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Editorial Reviews
Review
E. O. Wilson Tropical Nature is superior by virtue of its freshness and authority. It is an account of the extraordinary richness of the tropical forests by two gifted young biologists who have recently experienced it and are experts on their subject. They write with the crispness of journalists sending dispatches from the field.
Ernst Mayr Combines excellent science, often based on original observations, with a warm sympathy for creatures big and small. A worthy successor to the writings of the great naturalists of the American tropics. I know of no better introduction to tropical biology.
Newsweek Tropical Nature...seeks to provoke curiosity about the forests -- not just provide facts about them -- and succeeds splendidly....Tropical Nature evokes the magic and wonder of a world completely contained within itself.
Smithsonian It invites an appreciation of biology as few other books do and does so with extraordinary grace and humor.
Philadelphia Inquirer ...one of the best natural-history books in recent years. Lyrical, richly detailed and delightful to read.
Scientific American In 17 chapters, each a brief essay on tropical nature observed, these two young field biologists have made a model of contemporary natural history, cheerfully speculative, concerned as much with large pattern as with diversity, chemically informed, thoroughly ecological and Darwinian to the core.
Ernst Mayr Combines excellent science, often based on original observations, with a warm sympathy for creatures big and small. A worthy successor to the writings of the great naturalists of the American tropics. I know of no better introduction to tropical biology.
Newsweek Tropical Nature...seeks to provoke curiosity about the forests -- not just provide facts about them -- and succeeds splendidly....Tropical Nature evokes the magic and wonder of a world completely contained within itself.
Smithsonian It invites an appreciation of biology as few other books do and does so with extraordinary grace and humor.
Philadelphia Inquirer ...one of the best natural-history books in recent years. Lyrical, richly detailed and delightful to read.
Scientific American In 17 chapters, each a brief essay on tropical nature observed, these two young field biologists have made a model of contemporary natural history, cheerfully speculative, concerned as much with large pattern as with diversity, chemically informed, thoroughly ecological and Darwinian to the core.
About the Author
Adrian Forsyth holds a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University. He won the Canadian National Magazine Award for Science Writing in 1982 and 1983, the first author to win the award twice.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Among books that aim to express to readers the wonders of the rain forest, this one stands out. In 17 chapters that touch upon different aspects of the rain forest, the authors transmit their own passion for the rain forest and the unique intricacies that make rain forests some of the most precious places on earth.
The book is not written as one coherent whole, but rather as 17 individual chapters or essays. Below is a brief sample of topics:
- the strategy of dung scarabs to capture important proteins
- the symbiotic relationship of sloths with the trees they prefer
- the mimicry some insects have developed to elude their main predators, birds
- the reason why some birds have developed migratory patterns to temperate climates
- the reason why some frogs developed a parental care strategy and even marsupial pouches
- the reason why some trees are hollow
- how parasited species can benefit even in the most unlikely scenarios
- why some plants developed hallucinogenic substances
These are just a few of the topics covered in the book. It is written in a pop science format, so that an interested reader will easily understand and appreciate these and many more concepts. The authors carefully explain the relationships, often comparing the rain forest experience with those of temperate forests. The authors also focus on the possible evolutionary principles involved in adaptations presented.
This is the very best introductory book on the subject. It is designed to excite the reader into learning more and even visiting the rain forest. In the mold of Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins, Miyata and Forsyth write a masterpiece that will make the reader feel smarter after reading it.
The book is not written as one coherent whole, but rather as 17 individual chapters or essays. Below is a brief sample of topics:
- the strategy of dung scarabs to capture important proteins
- the symbiotic relationship of sloths with the trees they prefer
- the mimicry some insects have developed to elude their main predators, birds
- the reason why some birds have developed migratory patterns to temperate climates
- the reason why some frogs developed a parental care strategy and even marsupial pouches
- the reason why some trees are hollow
- how parasited species can benefit even in the most unlikely scenarios
- why some plants developed hallucinogenic substances
These are just a few of the topics covered in the book. It is written in a pop science format, so that an interested reader will easily understand and appreciate these and many more concepts. The authors carefully explain the relationships, often comparing the rain forest experience with those of temperate forests. The authors also focus on the possible evolutionary principles involved in adaptations presented.
This is the very best introductory book on the subject. It is designed to excite the reader into learning more and even visiting the rain forest. In the mold of Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins, Miyata and Forsyth write a masterpiece that will make the reader feel smarter after reading it.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A well written, easily readable biological treatise about basic American Tropical ecology. Initial chapter on the climate that dictates all else in the tropics is paticularly interesting. The remainder of the book is divided into various chapters dealing with various plant and animal idiosyncracies. Numerous fascinating facts, anectodes spice up what can potentially be a pretty dry, high-school biology textbook subject matter. The section on the importance of excrements to the rainforest and two chapters on tropical ants and their social lives fascinating. Good reading for anyone interested in basic tropical ecology.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book took me awhile to read because on almost every page I stopped and thought, "That's amazing" or said to my husband "Listen to this.". The illustrations are beautiful, the writing is clear with careful explanatons of complicated inter-relationships of plants, people, birds, and insects of the tropics.
