Stratification of a tropical forest as seen in dispersal types (Tasks for Vegetation Science, 17)

Our knowledge of the structure and dispersal of "Plants, seeds and currents" in the Westindies tropical fruits and seeds is very limited up to the and Azores. Van der Pijl with his extensive know­ present day, though richness of species and variety ledge of tropical plants offers a great selection of of forms is overwhelming in the tropical forests. detailed information on the subject" Principles of Morphology of tropical fruits and seeds has always dispersal in higher plants" (1972, and earlier pa­ of botanists from many pers). The author who has earned most merits in attracted the curiosity countries and information may be obtained from the field of seed and fruit predation, chemical defenses of plants, and animal-plant interactions is books and publications concerned with taxonomy. Ulbrich's "Biologie der Friichte und Samen" Janzen. He and his collaborators have thrown new of tropical fruits and seeds (1928) gives examples light on this subject. Nonetheless, a large unknown and their dispersal methods. The two volumes by field still remains ahead of us, especially regarding Van der Roosmalen (1977) dealing with the de­ a detailed knowledge of fruit and seed dispersal of scription of tropical plants were of utmost value to tropical plant species. me, as the area considered, Surinam, is close to The great opportunity for my own studies was Venezuelan Guiana and because both regions have the fruit and seed collection of Dr.