Historically, tropical ecology has been a science often content with descriptive and demographic approaches, which is understandable given the difficulty of studying these ecosystems and the need for basic demographic information. Nonetheless, over the last several years, tropical ecologists have begun to test more sophisticated ecological theory and are now beginning to address a broad array of questions that are of particular importance to tropical systems, and ecology in general. Why are there are so many species in tropical forests and what mechanisms are responsible for the maintenance of that vast species diversity? What factors control species coexistence? Are there common patterns of species abundance and distribution across broad geographic scales? What is the role of trophic interactions in these complex ecosystems? How can these fragile ecosystems be conserved?

Containing contributions from some of the world's leading tropical ecologists, Tropical Forest Community Ecology provides a summary of the key issues in the discipline of tropical ecology:

• Includes contributions from some of the world's leading tropical ecologists
  
• Covers patterns of species distribution, the maintenance of species diversity, the community ecology of tropical animals, forest regeneration and conservation of tropical ecosystems

About the Author
Dr. Walter P. Carson obtained his doctorate from Cornell University and did postdoctoral work at both Princeton University and the University of Minnesota USA. He has conducted extensive research on the ecology of both tropical and temperate forests. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Dr. Stefan A. Schnitzer obtained his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota USA and Wageningen University in The Netherlands. He has studied tropical forests in Borneo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, and the Republic of Panama. Dr. Schnitzer is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA and a Research Associate with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Republic of Panama.

Reviews
"Undoubtedly, this book needs to be on the shelves of every scientist committed to disentangling the complexity veiled by the grandeur of tropical forests. Nonetheless, we believe that it will also provide inspiration to landscape ecologists who focus their research in other regions of the Earth." (Landscape Ecol, 2011)

"Whilst it will not be an easy book especially for those uncomfortable with mathematical formulae, it does provide a valuable insight into a key biome in the world, and at a reasonable price for a substantial volume." (Experimental Agriculture , July 2009)

"Tropical Forest Community Ecology may turn out to be the elegy for rainforest ecology, or it may be the harbinger of things to come. Only time will tell, but meanwhile there is much work to be done, and Tropical Forest Community Ecology provides useful directions." (Ecology, 2009)

"The recent advances in data collection and theory described in this volume have made the past decade one of the most exciting and important periods in the study of tropical forests. Carson and Schnitzer and the many contributing authors capture this excitement and the tectonic shifts that are underway in this new book. If you intend to buy only one book on tropical forest ecology in the next 20 years, buy this one. It is, simply put, outstanding." (Annals of Botany, July 2009)

Book Information
ISBN 9781405118972
Author Walter Carson
Format Paperback
Page Count 536
Imprint Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 1043g
Dimensions(mm) 244mm * 170mm * 23mm