Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest

"The book will be an excellent source of information and reference on this biological reserve and the two brave editors are to be applauded. The information compiled in this volume will serve as a basis for monitoring the declines, fluctuations and variability of populations in Monteverde." -- Luis D. Gomez, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol 223, 2000 "'Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest' is an impressive 573 page volume which includes the work of 114 individual contributors, each selected for his and her specialized knowledge of Monteverde flora, fauna, history and biodiversity. This is a unique volume, the most comprehensive ever assembled on what is acknowledged to be the purest rain forest on our planet. They have a remarkably comprehensive volume to illuminate everything they see and study. Every aspect of the forest, from its physical environment, plants and vegetation, insect and spiders, amphibians and reptiles, ( including some haunting words on the disappearance of the forest's Golden Toad) birds, mammals, agriculture and more, much more, is thoroughly documented in a series of essays." -- Times Record, Sept 2000 "This is a lucidly and cleanly written group effort by 114 contributors, all with experience with Monteverde field biology."--The Quarterly Review of Biology "An important book outlining the current knowledge of the ecology of one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. ... Those interested in cloud forests and conservation will find this volume fascinating."--Northeastern Naturalist "As a graduate student at the University of Washington, Nadkarni studied epiphytes, or plants that grow on other plants and draw most of their water and nutrients from the air. . . . In 1980, near the top of a bigleaf maple tree on the Olympic Peninsula, Nadkarni peeled back a thick layer of epiphytes and found maple roots. The roots were similar in all ways to their subterranean counterparts--except that they were growing more than 60 feet above the ground. . . . She realized that the canopy is a type of forest atop the forest--a separate ecosystem, complete with arboreal earthworms, plants, beetles, and birds. . . . In 1994 she helped found the International Canopy Network, a consortium of professors, scientists, conservationists, and others interested in canopy research. In addition, she is soliciting comments on a potentially groundbreaking theory that the canopy can predict global climate change."--Audubon "Monteverde is a unique tropical montane cloud forest region in Costa Rica with an established Quaker dairy community, artists' commune, and conservation zone that has become a destination for nature-loving visitors from around the world. This volume compiles dozens of contributions by conservation biologists, botanists, zoologists, entomologists, and other scientists who present scientific accounts of the physical setting, fauna, flora, and their ecological interactions, as well as reflections by residents and others who have worked to preserve this vital region."--SciTech Book News "Monteverde is a community established by Quaker dairy farmers, mostlyfrom Alabama, in the mountains of northwest Costa Rica. It sparked perhaps the finest conservation success in Latin America today. This book treats the cloud forest above Monteverde, the mixture of pastures, farms and forest around and below Monteverde, and the rainforests covering the Caribbean slopes to the northeast. Twelve chapters present this region's ecology, land use, history, and state of conservation. Many authors provide 1-3 page addenda. Embedded here are three stories: Monteverde's research environment, the scientific achievement, and Monteverde's conservation success. ... I am thankful to see the Monteverde conservation story published, and hope that it will be read attentatively."--Environmental Practice "Every graduate student and senior researcher who has doen, or plans to do, research at Monteverde or elsewhere in Costa Rica will want to have a copy of this book, as will almost anyone interested in tropical biology." -- Copeia "The book will be an excellent source of information and reference on this biological reserve and the two brave editors are to be applauded. The information compiled in this volume will serve as a basis for monitoring the declines, fluctuations and variability of populations in Monteverde." -- Luis D. Gomez, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol 223, 2000 "'Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest' is an impressive 573 page volume which includes the work of 114 individual contributors, each selected for his and her specialized knowledge of Monteverde flora, fauna, history and biodiversity. This is a unique volume, the most comprehensive ever assembled on what is acknowledged to be the purest rain forest on our planet. They have a remarkably comprehensive volume to illuminate everything they see and study. Every aspect of the forest, from its physical environment, plants and vegetation, insect and spiders, amphibians and reptiles, ( including some haunting words on the disappearance of the forest's Golden Toad) birds, mammals, agriculture and more, much more, is thoroughly documented in a series of essays." -- Times Record, Sept 2000 "Although guides for tourists have been available for years, this is the first comprehensive book on the natural history of Monteverde. The editors have brought together over 140 contributors to tell us what is known about systematics, ecology, and conservation, to highlight gaps in our understanding, and to promote education, research, and conservation. . .One intended audience for this book is the hundreds of students per year that take courses in Monteverde. For the most part, chapters can be read by advanced undergraduates, especially in conjunction with course instruction. Plenty is here for the dedicated research biologist as well. Those with long experience in Monteverde have peppered the text with hints, suggestions, and even semi-detailed outlines for projects. Graduate students may want to mine for ideas."--Ecology "This is a lucidly and cleanly written group effort by 114 contributors, all with experience with Monteverde field biology."--The Quarterly Review of Biology "An important book outlining the current knowledge of the ecology of one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. ... Those interested in cloud forests and conservation will find this volume fascinating."--Northeastern Naturalist