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- 1. The Problem of the Tropical Savanna
- What Is a Tropical Savanna?
- Need to Explain the Existence of Savannas
- 2. The Architecture of the Savanna
- Vertical Structure
- Horizontal Structure
- 3. The Seasonal Rhythms of the Savanna Species
- Perennial Species with an Annual Semidormant Phase
- Evergreen Trees with Seasonal Growth
- The Ephemeral Species
- Annual Species with a Long Cycle
- Perennial Species with a Seasonal Rest Period
- Species with Continuous Growth and Blooming
- Summary of Phenological Strategies in Venezuelan Savannas
- Phenology of the Species in Other Tropical Savannas and Their Comparison with the Venezuelan Savannas
- 4. The Productive Process
- Biomass and Production in Venezuelan Savannas
- Methodological and Conceptual Problems in the Study of Productive Processes
- The Productive Processes of the Tropical Savannas
- Production Data of Other Savannas and Grasslands Summary
- 5. Water Economy
- The Seasonal Vibrations of Soil Moisture
- Elements for a Discussion of the Water Balance of Tropical Savannas
- General Conclusions
- 6. Nutrient Economy
- The Savanna as an Oligotrophic Ecosystem
- The Genesis of the Relief and Its Relation to the Characteristics of the Landscapes and Soils
- Chemistry of Savanna and Other Tropical Soils
- The Principal Nutrients in the Vegetation
- The Problem of Aluminum in the Savannas
- Other Nutrients and Mineral Elements in the Vegetation
- The Nutrient Cycles
- The Nitrogen Economy
- The Economy of Other Nutrients
- The Nutrient Balance in Tropical Rain Forests
- 7. Synthesis and Conclusions
- Elements for an Interpretation of Savanna Ecosystems
- References
- Index