Structure and Composition of Costa Rican Montane Oak Forests

Abstract

The current chapter provides some insight into the structure, composition and diversity of Costa Rica’s montane oak forest. It is meant to set the stage on this particularly rich and voluminous forest, in order to better understand its spatial and temporal patterns and processes, and above all, its functioning as an ecosystem. In subsequent chapters (Chaps. 15, 17, 23, 24, 26 and 30), these themes will be dealt with by the author, co-authors and colleagues who have studied the magnificent Talamancan montane oak forest environment over the last two decades.