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Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its seventeen marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants, and animals of the Central and South American rainforest. Includes a lengthy appendix of practical advice for the tropical traveler.
248 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1984
86 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Forsyth
21 books5 followersAdrian Forsyth, Ph.D., is a conservationist, author, and strategic advisor to the Andes Amazon Fund, which he founded. For over 45 years, he has worked in remote tropical regions across the globe. He co-founded the Andes-Amazon Initiative, the Amazon Conservation Association, and Osa Conservation. Forsyth has also served in leadership roles at major conservation organizations and authored nine natural history books. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard under E.O. Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 20, 2018
This book is written by two biologists who spent a lot of time in the tropical rain forests of central and south America. Each chapter in the book is dedicated to a different subject in the forests, and can be read independently.
Anyone who is curious about the nature world , would be thrilled by this book that explains the intricate world under the canopy of tropical forests in a very interesting manner. Although the book does not have many illustrations, the lucid, and vivid prose makes up for it. Thanks to this book, my my limited knowledge of tropical world quadrupled- partly because of the content in the book, and partly because it evoked so much curiosity that I ended up googling and reading more about some subjects. . A must read for anyone who loves and cares about the natural world !
Anyone who is curious about the nature world , would be thrilled by this book that explains the intricate world under the canopy of tropical forests in a very interesting manner. Although the book does not have many illustrations, the lucid, and vivid prose makes up for it. Thanks to this book, my my limited knowledge of tropical world quadrupled- partly because of the content in the book, and partly because it evoked so much curiosity that I ended up googling and reading more about some subjects. . A must read for anyone who loves and cares about the natural world !
November 14, 2023
Very Interesting book! Among other things I learned sloths poop under the tree they live in
May 7, 2014
Tropical Nature: An Exploration of Rainforest Ecology
The book Tropical Nature is a collection of topics that explore the rainforests of Central and South America. Written by two biologists, Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata, it contains field work observations that they did both on their own and together. The New World tropics are teeming with thousands of species, and those exploring it will maintain an enthusiasm that does not cease, as this book conveys. The writers’ passion and interest for all organisms both large and miniscule is evident as they voyage through various areas of lowland rainforests. It is based off of their naturalist perspectives and “phenomena that can be observed by anyone on a visit to a tropical American rainforest.”
Tropical Nature starts off by explaining this region’s typical climate and why it is this way, as well as how it compares to other places around the world. For example, the tropical rainforest receives steady amounts of sunlight throughout the year due to its position on Earth, preventing the temperature from fluctuating much, whereas in the midlatitudes, this is not the case. It also goes over how, despite the overall abundance of rain, there are still dry seasons that affect the vegetation and animals.
This book covers everything from soil fertility to hallucinogenic plants and insects. In order to effectively explain the patterns of the rainforest plants and animals, it talks about productivity and the cycling of nutrients. Due to the climate, the fungi flourishes and speeds up the decomposition of litter on the forest floor. Because of this rapid digestive process, there is not much accumulation of organic matter or surplus of nutrients.
Other chapters reference evolutionary processes such as how epiphytes often grow on trees in order to reach the sunlight or how butterflies and moths have eye-like spots to scare away predators. One particularly interesting part was about plant reproduction and how plants in the rainforest have evolved to attract certain pollinators. For example, flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds are tubular shaped and suspended away from the plant, giving hummingbirds better access to the flower’s nectar than other organisms. Another chapter called “Bugs and Drugs” describes how plants have developed chemical defenses over the years to discourage herbivores from eating them. Some of these plants produce profound effects on the consumer such as hallucinations or death. The seventeen chapters each focus on a specific part of the rainforest and its interworkings within the rest of the ecosystem.
Tropical Nature shows how intertwined the rainforest is, with symbiotic relationships, constant evolution, and the highest diversity in the world. All life in the tropical rainforest depends on each other and the ecological processes that are continually occurring.
I found Tropical Nature to be an interesting read. At first, I thought the material was going to be a little dry, just because it is nonfiction and there are some technical biological terms. However, the authors artfully put forward their observations in a way that is accessible to more than just people with a science background; Forsyth and Miyata build a story into their ecological findings. For instance, when talking about plant reproduction, instead of merely stating the necessary means, they compare it to courtship, which is something that is very relatable to us. Another thing I liked about this book is how they throw in a bit about conservation and the human impact on rainforests, despite it being a thirty year-old book. In the back, there is a beginner’s travel guide to the rainforest which helps connect the reader to all the material he or she just read. Reading Tropical Nature definitely made me want to visit a rainforest sometime in my life because it showed me all the tiny details that are so remarkable but often overlooked. I even have a new appreciation for termites and beetles and all the work that they do, and it is obvious that the authors have a deep understanding of their importance, along with all the other minute organisms as well. The authors’ enthusiasm for the tropical rainforest’s plants and animals helps to intrigue the reader and make him or her care about the subject too.
