Fortuna Forest Reserve, Panama

The Fortuna Forest Reserve and adjacent upland areas of the Palo Seco in western Panama support some most extensively studied lower premontane tropical forests world. are among diverse Central America therefore exceptional significance for preservation regional biodiversity. This volume brings together more than 50 years research on climate, geology, soils, major plant groups Fortuna. Spanning Continental Divide at around 1,000 m above sea level, parts reserve receive 6,000 mm annual rainfall, although there is considerable variation cloud cover seasonality. Soil fertility also varies markedly, reflecting complex volcanic geology. resulting gradients climate across shape composition, structure, diversity communities. A network 12 one-hectare plots contains 400 species trees greater 5 cm diameter breast height reveals extensive compositional turnover reserve. One tree species, Oreomunnea mexicana, forms monodominant stands otherwise species-rich forests, while extremely infertile soils dominated by canopy palm Colpothrinax aphanopetala include conifer Podocarpus oleifolius. There almost bryophytes, 300 ferns lycophytes, 31 palms, 80 bromeliads, 200 orchids. Many ectomycorrhizal fungi identified from fruiting bodies new to science. Overall, results highlight remarkable plants that occur montane extent which their communities structured soil fertility. chapters this provide a foundation further exploration fascinating region.