The Rainforest Edge: Plant and Soil Ecology of Maraca Island, Brazil [Hardcover]

John Hemming (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994 | ISBN-10: 0719034779 | ISBN-13: 978-0719034770

This book presents some of the most important research findings of the Royal Geographical Society's Maraca Rainforest Project, one of the largest research efforts ever mounted in Amazonia, involving scientists from Brazil and from Britain. It focuses in particular on ecological dynamics at the forest-savanna boundary, which are crucial to explaining how rainforests work and how human interventions modify the rainforest ecosystem. After an introduction to the Maraca area, which lies on two boundaries, leading ecologists and geographers cover in depth key elements in Maraca's ecological dynamics: savanna ecology; physical environment, forest structure and floristics; litter and nutrient cycling; the nitrogen cycle; soil nutrients and organic matter; and regeneration in forest gaps. They also examine soil degradation and consider how to establish a geographic information system for resource management of the area. "The Rainforest Edge" is a contribution to our understanding of the ecology of the world's most diverse and fascinating ecosystems, and to how humanity's activities are changing them. This book is intended for ecologists, geographers and their students.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Manchester Univ Pr (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719034779
• ISBN-13: 978-0719034770
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,559,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)