Tropical Nature is written for a range of ages since it is a topic that sparks people’s interest whether they are twelve years old or seventy-five. It would be on the challenging side for a middle-schooler but it would still be doable, and while it would not be the toughest read for an adult, the material is not so easy that it is boring. There was vocabulary that I was not familiar with but often there was enough explanation where I was able to infer what they were talking about.
The front cover of this book is dark green with a textbook-like illustration of plants and hummingbirds. This is not the most eye-catching design and it makes the reader expect a boring, technical book. The “don’t judge a book by its cover” concept applies here, because I started the book somewhat apathetically but I ended up enjoying it. There are illustrations at the beginning of each chapter that are similar to the one on the cover and they help to introduce the reader to what is coming next. Now that I have read Tropical Nature, the detailed, biological drawings make more sense to me because that is how the book is written.
Although I liked this book, I am still not entirely sure what the authors’ end goal was for it. Perhaps they just wanted to record and share their observations because they have such a great passion for ecology in this biome. Maybe they wanted to share the amazing features of the rainforest in order to peak others’ interest in it too. Whatever the objective, I learned quite a bit from it, especially specific elements that wouldn’t be found in a textbook but rather from a naturalist’s careful observations. I would recommend Tropical Nature to mid-level or advanced readers. They would not need a background in biology or ecology to get something out of this book, but it is definitely geared towards people with an initial interest in the subject. Tropical Nature is an interesting book full of life and endless facets of lowland tropical rainforests that can be appreciated by all types of people.
The book Tropical Nature is a collection of topics that explore the rainforests of Central and South America. Written by two biologists, Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata, it contains field work observations that they did both on their own and together. The New World tropics are teeming with thousands of species, and those exploring it will maintain an enthusiasm that does not cease, as this book conveys. The writers’ passion and interest for all organisms both large and miniscule is evident as they voyage through various areas of lowland rainforests. It is based off of their naturalist perspectives and “phenomena that can be observed by anyone on a visit to a tropical American rainforest.”
Tropical Nature starts off by explaining this region’s typical climate and why it is this way, as well as how it compares to other places around the world. For example, the tropical rainforest receives steady amounts of sunlight throughout the year due to its position on Earth, preventing the temperature from fluctuating much, whereas in the midlatitudes, this is not the case. It also goes over how, despite the overall abundance of rain, there are still dry seasons that affect the vegetation and animals.
This book covers everything from soil fertility to hallucinogenic plants and insects. In order to effectively explain the patterns of the rainforest plants and animals, it talks about productivity and the cycling of nutrients. Due to the climate, the fungi flourishes and speeds up the decomposition of litter on the forest floor. Because of this rapid digestive process, there is not much accumulation of organic matter or surplus of nutrients.
Other chapters reference evolutionary processes such as how epiphytes often grow on trees in order to reach the sunlight or how butterflies and moths have eye-like spots to scare away predators. One particularly interesting part was about plant reproduction and how plants in the rainforest have evolved to attract certain pollinators. For example, flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds are tubular shaped and suspended away from the plant, giving hummingbirds better access to the flower’s nectar than other organisms. Another chapter called “Bugs and Drugs” describes how plants have developed chemical defenses over the years to discourage herbivores from eating them. Some of these plants produce profound effects on the consumer such as hallucinations or death. The seventeen chapters each focus on a specific part of the rainforest and its interworkings within the rest of the ecosystem.
Tropical Nature shows how intertwined the rainforest is, with symbiotic relationships, constant evolution, and the highest diversity in the world. All life in the tropical rainforest depends on each other and the ecological processes that are continually occurring.
I found Tropical Nature to be an interesting read. At first, I thought the material was going to be a little dry, just because it is nonfiction and there are some technical biological terms. However, the authors artfully put forward their observations in a way that is accessible to more than just people with a science background; Forsyth and Miyata build a story into their ecological findings. For instance, when talking about plant reproduction, instead of merely stating the necessary means, they compare it to courtship, which is something that is very relatable to us. Another thing I liked about this book is how they throw in a bit about conservation and the human impact on rainforests, despite it being a thirty year-old book. In the back, there is a beginner’s travel guide to the rainforest which helps connect the reader to all the material he or she just read. Reading Tropical Nature definitely made me want to visit a rainforest sometime in my life because it showed me all the tiny details that are so remarkable but often overlooked. I even have a new appreciation for termites and beetles and all the work that they do, and it is obvious that the authors have a deep understanding of their importance, along with all the other minute organisms as well. The authors’ enthusiasm for the tropical rainforest’s plants and animals helps to intrigue the reader and make him or her care about the subject too.
