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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Life sciences: general issues > Ecological science, the Biosphere
This text is written to provide a mathematically sound but accessible and engaging introduction to Bayesian inference specifically for environmental scientists, ecologists and wildlife biologists. It emphasizes the power and usefulness of Bayesian methods in an ecological context. The advent of fast personal computers and easily available
software hassimplified the use ofBayesian and hierarchicalmodels .
One obstacle remains for ecologists and wildlife biologists, namely
the near absence of Bayesian texts written specifically for them.
The book includes many relevant examples, is supported by software
and examples on a companion website and will become an essential
grounding in this approachforstudents and research
ecologists.
Science for the Protection of Indonesian Coastal Ecosystems (SPICE) provides key information on all aspects related to the management of coastal ecosystems. This includes the coastal management involved, the ecology of this area, and the relationship between humans and the environment found here. The book presents guidelines defined by scientific experts, allowing for proper application of science products into ecosystem management. The bio-geo-physical importance of coastal ecosystems of Indonesia makes this a book of global importance and interest.
In a perspective of sustainable management, the balance between ecological dynamics, social and economic are now at the heart of ecological modeling and environmental strategies screenwriting. Diversity and marine ecosystems function illustrates biodiversity, habitat diversity, structures and food webs in various oceans of the world and systems: pelagic and benthic ecosystems, coral reefs and seagrass beds, oasis of hydrothermal vents ridges or areas rich upwelling. Appropriate observation methods, long-term monitoring and modeling reveal the complexity of systems, trophic interactions and spatiotemporal dynamics. The ecosystem approach is a prerequisite to assess the state of these systems, their living resources and ecological services involved in local and global environmental changes.
The third edition of Gordon Bonan's comprehensive textbook introduces an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and climate change. Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying ecology, environmental science, atmospheric science, and geography, it reviews basic meteorological, hydrological, and ecological concepts to examine the physical, chemical, and biological processes by which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. This new edition has been thoroughly updated with new science and references. The scope has been expanded beyond its initial focus on energy, water, and carbon to include reactive gases and aerosols in the atmosphere. The new edition emphasizes the Earth as a system, recognizing interconnections among the planet's physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic components, and emphasizing global environmental sustainability. Each chapter contains chapter summaries and review questions, and with over 400 illustrations, including many in color, this textbook will once again be an essential student guide.
'We have a responsibility, every one of us' David Attenborough Around 12.7 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean every year, killing over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals. By 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight. But how can YOU make a difference? This accessible guide will help you make the small changes that make a big difference, including: * Using a wash bag to catch plastic microfibers * Replacing your regular shampoo with bar shampoo * How to throw a plastic-free birthday party Plastic is not going away without a fight. This is a call to arms - to join forces across the world and end our dependence on plastic. #BreakFreeFromPlastic
If humans are to understand and discover ways of addressing complex social and ecological problems, we first need to find intimacy with our particular places and communities. Cultivating a relationship to place often includes a negotiating process that involves both science and sensibility. While science is one key part of an adaptive and resilient society, the cultivation of a renewed sense of place and community is essential as well. Science and Sensibility argues for the need for ecology to engage with philosophical values and economic motivations in a political process of negotiation, with the goal of shaping humans' treatment of the natural world. Michael Vincent McGinnis aims to reframe ecology so it might have greater "trans-scientific" awareness of the roles and interactions among multiple stakeholders in socioecological systems, and he also maintains that deep ecological knowledge of specific places will be crucial to supporting a sustainable society. He uses numerous specific case studies from watershed, coastal, and marine habitats to illustrate how place-based ecological negotiation can occur, and how reframing our negotiation process can influence conservation, restoration, and environmental policy in effective ways.
Advances in Marine Biology was first published in 1963 under the
founding editorship of Sir Frederick S. Russell, FRS. Now edited by
D.W. Sims (Marine Biological Association Laboratory, Plymouth, UK),
with an internationally renowned Editorial Board, the serial
publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics
which will appeal to postgraduates and researchers in marine
biology, fisheries science, ecology, zoology, and biological
oceanography. Eclectic volumes in the series are supplemented by
thematic volumes on such topics as The Biology of Calanoid
Copepods.
AN AUTHORITATIVE SURVEY OF CURRENT RESEARCH INTO CLINICALLY USEFUL CONVENTIONAL AND NONCONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTIC THERAPEUTICS Pharmaceutically-active antibiotics revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases, leading to decreased mortality and increased life expectancy. However, recent years have seen an alarming rise in the number and frequency of antibiotic-resistant "Superbugs." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over two million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States annually, resulting in approximately 23,000 deaths. Despite the danger to public health, a minimal number of new antibiotic drugs are currently in development or in clinical trials by major pharmaceutical companies. To prevent reverting back to the pre-antibiotic era--when diseases caused by parasites or infections were virtually untreatable and frequently resulted in death--new and innovative approaches are needed to combat the increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics. Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics - From Molecules to Man examines the current state and future direction of research into developing clinically-useful next-generation novel antibiotics. An internationally-recognized team of experts cover topics including glycopeptide antibiotic resistance, anti-tuberculosis agents, anti-virulence therapies, tetracyclines, the molecular and structural determinants of resistance, and more. Presents a multidisciplinary approach for the optimization of novel antibiotics for maximum potency, minimal toxicity, and appropriated degradability Highlights critical aspects that may relieve the problematic medical situation of antibiotic resistance Includes an overview of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance Addresses contemporary issues of global public health and longevity Includes full references, author remarks, and color illustrations, graphs, and charts Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics - From Molecules to Man is a valuable source of up-to-date information for medical practitioners, researchers, academics, and professionals in public health, pharmaceuticals, microbiology, and related fields.
