Forest canopies are dynamic interfaces between organisms and atmosphere, providing buffered microclimates and complex microhabitats. Canopies form vertically stratified ecosystems interconnected with other strata. Some forest biodiversity patterns and food webs have been documented and measurements of ecophysiology and biogeochemical cycling have allowed analyses of large-scale transfer of CO2, water, and trace gases between forests and the atmosphere. However, many knowledge gaps remain. With global research networks and databases, and new technologies and infrastructure, we envisage rapid advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that drive the spatial and temporal dynamics of forests and their canopies. Such understanding is vital for the successful management and conservation of global forests and the ecosystem services they provide to the world.

Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia Branisovska 31 Ceske Budejovice 370 05 Czech Republic

Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia Branisovska 31 Ceske Budejovice 370 05 Czech Republic; Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Jalan UMS 88400 Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia

College of Forestry Northwest A and F University Yangling 712100 China

Environmental Futures Research Institute Griffith University Nathan Brisbane QLD 4111 Australia

Global Canopy Programme Oxford OX1 3HZ UK

Institute of Botany University of Leipzig Leipzig 04103 Germany

Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Menglun Mengla Yunnan 666303 China

Kyoto University Kyoto 606 8501 Japan

Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YQ UK

Natural History Museum London SW7 5BD UK

Natural History Museum London SW7 5BD UK; Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London London SW7 2AZ UK

State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China

University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia

University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QY UK

University of Roehampton London SW15 5PJ UK

References provided by Crossref.org

Vertical stratification and defensive traits of caterpillars against parasitoids in a lowland tropical forest in Cameroon

Species turnover in ant assemblages is greater horizontally than vertically in the world's tallest tropical forest

Tree Species and Epiphyte Taxa Determine the "Metabolomic niche" of Canopy Suspended Soils in a Species-Rich Lowland Tropical Rainforest

Vertical stratification of a temperate forest caterpillar community in eastern North America

Quantitative assessment of plant-arthropod interactions in forest canopies: A plot-based approach