Biogeography and Ecology of the Rain Forests of Eastern Africa

A study of the relics of Africa's ancient forests which provides insights into tropical evolutionary processes.

Jon C. Lovett (Edited by), Samuel K. Wasser (Edited by)

9780521068987, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 July 2008

352 pages, 37 b/w illus. 50 tables
24.6 x 18.7 x 1.9 cm, 0.63 kg

Review of the hardback: ' … an extremely useful reference for students of African bio-geography.' Journal of Animal Ecology

Eastern African rain forests are remarkable in their high level of endemism. Miocene uplift of the central African plateau separated these montane and coastal forests from the main Guineo-Congolian forest of west and central Africa. Since then, stable Indian Ocean temperatures maintained a region of high rainfall throughout Pleistocene droughts that devastated forest elsewhere on the continent. Relics of the former Pan-African rain forest survived here, the study of which provides a unique insight into tropical evolutionary processes. This book brings together research on the animals, plants and geography of this intriguing residual forest, and highlights the need for effective management practices to conserve its exceptional biodiversity in the face of increasing pressure for land for cultivation.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Overview of the biogeography and ecology of the rain forests of eastern Africa S. K. Wasser and J. C. Lovett
2. The geological evolution of east Africa C. J. Griffiths
3. Climatic history and forest distribution in eastern Africa J. C. Lovett
Part II. Forest Flora of Eastern Africa: 4. Eastern Arc moist forest flora J. C. Lovett
5. East African coastal forest botany W. D. Hawthorne
Part III. Forest Fauna of Eastern Africa: 6. Biogeography of the east African montane forest millipedes R. L. Hoffman
7. The lynyphiid fauna (araneae: lynyphiidae) of the forests in the Eastern Arc mountains N. Scharff
8. The montane butterflies of eastern Africa R. De Jong and C. E. Congdon
9. Herpetofauna of the eastern African forests K. M. Howell
10. The zoogeography of the montane forest avifauna of Eastern Tanzania S. N. Stuart
11. Mammals in the forests of eastern Africa J. Kingdon and K. M. Howell
12. Ecology of the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey, Colobus badius kirkii (Gray, 1968), in comparison with other red colobines F. A. Omari
13. The socioecology of interspecific associations among the monkeys of the Mwanihana rain forest, Tanzania: a biogeographic perspective S. K. Wasser
Part IV. Conservation: 14. The conservation of the forest resources of eastern Africa: past influences, present practices and future needs W. A. Rodgers.

Subject Areas: Biogeography [RGM], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]