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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Life sciences: general issues > Ecological science, the Biosphere
Understanding the role of aquatic biota and the impact of pollution
and chemical substances that enter aquatic ecosystems is crucial to
the assessment, prevention, and remediation of damaged
environments. Biological Effects of Surfactants synthesizes the
most important findings from hundreds of articles and the author's
current experiments on the biological effects of synthetic
surfactants and detergents on individual organisms, populations,
communities, and ecosystems. This book offers a new perspective of
the hazards of pollution.
The theme of this book is the ecological development of Zhejiang province under the guidance of "China Dream" policy. It reviews the policy and strategy for environmental protection and transition from the extensive economic growth model to ecological economy. The author explores ecological theories and practices in areas such as traditional culture, economic development, environmental protection, rural reconstruction, green urban development and the ecological civilization system in Zhejiang. As Zhejiang is one of the first economically well-off regions in China, the challenges faced by the government and its solutions under the guidance of the statecraft shall be of interest to scholars and policy makers worldwide.
This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated colour guide to the plants which farmers, growers and gardeners can use to improve soil structure and restore fertility without the use and expense of agrichemicals. Information based on the latest research is given on how to use soil conditioning plants to avoid soil degradation, restore soil quality and help clean polluted land. There are 11 chapters: 1 to 6 cover soil health, nitrogen fixation, green manures and herbal leys, bacteria and other microorganisms, phytoremediators and soil mycorrhiza (plant-fungal symbiosis). Chapter 7 has plant illustrations, with climate range and soil types, along with their soil conditioning properties and each plant is presented with a comprehensive description opposite a detailed illustration, in full colour. Chapters 8 to 10 examine soil stabilisers, weeds and invasive plants, and hedges and trees and the final chapter, contains 5 case studies with the most recent data, followed by an appendix and glossary. The book allows the reader to identify the plants they need quickly and find the information necessary to begin implementation of soil regeneration.
Much of our current knowledge on biological invasion was derived from field studies, but many recent advances relied heavily on mathematics and computing, particularly mathematical modeling. While numerical simulations are clearly a useful approach, they have some serious drawbacks. Approximations errors and the number of parameter values can have a significant impact on the simulation results, the extent of which often remains obscure. Such difficulties do not arise, however, when the problem can be solved analytically. Exactly Solvable Models of Biological Invasion demonstrates the advantages and methods of obtaining exact solutions of partial differential equations that describe nonlinear problems encountered in the study of invasive species spread. With emphasis on PDEs of diffusion-reaction type, the authors present a comprehensive collection of exactly solvable models and a unified, self-contained description of the relevant mathematical methods. In doing so, they also provide new insight into important issues such as the impact of the Allee effect, the impact of predation, and the interplay between different modes of species dispersal. Full calculation details make this presentation accessible to biologists as well as applied mathematicians, and a range of ecological examples and applications demonstrate the utility of exact methods in practice. Exact solutions provide an immediate, complete description of system dynamics for a wide class of initial conditions and serve as a convenient tool for testing numerical algorithms and codes used in more specialized studies. This book lays the groundwork for bringing the power of exactly solvable models to bear on real-world ecologicalproblems.
This is a general introduction to the biology of bats, suitable as a text for courses in the subject, and as a reliable reference to all aspects of the subject for a broad range of biologists. The book presents a balanced coverage of the physiology, anatomy, behaviour, ecology, and phylogeny of bats. Bats comprise about one quarter of all mammalian species, and because of their diversity and their complex behaviours, they are among the most intensively studied groups in the Mammalia. Gerhard Neuweiler is an internationally recognized authority on bats, and one of the leading workers on the physiology of echolocation.
The importance of forests in alleviating climate change processes is a matter of global concern and debate, at a time when politicians are close to implementing carbon trading quotas. "Carbon Balance of Forest Biomes" provides an informed synthesis on the current status of forests and their future potential for carbon sequestration. This volume is timely, since convincing models which scale from local to regional carbon fluxes are needed to support these international agreements, while criticisms have been leveled at existing empirical approaches. One key question is to determine how well eddy-flux measurements at the stand-level represent regional-scale processes. This may be related to specific management practices (age, plantation, fertilization) or simple bias in choosing representative sites (ease of access, roughness, proximity to physical barriers). The ecology and regeneration state of temperate, tropical and boreal forests under current climatic conditions are discussed, together with partitioning of photosynthetic and respiratory fluxes from soils and vegetation. The volume considers how to integrate contrasting methodologies, and the latest approaches for scaling from stand to the planetary boundary layer.
