Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Part I Introduction -- Chapter 1 The past, present, and potential future of liana ecology -- Overview -- Introduction -- Exponentially Increasing Liana Publication rate -- Importance of Lianas in Tropical Forests -- Liana Management: Forestry and Wildlife Impacts -- New Frontiers in Liana Ecology -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part II Patterns of Liana Demography and Distribution: From local to Global -- Chapter 2 Liana abundance and diversity in Cameroon's Korup National Park -- Overview -- Introduction -- Results -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 3 Dynamics of lianas in DR Congo -- Overview -- Introduction -- Lianas in the Ituri Mixed Forest -- Discussion -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 4 Liana composition and diversity among tropical forest types of peninsular India -- Overview -- Introduction -- Material and Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- References -- Chapter 5 Diversity and distribution of lianas in Yasuní, Ecuador -- Overview -- Introduction -- Sites and Methods -- Summary Characterization of the Liana Community in Yasuní -- Density, Diversity, and Dominance of Yasuní Lianas -- Geographic Range of Dominant Species -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- References -- Chapter 6 Liana assemblage structure in four sites across the Brazilian Amazon -- Overview -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 7 The lianas of Barro Colorado Island, Panama -- Overview -- Introduction -- Liana Ecology on Barro Colorado Island -- The Liana Census of the BCI 50-HA Plot -- Acknowledgments -- References.

Chapter 8 Diversity and distribution of lianas in Mexico -- Overview -- Introduction -- Definition of Liana -- Taxonomic Diversity -- Endemism -- Distribution -- Conservation -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 9 Climbing plant diversity in Australia: taxonomy, biogeography and functional traits -- Overview -- Introduction: Taxonomic Diversity of Australian Climbing Plants -- Biogeographic Patterns in Australian Climbers -- Form and Function in Australian Native Climbing Plants -- Non-Native Climbing Plants in Australia and Their Impact -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- References -- Chapter 10 Patterns of liana succession in tropical forests -- Overview -- Introduction -- Lianas and Succession in Gaps -- Patterns of Liana Succession in Secondary Forest -- Life History Traits of Lianas During Forest Succession -- Conclusion and Future Research -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 11 Biogeographical patterns of liana abundance and diversity -- Overview -- Introduction -- Standardization of Liana Sampling -- Calculating Liana Diversity -- Analyses of Patterns Associated with Climate and Biogeographical Region -- Biogeographic Patterns -- Patterns Related to Precipitation -- Tropical Islands -- Temperate and Subtropical Forests -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part III Liana-Tree Competition: Community and Ecosystem Level Effects -- Chapter 12 Above- and belowground competition between lianas and trees -- Overview -- Introduction: Lianas VS. Trees -- Competition Between Lianas and Trees -- Untangling Above- and Belowground Liana Effects on Trees -- In What way are Lianas Good Competitors? -- Lianas and Trees: A Dynamic Interaction -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References.

Chapter 13 Impacts of lianas on forest-level carbon storage and sequestration -- Overview -- Introduction -- Liana-Induced Effects on Carbon Sequestration -- Liana-Induced Effects on Tree Species Composition -- Do Lianas Compensate for the Liana-Induced Reduction in Tree Carbon Gains and Stocks? -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 14 Reciprocal interactions between lianas and forest soil -- Overview -- Introduction -- Soil Effects on Lianas -- Liana Effects on Soils and Ecosystem Processes -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 15 The role of lianas in temperate tree communities -- Overview -- Introduction: Temperate Lianas -- A Hierarchical View of Liana Ecology -- Regional Controllers -- Landscape-Level Processes -- Lianas Within Forest Stands -- Liana Interactions With Individual Trees -- Research Needs and Unanswered Questions -- Conclusion: The Future of Lianas in Temperate Forests -- References -- Part IV Liana Evolution -- Chapter 16 Climbing plants in the fossil record: Paleozoic to present -- Overview -- Introduction -- The Complexity of Reading and Applying the Plant Fossil Record -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 17 The evolution of angiosperm lianescence: a perspective from xylem structure-function -- Introduction -- Evolutionary Success of Mesangiosperms Lianas -- An Overview of the Mesangiosperm Liana Paradigm -- Cambial Variants and the Fundamental Role of Heteroxylly in Mesangiosperm Liana Diversification -- The Liana Habit Beyond Vessel-Based Eudicots and Magnoliids -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 18 Evolutionary implications of the climbing habit in plants -- Overview -- Introduction: Evolution and Taxonomic Distribution of the Climbing Habit -- The Climbing Habit: an Evolutionary key Innovation.

