The Tropical Rain Forest An Ecological Study [Paperback]

A new and completely revised edition of a classic book on the tropical rain forest.Originally published in 1952, this classic work represents an important record of what has become of the rain forest in the twentieth century. The completely revised edition includes new chapters on climate, microclimates and hydrology, and soils as well as an appendix on quantitative methods.Originally published in 1952, this classic work represents an important record of what has become of the rain forest in the twentieth century. The completely revised edition includes new chapters on climate, microclimates and hydrology, and soils as well as an appendix on quantitative methods.The rain forests of tropical America, Africa, Asia, and Australia are rapidly vanishing. With a focus on ecology, this book discusses rain forests as complex natural systems that are continually changing in response to climate and soil conditions, as well as to shifting cultivation, logging, and other human activities. The completely revised edition includes new chapters on climate (contributed by R.P.D. Walsh), microclimates and hydrology (contributed by R.P.D. Walsh), soils (contributed by I.C. Baillie) and an appendix on quantitative methods (contributed by P. Greig-Smith). This book, first published in 1952, is now a classic and represents an important record of what has become of the rain forest in the twentieth century and will be meaningful reading for botanists, ecologists, tropical biologists, conservationists, and general readers.Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Structure and Physiognomy: 2. Structure of primary forest; 3. Regeneration; 4. Trees and shrubs (i) Vegetative features; 5. Trees and shrubs (ii) Reproductive biology; 6. The ground herbs and the dependent synusiae; Part II. The Environment: 7. Climate R. P. D. Walsh; 8. Microclimates and hydrology R. P. D. Walsh; 9. Phenology; 10. Soils of the humid tropics I. C. Baillie; Part III. Floristic Composition of Climax Communities: 11. Composlc…