Physiology and life history traits of unique arborescent tropical growth forms -- Hemi epiphytic trees: Ficus as a model system for understanding hemiepiphytism -- Drought deciduous trees e.g. limestone outcrops in China and Brazil and trees from deciduous tropical forests including dry forests from the Yucatan Peninsula and Puerto Rico. What is unique about these trees?- Flood tolerant trees: many areas of lowland rainforest remain flooded for several months and the water sometimes can cover all the trees -- Stem succulent trees (baobab and other similar stem succulent trees) -- Palms -- Mangroves -- Lianas -- Arborescent tree forms near treeline -- Process oriented chapters Hydraulic architecture and water transport Nutrient relations Carbon assimilation, photoinhibition, shade tolerance Tree ring chronologies, global climate change Different spatial and temporal scales.

This book presents the latest information on tropical tree physiology, making it a valuable research tool for a wide variety of researchers. It is also of general interest to ecologists (e.g. Ecological Society of America; > 3000 or 4000 members at annual meeting), physiologists (e.g. American Society of Plant Biologists; > 2,000 members at annual meeting), and tropical biologists (e.g. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, ATBC; > 500 members at annual meeting). (American Geophysical Union(AGU), > 20000 members at annual meeting). Since plant physiology is taught at every university that offers a life sciences, forestry or agricultural program, and physiology is a focus at research institutes and agencies worldwide, the book is a must-have for university and research institution libraries. .