The Relation Between Rainfall and Mosquito Populations

Abstract

The 25 papers in this book are a selection (including all the invited papers) from the proceedings of the 2nd meeting of the International Society of Tropical Ecology and the International Association for Ecology at Caracas, Venezuela, in 1973. The papers, in classified sequence, begin with an introductory survey by the editors (3 ref.) and include at least 15 other papers of forestry interest: Physioecological problems in the tropics (F. Pannier; 65 ref.) [briefly reviews problems in the physiology of tropical rain-forest species, Mangroves, herbs and aquatics]; Biomass and structure in a central Amazonian rain forest (H. Klinge, W.A. Rodrigues, E. Brunig and E.J. Fittkau; 24 ref.) [cf. FA 36, 2633]; The structure and function of a tropical savannah ecosystem (M. Lamotte; 106 ref.) [summarizes a 10-year study of the plant and animal communities of the Lamto savanna, Ivory Coast, including biomass data for trees and shrubs; cf. paper by W. Schmidt noticed elsewhere in FA]; A critical consideration of the environmental conditions associated with the occurrence of savanna ecosystems in tropical America (G. Sarmiento and M. Monasterio; 75 ref.) [concludes that the savanna/forest boundary is a relic of the last glacial period, maintained by human intervention and locally by edaphic factors]; Diurnal rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration in Mangrove forest of South Florida (A.E. Lugo, G. Evink, M.M. Brinson, A. Broce and S.C. Snedaker; 17 ref.) [with reference to Avicennia nitida, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle]; Some aspects of island ecosystem analysis (D. Mueller-Dombois; 34 ref.) [with special reference to Hawaii, including information on the environmental requirements of Metrosideros collina and Acacia koa, which have had a dominant influence on the evolution of native ecosystems]; and 9 other papers noticed elsewhere in FA. [Cf. FA 30, 5322] ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: This book includes 2 chapters of interest to agricultural entomology:Impact of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica tonsipes Santschi on the development of the vegetation on Barro Colorado Island, by B. Haines (pp. 99-111). It is suggested that the ant in Panama, through its activities as a herbivore and refuse dumper, may have an impact on agriculture (especially for the primitive shifting agriculturist).The structure and function of a tropical savannah ecosystem, by M. Lamotte (pp. 179-222). This includes a summary of observations in 1965 on the arthropod fauna in the Ivory Coast, a discussion of the long- and short-term effects of fire on this fauna, production and energy balance (with special reference to acridids), and soil populations (including termites and microarthropods).