Front Cover -- Tropical Stream Ecology -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Physical and Chemical Features of Tropical Flowing Waters -- I. Introduction -- II. Climatic Organizing Principles -- A. Hadley Circulation -- B. The Intertropical Convergence Zone -- C. Solar Irradiance -- D. Monsoons -- E. El Niño Southern Oscillation -- F. Spatially Irregular Phenomena -- III. Temperature -- A. Air Temperature -- B. Effects of Elevation on Air and Water Temperature -- C. Overview of Range in Water Temperature -- D. Effects of Temperature on Metabolism and Oxygen Saturation -- IV. Precipitation -- V. Runoff -- VI. Suspended and Dissolved Solids -- VII. Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Carbon -- A. Phosphorus -- B. Nitrogen -- C. Organic Carbon -- VIII. Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 2 Primary Production in Tropical Streams and Rivers -- I. Introduction -- II. Small Streams -- A. Primary Producers -- B. Factors Controlling Productivity in Small Streams -- III. Rivers -- A. Primary Producers: Macrophytes and Phytoplankton -- B. Factors Controlling Productivity in Tropical Rivers -- IV. Floodplains and Wetlands -- A. Primary Producers Associated with Floodplains and Wetlands -- B. Factors Controlling Productivity of Floodplains and Wetlands -- V. Mangroves -- A. Primary Producers -- B. Factors Controlling Mangrove Production -- VI. Ecosystem Comparisons -- VII. Threats -- References -- Chapter 3 Organic Matter Processing in Tropical Streams -- I. Introduction -- II. Organic Matter Dynamics -- A. Diversity of Particulate Organic Material -- B. Timing of Litter Inputs -- C. Accession Pathways -- D. Decomposition and Storage of Organic Matter in Riparian Zones -- E. In-stream Decomposition Processes -- F. Abiotic Factors Affecting In-stream Decomposition.

III. The Significance of Physical and Chemical Composition of Leaves -- IV. Microbial Contributions to Organic Matter Processing -- V. The Role of Shredders in Organic Matter Processing -- VI. Methodological Constraints on Decomposition Studies -- VII. Autochthonous Plant Litter -- VIII. Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 4 Macroinvertebrates: Composition, Life Histories and Production -- I. Introduction -- A. The Taxonomic Impediment -- B. Challenges and Potential Solutions -- C. Chapter Objectives -- II. Composition of the Fauna -- A. General Characteristics -- B. Composition of the Non-Insect Fauna -- C. Composition of the Insect Fauna -- D. Diversity of Tropical Stream Faunas -- E. Latitudinal Patterns in Diversity -- III. Life Histories and Secondary Production -- A. Seasonality -- B. Life Spans and Voltinism -- C. Breeding by Other Macroinvertebrates -- D. Secondary Production -- E. Trophic Basis of Macroinvertebrate Production -- IV. Bioassessment and Biomonitoring -- V. Research Needs -- References -- Chapter 5 Fish Ecology in Tropical Streams -- I. Introduction -- II. Stream Habitats and Fish Faunas in the Tropics -- A. Landmasses and Watersheds -- B. Continental Basins -- C. Latitudinal Gradients -- D. Elevation Gradients -- E. Stream Size and Habitat Gradients -- III. Reproductive Strategies and Population Dynamics -- IV. Feeding Strategies and Food-Web Structure -- V. Conservation of Fish Biodiversity -- A. Drainage-basin Degradation and Land-use Change -- B. Pollution -- C. Dams and Impoundments -- D. Overfishing -- E. Exotic Species -- VI. Management to Alleviate Human Impacts and Restore Degraded Streams -- VII. Research Needs -- References -- Chapter 6 Aquatic, Semi-Aquatic and Riparian Vertebrates -- I. Introduction -- A. The Distribution of Tropical Vertebrate Assemblages -- B. Rivers as Barriers, Filters and Biocorridors.