If you want to be amazed, read this book.
"In many parts of tropical America, Indians have found a remarkable use for these soldier ants as practical first aid. The ants are picked up by the body and the jaws are placed over an open cut. The soldier will clamp her mandibles shut, and the Indian promptly twists her head from her body, making an efficient and readily available emergency suture."
" I was once in a rubber plantation in the lowlands of western Ecuador on a rare day when the sun made regular excursions out from behind the clouds. Every time the sun appeared, I heard what sounded like shots ringing out from the trees overhead. The sun was warming up the seed pods, which explosively propelled the walnut-sized seeds as far as thirty feet off. "
"Francis Putz, a botanist who has studied lianas in Panama, has suggested that it may be advantageous for trees to sway out of phase from their neighbors because this would tend to snap vine connections. Swaying out of phase is best accomplished by evolving different architectures, which in turn result in different flexibilies. The need for out-of-phase swaying might thus promote an increase in diversity of rain forest trees.....
There is an alternative to swaying. If swaying fails to shed hangers-on, a tree can prune itself, sending a liana tumbling down into obscurity at little cost to itself by dropping branches and entangled leaves, particularly if these branches and leaves are shaded."
If you want to be amazed, read this book.
"In many parts of tropical America, Indians have found a remarkable use for these soldier ants as practical first aid. The ants are picked up by the body and the jaws are placed over an open cut. The soldier will clamp her mandibles shut, and the Indian promptly twists her head from her body, making an efficient and readily available emergency suture."
" I was once in a rubber plantation in the lowlands of western Ecuador on a rare day when the sun made regular excursions out from behind the clouds. Every time the sun appeared, I heard what sounded like shots ringing out from the trees overhead. The sun was warming up the seed pods, which explosively propelled the walnut-sized seeds as far as thirty feet off. "
"Francis Putz, a botanist who has studied lianas in Panama, has suggested that it may be advantageous for trees to sway out of phase from their neighbors because this would tend to snap vine connections. Swaying out of phase is best accomplished by evolving different architectures, which in turn result in different flexibilies. The need for out-of-phase swaying might thus promote an increase in diversity of rain forest trees.....
There is an alternative to swaying. If swaying fails to shed hangers-on, a tree can prune itself, sending a liana tumbling down into obscurity at little cost to itself by dropping branches and entangled leaves, particularly if these branches and leaves are shaded."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book to take with you on your trip to a rain forest
highly readable, educational, and entertaining. shopped for many books this was the best I could find, and not terribly long.
Published 1 month ago by Dan Savage
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enhances trip to rain forest
Fascinating. Ideal if visiting the rain forest. Discusses many aspects of nature that I previously did not consider.Who knew ttrees roots plants bats etc could be so interesting
Published 2 months ago by eric mannes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This book taught me so much that I didn't know about tropical ecology. The interactions among species are so complex and fascinating. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A.Reboredo
4.0 out of 5 stars
A little bit about the rain forest
This book gives a detailed depiction of a typical day in the rain forest. The book contains 17 chapters that are written in essay format and each chapter covers a different topic. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Katherine
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tropical Nature Book Review
"The great complexity and diversity of life in the humid regions of the tropics offers the most seductive challenges available to any naturalist" (pg. 2). Read more
Published 17 months ago by TStaffon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb and detailed account of the Tropical Rainforests in the 80's
This was an excellent resource for me as a student studying tropical ecology and going soon to Costa Rica after reading the book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Shawn Atencio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and...
This book explains elements of the tropical lowland rainforest on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica where I live. Read more
Published on April 28, 2011 by Eugene Warneke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating book
This is an amazing book for any one to read but if you spend time in the rain forest or tropics, or you are interested in envionmental issues you will be amazed. Read more
Published on October 26, 2010 by K. Frykman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!
I first read this book before I went on a research trip in the tropics. Teachers and students all love this book! Read more
Published on March 19, 2010 by Ponytail
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent book, a little underwhelming
We used this book for a course I taught in Costa Rica, essentially doing a chapter a day. It was informative for the class and work well in that capacity, but it isn't what I... Read more
Published on January 27, 2010 by D. J Stemke
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 39
books:
See all 39 books this book cites
17
books
cite this book:
See all 17 books citing this book
- Tropical Nature by Alfred Russel Wallace on page 31, page 32, and page 66
- Tropical Nature and Other Essays by Alfred R. Wallace on page 31, page 32, and page 66
- A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm by Alexander Skutch on page 145, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Natural History by George I., Jr. Myers on page 131, and Back Matter
- South America (World Fact Files) by Anna Selby on page 73
See all 39 books this book cites
- Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest by Sy Montgomery in Back Matter
- The Last Sorcerer : Echoes of the Rainforest by Ethan Russo in Back Matter
- North American (Seven Continents) by April Pulley Sayre in Back Matter
- Moon Honduras (Moon Handbooks) by Chris Humphrey in Back Matter
- Stink Bugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles: And 18 More of the Strangest Insects on Earth by Sally Kneidel in Back Matter
See all 17 books citing this book
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