E-book: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes in Tropical Forests

1 Introduction.- References.- 2 Plant Species Diversity and Ecosystem
Functioning in Tropical Forests.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The Dependence of
Ecosystem Processes on Species Diversity.- 2.3 Plant Species Richness in
Tropical Forests.- 2.4 The Primary Productivity of Tropical Forests.- 2.5 The
Stability of Tropical Forests.- 2.6 Conclusions.- References.- 3 Consumer
Diversity and Secondary Production.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Secondary
Production and Biodiversity.- 3.3 Evolutionary Effects of Consumers on
Ecosystem Properties.- 3.4 Ecological Effects of Consumers on Ecosystem
Properties.- 3.4.1 Influence of Consumers on Plant Productivity.- 3.4.2
Influences of Consumers on Plant Diversity.- 3.5 Conclusion.- References.- 4
Biodiversity and Biogeochemical Cycles.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.1.1 Definitions
and Concepts.- 4.2 Species Richness and Biogeochemical Cycling.- 4.3
Functional Diversity and Biogeochemistry.- 4.3.1 The Atmospheric-Terrestrial
Interface.- 4.3.2 The Biotic Interface.- 4.3.3 The Plant-Soil Interface.-
4.3.4 The Terrestrial-Hydrologic Interface.- 4.4 Evidence from Experimental
Studies.- 4.4.1 Plantations versus Natural Forests.- 4.4.2 Experimental
Manipulation of Species Composition.- 4.5 Conclusions.- References.- 5
Microbial Diversity and Tropical Forest Functioning.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2
The Knowledge Base.- 5.3 Food Chains.- 5.4 Pathogens.- 5.4.1 Control of
Herbivores by Pathogens.- 5.4.2 Pathogens as a Source of Distribution.- 5.4.3
Effect of Pathogens on Patterns of Tree Dispersion.- 5.5 Microbial
Contributions to Global Biogeochemistry.- 5.5.1 Atmospheric CO2.- 5.5.2
Methane.- 5.5.3 Nitrous Oxide.- 5.5.4 Rock Weathering.-
5. 6 Nutrient
Cycling.- 5.6.1 Litter Decomposition and Soil Fertility.- 5.6.2 Symbiotic
Nitrogen Fixation Associated with Plant Roots.- 5.6.3 Effects of Microbial
Epiphylls and Epiphytes on Nutrient Fluxes.- 5.6.4 Mycorrhizae and Nutrient
Uptake.- 5.7 Plant Endophytes.- 5.8 Threats to the Microbiota and the
Processes They Mediate.- 5.8.1 Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Plant
Symbioses.- 5.8.2 Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Cord-Forming Fungi.-
5.8.3 Effects of Acid Precipitation on Ectomycorrhizae.- 5.8.4 Effects of Air
Pollution and Climate Change on Epiphyte Nitrogen Fixation.- 5.8.5 Are
Decomposers Redundant in a Heterogeneous Environment?.- 5.9 Conclusions.-
References.- 6 Plant Life-Forms and Tropical Ecosystem Functioning.- 6.1
Introduction.- 6.1.1 Functional Significance of Life-Forms.- 6.1.2 Assessing
the Consequences of Life-Form Diversity.- 6.2 Classification.- 6.2.1
Stature.- 6.2.2 Longevity.- 6.3 Biogeographical Patterns.- 6.4 Environmental
Correlates of Life-Form Diversity.- 6.4.1 Rainfall.- 6.4.2 Altitude.- 6.4.3
Soil Fertility.- 6.5 Episodic Impacts on Life-form Diversity.- 6.5.1 Wind.-
6.5.2 Fire.- 6.5.3 Animals.- 6.5.4 Climate change.- 6.6 Life-Forms and
Succession.-
6. 7 Implications of Loss of Life-Forms.- 6.8 Conclusions.-
References.- 7 Functional Group Diversity and Recovery from Disturbance.- 7.1
Introduction.- 7.2 Functional Groups Affecting Tropical Forest Dynamics.-
7.2.1 Pioneer Herbs and Shrubs.- 7.2.2 Large-Leaved Understory Herbs and
Shrubs.- 7.2.3 Small-Leaved Understory Herbs and Shrubs.- 7.2.4 Pioneer
Trees.- 7.2.5 Understory Treelets.- 7.2.6 Emergent and Canopy Trees.- 7.2.7
Canopy Palms.- 7.2.8 Canopy Legumes.- 7.2.9 Vines and Lianas.- 7.2.10
Epiphytes.- 7.2.11 Seed Dispersers.- 7.2.12 Herbivorous Insects and
Pathogens.- 7.2.13 Decomposers.- 7.2.14 Mycorrhizal Fungi.- 7.2.15
Soil-Churning Animals.- 7.3 Functional Groups and Natural Disturbance
Processes in Tropical Moist Forests.- 7.4 Anthropogenic Disturbances to
Tropical Forests.- 7.4.1 Functional Groups Affect Successional Patterns.-
7.4.2 Causes of Depauperate Regeneration Pools.- 7.5 Functional Groups in
Tropical Dry Forests.- 7.6 Redundancy within Functional Groups.- 7.7
Conclusions.- References.- 8 Species Richness and Resistance to Invasion.-
8.1 Diversity vs. Stability.- 8.2 Global Patterns.- 8.3 Intentional
Introductions.- 8.4 Invasions into Undisturbed Tropical Forests.- 8.5
Speculations.- References.- 9 The Role of Biodiversity in Tropical Managed
Ecosystems.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Examples of Tropical Managed Ecosystems.-
9.2.1 Managed Forests.- 9.2.2 Home Gardens.- 9.2.3 Swidden Agriculture.-
9.2.4 Intensive Annual and Perennial Crops.- 9.2.5 Traditional Rice Systems.-
9.3 Plant Diversity and Primary Productivity.- 9.3.1 Comparisons Between
Natural and Managed Ecosystems.- 9.3.2 Productivity of Diverse Cropping
Systems.- 9.3.3 Stability of Diverse Cropping Systems.- 9.4 Plant Diversity
and Primary Consumers.- 9.5 Plant Diversity and Secondary Consumers.- 9.5.1
Ants in Diverse Cropping Systems.- 9.6 Conclusions.- References.- 10
Synthesis.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Environmental Gradients.- 10.2.1
Moisture.- 10.2.2 Fertility.- 10.2.3 Elevation.- 10.3 Biodiversity and
Functioning of Tropical Forests.- 10.4 Energy Flow.- 10.4.1 Carbon Allocation
and Consumption.- 10.4.2 Animal-Animal Interactions.- 10.4.3
Detritus-Detritivores.- 10.5 Materials Processing.- 10.5.1
Atmosphere-Organism.- 10.5.2 Biotic Interface.- 10.5.3 Plant-Soil.- 10.5.4
Atmosphere-Soil.- 10.5.5 Soil-Water Table.- 10.6 Functional Properties over
Longer Temporal Scales.- 10.6.1 Provision and Maintenance of Structure.-
10.6.2 Resistance to Invasions.- 10.7 Functional Properties Over Larger
Spatial Scales.- 10.7.1 Movement of Materials by Physical Agents.- 10.7.2
Movement of Materials and Energy by Animals.- 10.8 Biodiversity and Responses
to Disturbances.- 10.9 Research Agenda.- 10.10 Conclusions.- References.-
Species Index.- Topical Index.