Tropical Nature is written for a range of ages since it is a topic that sparks people’s interest whether they are twelve years old or seventy-five. It would be on the challenging side for a middle-schooler but it would still be doable, and while it would not be the toughest read for an adult, the material is not so easy that it is boring. There was vocabulary that I was not familiar with but often there was enough explanation where I was able to infer what they were talking about.
The front cover of this book is dark green with a textbook-like illustration of plants and hummingbirds. This is not the most eye-catching design and it makes the reader expect a boring, technical book. The “don’t judge a book by its cover” concept applies here, because I started the book somewhat apathetically but I ended up enjoying it. There are illustrations at the beginning of each chapter that are similar to the one on the cover and they help to introduce the reader to what is coming next. Now that I have read Tropical Nature, the detailed, biological drawings make more sense to me because that is how the book is written.
Although I liked this book, I am still not entirely sure what the authors’ end goal was for it. Perhaps they just wanted to record and share their observations because they have such a great passion for ecology in this biome. Maybe they wanted to share the amazing features of the rainforest in order to peak others’ interest in it too. Whatever the objective, I learned quite a bit from it, especially specific elements that wouldn’t be found in a textbook but rather from a naturalist’s careful observations. I would recommend Tropical Nature to mid-level or advanced readers. They would not need a background in biology or ecology to get something out of this book, but it is definitely geared towards people with an initial interest in the subject. Tropical Nature is an interesting book full of life and endless facets of lowland tropical rainforests that can be appreciated by all types of people.
April 29, 2012
The authors said they wanted to write a book that people other than biologists could enjoy. It is a good goal, but somehow they do not succeed like Lewis Thomas, E.O. Wilson or Fabre. I suspect they just don't know how to write considering some of the convoluted clunkers they have written here.
February 4, 2015
The essays on particular ecological case studies are engaging and entertaining, though the obligate call to action at the end is slightly outdated (see Breakfasts of Biodiversity for a more thorough, current assessment of conservation strategies in the tropics).
December 16, 2017
Tropical Nature is a must read for anyone planning an adventure to the tropics. Forsyth and Miyata do a wonderful job explaining the various aspects of tropical forests and what to expect when venturing in them. They avoid giving an overwhelming description of ecological systems, while providing just the right amount of information regarding the basic principles. Containing enough information to help any ill-experienced traveler make sense of the world around them while abroad. Chapters are neatly divided into discussions concerning the significant features of tropical forests. Plants, fungi, insects, and animals are all discussed, however there is greater emphasis on the floral characteristics of tropical nature. This is somewhat fitting, because when you actually visit a tropical forest there is an abundance of plant diversity and animals are few and far between.
I highly recommend this book. It reads rather quickly and is full of interesting examples which are based on observations made by the authors while working in the tropics. Read and think about what you can do to help preserve these fascinating environments that are slowly being degraded by increased human activity.
I highly recommend this book. It reads rather quickly and is full of interesting examples which are based on observations made by the authors while working in the tropics. Read and think about what you can do to help preserve these fascinating environments that are slowly being degraded by increased human activity.
March 21, 2021
each chapter felt like being at the symphony; two biologist conducting the gentle subtleties and roaring tempos of the rainforest to make one beautiful song. maybe some scientific insights are now obsolete, but its outdatedness should serve as a testimony to the rate of discovery that is taking place beneath the canopy.
this book was a real treat to experience in the cloud forest of ecuador, and i'm not sure the experience would've been the same if i couldn't touch the bromeliads or listen to the frogs while reading about their very nature.
in the conclusion we are reminded "if the tropical rain forests are all cut down, we will never know what we have lost...
the demand for export goods from developing nations is a major factor in the continuing decimation of the tropical rain forests. your desire for an inexpensive banana to slice over your breakfast cereal produces economic pressures on tropical nations that are most easily relieved by clearing another patch of forest for a large banana plantation."
this book was a real treat to experience in the cloud forest of ecuador, and i'm not sure the experience would've been the same if i couldn't touch the bromeliads or listen to the frogs while reading about their very nature.
in the conclusion we are reminded "if the tropical rain forests are all cut down, we will never know what we have lost...
the demand for export goods from developing nations is a major factor in the continuing decimation of the tropical rain forests. your desire for an inexpensive banana to slice over your breakfast cereal produces economic pressures on tropical nations that are most easily relieved by clearing another patch of forest for a large banana plantation."
