Biogeography and Quaternary History in Tropical AmericaTimothy Charles Whitmore, Ghillean T. Prance The once accepted theory that the Amazonian forests have remained stable for millions of years can no longer be held in the light of contemporary information. This is a critical appraisal of the available evidence on the history of Amazonia during the last 1.8 million years, reviewing thegeology, geomorphology, palaeoclimatology, pedology, botany, and zoology. There is special emphasis on neotropical birds, butterflies, and plants. Much new material is introduced, along with background information and alternative hypotheses from other sources. The significance of the biogeographicalstudies for human activities is also discussed. |
Contents
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS | 58 |
The road ahead | 192 |
K S BROWN | 198 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Ab'Sáber allospecies Amazon Basin Amazon River Amazonia Amazonian savanna analysis Andean Arawak areas arid avifauna biogeographical biogeographical patterns bird species Brazil Brazilian Brown butterflies caatinga campina central centres of endemism cerrado Chapter Chocó climate coast Colombia complex contact zones correlation cultural differentiation disjunct dispersal eastern ecological endemic centres endemic species environmental evidence evolutionary fauna forest refugia forest species gallery forest genera geographical geoscientific groups Guiana habitats Haffer Heliconius humid hybridization isolated Ithomiinae Manaus montane mountains Napo neotropical neotropical forest non-forest northern number of species occur palaeoecological páramo parapatric Peru plant endemism Pleistocene Podzolic pollen populations Prance probably Quaternary rain forest rainfall ranges recent refuge refugia region restricted Rio Negro rivers Rondônia sampling savanna seasonal South America southeastern southern speciation species diversity studies subspecies superspecies Tapajós taxonomic terra firme Tertiary transition forest tropical forest tropical lowlands upper Vanzolini vegetation types Venezuela Wisconsin-Würm