II. Aquatic Mammals -- A. Cetaceans -- B. Sirenians -- III. Reptiles -- A. Crocodilians -- B. Lizards -- C. Snakes -- D. Turtles -- IV. Amphibians -- V. Semi-Aquatic Mammals -- A. Otters -- B. Mongooses and Civets -- C. Otter Shrews -- D. Hippos -- VI. Riparian Mammals -- A. Felids -- B. Racoons and Marsupials -- C. Rodents -- D. Ungulates -- E. Primates -- F. Shrews and Bats -- VII. Ecological Roles of Vertebrates in Tropical Streams -- A. Trophic Interactions and Nutrient Cycling -- B. Riparian Landscape Engineering -- VIII. Final Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 7 Riparian Wetlands of Tropical Streams -- I. Introduction -- II. Types of Riparian Wetlands -- A. Hygropetric Zones -- B. Rock Pools -- C. Para- and Orthofluvial Ponds -- D. Anabranches and Floodplain Channels -- E. Moist Zones on the Riparian Floodplain -- F. Unforested Streamside Swamps -- G. Forested Streamside Swamps -- H. Peatswamp Forests -- III. Hydrology -- IV. Biodiversity -- V. Aquatic-Terrestrial Linkages -- VI. Human Impacts, Conservation, and Sustainable Management -- VII. Conclusions and Prospects -- References -- Chapter 8 Tropical High-Altitude Streams -- I. Introduction -- A. Tropical High-Altitude Regions -- B. Tropical High-Altitude Environments -- II. Stream Physical and Chemical Characteristics -- A. Temperature and Oxygen -- B. Channels and Flow -- C. Suspended Solids -- D. Water Chemistry -- III. Primary Production and Detritus -- A. Benthic Algae -- B. Macrophytes -- C. Detritus -- IV. The Fauna -- A. The Fish Fauna -- B. Macroinvertebrate Richness at High Altitudes -- C. Composition of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna -- D. Spatial Variability of Macroinvertebrate Assemblages -- E. Functional Organization of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna -- F. Life Histories, Temporal Variability, and Drift of Macroinvertebrates.

G. Faunal Adaptations to High-Altitude Streams -- V. Organic Pollution and Other Environmental Impacts -- VI. Future Research Directions -- References -- Chapter 9 Are Tropical Streams Ecologically Different from Temperate Streams? -- I. Introduction -- II. Tropical Settings: Interactions Between Climate and Landscape Evolution -- A. Geological History and Geomorphology -- B. Climate and Hydrology -- III. Biodiversity and Endemism -- A. Different Scales of Biodiversity -- B. Latitudinal Gradients in Local Diversity in Streams -- C. Latitudinal Gradients in Regional Diversity in Streams -- D. Endemism in Tropical and Temperate Streams -- IV. Food-Web Organization -- A. Trophic Structure and Taxonomic Representation -- B. Food-Web Compartmentalization in Tropical and Temperate Streams -- V. Productivity, Organic Matter Dynamics, and Other Ecosystem Processes -- A. Productivity -- B. Organic Matter Dynamics: Seasonal Inputs and Instream Litter Retention -- C. Organic Matter Dynamics: Biologically Mediated Breakdown -- D. Nutrient Cycling and Limitation -- E. Responses to Natural Disturbances and Introduced Species -- VI. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 10 Tropical Stream Conservation -- I. Introduction -- II. What Drives Conservation Issues in Tropical Streams? -- A. Socioeconomic Factors -- B. Ecological Factors -- III. Major Conservation Issues -- A. Deforestation and Erosion -- B. Agriculture -- C. Urban and Industrial Development -- D. Alteration of Hydrologic Connectivity -- IV. Regional Conservation Issues -- A. Latin America and the Caribbean Islands -- B. Tropical Africa -- C. Madagascar -- D. Tropical Asia-Pacific -- E. Tropical Australia -- V. Case Studies -- A. Erosion-Prone Soils in the Brazilian Cerrado -- B. The Effects of Dams on Puerto Rican Streams -- C. Forest Cover Increases in Puerto Rico.

VI. Summary - What Might the Future Hold? -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Index -- Colour insert between pages 136 and 137.