Tropical Alpine Environments: Plant Form and Function

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511551475

Plants growing in tropical alpine environments (at altitudes above the closed canopy forest and below the limit of plant life) have evolved distinct forms to cope with a hostile environment characterized by cold, drought and fire. Unlike temperate alpine environments, where there are distinct seasons of favourable and unfavourable conditions for growth, tropical alpine habitats present summer conditions every day and winter conditions every night. Using examples from all over the tropics, this fascinating account reviews, for the first time, the unique form and functional relationships of tropical alpine plants examining both their physiological ecology and population biology. It will appeal to anyone interested in tropical vegetation and plant physiological adaptations to hostile environment, as well as to researchers in biogeography and ecology.

‘All in all, I liked this book very much. It covers a fascinating subject in a concise and readable style. It is a significant and useful contribution to any tropical alpine specialist’s bookshelf, and deserves a general readership amongst curious plant ecologists and students.’

Source: Mountain Research and Development

‘… I feel sure that the teacher, researcher, specialist and general reader will find this well-presented volume a great stimulus to a new generation of young biologists who are just about to discover ecology, the tropics and high mountains.’

Source: Annal of Botany

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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List of contributors
pp ix-xii
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Preface
pp xiii-xiv
- By Philip W. Rundel, Alan P. Smith, F. C. Meinzer
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1 - Introduction to tropical alpine vegetation
pp 1-20
- By Alan P. Smith
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2 - Tropical alpine climates
pp 21-44
- By Philip W. Rundel
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3 - Páramo microclimate and leaf thermal balance of Andean giant rosette plants
pp 45-60
- By F. C. Meinzer, G. Goldstein, F. Rada
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4 - Comparative water relations of tropical alpine plants
pp 61-76
- By F. C. Meinzer, G. Goldstein, P. W. Rundel
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5 - Cold tolerance in tropical alpine plants
pp 77-110
- By E. Beck
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6 - Anatomy of tropical alpine plants
pp 111-128
- By Sherwin Carlquist
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7 - Environmental biology of a tropical treeline species, Polylepis sericea
pp 129-150
- By G. Goldstein, F. C. Meinzer, F. Rada
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8 - Morphological and physiological radiation in páramo Draba
pp 151-166
- By William A. Pfitsch
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9 - Sediment-based carbon nutrition in tropical alpine Isoetes
pp 167-194
- By Jon E. Keeley, Darleen A. DeMason, Renee Gonzalez, Kenneth R. Markham
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10 - Functional significance of inflorescence pubescence in tropical alpine species of Puya
pp 195-214
- By Gregory A. Miller
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11 - Turnover and conservation of nutrients in the pachycaul Senecio keniodendron
pp 215-222
- By E. Beck
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12 - Soil nutrient dynamics in East African alpine ecosystems
pp 223-228
- By H. Rehder
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13 - An overview of the reproductive biology of Espeletia (Asteraceae) in the Venezuelan Andes
pp 229-250
- By Paul E. Berry, Ricardo N. Calvo
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14 - Population biology of Mount Kenya lobelias
pp 251-272
- By Truman P. Young
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15 - Population biology of Senecio keniodendron (Asteraceae), an Afroalpine giant rosette plant
pp 273-294
- By Alan P. Smith, Truman P. Young
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16 - Population dynamics and flowering in a Hawaiian alpine rosette plant, Argyroxiphium sandwicense
pp 295-306
- By Philip W. Rundel, M. S. Witter
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17 - Plant form and function in alpine New Guinea
pp 307-318
- By R. J. Hnatiuk
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18 - Alpine herbivory on Mount Kenya
pp 319-336
- By Truman P. Young, Alan P. Smith
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19 - Biotic interactions in Hawaiian high elevation ecosystems
pp 337-354
- By Lloyd L. Loope, Arthur C. Medeiros
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20 - Tropical alpine ecology: progress and priorities
pp 355-364
- By Philip W. Rundel, F. C. Meinzer, A. P. Smith
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Index
pp 365-376
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Tropical Alpine Environments

Plant Form and Function

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

List of contributors
pp ix-xii

Preface
pp xiii-xiv

1 - Introduction to tropical alpine vegetation
pp 1-20

2 - Tropical alpine climates
pp 21-44

3 - Páramo microclimate and leaf thermal balance of Andean giant rosette plants
pp 45-60

4 - Comparative water relations of tropical alpine plants
pp 61-76

5 - Cold tolerance in tropical alpine plants
pp 77-110

6 - Anatomy of tropical alpine plants
pp 111-128

7 - Environmental biology of a tropical treeline species, Polylepis sericea
pp 129-150

8 - Morphological and physiological radiation in páramo Draba
pp 151-166

9 - Sediment-based carbon nutrition in tropical alpine Isoetes
pp 167-194

10 - Functional significance of inflorescence pubescence in tropical alpine species of Puya
pp 195-214

11 - Turnover and conservation of nutrients in the pachycaul Senecio keniodendron
pp 215-222

12 - Soil nutrient dynamics in East African alpine ecosystems
pp 223-228

13 - An overview of the reproductive biology of Espeletia (Asteraceae) in the Venezuelan Andes
pp 229-250

14 - Population biology of Mount Kenya lobelias
pp 251-272

15 - Population biology of Senecio keniodendron (Asteraceae), an Afroalpine giant rosette plant
pp 273-294

16 - Population dynamics and flowering in a Hawaiian alpine rosette plant, Argyroxiphium sandwicense
pp 295-306

17 - Plant form and function in alpine New Guinea
pp 307-318

18 - Alpine herbivory on Mount Kenya
pp 319-336

19 - Biotic interactions in Hawaiian high elevation ecosystems
pp 337-354

20 - Tropical alpine ecology: progress and priorities
pp 355-364

Index
pp 365-376

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Tropical Alpine Environments

Plant Form and Function

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