Under threat from natural and human disturbance, tropical dry forests are the most endangered ecosystem in the tropics, yet they rarely receive the scientific or conservation attention they deserve. In a comprehensive overview, Tropical Dry Forests in the Americas: Ecology, Conservation, and Management examines new approaches for data sampling and analysis using remote sensing technology, discusses new ecological and econometric methods, and critically evaluates the socio-economic pressures that these forest are facing at the continental and national levels.

The book includes studies from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil that provide in-depth knowledge about the function, status, and conservation efforts of these endangered forests. It presents key elements of synthesis from standardized work conducted across all sites. This unique contribution provides new light in terms of these forests compared to each other not only from an ecological perspective but also in terms of the pressures that they are facing, and their respective responses.

Written by experts from a diversity of fields, this reference brings together the many facets of function, use, heritage, and future potential of these forests. It presents an important and exciting synthesis of many years of work across countries, disciplines, and cultures. By standardizing approaches for data sampling and analysis, the book gives readers comparison information that cannot be found anywhere else given the high level of disparity that exists in the current literature.

The third volume in a series dedicated to colloids and interfaces, Drops and Bubbles in Contact with Solid Surfaces presents an up-to-date overview of the fundamentals and applications of drops and bubbles and their interaction with solid surfaces. The chapters cover the theoretical and experimental aspects of wetting and wettability, liquid–solid interfacial properties, and spreading dynamics on different surfaces, including a special section on polymers.

The book examines issues related to interpretation of contact angle from nano to macro systems. Expert contributors discuss interesting peculiarities, such as the phenomena of super-spreading and super-hydrophobicity. They discuss specific solid surfaces―for example, reactions and wetting of liquid metals at high temperatures―and the interaction between nano-bubbles at solid surface and nano-particles at liquid interfaces. The book also includes a chapter on electro-wetting.

Given the range of topics covered in this volume, the state-of-art content is useful to readers looking for an introductory overview as well as those looking for in-depth exploration of material related to the interaction of fluids with solid surfaces. It is a valuable contribution to the field of characterization of solid surfaces and can be used as a working tool or to stimulate further study for researchers and students.