Food Webs and Container Habitats: The Natural History and Ecology of Phytotelmata
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 8/3/2000
EAN 9780521773164, ISBN10: 0521773164
Hardcover, 448 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
Language: English
The animal communities in plant-held water bodies, such as tree holes and pitcher plants, have become models for food-web studies. In this book, Professor Kitching introduces us to these fascinating miniature worlds and demonstrates how they can be used to tackle some of the major questions in community ecology. Based on thirty years' research in many parts of the world, this work presents much previously unpublished information, in addition to summarising over a hundred years of natural history observations by others. The book covers many aspects of the theory of food-web formation and maintenance presented with field-collected information on tree holes, bromeliads, pitcher plants, bamboo containers and the axils of fleshy plants. It is a unique introduction for the field naturalist and a stimulating source treatment for graduate students and professionals working in the fields of tropical and other forest ecology, as well as entomology.
Preface
1. Introduction
Part I. The Container Flora, Fauna and Environment
2. The container flora
3. The container fauna
4. The phytotelm environment
Part II. Methods and Theories
5. The construction and quantification of food webs
6. Processes structuring food webs
Part III. Patterns in Phytotelm Food Webs
7. Food-web variation across geographical regions
8. Food-web variation within a continent
the communities of tree-holes from Tasmania to Cape Tribulation
9. Food-web variation at smaller spatial scales
regional and local variation in tree-hole and Nepenthes webs
10. The role of the host plant
11. Variation through time
seasonality, invasion and reassembly, succession
Part IV. Processes Structuring Food Webs
12. Competition and predation - basic forces structuring the community?
13. Stochasticism and determinism
processes structuring fod webs in phytotelmata
Part V. Synthesis
14. A food-web templet
Annexe
References
Index.
Review of the hardback: 'This is an important referencer work, but one which is nevertheless written in an easy style. It is recommended reading for anyone with an interest in aquatic ecosystems.' The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation