B O O K R E V I E W

Amazonian Wetland EcologyAmazonian Floodplain Forests: Ecophysiology, Biodiversity and Sustainable UseWolfgang J. Junk, Maria T. Piedade, Florian Wittmann, Jochen Schongart, and Pia ParolinEcological Studies, Volume 210, Springer Publishing, 2011Reviewed by Ernesto MedinaHardcover: 615 pp., 193 illus., 42 in color, d117.00. ISBN: 9789048187249

THIS VOLUME PRESENTS THE OUTPUTS OF A LONG-TERM PROJECT ON

Amazonian Wetland Ecology conducted by the Tropical Ecology

Working Group at the Max Planck Institute, Germany and the

National Institute of Amazonian Research, Brazil, and represents

a serious effort to synthesize results of diverse studies from the

largest forest river basin of the world. The editors proclaim it as ‘the

first integrative book on the functioning and ecologically oriented

use of floodplain forests in the tropics and the subtropics.’The book deals with ecophysiology, biodiversity, and sustainable

development and is divided in three parts. The first section deals with

the characterization of wetland forests within the Amazon basin and the

subjects of areal extension, distribution, and phytogeography of Central

Amazonian flood plains—essential for understanding the rest of the

book, as many local denominations are used to describe forests devel-

oping on the nutrient rich sediments of the Solimoes-Amazon river

(varzea), the nutrient poor sediments characteristic of the Rıo Negrobasin (igapo), as well as the vegetation subject to prolonged flooding on

both sediment types (chavascal). Palaeoclimatic evidence (or lack of) for

significant dry periods in the Central Amazon basin during the last 10

million years is emphasized, an issue that has broad implications for the

biodiversity and interconnection of flood plain forests. Authors describe

how biodiversity and phytogeography are driven mainly by hydrology

(flood pulse), whereas soil nutrient factors determine the differentiation

of dominant species sets in varzeas and igapos.The second part deals specifically with the mechanisms allowing

whole trees and saplings to survive inundation. The underlying mech-

anisms of flood tolerance are described in terms of phenology, root

production, leaf metabolism and physiology, seed germination, and

seedling establishment. The conclusion is that no single mechanism ex-

plains the variety of physiological responses to flooding, and the inter-

actions between environmental triggers and plant endogenous rhythms

remain unresolved. The biochemical responses to flooding of anaerobicrespiration and accumulation of antioxidants of a few species are similar

to other flood resistant plants, but their efficiency is unknown. Main-

tenance of appropriate root oxygen levels appears to be a principal

mechanism of flood tolerance in several woody species. The develop-

ment of fine root systems is documented in detail, though little infor-

mation is given on biomass production and turnover. Vesicular-

arbuscular mycorrhizas are common in both varzea and igapo forests,

whereas ectomycorrhizas are restricted to some Fabaceae species. Thediscussion on root mat unfortunately ignored information on this sub-

ject from the upper Rıo Negro forests.

Leaf structure and function were also considered in connection

with flood tolerance, though information on leaf nutrient status, and a

discussion of flooding stress as a potential constraint for nutrient up-

take, are missing. Furthermore, there was little discussion of how re-

duced root sink strength induced by hypoxia might reduce

photosynthetic rates of species during aquatic phases. Neither was any

information presented on whole leaf carbon balance, which can varyseasonally as photosynthesis during flooding may cause starch accumu-

lation in the leaves. Leaves of flood tolerant species have a ‘xeromorphic’

anatomy characterized by thick cuticles and wax layers. The authors

consider them as a relict of the upland flora from which those species

derive. These features, however, may protect leaves against water infil-

tration during the aquatic phase. Nitrogen was the only element con-

sidered in soil-plant nutrient relations, and although this topic is well

covered, comparisons with other studies in the basin are limited.The third part describes seasonal tree growth and forest produc-

tivity, and sustainable utilization and conservation of varzea forests.

Varzea forest productivity is within the range of upland forests, and

their successional stages are characterized by high rates of aboveground

net primary production making them among most productive tropical

forests. Other results of the productivity studies are somewhat surpris-

ing as, for example, litter fall and wood density apparently do not differ

between varzea and igapo forests.Three chapters deal with the use of natural resources from Am-

azonian floodplain forests. A model for growth-oriented logging is pre-

sented which, if extended and applied to local conditions, offers

possibilities for sustainable extraction of timber products from varzeaforests. This particular study, however, emphasizes that sustainable ex-

ploitation of igapo is not viable. The experience of the Sustainable For-

est Reserve in Mamiraua, attempting protection of tropical forests in

‘highly human populated’ ecosystems by incorporating local popula-tions into the process, is presented as a successful case study where re-

covery of wildlife has been achieved together with increasing the quality

of life of the local populations.

Overall, the book covers a wide range of topics related to the bi-

ology and sustainable use of flooded Amazonian forests. It contains a

wealth of information, albeit with some gaps. It might have been more

carefully edited, as there are a rather large number of misspelled words

and plant names, and wrongly constructed or repeated sentences.Nevertheless, despite these irritations this is a substantial volume of

work on a valuable and extensive forest system, with relevance to other

inundated forest regions across the world.

BIOTROPICA 43(6): 767 2011 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2011.00808.x

r 2011 The Author(s) 767

Journal compilation r 2011 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation