Ecological Processes in Tropical Forests

Ecological systems, or ecosystems, are usually defined as containing plants, animals, and microorganisms, all of which interact through the exchange of energy, materials, and information. This chapter examines that processes in tropical forest ecosystems, communities, and populations. Coral reefs and some estuarine ecosystems have gross production rates as high as rain forests. The large number of nocturnal flowering plants means that nocturnally active animals such as moths and bats may be of special significance in tropical forests. Within a simple community there may exist thousands or even tens of thousands of individual species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. The production of the protective compounds is a cost to the plant and for a full accounting of the feeding relationship must be considered. In some circumstances the soils or waters contain inadequate quantities of nutrients for plant growth, especially those plants with the rapid cycling strategy.