Ecology of Lianas

We propose an edited volume on the ecology of lianas comprised of chapters written by some of the foremost ecologists in the field. We have also identified a number of junior scientists who are beginning to make an impact on the field and could contribute new research and exciting results. Ultimately, we believe that this book will address issues of importance for all ecologists, temperate and tropical alike, and will be instrumental in stimulating further research in forest ecology in general, as well as on the ecology of lianas. The main goal of this book is to present a volume on the current status of liana ecology in tropical and temperate forests. In essence, we will use this book as a forum to summarize and synthesize the most recent research in liana ecology and to address how this research fits into the broader field of ecology. In the course of reviewing what is new and exciting, we will point out liana-related issues that deserve more attention from researchers. The intended audience for this book includes advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in forest ecology at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. Ideally, each chapter will include a brief introduction of the relevant concept or theory, a review of the current state of liana-related research on this theory, including the author's own contributions. Although this book will focus on current research in liana ecology, many of the proposed chapters will also cover theories that are applicable to all ecological systems not just tropical ones and not just focusing on lianas. Consequently, we believe that this book will target a broad audience of ecologists. Each chapter will follow a similar format. The first part of the chapter will include a concise history and review of the concept or theory at hand. The rest of the chapter will be devoted to the presentation and interpretation of empirical data addressing that concept or theory. The author of each chapter will have the leeway to use new or unpublished data or to synthesize and summarize his/her data or data of other authors. Although we believe that the way to make this book the best is as outlined above, authors will, of course, write the manuscripts in a way that reflects their approach and style.