Workshop on the Ecology of Tropical Forest Plants; Bangi, Malaysia; 1987

热带森林植物的生殖生态在几个方面是独特的。这些植物通常以低密度生长。授粉几乎完全由动物来完成。绝大多数物种的种子传播涉及到各种各样的鸟类和哺乳动物作为媒介。种子在传播前后都会遭受动物和病原体的严重死亡。因此，了解热带森林生态系统的结构和动态的关键是充分了解植物与其传粉者、种子传播者和种子捕食者之间相互作用的性质。这种资料对于解决与热带森林资源的再生、管理和养护有关的许多问题也是至关重要的。过去在热带森林植物生殖生态学方面的许多工作是在中美洲和南美洲森林以及东南亚森林进行的。这些研究表明，在繁殖的季节性以及植物-动物相互作用的性质方面存在重要差异，但是，这些差异及其意义都没有得到普遍强调。因此，建议举办一次国际讲习班，汇集世界各地的研究人员，对这一问题进行全面审查。讲习班将探讨基础研究方面的进展及其在热带森林资源养护和管理方面的应用。请拨资金支持美国科学家前往参加将于1987年6月8日至12日在马来西亚邦吉举行的热带森林植物生殖生态学讲习班。该讲习班将在教科文组织人与生物圈计划和国际生物科学联合会热带十年计划的主持下与马来西亚人与生物圈国家委员会合作举办。教科文组织、IUBS和其他几个国际机构的工商管理方案已经承诺为讲习班提供大量财政支助。从国家科学基金会获得的资金将使美国参与者能够展示他们的工作，与来自世界其他地区的同事交流思想和信息，并使他们能够访问马来西亚的几个实地地点。

The reproductive ecology of tropical forest plants is unique in several respects. These plants typically occur in low densities. Pollination is almost exclusively by animals. Seed-dispersal in a vast majority of species involves a wide variety of birds and mammals as vectors. Seeds, before and after dispersal, suffer heavy mortality from animals and pathogens. Thus, a key to understanding the structure and dynamics of tropical forest ecosystems is adequate information about the nature of interactions between plants and their pollinators, seed dispersers and seed predators. Such information is also vital for resolving many issues related to regeneration, management and conservation of tropical forest resources. Much of the past work in reproductive ecology of tropical forest plants has been undertaken in central and south american forests and south-east Asian forests. These studies have shown important differences in the seasonality of reproduction as well as in the nature of plant-animal interactions, but, neither these differences nor their significance have been generally highlighted. It is therefore proposed to hold an international workshop to bring together researchers from different parts of the world for a comprehensive review of the subject. The workshop will explore advances in basic research and their application to the conservation and management of tropical forest resources. Funds are requested to support the travel of U.S. scientists to this workshop on the Reproductive Ecology of Tropical Forest Plants to be held at Bangi, Malaysia from 8 to 12 June, 1987. The workshop will be organized under the auspices of the Man and Biosphere (M A B) Program of UNESCO and the Decade of the Tropics Program of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS),in collaboration with the Malaysian M A B National Committee. The M A B program of the UNESCO, IUBS and several other international agencies have already committed substantial financial support for the workshop. The funds received from NSF will enable U.S. participants to present their work, exchange ideas and information with their colleagues from other parts of the world and enable them to visit several field sites in Malaysia.