Tropical Mountain Forest: Patterns & Processes in a Biodiversity Hotspot

Tropical mountain forests are very rich in species and are generally considered as hotspots of biodiversity. They are also of great ecological importance as sources of water and other ecosystem services for millions of people living in the tropics. However, these valuable forest ecosystems are now increasingly being fragmented, reduced, and disturbed by human interventions. This book originated from a lecture series on the tropical mountain forest organised by the Gottingen Centre of Biodiversity and Ecology and held at the University of Gottingen, Germany, during the summer term of 2007. The volume presents a synthesis of current ecological research in Germany on the tropical mountain forest, from an interdisciplinary perspective.