The Key Innovation of the Climbing Habit at an Ecological Scale -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part V Liana Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics -- Chapter 19 Liana anatomy: a broad perspective on structural evolution of the vascular system -- Overview -- Introduction: The Unique Vascular System of Lianas -- The Lianescent Vascular Syndrome -- Diversity and Evolution of the Cambial Variants -- Development and Multiple Origins of Cambial Variants -- Seasonality of Cambial Activity and Growth Rings in Lianas -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Glossary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 20 Physiological implications of the liana growth form -- Overview -- Introduction -- Physiological Characteristics of Leaves -- Hydraulic Coordination Between the Stem and the Leaf -- Whole-Plant Morphology and Transpiration -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- References -- Chapter 21 Canopy chemistry expresses the life-history strategies of lianas and trees -- Overview -- Introduction -- The Leaf Chemical Database -- The Potential Role of Soils -- The Breakdown of The Global Pattern -- The Role of Temperature -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 22 Liana-nutrient relations -- Overview -- Introduction -- Leaf Mass Per area and Nitrogen Concentration -- The Role of Potassium in Compensation for low LMA -- Leaf Aluminum -- Disturbance and Leaf Nutrient Levels -- Implications for Nutrient Cycling -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 23 Stem biomechanics, strength of attachment, and developmental plasticity of vines and lianas -- Overview -- Introduction: The Biomechanics of Lianas -- Methods and Approaches -- Mechanics of Attachment -- Mechanical Properties of the Stem and Attachment -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References.

Part VI Liana-Animal Interactions -- Chapter 24 Effects of lianas on canopy arthropod community structure -- Overview -- Introduction: Lianas as a Key Structural Element of Tropical Forests -- Arthropod Diversity in the Tropical Forest Canopy -- Ecological Associations Between Arthropods and Lianas -- Arboreal Ants in Tropical Forests -- Ecological Associations Between Ants and Lianas -- Ant Associations With Other Climbing Plants -- Effects of Liana Extermination on Arboreal ant Communities -- Liana Removal Reduces Local ant Species Richness -- Conclusion and Future Directions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 25 Liana-bird relationships: a review -- Overview -- Introduction: Lianas and Birds -- Benefits and Costs of Lianas to Birds -- Benefits and Disadvantages that Birds Provide to Lianas -- Conservation Implications of Liana-Bird Relationships -- Conclusion -- Appendix -- References -- Chapter 26 Relationship between lianas and arboreal mammals: examining the Emmons-Gentry hypothesis -- Overview -- Introduction: The Emmons-Gentry Hypothesis -- Does the Available Biogeographical and Evolutionary Evidence Support the Notion that the Pattern Observed by Emmons and Gentry is Anything Other than an Evolutionary Accident? -- Does Research on the Contemporary Ecological Relationships Between Liana Abundance, Canopy Structure and Mammal Communities Suggest Lianas Could have Played an Important Role in Mammal Evolution? -- Is Emmons And Gentry's (1983) Contention that Escape from Predation was the Primary Driving Mechanism Supported, and Does it Provide for a Plausible Evolutionary Pathway to Arrive at Gliding and Prehensile Tails? -- Are any of the Proposed Alternatives to Emmons and Gentry's Predation Contention Better Supported or do they Provide for More Likely Evolutionary Pathways to reach both Gliding and Prehensile Tails? -- Conclusion.

Acknowledgments.