Tropical Forest Remnants: Ecology, Management, and Conservation of Fragmented Communities

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Topical Forest Remnants edited by William F. Laurance and Richard O. Bierregaard Jr. discusses the importance of studying rainforest fragments. Each section of the book deals with a different component to this problem. This book is very interesting because it deals with an issue in tropical forests often overlooked by many. It is a series of different scientific studies that are accessible to the educated layperson. This book is a must for anyone interested in the tropical rainforests. Some knowledge of tropical rainforest ecology and destruction is helpful. The book presents general studies dealing with issues that are universal to tropical rainforests and highly specific studies dealing with a particular species in a particular region. Overall this book provides a great deal of information about tropical rainforest fragments. This book is not for someone looking for a little information about the subject. But, it is easy to choose what is of the most interest, because each chapter is a different study, they are independent of one another. There are some unanswered questions, especially concerning the current reserve progress. The book has many strong points with a few sections that may leave important concerns out. This book provides a comprehensive look into an area of tropical rainforest study often overlooked.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and often ignored topic
Review: Tropical Forest Remnants edited by William F. Laurance and Richard O. Bierregaard Jr. discusses the importance of studying rainforest fragments. Each section of the book deals with a different component to this problem. This book is very interesting because it deals with an issue in tropical forests often overlooked by many. It is a series of different scientific studies that are accessible to the educated layperson. This book is a must for anyone interested in the tropical rainforests. Some knowledge of tropical rainforest ecology and destruction is helpful. The book presents general studies dealing with issues that are universal to tropical rainforests and highly specific studies dealing with a particular species in a particular region. The first section is an introduction, clarifying the importance of studying tropical rainforests and the importance of studying fragmentation of these areas. It discuss the micro and macro economic factors of fragmentation, which offers a range of impacts from the local level to the global level. One draw back of this section is that only the negatives of shifting cultivation are discussed. Though shifting cultivation causes fragmentation, it can be (and has been in the past) sustainable if done using the proper techniques. Edge effects are discusses in the second section of the book, which has two chapters that look at Australia and two chapters that look at Amazonia. Two chapters describe about microclimates of the regions (one about Australia and one about Amazonia). These were the most interesting chapters because they allow the reader to compare the regions. The reader is able to bring in prior knowledge of tropical forests and add it to the information form these two chapters to make an assessment. This section was interesting because edge effects both positive and negative are rarely discussed in other books about tropical rainforests. The third section of the book discusses tropical faunas. Indicator species such as centipedes, frogs, butterflies, and birds were used to analyze the edge effects of fragmentation. Small mammals and vertebrates were also used for studies. Birds were most often chosen for study in this section. For some studies highly specific birds were studied, showing the effects on specialized species. This gave an interesting contrast among the different bird species. The final chapter of this section discussed land bridge islands. This also dealt with a subject rarely thought about when talking about tropical rainforests. The fourth section addresses plants and plant-animal interactions. The first chapter in this section gives a model for extinction and discusses endemic species. The second and third chapters discuss the reliance of tropical plants on animals. The final chapter looks at a long-term forest fragment in Singapore. This section does not offer any information new information. The last chapter does have some interesting points. The example in Singapore may be able to provide a model for future rainforest fragments. It also discusses the resilience difference between plants and animals. This resilience is necessary for survival in the new ecosystem of a fragmented area. Future prospects for fragments can be drawn such as preservation and conservation. Restoration and management are discussed in section five. The first two discuss habitat restoration in Brazil, Queensland, and Puerto Rico. These chapters offer some strategies to help these fragmented areas, but fail to provide the reader with a holistic view. Only the rainforest fragment is discussed, but the cause of the fragmentation is not addressed. This reductionist approach will not solve the problem of fragmentation. The second two chapters describe the use of remote sensing and GIS to manage these fragments. They offer a way to measure the amount of fragmentation occurring in an area, but do not discuss shortfalls of these systems. The sixth section discusses the selection of reserves. Many factors are necessary to take into account to form reserves. Most of these chapters are assessments of the problem of insufficient data and the adequacy or inadequacy of reserves as they now exist. It offers little in the way of how to make better reserves in the future. These chapters should have provided more information on current working reserves. This would allow the reader to compare those reserves that are working with those that are not. In the final section looks into the future of fragments. The first chapter is an assessment of the progress made on this issue of fragmentation and whether further study is justified. In the last chapter of the book the editors list the priorities for further research. This allows the reader to see the path that this discipline will take. After reading the entire book and coming to this chapter the reader is able to critically analyze the justification of further research and what that research will entail. The editors properly prepare the reader through the choice and placement of the sections and the chapters to analyze the future of tropical rainforest fragmentation. Overall this book provides a great deal of information about tropical rainforest fragments. This book is not for someone looking for a little information about the subject. But, it is easy to choose what is of the most interest, because each chapter is a different study, they are independent of one another. There are some unanswered questions, especially concerning the current reserve progress. The book has many strong points with a few sections that may leave important concerns out. This book provides a comprehensive look into an area of tropical rainforest study often overlooked.