This volume is the second in the series on 'Higher Plants', otherwise termed Phanerogam or Spermatophyte. The earlier volume, 1A, covered several taxa of Phanerogams and one of Bryophyte. A concurrent series (volume 2A, 2B and so on) cover the lower groups, represented by Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes and Lichens. Bryophyte, because of its importance in evolution of seed plants vis-a-vis higher groups, has been included in both volumes. The present volume includes articles dealing with certain fundamental issues of genomics as well as phylogeny and evolution of certain economic agricultural and medicinal crops. Of these, economic crops include coffee, coconut and papaya; medicinals cover Artemisia and Costus; fodder and agricultural crops include Phleum, Lolium and Triticale; horticultural species include Orchis and Allium and forest plant is represented by Populus species. In general, this volume contains discussions on molecular patters of basic angiosperms as well as genomics and phylogeny of different families covering several commercial, medicinal and agricultural crops.Those working on molecular genetics, evolution and phylogeny of flowering plants, including species of medicinal and agricultural value will find this book interesting.
One of the world's most insightful writers on the subject brings together an array of important and readable information on the ways in which insects and plants coexist in nature. Interrelationship Between Insects and Plants is a rare and expansive look at the intertwining of these two vastly different species. Its aim is to summarize in a simple and understandable way the basis of food selection among insects, and to review the various sides of their relationships with plants.
Edward O. Wilson has distilled sixty years of teaching into a book for students, young and old. Reflecting on his coming-of-age in the South as a Boy Scout and a lover of ants and butterflies, Wilson threads these twenty-one letters, each richly illustrated, with autobiographical anecdotes that illuminate his career both his successes and his failures and his motivations for becoming a biologist. At a time in human history when our survival is more than ever linked to our understanding of science, Wilson insists that success in the sciences does not depend on mathematical skill, but rather a passion for finding a problem and solving it. From the collapse of stars to the exploration of rain forests and the oceans depths, Wilson instills a love of the innate creativity of science and a respect for the human being s modest place in the planet s ecosystem in his readers."
Originally published in 2002, Mountain Biodiversity deals with the biological richness, function and change of mountain environments. The book was birthed from the first global conference on mountain biodiversity and was a contribution to the International Year of Mountains in 2002. The book examines biological diversity as essential for the integrity of mountain ecosystems and argues that this dependency is likely to increase as environmental climates and social conditions change. This book seeks to examine the biological riches of all major mountain ranges, from around the world and using existing knowledge on mountain biodiversity, examines a broad range of research in diversity, including that of plants, animals, human and bacterial diversity. The book also examines climate change and mountain biodiversity as well as land use and conservation.
The volumes in this set, originally published between 1974 and 2002, draw together research by leading academics in the area of ecology and provide a rigorous examination of related key issues. The collection examines ecology from a broad range of disciplines, from examining the economic impact of wildlife trade on ecosystems, to studies of the biodiversity of ecosystems across mountains, forests, wetlands and the arctic. The collection includes volumes across the disciplines of biology, botany, geography and sociology. The 17 books that comprise this collection include rigorous examinations into plant ecosystems, philosophy surrounding ecological scarcity, tropical environments and the relationship between ecology and society. This collection brings back into print a collection of insightful and detailed books on the diverse subject of ecology and the environment and will be a must have resource for academics and students, not only of biology and ecology, but of philosophy, sociology and economics.
Originally published in 1974, Arctic and Alpine Environments examines, the relatively simple ecosystems of arctic and alpine lands that still occupy extensive areas little disturbed by modern technology. The book argues that there is a necessity for carefully controlled development of the resources of these regions and suggests that there is a risk of irreversible disturbance without full understanding of these regions. This book provides a detailed documentation of cold-stressed arctic and alpine terrestrial environments and systematically deals with the present and past physical environment - climate, hydrology and glaciology; biota - treeline, vegetation, vertebrate zoology, and historical biogeography; abiotic processes - geomorphological and pedological and the role of man - bioclimatology, archaeology and technological impact, including radioecology. The book will appeal to academics and students of environmental and biological science, as well as providing a significant source for conservationists', government agencies and industrial organizations.
