The treetops of the world's forests are where discovery and opportunity abound, however they have been relatively inaccessible until recently. This book represents an authoritative synthesis of data, anecdotes, case studies, observations, and recommendations from researchers and educators who have risked life and limb in their advocacy of the High Frontier. With innovative rope techniques, cranes, walkways, dirigibles, and towers, they finally gained access to the rich biodiversity that lives far above the forest floor and the emerging science of canopy ecology. In this new edition of Forest Canopies, nearly 60 scientists and educators from around the world look at the biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and conservation of forest canopy ecosystems. -Comprehensive literature list-State-of-the-art results and data sets from current field work-Foremost scientists in the field of canopy ecology-Expanded collaboration of researchers and international projects-User-friendly format with sidebars and case studies-Keywords and outlines for each chapter

SECTION I: Structures of Forest CanopiesChapter 1: The Nature of Forest Canopies Side Bar: Verticality and Habitat Analysis: MacArthur and Wilson"s Biogeography Theory Revisited Side Bar: Empty Space: Another View of Forest Canopy StructureChapter 2: Tropical Microclimate Considerations Chapter 3: Quantifying and Visualizing Canopy Structure in Tall Forests: Methods and a Case Study Side Bar: "Canopy Trekking": A Ground-Independent, Rope-Based Method for Horizontal Movement Chapter 4: Vertical Organization of Canopy Biota Side Bar: Macaws: Dispersers in a Tropical Habitat Side Bar: Vertical Stratification Among Neotropical Migrants Chapter 5: Age-Related Development of Canopy Structure and Its Ecological FunctionsSide Bar: Measuring Canopy Structure: The Forest Canopy Database Project Chapter 6: A History of Tree Canopies Side Bar: The Evolution of Rain Forest Animals Side Bar: The Botanical Ghosts of Evolution