ALA Booklist

For scientists, one question frequently leads to another. In this book, wildlife biologist Susan Quinlan, the author of The Case of the Mummified Pigs: And Other Mysteries in Nature (1995), presents a number of questions or mysteries concerning plants and animals in the tropical forests of South and Central America and explains how scientists answered those questions. Researching poison-dart frogs in the lab, John Daly discovered that each generation was less toxic than the last. This finding led him to test how the frogs' diet affected their poisons. A study of the howler monkeys' role in spreading the seeds of fruit-bearing plants led a team of scientists to investigate the roles of dung beetles and mice in burying, unearthing, and eating the seeds found in monkey dung. Each chapter presents another mystery with the observations and clear thinking that resulted in its solution. The author's drawings, washed with gray, illustrate the text. A chapter-by-chapter bibliography of sources, mainly studies reported in scientific journals, is appended. An intriguing introduction to the process of scientific study and to the interconnected plants and animals of tropical forests.

Horn Book

Scientists working in Central and South American tropical forests are tackling fascinating questions about the ecology, zoology, and botany of the regions, from estimating total biomass to ferreting out the intricate relationships among organisms. Quinlan's winning science writing and detailed illustrations capture the complexity, creativity, and wonder of cutting-edge scientific research.

Kirkus Reviews

Outstanding science writing and impressive scholarship make this a first choice for science enthusiasts. The author poses 11 ecological mysteries and carefully describes how scientists set about studying, experimenting, and testing various hypotheses to understand the rain forest. Along the way, she provides a detailed look at how contemporary field scientists work and gives the reader access to many specialized publications like Biotropica , Journal of Animal Ecology , and Toxicon , all carefully listed in the selected resources. As in her previous work, The Case of the Mummified Pig and Other Mysteries in Nature (1994), the author, a field biologist, introduces observations that puzzle scientists: Why do passionflower vines have leaves of different shapes? Where do poison-dart frogs get their poison? Or how come the ithomiine butterfly follows the army ants sipping from bird droppings? She then explains how scientists begin with an observation, develop a hypothesis, and then set up and conduct experiments to support or refute it. Individual mysteries are woven together to provide the reader with a better understanding of the complex and fragile ecosystem of the rain forest and to urge responsible stewardship. Intriguing and enriching. (extensive index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-Scientists are the sleuths in these 12 ecological mysteries set in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Each chapter describes a puzzling natural phenomenon and details the research conducted to explain it. For example, in the title study, a biologist investigates the sudden death of seven apparently healthy howling monkeys. Other cases look at why ithomiine butterflies are attracted to army ant swarms and if islands of tropical forests left amid newly created pastures and croplands can be enough to sustain some forest wildlife. Only one question examined remains unsolved. Realistic pen-and-pencil drawings of flora and fauna are interspersed throughout the book. A minor flaw-while most of the drawings are of good quality, the few depictions of people are awkward. Two maps and a detailed bibliography of original source material are included. Quinlan's book is well organized and clearly written, with scientific terms and concepts explained as they appear. Besides presenting some fascinating case studies in a style that conveys the thrill of the scientific chase, it also provides information on the different kinds of tropical forests and how they function. While general introductions to tropical forests such as April Pulley Sayre's Tropical Rainforest (21st Century, 1995) are available, Monkeys is unique in its approach and will appeal to both students of natural history and browsers with a taste for the unusual.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.