In the past, wildlife living in urban areas were ignored by wildlife professionals and urban planners because cities were perceived as places for people and not for wild animals. Paradoxically, though, many species of wildlife thrive in these built environments. Interactions between humans and wildlife are more frequent in urban areas than any other place on earth and these interactions impact human health, safety and welfare in both positive and negative ways. Although urban wildlife control pest species, pollinate plants and are fun to watch, they also damage property, spread disease and even attack people and pets. In urban areas, the combination of dense human populations, buildings, impermeable surfaces, introduced vegetation, and high concentrations of food, water and pollution alter wildlife populations and communities in ways unseen in more natural environments. For these ecological and practical reasons, researchers and mangers have shown a growing interest in urban wildlife ecology and management. This growing interest in urban wildlife has inspired many studies on the subject that have yet to be synthesized in a cohesive narrative. "Urban Wildlife: Theory and Practice" fills this void by synthesizing the latest ecological and social knowledge in the subject area into an interdisciplinary and practical text. This volume provides a foundation for the future growth and understanding of urban wildlife ecology and management by: Clearly defining the concepts used to study and describe urban wildlife, Offering a cohesive understanding of the coupled natural and social drivers that shape urban wildlife ecology, Presenting the patterns and processes of wildlife response to an urbanizing world and explaining the mechanisms behind them and Proposing means to create physical and social environments that are mutually beneficial for both humans and wildlife."
This work synthesizes an understanding of ecosystem ecology from the number of disciplines with which it interlinks. Organized into four parts it covers: research study methods; the concept of an ecosystem; themes of research; and the overall functioning of the biosphere in historical perspective.
This book demonstrates the role of dominant ecological factors on the organisms of running water and the functioning of the ecosystem, as well as the consequences of human activity. It provides vision of certain rivers and streams that represent various types of European watercourses.
At the time of European discovery, the ancient North American forests stretched across nearly half the continent. And while today little remains of this past glory, efforts are underway to bring back some of the diverse ecosystems of that era. America's Ancient Forests: From the Ice Age to the Age of Discovery provides scientists and professionals with essential information for forest restoration and conservation projects, while presenting a compelling and far-reaching account of how the North American landscape has evolved over the past 18,000 years. The book weaves historical accounts and scientific knowledge into a dynamic narrative about the ancient forests and the events that shaped them. Divided into two major parts, it covers first the glaciers and forests of the Ice Age and the influences of native peoples, and then provides an in-depth look at these majestic forests through the eyes of the first European explorers. Changes in climate and elevation, the movement of trees northward, the assembly of modern forests, and qualities that all ancient forests shared are also thoroughly examined. A special feature of this book is its self-contained introduction to the early history of Native American peoples and their environment. The author draws on his roots in the Osage nation as well as painstaking research through the historical record, offering a complete discussion of how the cultural practices of hunting, agriculture, and fire helped form the ancient forests.