December 2, 2022
I am currently at in the Amazon at the Tambopata river (South Peru). In one of the lodges I found this book as one of the few options I have has to read.
Very nice introduction to the tropics of South America! It gave me a better starting point and more context of the life in the tropics, which was great.
The terminology was sometimes too difficult to me, and sometimes I was not interestes in some details and examples of certain species. It also might need an update since it was published somewhere around 1990. Nevertheless, a great readable introduction.
Now it is time for me to look for more recent work on the tropics. So, does anyone has any recommendations? :-)
Very nice introduction to the tropics of South America! It gave me a better starting point and more context of the life in the tropics, which was great.
The terminology was sometimes too difficult to me, and sometimes I was not interestes in some details and examples of certain species. It also might need an update since it was published somewhere around 1990. Nevertheless, a great readable introduction.
Now it is time for me to look for more recent work on the tropics. So, does anyone has any recommendations? :-)
May 21, 2024
I first read Tropical Nature in my teens and was spellbound. In the years since, I've read well over a dozen books on the biodiversity and ecology of the neotropical rainforests, but this remains one of my favorites.
Forsyth and Miyata seamlessly blend storytelling with science without compromising on either, making it one of those rare and accessible works that can be enjoyed by both general and academic readers alike.
If you plan on visiting the rainforests of Latin America or the Caribbean and are looking for reading material, I can't think of a finer book than Tropical Nature to bring along for the journey.
Forsyth and Miyata seamlessly blend storytelling with science without compromising on either, making it one of those rare and accessible works that can be enjoyed by both general and academic readers alike.
If you plan on visiting the rainforests of Latin America or the Caribbean and are looking for reading material, I can't think of a finer book than Tropical Nature to bring along for the journey.
December 5, 2020
An absolute must-read for everyone who wants to get a scientific yet beautifully written overview of the parts and processes of neotropical ecology. The author's passion for neotropical rainforests, their sometimes otherworldly inhabitants and their untamable wilderness is absolutely contagious and will make you smile more than once.
August 28, 2022
I got this book before traveling to Costa Rica. It is very thorough in explaining the biological diversity of the various ecosystems of Central America. Some chapters easily put me to sleep, others I found totally engrossing. If you're looking for a layman's view of the flora an fauna in the of tropical America, this book is a good one.
January 8, 2018
Amazing book to read while on a trip to the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. The book complements and sets in a complex, comprehensible context the fantastic biodiversity of the rain forest and its inhabitants.
July 2, 2018
This book was better than I expected. It had the scientific information, but was narrated from a naturalist's perspective and musings. If you want to learn about rain forests, this is an excellent starting point. Highly enjoyable as well.
October 5, 2021
What a fantastic journey! This book was written in such a way that I felt that I was actually there in the rainforest and I didn’t want to leave. I learned so much! (I finished this book a while ago, but forgot to post my review)
August 18, 2024
Found this gem in a used book store randomly. I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward it but something about the sample of pages I read called to me. I’m so glad I picked it up. It was a relaxing read and I learned a lot.
November 6, 2018
Fascinating work on rainforest intricacies. Captivating stuff
April 16, 2019
Fantastic book. Easy to read but full of amazing naturalist observations. Greatly enhanced my trip to the rainforests of costa rica!
December 23, 2019
A little dated, but great information on the rain forests of Central and South America. It is probably too specific for people who don't like lots of science.
March 26, 2021
Interesting book on low land Amazon rain forest and general information about the flora and fauna with some technical terms but easy to read and informative.
July 20, 2021
A wonderful description of Ecology in the tropics by non-scientists. It was told more like a story which kept it interesting.
July 28, 2021
Not bad for a book I had to read for class.
August 13, 2022
Good read before our "tour" of Costa Rica! Technical more than I anticipated thus dry side for me and the 4 star....
April 3, 2023
An incredible, must read book. It will open your eyes to so much in the natural world. A marvel!
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October 17, 2023i have like 3 chapters left so im saying i finished it
October 20, 2023
Incredible read!! Learned so much!
Can't wait to do a night walk.
Can't wait to do a night walk.
December 7, 2023
Another book I had to read for school so do with that what you will
May 21, 2024
read in preparation for my time living in the peruvian amazon! very informative and well written 😊
May 30, 2025
already knew most of this. still, some poetic writing
August 13, 2025
One of my favorite books of all time. Engaging and insightful. I read it in preparation for a trip to Costa Rica and it made me so much more aware of my surroundings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews