Tropical Ecology begins with a historical overview followed by a sweeping discussion of biogeography and evolution, and then introduces students to the unique and complex structure of tropical rain forests. It covers tropical montane ecology, riverine ecosystems, savanna, dry forest - and more. It explains why the world’s tropical rain forests are so universally rich in species, what factors may contribute to high species richness, how nutrient cycles affect rain forest ecology, and how ecologists investigate the complex interrelationships among flora and fauna. This full-color illustrated textbook offers the first comprehensive introduction to all major aspects of tropical ecology.