Tropical Nature : Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America

Rating:
Summary: very informative, entertaining, captivating
Review: A well written, easily readable biological treatise about basic American Tropical ecology. Initial chapter on the climate that dictates all else in the tropics is paticularly interesting. The remainder of the book is divided into various chapters dealing with various plant and animal idiosyncracies. Numerous fascinating facts, anectodes spice up what can potentially be a pretty dry, high-school biology textbook subject matter. The section on the importance of excrements to the rainforest and two chapters on tropical ants and their social lives fascinating. Good reading for anyone interested in basic tropical ecology.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining stories and excellent rainforest insights
Review: Excellent preparation for visiting the rainforests of Costa Rica.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and fun reading
Review: I read this before visiting the rainforest in southwest Peru. It's inviting, narrative, yet informative text made my experience all that more rewarding. A definite for any laypersons interested in the rainforest of the americas.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and fun reading
Review: I read this before visiting the rainforest in southwest Peru. It's inviting, narrative, yet informative text made my experience all that more rewarding. A definite for any laypersons interested in the rainforest of the americas.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging!
Review: I read Tropical Nature in preparation for a trip to Costa Rica. First, this is not a textbook or a feild guide. Rather, it is a collection of chapters so richly and interestingly written that I demanded my travel partner read it so that we could discuss its content on our trip. He loved it as well, and we continually reffered to it as our experience of tropical nature itself unfolded. He's thinking of assigning it to high school students. If you need something to get you 'hooked' on the wonders of neotropical ecosystems, this book will easily instill a desire to visit and learn more. If you have been to the tropics or study them and haven't read this book, I still recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: If you're interested in tropical rainforests (and even if you've never given them much consideration), you'll find this book full of interesting information describing how the cycle of nature works in a tropical environment. Their accounts left me full of wonder. I'm awestruck by Mother Nature!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Literally immerses you in the wonder of the ecology of the tropical rainforests. I bought this while visiting Costa Rica and found it more informative than my "eco-guide."

Rating:
Summary: Student Rating
Review: This book is so "scientifically correct" that it was used in my ecology of the tropical rainforest class that went down to do research in Costa Rica. It was so enjoyable though that I've read it through 3 times since my completion of the class. This book brings the best of the tropics to you.

Rating:
Summary: Student Rating
Review: This book is so "scientifically correct" that it was used in my ecology of the tropical rainforest class that went down to do research in Costa Rica. It was so enjoyable though that I've read it through 3 times since my completion of the class. This book brings the best of the tropics to you.

Rating:
Summary: Student Rating
Review: This book is so "scientifically correct" that it was used in my ecology of the tropical rainforest class that went down to do research in Costa Rica. It was so enjoyable though that I've read it through 3 times since my completion of the class. This book brings the best of the tropics to you.