Michael Goulding

The Fishes and the Forest: Explorations in Amazonian Natural History delves into the intricate relationship between the Amazon rainforest and its diverse aquatic life. With the Amazon basin home to the world's largest rainforest and its richest ecosystem, this book provides vital ecological insights that are crucial for conservation efforts in the face of rapid deforestation. Michael Coulding's study uncovers the essential role the flooded forests play in sustaining over fifty key commercial fish species in the region. His findings reveal that around 75% of these fishes depend on the nutrient recycling processes of the rainforest, suggesting that widespread deforestation of the floodplains could decimate the fish populations and severely impact local fisheries. The book also highlights the critical role of fish in seed dispersal, further emphasizing the interconnectedness of the forest and its aquatic life. Through a collaborative effort involving both scientists and local naturalists, Coulding presents groundbreaking evidence of the Amazon’s ecological dynamics. The research uncovers complex relationships between the forest, its fish fauna, and the broader ecosystem, showcasing the essential contributions of local fishermen who provide invaluable insights into fish behavior and forest conditions. As the book underscores the urgency of preserving the Amazon's delicate balance, it also serves as a crucial reference for developing sustainable conservation policies. While focused on the Amazon, the lessons drawn from this study are applicable to other tropical regions, offering insights into the broader implications of deforestation on biodiversity and fisheries worldwide. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1980.

Explorations in Amazonian Natural History

The Fishes and the Forest

Nigel J. H. Smith

Dennis J. Mahar

Enriched with nearly 100 beautiful color photographs, Floods of Fortune offers the first holistic view of the conservation drama unfolding in the Amazonian floodplain.

Ecology and Economy Along the Amazon

Floods of Fortune

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1980.

Ronaldo Barthem

Efrem Ferreira

The Amazon River flows more than 4,000 miles through the world's greatest rainforest, into the Amazon delta, and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. This extraordinary atlas is the first comprehensive view of not only the Amazon River but also its thirteen major tributaries. More than 150 color maps and nearly 300 vivid photographs provide spectacular views of the river and rainforest. Along the way, the authors explore many intriguing topics such as why some of the Amazon’s tributaries have black water, what happens when the freshwater of the Amazon reaches the salty ocean, and why we all should be concerned about the deforestation that contributes to the loss of species biodiversity.

Michael Goulding

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