We are destroying our natural environment at a constantly increasing pace, and in so doing undermining the preconditions of our own existence. Why is this so? This book reveals that our ecologically disruptive behavior is in fact rooted in our very nature as a species. Drawing on evolution theory, biology, anthropology, archaeology, economics, environmental science and history, this book explains the ecological predicament of humankind by placing it in the context of the first scientific theory of our species development, taking over where Darwin left off. The theory presented is applied in detail to the whole of our seven-million-year history. Due to its comprehensiveness, and in part thanks to its extensive glossary and index, this book can function as a compact encyclopedia covering the whole development of Homo sapiens. It would also suit a variety of courses in the life and social sciences. Most importantly, Too Smart makes evident the very core of the paradigm to which our species must shift if it is to survive. Anyone concerned about the future of humankind should read this ground-breaking work. This book: Provides the first and only theory of humankind s development Explains that economic and political (military) power have their respective biological bases in individual vs. group territoriality Provides the first classification of human instincts: into the survival, sexual and social instincts Provides the most inclusive characterization of different kinds of population check yet presented Explains the importance of the anthropological, archaeological and economic findings of the past 50 years to understanding humankind s development Clarifies the preconditions for human life on earth Predicts what will happen to us in the near future
Environmental translation studies has gained momentum in recent years as a new area of research underscored by the need to communicate environmental concerns and studies across cultures. The dissemination of translated materials on environmental protection and sustainable development has played an instrumental role in transforming local culture and societies. This edited book represents an important effort to advance environmental studies by introducing the latest research on environmental translation and cross-cultural communication. Part I of the book presents the newest research on multilingual environmental resource development based at leading research institutes in Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Asia-Pacific. Part II offers original, thought-provoking linguistic, textual and cultural analyses of environmental issues in genres as diverse as literature, nature-based tourism promotion, environmental marketing, environmental documentary, and children's reading. Chapters in this book represent original research authored by established and mid-career academics in translation studies, computer science, linguistics, and environmental studies around the world. The collection provides engaging reading and references on environmental translation and communication to a wide audience across academia.
Communicating the Environment Beyond Photography is a modern look at how photographers visualize what is happening to people and places on a changing planet. Michelle I. Seelig draws attention to what compels photographers to focus on these important messages, what tools they are using to advocate for just causes, and how photographers engage directly with citizens in a meaningful conversation beyond the photograph. Photographers continue to document the land and nature as they always have; however, today they use all media to advocate wide-ranging environmental concerns. Photographers, filmmakers, and environmentalists engage the public with visual and technologically driven content that is both affordable and portable, allowing advocacy to transcend boundaries in the global community previously overlooked by traditional media. This innovative book showcases strategies practiced by photographers, environmentalists, and advocacy groups in the twenty-first century and will serve as inspiration for future advocates of environmental issues and other important and just causes. Accessible and user-friendly, Communicating the Environment Beyond Photography is a must-read for both future photographers and individuals interested in communicating and advocating for environmental and social change.
ANOXIA defines the lack of free molecular oxygen in an environment. In the presence of organic matter, anaerobic prokaryotes produce compounds such as free radicals, hydrogen sulfide, or methane that are typically toxic to aerobes. The concomitance of suppressed respiration and presence of toxic substances suggests these habitats are inhospitable to Eukaryota. Ecologists sometimes term such environments 'Death Zones'. This book presents, however, a collection of remarkable adaptations to anoxia, observed in Eukaryotes such as protists, animals, plants and fungi. Case studies provide evidence for controlled beneficial use of anoxia by, for example, modification of free radicals, use of alternative electron donors for anaerobic metabolic pathways, and employment of anaerobic symbionts. The complex, interwoven existence of oxic and anoxic conditions in space and time is also highlighted as is the idea that eukaryotic inhabitation of anoxic habitats was established early in Earth history.
This book looks at significant current grassland problems and issues, and provides an insight into grassland productivity in diverse areas of the world, with their various production systems. There is a focus on recent technical advances and the prospects for further innovation, through twenty-one chapters by eminent grassland scientists, grouped into seven sections - forage germplasm; forage conservation; grass-based systems and organic production; climate change, biodiversity and biotechnology; geographical information systems; farmer and pastoralist participation; and regional developments. The book is timely in view of the expanding human and livestock populations, especially in arid and semi-arid environments, with the consequent pressure on the world's grasslands.
Ecological economics is an exciting interdisciplinary field of
study that combines insights from the natural sciences, economics,
philosophy and other fields to develop innovative approaches to
environmental problems. It draws on a wide range of analytical
perspectives, some radical others more conventional, to build a
more complete understanding of human-ecosystem interactions.
