Origin and evolution of tropical rain forests / Robert J. Morley

Bibliografía: páginas 299-324

Preface.. Chapter 1 Introduction.. Chapter 2 Present-Day Tropical Rain Forests.. 2.1 Primary Rain Forests.. 2.2 Coastal Vegetation.. 2.3 Riverine Vegetation.. 2.4 Freshwater Wetlands.. 2.5 Ecotonal Vegetation.. 2.6 Ecology Versus Palaeoecology.. Chapter 3 Geological Time Framework, Palaeoecological and Palaeoclimate Definitions.. 3.1 Sequence Stratigraphy.. 3.2 Time Framework.. 3.3 Palaeoecological and Palaeoclimate Definitions.. Chapter 4 Geological Evidence For Rain Forests.. 4.1 Flora.. 4.2 Terrestrial Fauna.. 4.3 Lithological Indicators of Rain Forest Climates.. 4.4 Marine Fauna.. 4.5 Isotope Data.. 4.6 Palaeoclimate Modelling.. Chapter 5 Early Angiosperm History and the First Megathermal Rain Forests.. 5.1 Biogeographical Versus Geological Evidence of Angiosperm Origins.. 5.2 Cretaceous Angiosperm Expansion and Diversification.. 5.3 The Terminal Cretaceous Event.. 5.4 The First Megathermal Rain Forests?.. 5.5 Summary of Early Angiosperm Evolution.. Chapter 6 South and Middle America.. 6.1 Introduction.. 6.2 Tectonic Setting.. 6.3 Mexico and Central America.. 6.4 South America.. 6.5 Summary.. Chapter 7 Africa.. 7.1 Introduction.. 7.2 Tectonic Setting.. 7.3 Effect of the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary Isolation of the African Continent on its Floristic Diversity.. 7.4 Earlier Tertiary (Paleocene to Eocene Vegetation.. 7.5 Mid-Tertiary (Oligocene to Middle Miocene Vegetation.. 7.6 Late Tertiary (Late Miocene to Pliocene Vegetation and Climatic Cyclicity.. 7.7 Quaternary Vegetational History.. 7.8 Summary.. Chapter 8 India.. 8.1 Introduction.. 8.2 Tectonic History.. 8.3 Palaeogene Vegetation.. 8.4 Neogene and Quaternary Rain Forest History.. 8.5 Summary

Chapter 9 Southeast Asia and the Eastern Pacific.. 9.1 Introduction.. 9.2 Pre-tertiary Plate Tectonic and Climatic Setting.. 9.3 Paleocene to Early Eocene, Prior to the Collision of India with Asia.. 9.4 Middle to Late Eocene, Prior to Tectonic Restructuring: Dispersal from India.. 9.5 The Terminal Eocene Event.. 9.6 Oligocene to Pliocene.. 9.7 East Malesia and the Eastern Pacific.. 9.8 Western Sulawesi, and Dispersal across Wallace's Line.. 9.9 Quaternary Vegetation.. 9.10 Mangrove Origins and Evolution.. 9.11 Summary.. Chapter 10 Australasia.. 10.1 Introduction.. 10.2 Tectonic Setting.. 10.3 Australian Early Tertiary (Palaeocene to Eocene Vegetation.. 10.4 Australian Mid-tertiary (Oligocene to Early Miocene Vegetation.. 10.5 The Neogene and the Demise of Australian Rain Forests.. 10.6 Australian Rain Forests in the Quaternary.. 10.7 Ninetyeast Ridge.. 10.8 New Zealand.. 10.9 Summary.. Chapter 11 Northern Hemisphere Megathermal Rain Forests.. 11.1 Introduction.. 11.2 Tectonic Setting and Land Connections.. 11.3 Paleocene/Eocene.. 11.4 Oligocene to Pliocene.. 11.5 Summary.. Chapter 12 Interplate Dispersal Paths and Land Bridges.. 12.1 Review of Palynological Evidence for Dispersal Paths.. 12.2 Dispersal Paths and 'Land Bridges'.. Chapter 13 Synthesis.. 13.1 Overview of Tropical Rain Forest History.. 13.2 The Duriari Theory of Corner, and Evolution of the Rain Forest Tree.. 13.3 The Oldest Rain Forests?.. 13.4 Age of Southeast Asian Rain Forests.. 13.5 Dispersal of Megathermal Plants and the Antiquity of Biogeographical Patterns.. 13.6 Distributions of Palms, Oaks and Dipterocarps.. 13.7 The Distribution of Mangroves.. 13.8 Survival of Rain Forests During Quaternary Glacial Maxima.. Chapter 14 The Future of Rain Forests?.. Appendix - Form-taxon names for fossil pollen referred to in the text.. Glossary.. References.. Species Index.. Subject Index

Provides the first comprehensive review of the evolution of tropical rain forests on a continent by continent basis, within an up-to-date tectonic, palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatic framework primarily by reference to the record of fossil pollens and spores. Although tropical rain forests form the world's most species-rich ecosystems, their origin and history remain unclear, except on the very short timescale of the last 40,000 years or so. This book looks at their history on a long term geological and global timescale, commencing with the origin of the angiosperms over 100 million years ago which today overwhelmingly dominate the forests. It also establishes the age of the great tropical rain forest blocks and identifies the world s oldest tropical rain forests. Finally, it compares 20th Century tropical rain forest destruction with prehistoric forest clearance in temperate regions, and looks for analogues of the present phase of destruction within the geological record before considering long term implications of total rain forest destruction. The book draws on previously unpublished palynological data generated for petroleum companies during the course of hydrocarbon exploration programmes. It will be of interest to all concerned with tropical rain forests, especially biologists, botanists, ecologists, and students of evolution. It will be invaluable for postgraduates, and advanced undergraduates, as well as stratigraphers, palaeobotainists, palynologists, and petroleum geologists. eng