While studies of forest vegetation may differ in their underlying objective, be it physiology, ecology or biodiversity, common to all these is the fact that all require taxonomic knowledge. The process of taxon omy or of forest ecology begins in principle with an inventory of the flora, the evaluation of this inven tory still being based to a large extent of reproduction-related organs. In a tropical forest, the majority of flowers or fruits are most often found in the canopy. The canopy, however, is difficult to reach and to do so necessitates heavy, expensive or sophisticated equipment such as a tower, a crane, or a hanging platform suspended from a dirigible balloon. Thus, most of the time, botany is practised near the ground with the aid of light equipment such as ladders, branch loppers, and climbing irons. Furthermore, a large proportion of the trees and lianas of the understorey bear neither flowers nor fruits at certain times of the year. Despite this absence of seasonal characters it should at least be possible to recognize the families of plants by means of easily observable and permanent characters. To meet this need, an identification system has been designed in the form of a dichotomous key. In addition to permitting recognition ofplantfamities in the field in all seasons, this system can serve as a starting-point for a more detailed knowledge of the forest taxa.

Recent climatic shifts, based on mild winters and more hot summers have released vegetation shifts all over the world. The book presents numerous case studies from Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Caucasus, Italy, Ireland, China, Japan, United Staes, Brazil and Chile. The authors analyse the resulting changes in compositions and structures of the forest vegetations, especially the process of Laurophyllisation.

An important prerequisite for successful conservation is a good understanding of what we seek to conserve. Nowhere is this more the case than in the fight to protect plant biodiversity, which is threatened by human activity in many regions worldwide. This book is written in the belief that tools that enable more people to understand biodiversity can not only aid protection efforts but also contribute to rural livelihoods. Among the most important of those tools is the field guide. Plant Identification provides potential authors of field guides with practical advice about all aspects of producing user-friendly guides which help to identify plants for the purposes of conservation, sustainable use, participatory monitoring or greater appreciation of biodiversity. The book draws on both scientific and participatory processes, supported by the experience of contributors from across the tropics. It presents a core process for producing a field guide, setting out key steps, options and techniques available to the authors of a guide and, through illustration, helps authors choose methods and media appropriate to their context.

First Published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology is a manual for students and researchers studying wild primates. Technological advances allow fieldworkers to collect a wide range of data, store samples for later analysis, and collect information remotely. These methods open up opportunities to gain new insights on previously studied populations and are the means of collecting data on species that have, until now, been difficult to study. However, information on the practicalities of using such methodology in the field has largely been lacking. Here, in this indispensable reference, experienced fieldworkers provide the first comprehensive guide to the wide variety of techniques available for the study of wild primates. Covering everything from pre-trip planning to laboratory analysis of endocrine and genetic samples, packed full of tips and emphasising practicalities and ethics throughout, it is a must-have for all field primatologists and others studying free-ranging animals.

Rain forests represent the world's richest repository of terrestrial biodiversity, and play a major role in regulating the global climate. They support the livelihoods of a substantial proportion of the world's population and are the source of many internationally traded commodities. They remain (despite decades of conservation attention) increasingly vulnerable to degradation and clearance, with profound though often uncertain future costs to global society. Understanding the ecology of these diverse biomes, and peoples' dependencies on them, is fundamental to their future management and conservation. Tropical Rain Forest Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation introduces and explores what rain forests are, how they arose, what they contain, how they function, and how humans use and impact them. The book starts by introducing the variety of rain forest plants, fungi, microorganisms, and animals, emphasising the spectacular diversity that is the motivation for their conservation. The central chapters describe the origins of rain forest communities, the variety of rain forest formations, and their ecology and dynamics. The challenge of explaining the species richness of rain forest communities lies at the heart of ecological theory, and forms a common theme throughout. The book's final section considers historical and current interactions of humans and rain forests. It explores biodiversity conservation as well as livelihood security for the many communities that are dependent on rain forests - inextricable issues that represent urgent priorities for scientists, conservationists, and policy makers.