Current research in the field includes work on nature conservation,
land use planning, pollution control, natural resource management,
and environmental impact assessment/evaluation. "Ecological Economics" provides a comprehensive introduction to
the core themes, presented in a clearly structured style, with
chapters tailored specifically to readers without any economic or
philosophical training. There is an emphasis throughout on the
complementary roles of economics, ethics and ecology in
environmental decision-making processes. The book reviews the
evolution of important ideas in the field, explores the fundamental
philosophies underlying different approaches to environmental
problems, explains in detail the specific tools and techniques used
in these approaches, and gives numerous examples of how they can be
applied. Special importance is attached to understanding both the
advantages and limitations of different analyses, in order to
provide a balanced and coherent view of how these different
approaches interrelate and how their roles vary in different
contexts. Written by three authors specializing in ecology, economics and
philosophy, this textbook provides an excellent introduction to the
field of ecological economics for students in the natural sciences
and other environmental disciplines. It will also be of interest to
a wide range of professionals and researchers involved in
environmental management and policy, and thers including economists
seeking to broaden their knowledge of new methodologies and
approaches. Further reading suggestions and extensive references
are provided for those interested in pursuing particular themes
beyond the introductory level.
Capitalizing on forty years of intensive ecological studies, this anthology presents a collection of widely dispersed major publications on theoretical and practical Mediterranean, global environmental and landscape issues. These range from Mediterranean ecosystems and vegetation types in California and Israel, to the significance of fire in the evolution of cultural Mediterranean landscapes in the Pleistocene and Early Holocene with special reference to Mt. Carmel; and from the development of Tanzania Masailand, a sociological and ecological challenge to multifunctional, self-organizing biosphere landscapes and the future of our Total Human Ecosystem. Each chapter features a comprehensive study of ecological and landscape issues, synthesized in the introduction, and woven with autobiographical experiences. The concluding chapter calls for a transdisciplinary shift in all environmental scientific fields and particularly in landscape and restoration ecology, to cope with the complex, closely interwoven ecological, socio-economical, political and cultural crises facing human society during the present crucial transition from the industrial to the post-industrial, global information age. Updating and broadening the scope of the groundbreaking Springer book on Landscape Theory and Applications by the author and Lieberman (1994), this is a unique transdisciplinary attempt based on advanced systems complexity theories, which link the natural and human sciences. It will be of value for all those dealing with land and landscape study in the broadest sense as academic scientists, researchers and scholars, professionals and practitioners and students.
"In a Dark Wood" presents a history of debates among ecologists over what constitutes good forestry, and a critique of the ecological reasoning behind contemporary strategies of preservation, including the Endangered Species Act. Chase argues that these strategies, in many instances adopted for political, rather than scientific reasons, fail to promote biological diversity and may actually harm more creatures than they help. At the same time, Chase offers examples of conservation strategies that work, but which are deemed politically incorrect and ignored. In a Dark Wood provides the most thoughtful and complete account yet written of radical environmentalism. And it challenges the fundamental--but largely unexamined--assumptions of preservationism, such as those concerning whether there is a "balance of nature," whether all branches of ecology are really science, and whether ecosystems exist. In his new introduction, Chase evaluates the response to his book and reports on recent developments in environmental science, policy, and politics. In a Dark Wood was judged by a recent national poll to be one of the one hundred best nonfiction books written in the English language during the twentieth century. A smashing good read, this book will be of interest to environmentalists, ecologists, philosophers, biologists, and bio-ethicists, and anyone concerned about ecological issues.
"Measurements for Terrestrial Vegetation, 2nd Edition" presents up-to-date methods for analyzing species frequency, plant cover, density and biomass data. Each method is presented in detail with a full discussion of its strengths and weaknesses from field applications through statistical characteristics of bias and use of the correct probability distribution to describe and analyze data. This practical book also covers the use of satellite imagery to obtain measurement data on cover, density and biomass. Field data collection includes current applications of statistical sampling and analysis designs that should be used to obtain and analyze these data. This new and thoroughly updated edition of a classic text will be essential reading for everyone involved in measuring and assessing vegetation and plant biomass, including researchers and practitioners in vegetation science, plant ecology, forestry, global change scientists and conservation scientists. Provides a comprehensive catalogue of sampling, surveying and measuring techniques in vegetation scienceUpdated to include new technologies and developments in the fieldNew coverage of prediction models for large areas, including satellite mapping and remote sensing techniquesIncludes up-to-date applications of statistical sampling and analysis designs used to obtain and analyse data Reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each technique, allowing an informed choice of alternative approachesClear diagrams to explain best-practice in methodology The companion website for this book can be found at www.wiley.com/go/bonham/measurements |
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