Tropical Ecosystems and Ecological ConceptsTropical habitats cover over one third of the Earth's terrestrial surface and harbor much of its biodiversity, with many areas rich in endemic species. However, these ecosystems are under significant and growing threat from issues such as deforestation, land degradation and ocean acidification. This introductory textbook provides a comprehensive guide to the major tropical biomes. It is unique in its balanced coverage of both aquatic and terrestrial systems and in its international scope. Each chapter is built around a particular tropical ecosystem, with descriptive case studies providing a framework around which ecological concepts and applied ecological topics are presented. This second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent advances in the field and includes a greater focus on the impact of global climate change. The text is supported throughout by boxes containing supplementary material and is illustrated with over 200 clear, simple line diagrams, maps and photographs. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 26 | |
Grasslands and primary production | 59 |
Savanna and population dynamics | 81 |
Lakes energy flow and biogeochemical cycling | 142 |
Rivers floodplains and estuaries the river continuum and floodpulse concepts | 204 |
Wetlands and succession | 241 |
Tropical rain forests and biodiversity | 259 |
Mangroves seagrasses and decomposition | 334 |
Coral reefs and community ecology | 358 |
Islands archipelagos biogeography andevolutionary ecology | 395 |
Cities and human ecology | 427 |
Glossary | 452 |
| 471 | |
| 501 | |
Mountains zonation and community gradients | 315 |
Common terms and phrases
adapted Africa algae altitude annual aquatic areas atmosphere biogeography biological biomass birds canopy carbon catchment climate colonisation communities competition concentrations conservation coral reefs cycle decline decomposition density depth desert developed disease dispersal distribution dominated dry season ecological ecosystem energy environment environmental factors epilimnion epiphytes fauna feed Figure fish floodplain flow food chain global grasses grasslands grazing grow habitat herbivores human population hypolimnion impact increase interactions islands K-selected kind permission Lake Malawi layer leaf loss lower mangrove niche nitrogen number of species nutrient occur organic matter oxygen Papua New Guinea phosphorus photosynthesis phytoplankton plants and animals population growth predators prey primary production rainfall reduced regions reproduction resource respiration result river roots salinity savanna seagrass sediment seeds Serengeti significant soil speciation stomata supply surface survive temperate temperature terrestrial trees trophic level tropical lakes utilise vegetation wetlands wildebeest zone zooxanthellae