Floodplains are ecosystems which are driven by periodic inundation and oscillation between terrestrial and aquatic phases. An understanding of such pulsing systems is only possible by studying both phases and linking the results into an integrated overview.
This book presents the results of a 15-year study of the structure and function of one of the largest tropical floodplains, the Amazon River floodplain. It covers qualitative aspects, e.g., adaptations of aquatic and terrestrial organisms to the flood pulse as well as quantitative aspects, e.g., studies of biomass, primary production, decomposition, and nutrient cycles. The authors interpret their findings and the most important data from other studies under an integrating scientific concept, the Flood Pulse Concept.

I: Introductory Remarks

1 General Aspects of Floodplain Ecology with Special Reference to Amazonian Floodplains
II: The Physical and Chemical Environment
2 The Large Central Amazonian River Floodplains Near Manaus: Geological, Climatological, Hydrological, and Geomorphological Aspects
3 Chemistry of Várzea and Igapó Soils and Nutrient Inventory of Their Floodplain Forests
4 Physicochemical Conditions in Floodplains
5 Modelling Nutrient Fluxes in Floodplain Lakes
6 Nitrogen Turnover in the Várzea
7 Methane Emissions from the Amazon Floodplain
III: Plant Life in the Floodplain
8 Plant Life in the Floodplain with Special Reference to Herbaceous Plants
9 The Chemical Composition, Food Value, and Decomposition of Herbaceous Plants, Leaves, and Leaf Litter of the Floodplain Forests
10 Phytoplankton and Periphyton
11 The Forest Ecosystem of the Floodplains
12 Decomposition of Wood
IV: Animal Life in the Floodplain
13 Aquatic Invertebrates
14 Terrestrial Invertebrates: Survival Strategies, Group Spectrum, Dominance and Activity Patterns
15 Adaptations to Life Under Water: Tiger Beetles and Millipedes
16 The Oribatid Mites
17 The Collembola
18 The Termites
19 The Spider Communities
20 The Fish
21 Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians
22 The Birds
V: Conclusions
23 Structure and Function of the Large Central Amazonian River Floodplains: Synthesis and Discussion
References.