Igapó (Black-water flooded forests) of the Amazon Basin

Igapó forests are a common part of the Amazon whose ecosystems are critical to our shared human future. The introduction addresses the structure, function and dynamics of igapó forests in the Amazon basin, focusing on their uniqueness due to their high level of complexity defined as the many ways that different components of igapó forests in the Amazon basin ecosystem interact and also on how those interactions are on a higher-order compared to other tropical forests. The text then breaks down the igapó ecosystem using these sections: (1) Igapó forests over space and time, (2) Water, light and soils, (3) The carbon cycle, (4) Litter, fungi and invertebrates, (5) Vertebrates, (6) Plant population studies, (7) Plant community studies, and (8) Human impacts and management. Experts from around the world serve as chapter authors that review what is known about their specific part of the igapó ecosystem, what research they have done, and also what needs to be done in the future.

Offers the first volume exclusively on the igapó forests in the Amazon Enriches understanding of the interactions between all aspects of its unique ecosystem Includes suggestions for further research and future action by the leading igapó experts from around the world Covers the structure, function and dynamics of igapó forests in the Amazon basin

Autorentext
Dr. Randall W. Myster teaches in the Biology Department at Oklahoma State University.

Inhalt
Introduction. Randall W. Myster.- Section I Igapó over space and time.- Section II Water and light.- Section III Soil and the carbon cycle.- Section IV Litter, fungi and invertebrates.- Section V Vertebrates.-Section VI Plants.- Section VII Human impacts and management.