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SUMMARY
Tropical rain forests
by
Thora Ellen Thorhallsdottir
Institute of Biology
University of Iceland
Grensásvegur 12
IS-108 REYKJAVÍK
Iceland
Tropical rain forests, which form a global
girth at the equator, are the earth’s most
complex and species-rich biome. The dis-
tribution and history of these forests are
briefly outlined and their structure and di-
versity illustrated with examples, mainly
from the Far East. Aspects of their ecol-
ogy are discussed, along with a short de-
scription of tropical soils. The rapid clear-
ing of tropical rain forests is described, the
present and predicted rates of destruction
and finally, the manifold consequences of
their disappearance.
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