Since the publication of the first edition of this book ten years ago, international research efforts in physiological ecology of plants in the tropics has increased enormously in quantity and quality. New approaches came up in remote sensing and at the other end of the scope in some areas molecular biology was particularly developed regarding ecological performance of tropical plants, e.g. in understanding the adaptation of resurrection plants to the extreme habitat of inselbergs. In this fully revised and updated second edition the wealth of new information made it necessary to break large chapters down into smaller ones. Tropical forests which occupy about half of the entire volume of the book are now arranged in five chapters covering structure and function under the influence of environmental cues and including epiphytes and mangroves as part of the tropical forest complex. Savannas are now treated in two chapters. Coastal salinas have been combined with a new section on the Brazilian restingas in a chapter on coastal sand plains.

Ulrich Lüttge is also series editor of our series "Progress in Botany", and Editor-in-Chief of our journal "Trees - Structure and Function".

Large-Scale Sensing and Diagnosis in Relation to the Tropical Environment.- Tropical Forests. I. Physiognomy and Functional Structure.- Tropical Forests. II. Ecophysiological Responses to Light.- Tropical Forests. III. Ecophysiological Responses to Drought.- Tropical Forests. IV. Lianas, Hemi-Epiphytes, Epiphytes and Mistletoes.- Tropical Forests. V. Mangroves.- Ecosystems of Coastal Sand Plains.- Savannas. I. Physiognomy, Terminology and Ecotones: Why Do Savannas Exist?.- Savannas. II. The Environmental FactorsWater,Mineral Nutrients and Fire.- Inselbergs.- Páramos.