The groundbreaking canopy-access and rain forest research at Lambir Hills National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia, has contributed an immense body of knowledge. Its major studies over more than a decade are synthesized here for the first time. The focus of this unique volume is on plant-animal interactions and some of the foundations that create and maintain tropical diversity, especially pollination and the phenomenon of the General Flowering. The work discussed has implications for tropical biology, ecology and pollination studies. The power of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation events and drought, particularly in their effects on mutualisms, are discussed in detail.

"The groundbreaking canopy-access and rain forest research at Lambir Hills National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia, has contributed an immense body of knowledge. Its major studies over more than a decade are synthesized here for the first time. The focus of this unique volume is on plant-animal interactions and some of the foundations that create and maintain tropical diversity, especially pollination and the phenomenon of the General Flowering. The work discussed has implications for tropical biology, ecology, and pollination studies. The power of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation events and drought, particularly in their effects on mutualisms, are discussed in detail. TOC:Rain forest biology and the canopy system, Sarawak (1992-2002).- Large processes with small targets: rarity and pollination in rain forests- The canopy Biology Program in Sarawak--its scope, methods and merit.- Soil-related floristic variation in a hyper-diverse dipterocarp forest.- Plant reproductive phenology in a mixed dipterocarp forest.- A severe drought in Lambir Hills National Park.- The plant-pollinator community in a lowland dipterocarp forest.- Floral resource utilization by stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini).- Honey bees in Borneo.- Beetle pollination in tropical rain forests.- Seventy-five ways to be a fig: an overview of a diverse plant assemblage.- Ecology of traplining bees and understory pollinators.- Vertebrate-pollinated plants.- Invertebrate predators of dipterocarp seeds.- Diversity of anti-herbivore defenses in Macaranga.- Coevolution of ants and plants - Lowland Tropical Rain Forests of Asia and America: Parallels, Convergence and Divergence.- Lambir's forest: The World's most diverse known tree assemblage?- Toward the conservation of tropical forests."

Large Processes with Small Targets: Rarity and Pollination in Rain Forests.- The Canopy Biology Program in Sarawak: Scope, Methods, and Merit.- Soil-Related Floristic Variation in a Hyperdiverse Dipterocarp Forest.- Plant Reproductive Phenology and General Flowering in a Mixed Dipterocarp Forest.- A Severe Drought in Lambir Hills National Park.- The Plant-Pollinator Community in a Lowland Dipterocarp Forest.- Floral Resource Utilization by Stingless Bees (Apidae, Meliponini).- Honeybees in Borneo.- Beetle Pollination in Tropical Rain Forests.- Seventy-Seven Ways to Be a Fig: Overview of a Diverse Plant Assemblage.- Ecology of Traplining Bees and Understory Pollinators.- Vertebrate-Pollinated Plants.- Insect Predators of Dipterocarp Seeds.- Diversity of Anti-Herbivore Defenses in Macaranga.- Coevolution of Ants and Plants.- Lowland Tropical Rain Forests of Asia and America: Parallels, Convergence, and Divergence.- Lambir's Forest: The World's Most Dive Known Tree Assemblage?.- Toward the Conservation of Tropical Forests.