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A fascinating work that provides a wealth of information on one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. This is the result of investigations by almost 30 groups of researchers from various disciplines. They performed ecosystem analyses following two gradients: an altitudinal gradient and a gradient of land use intensity and ecosystem regeneration following human use. Based on these analyses, this volume discusses these findings in a huge variety of subject areas.

Gradients in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of Ecuador

Part I Introduction
1 The Ecosystem (Reserva Biológica San Francisco)
E. Beck, F. Makeschin, F. Haubrich, M. Richter, J. Bendix, C. Valerezo
2 Mountain rain forests in southern Ecuador as a hotspot of biodiversity - Limited knowledge and diverging patterns
G. Brehm, J. Homeier, K. Fiedler, I. Kottke, J. Illig, N.M. Nöske, F. Werner, S-W. Breckle
3 The people settled around Podocarpus National Park
P. Pohle
4 Ecuador suffers the highest deforestation rate in South America
R. Mosandl, S. Günter, B. Stimm, M. Weber
5 Methodological challenges of a megadiverse ecosystem
G. Brehm, K. Fiedler, Ch. Häuser, H. Dalitz

Part II Gradients in ecosystem analysis
6 Why investigating gradients in ecosystem analysis
K. Fiedler, E. Beck
7 The investigated gradients
E. Beck, R. Mosandl, M. Richter, I. Kottke

Part III The altitudinal gradient
Part III.1 Gradual changes along the altitudinal gradient
8 Climate
J. Bendix, R. Rollenbeck, M. Richter, P. Fabian, P. Emck
9 Soils along the altitudinal transect and in catchments
W. Wilcke, S. Yasin, A Schmitt, C. Valarezo, W. Zech
10 Flora: Composition and function
10.1 Potential vegetation and floristic composition of Andean forests in South Ecuador, with a focus on the RBSF
J. Homeier, F. A. Werner, S. R. Gradstein, S -W. Breckle, M. Richter
10.2 Past vegetation and fire dynamics
H. Niemann & H. Behling
10.3 Forest structure along an altitudinal gradient in southern Ecuador
A. Paulsch, D. Piechowski, K. Müller-Hohenstein
10.4 Vegetation structures and ecological features of the upper timberline ecotone
M. Richter, K.-H. Diertl, Th. Peters, R. W. Bussman
10.5 Mycorrhizal state and new and special features of mycorrhizae of trees, ericads, orchids, ferns andliverworts
I. Kottke, A. Beck, I. Haug, S. Setaro, V. Jeske, J.P. Suárez, L. Paxmino, M. Preußing, M, Nebel, F. Oberwinkler
11 Fauna: Composition and function
11.1 Bird species distribution along an altitudinal gradient in southern Ecuador and its functional relationships with vegetation structure
D. Paulsch and K. Müller-Hohenstein
11.2 Seed dispersal by birds, bats and wind
F. Matt, K. Almeida, A. Arguero, C. Reudenbach
11.3 Variation of diversity patterns across moth families along a tropical elevational gradient
K. Fiedler, G. Brehm, N. Hilt, D. Süßenbach, and C.L. Häuser
11.4 Soil fauna
M. Maraun, J. Illig , D. Sandman,V. Krashevskaya, R.A. Norton, S. Scheu

Part III.2 Processes along and within the gradient
12 Water relations
W. Wilcke, S. Yasin, K. Fleischbein, R. Goller, J. Boy, J. Knuth, C. Valarezo, W. Zech
13 Nutrient status and fluxes at the field and catchment scale
W. Wilcke, S.Yasin, K. Fleischbein, R. Goller, J. Boy, J. Knuth, C. Valarezo, W. Zech
14 Biotic soil activities
S. Iost, F. Makeschin, M. Abiy, F. Haubrich
15 Elevational changes in stand structure and biomass allocation of tropical mountain forests in relation to microclimate and soil chemistry
G. Moser, M. Röderstein, N. Soethe, D. Hertel, C. Leuschner
16 Stand structure, transpiration responses in trees and vines and stand transpiration of different forest types within the mountain rainforest
M. Küppers, T. Motzer,D. Schmitt., C. Ohlemacher, R. Zimmermann, V. Horna, B.I.L. Küppers, T. Mette
17 Plant growth along the altitudinal gradient-role of plant nutritional status, fine root activity, and soil properties
N. Soethe, W. Wilcke, J. Homeier, J. Lehmann, C. Engels

Part III.3 Gradient heterogeneities
Part III.3.A Spatial heterogeneities
18 Spatial