The Tropical Rain Forest An Ecological Study

A new and completely revised edition of a classic book on the tropical rain forest.

The first edition of The Tropical Rain Forest is firmly established as one of the classics of botanical literature. In this new and completely revised edition, Professor Richards provides a personal view of the field, based on over sixty years involvement in rain forest ecology. Climatic changes and human pressures have a major impact on the rain forests and it is now possible to see the possibility of their complete destruction. This book represents an important record of the rain forest in the twentieth century.

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. Composition of primary rain forests (i); 12. Composition of primary rain forests (ii); Part IV. Primary Successions; 13. Primary xeroseres and the recolonization of Krakatau; 14. Hydroseres and freshwater swamp forests; 15. Mangroves and other coastal vegetation; Part V. Tropical Raion Forest Under Limiting Conditions; 16. Rain forest, deciduous forest and savannah; 17. The tropical rain forest at its altitudinal and latitudinal limits; Part VI. Human Impacts and the Tropical Rain Forest; 18. Secondary and deflected successions; 19. Postscript - the future of the tropical rain forest; Appendix 1. Tree recognition in the field and the use of vernacular names; Appendix 2. Application of numerical methods in rain forest P. Grieg-Smith; References; Index of plant names; General index.

A thoroughly revised and updated edition of one of the most important and influential books ever published on the tropical rain forest.