Tropical Ecosystems and Ecological ConceptsOver one third of the earth's terrestrial surface is situated in the tropics, with environments ranging from hot deserts to tropical rain forests. This introductory textbook, aimed at students studying tropical ecology, provides a comprehensive guide to the major tropical biomes and is unique in its balanced coverage of both aquatic and terrestrial systems. The volume considers the human ecological dimension, covering issues such as population growth, urbanization, agriculture and fisheries, natural resource use, and pollution. It is international in scope and addresses global issues such as conservation of biodiversity, climate change, and the concept of ecological sustainability. The text is supported throughout by boxes containing supplementary material on a range of topics and organisms, mathematical concepts and calculations, and is enlivened with clear line diagrams, maps, and photographs. A cross-referenced glossary, extensive bibliography, and comprehensive index are included as further aids to study. |
Contents
Hot deserts and environmental factors | 18 |
2 | 46 |
Grasslands and primary production | 50 |
Savanna and population dynamics 72 22 | 72 |
3 | 76 |
7 | 86 |
9 | 93 |
11 | 99 |
Wetlands and succession | 221 |
Tropical rain forests and biodiversity | 238 |
Mountains zonation and community gradients | 280 |
Mangroves seagrasses and decomposition | 299 |
Chapter Coral reefs and community ecology | 320 |
islands | 349 |
Cities and human ecology | 373 |
biodiversity conservation | 397 |
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Common terms and phrases
adapted Africa algae algal altitude aquatic areas atmosphere biological biomass birds canopy carbon dioxide changes chapter climate colonisation communities competition concentration conservation coral reefs cycle decline decomposition density desert detritus dispersal diversity dominated ecological ecosystems energy environment epilimnion epiphytes extinction fauna feed Figure fish floodplain flowers food chain freshwater grasses grasslands grazing grow habitat herbivores human population hypolimnion increase island kind permission lake land layer leaf leaves light litter living loss lowland mangroves ment montane Mount Wilhelm mountains nitrogen number of species nutrients occur organic matter oxygen Papua New Guinea photosynthesis phytoplankton plants and animals population growth predators prey primary production rainfall reduced regions reproduction resource respiration result river roots salinity savanna seagrass sediments seeds Serengeti significant soil speciation stomata surface temperature terrestrial tion trees trophic level tropical rain forests uptake utilise vegetation wetlands wildebeest zone zooxanthellae