Introduction to Tropical Forest Ecosystems

The tropical forest ecosystems are one of the most diverse and rich in biological diversity on earth. The tropical rainforests of India are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, and North-eastern India.

India's Biodiversity Significance

India is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, and considered as one of the 17 mega-biodiversity countries in the world. Of the 34 biodiversity hotspots identified in the world, India covers four hotspots: the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats, and Sri Lanka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

India's Biodiversity Statistics

India occupies about 2.4 percent of the world's land area and supports about 8 percent of the world's total species, including 47,000 species of flowering plants, 4,833 vertebrates, and 68,389 arthropods.

Content of the Book

In 16 chapters, reputed experts in their field describe the various aspects of the tropical forest ecosystem of India. Key aspects on the floristic diversity of tropical evergreen forests of various ecosystems are discussed.

This book will be of great help to researchers and field scientists as it is a document of this unique habitat of India.