Ecology of an African Rain Forest

Ecology of an African Rain Forest
Author :
Publisher :
Total Pages : 434
Release :
ISBN-10 : 0813014905
ISBN-13 : 9780813014906
Rating : 4/5 (906 Downloads)

Book Synopsis Ecology of an African Rain Forest by : Thomas T. Struhsaker

Download or read book Ecology of an African Rain Forest written by Thomas T. Struhsaker and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A unique book that is likely to become a benchmark for those who wish to save the rain forests through sustainable logging practices. Its uniqueness lies in the author's collection of long-term data (up to 25 years) on both plants and animals in the same site, the Kibale forest in Uganda. . . . Very highly recommended for libraries specializing in ecology, environmental science, forestry, and rain forests."--Choice "A much-needed volume that will be of interest to a wide audience, written by a leader in the field, and one with an international reputation. The current rosy advocacy for 'sustainable development' needs a wake-up call, and this is it. This volume combines some of the hottest topics in conservation science today into a cohesive whole that looks clear-eyed into the face of modern conservation in the tropics and finds it frighteningly lacking in scientific underpinning, rational consideration, and effective implementation."--Truman Young, University of California at Davis Thomas Struhsaker summarizes 20 years of research in the Kibale forest in Uganda, one of the most important centers for the study of tropical rain forests in Africa. Among the longest ongoing projects in rain forest ecology anywhere, Struhsaker's differs from the great majority of logging studies by emphasizing the fauna rather than looking only at the commercially valuable timber species. By providing long-term data on a variety of plants and animals, it offers the first truly in-depth synthesis of the consequences of selective logging in the tropics. The main body of the book demonstrates the adverse effects of logging--as many as 25 years after the event--on community structure and numerous other aspects of forest ecology. Although much has been claimed for the possibilities of sustainable logging in tropical rain forests, few data support these claims. Struhsaker demonstrates that future logging must be done at far lower intensities than is currently practiced if intact ecosystems are to be maintained. He also offers detailed recommendations for harvest plans compatible with the conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity. The long-term data summarized here on the population dynamics of rain forest trees, primates, rodents, duikers, and elephants are unrivaled and will be widely cited, as will the data on seasonality, tree phrenology, gap dynamics, rainfall, and temperature. Struhsaker addresses the underlying causes of tropical deforestation and concludes that although there are numerous proximate factors, the ultimate causes are rapidly increasing human populations and rates of consumption per capita. He draws comparisons with relevant studies elsewhere in the tropics and offers specific recommendations to address the problems. Thomas T. Struhsaker has conducted field research in Africa over a period of 34 years. From 1970 through 1987 he established, developed, and directed the field research station in Kibale, Uganda. He maintains an active role in Kibale today and is a research scientist in the Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy at Duke University. His publications include The Red Colobus Monkey (1975) and more than 80 scientific and popular articles and technical reports on ecology, conservation, and animal behavior.


Ecology of an African Rain Forest Related Books

Ecology of an African Rain Forest
Language: en
Pages: 434
Authors: Thomas T. Struhsaker
Categories: Nature
Type: BOOK - Published: 1997 - Publisher:

GET EBOOK

"A unique book that is likely to become a benchmark for those who wish to save the rain forests through sustainable logging practices. Its uniqueness lies in th
Biogeography and Ecology of the Rain Forests of Eastern Africa
Language: en
Pages: 0
Authors: Jon C. Lovett
Categories: Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2008-07-31 - Publisher: Cambridge University Press

GET EBOOK

Eastern African rain forests are remarkable in their high level of endemism. Miocene uplift of the central African plateau separated these montane and coastal f
African Rain Forest Ecology and Conservation
Language: en
Pages: 620
Authors: William Weber
Categories: Nature
Type: BOOK - Published: 2001-01-01 - Publisher: Yale University Press

GET EBOOK

Extending from west Africa to Madagascar, from the vast lowland Congo Basin to the archipelago of forest islands on its eastern rim, the African rain forest is
Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems
Language: en
Pages: 733
Authors: H. Lieth
Categories: Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2012-12-02 - Publisher: Elsevier

GET EBOOK

After publication of the first volume of the Tropical Rain Forest, the International Journal of Mycology and Lichenology commented ``This is a welcome addition
Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World
Language: en
Pages: 333
Authors: Dominick A. DellaSala
Categories: Nature
Type: BOOK - Published: 2011 - Publisher: Island Press

GET EBOOK

Temperate rainforests are biogeographically unique. Compared to their tropical counterparts, temperate rainforests are rarer and are found disproportionately al