| Popis: |
The book is based on a symposium held in June 1991 at Arhus University, Denmark, and reviews research projects in Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the USA. These emphasize the theme that ecology and biotic composition within the paramo ecosystem is the result of the combined effects of natural processes and human impact. After an introductory chapter on the man-made environment and conservation of paramos, there are 20 further studies broadly divided into a first section on biogeographical and floristic aspects of the paramo, such as Afroalpine vegetation, birds, montane forests, the Rosaceae, lichen flora, the Cladionaceae, as well as ecological studies of a cushion mire and of bamboo paramo nutrient status; and a second section on the human impact on the paramo ecosystem from pre-Columbian times and human influence on vegetation, particularly of grassland paramo, through burning and grazing. Seventeen chapters are abstracted separately in Ecological Abstracts. -J.W.Cooper |
