems : from the mountains to the rivers to the sea -- Humans as part of tropical ecosystems : focus on the neotropics -- Forest fragmentation and biodiversity -- Conservation outlook for the tropics.

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.