Perspective in tropical rain forest research
Research into tropical rain forests developed as two streams. Academic scientists, mainly from Europe on short visits, focused on problems that preoccupied them at home. Foresters made studies that backed up their work on forest utilization and conservation. The two streams coalesced when academics began to study "gap-phase dynamics", namely, the processes of forest regeneration after canopy disturbance, which has become a major field in the past decade. Ecophysiological studies have burgeoned recently, focusing on the nature of shade tolerance. The study of dynamics has also illuminated discussions into the floristic stability of rain forests with time. Tropical rain forests are currently under heavy threat at the hands of humans. Today's generation of scientists has a responsibility to address problems that underpin sustainable utilization and conservation as rising populations and demand for forest products put the remaining rain forests under threat.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
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New York, NY (EUA) Springer-Verlag
1995
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| Subjects: | INVESTIGACION, DINAMICA DE LA POBLACION, CLAROS, MANEJO FORESTAL, REHABILITACION DE TIERRAS, BOSQUE TROPICAL, |
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| Summary: | Research into tropical rain forests developed as two streams. Academic scientists, mainly from Europe on short visits, focused on problems that preoccupied them at home. Foresters made studies that backed up their work on forest utilization and conservation. The two streams coalesced when academics began to study "gap-phase dynamics", namely, the processes of forest regeneration after canopy disturbance, which has become a major field in the past decade. Ecophysiological studies have burgeoned recently, focusing on the nature of shade tolerance. The study of dynamics has also illuminated discussions into the floristic stability of rain forests with time. Tropical rain forests are currently under heavy threat at the hands of humans. Today's generation of scientists has a responsibility to address problems that underpin sustainable utilization and conservation as rising populations and demand for forest products put the remaining rain forests under threat. |
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