La Selva

Ecology and Natural History of a Neotropical Rain Forest

Lucinda A. McDade, Kamaljit S. Bawa, Henry A. Hespenheide , Gary S. Hartshorn

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English

University of Chicago Press
18 March 1994

Ecological science, the Biosphere; Forests, rainforests; Applied ecology; Deforestation; Environmental science, engineering & technology

La Selva, a nature reserve and field station in Costa Rica, is one of

the most intensively studied and best-understood tropical field sites

in the world. For over thirty years, La Selva has been a major focus

of research on rainforest ecology, flora, and fauna. This volume

provides the first comprehensive review of this research, covering La

Selva's geographical history and physical setting, its plant and

animal life, and agricultural development and land use.

Drawing together a wealth of information never before available in a

single volume, La Selva offers a substantive treatment of the

ecology of a rainforest. Part 1 summarizes research on the physical

setting and environment of the rainforest, as well as the history of

the research station. Some chapters in this part focus on climate,

geomorphology, and aquatic systems, while others look at soils,

nutrient acquisition, and cycles of energy.

Part 2 synthesizes what is known about the plant community. It begins

with chapters on vegetation types and plant diversity, and also

explores plant demography, spatial patterns of trees, and the impact

of treefall gaps on forest structure and dynamics. Other chapters

address plant physiological ecology, as well as plant reproductive

systems.

Part 3 covers the animal community, summarizing information on the six

best-known animal taxa of the region: fishes, amphibians, reptiles,

birds, mammals, and butterflies. This part includes an overview of

faunal studies at La Selva and a chapter on animal population biology,

which examines animal demography and abundance, and interactions

between predators and prey. Part 4 addresses interactions between

plants and animals and the effects of these interactions on species

diversity.

Part 5 considers the impact of land use and agricultural development

on La Selva and other areas of Costa Rica. One chapter examines land

colonization and conservation in Sarapiqui, another covers subsistence

and commercial agricultural development in the Atlantic lowlands

region, and a third looks at the forest industry in northeastern Costa

Rica. This part also assesses the role and research priorities of La

Selva.

La Selva provides an introduction to tropical ecology for

students and researchers at La Selva, a major source of comparative

information for biologists working in other tropical areas, and a

valuable resource for conservationists.

Edited by: Lucinda A. McDade, Kamaljit S. Bawa, Henry A. Hespenheide, Gary S. Hartshorn, Gary S. Hartshorn
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 29mm, Width: 22mm, Spine: 3mm
Weight: 1.332kg
ISBN: 9780226039503
ISBN 10: 0226039501
Pages: 493
Publication Date: 18 March 1994
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active