This book highlights an unprecedented collaboration of
environmental scientists, ecologists and physicians working
together on this important new discipline, to the benefit of human
health and ocean environmental integrity alike. Oceanography,
toxicology, natural products chemistry, environmental microbiology,
comparative animal physiology, epidemiology and public health are
all long established areas of research in their own right and all
contribute data and expertise to an integrated understanding of the
ways in which ocean biology and chemistry affect human health for
better or worse. This book introduces this topic to researchers and
advanced students interested in this emerging field, enabling them
to see how their research fits into the broader interactions
between the aquatic environment and human health.
This book presents the most comprehensive model yet for describing
the structure and functioning of running freshwater ecosystems.
This "riverine ecosystem synthesis" (RES) is a result of combining
several theories published in recent decades, dealing with aquatic
and terrestrial systems. New analyses are fused with a variety of
new perspectives on how river network ecosystems are structured and
function, and how they change along longitudinal, lateral, and
temporal dimensions. Among these novel perspectives is a
dramatically new view of the role of hydrogeomorphic forces in
forming functional process zones from headwaters to the mouths of
great rivers.
This volume comprehensively reviews recent advances in our understanding of the diversity of microbes in various types of terrestrial ecosystems, such as caves, deserts and cultivated fields. It is written by leading experts, and highlights the culturable microbes identified using conventional approaches, as well as non-culturable ones unveiled with metagenomic and microbiomic approaches. It discusses the role of microbes in ecosystem sustainability and their potential biotechnological applications. The book further discusses the diversity and utility of ectomycorrhizal and entomopathogenic fungi and yeasts that dwell on grapes, it examines the biotechnological applications of specific microbes such as lichens, xylan- and cellulose-saccharifying bacteria and archaea, chitinolytic bacteria, methanogenic archaea and pathogenic yeasts.
Modeling is a key component to sciences from mathematics to life
science, including environmental and ecological studies. By looking
at the underlying concepts of the software, we can make sure that
we build mathematically feasible models and that we get the most
out of the data and information that we have. This book shows how
models can be analyzed using simple math and software to generate
meaningful qualitative descriptions of system dynamics. This book
shows that even without a full analytical, mathematically rigorous
analysis of the equations, there may be ways to derive some
qualitative understanding of the general behavior of a system. By
relating some of the modeling approaches and systems theory to
real-world examples the book illustrates how these approaches can
help understand concepts such as sustainability, peak oil, adaptive
management, optimal harvest and other practical applications.
North America contains an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting unique systems of plant and animal life. These systems, the largest of which are biomes, form intricate webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. This richly illustrated book introduces readers to this extraordinary array of natural communities and their subtle biological and geological interactions. Completely revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this successful text takes a qualitative, intuitive approach to the subject, beginning with an overview of essential ecological terms and concepts, such as competitive exclusion, taxa, niches, and succession. It then goes on to describe the major biomes and communities that characterize the rich biota of the continent, starting with the Tundra and continuing with Boreal Forest, Deciduous Forest, Grasslands, Deserts, Montane Forests, and Temperature Rain Forest, among others. Coastal environments, including the Laguna Madre, seagrasses, Chesapeake Bay, and barrier islands appear in a new chapter. Additionally, the book covers many unique features such as pitcher plant bogs, muskeg, the polar ice cap, the cloud forests of Mexico, and the LaBrea tar pits. Infoboxes have been added; these include biographies of historical figures who provided significant contributions to the development of ecology, unique circumstances such as frogs and insects that survive freezing, and conservation issues such as those concerning puffins and island foxes. Throughout the text, ecological concepts are worked into the text; these include biogeography, competitive exclusion, succession, soil formation, and the mechanics of natural selection. Ecology of North America 2e is an ideal first text for students interested in natural resources, environmental science, and biology, and it is a useful and attractive addition to the library of anyone interested in understanding and protecting the natural environment.
Much of what is considered conventional wisdom about succession is not as clear cut as it is generally believed. Yet, the importance of succession in ecology is undisputed since it offers a real insight into the dynamics and structure of all plant communities. Part monograph and part conceptual treatise, An Integrative Approach to Successional Dynamics presents a unifying conceptual framework for dynamic plant communities and uses a unique long-term data set to explore the utility of that framework. The fourteen chapters, each written in a nontechnical style and accompanied by numerous illustrations and examples, cover diverse aspects of succession, including community, population and disturbance dynamics, diversity, community assembly, heterogeneity, functional ecology and biological invasion. This unique text will be a great source of reference for researchers and graduate students in ecology and plant biology, as well as others with an interest in the subject.
This book describes the main features of tropical streams and their
ecology. It covers the major physico-chemical features, important
processes such as primary production and organic-matter
transformation, as well as the main groups of consumers:
invertebrates, fishes and other vertebrates. Information on
concepts and paradigms developed in north-temperate latitudes and
how they do not match the reality of ecosystems further south is
expertly addressed. The pressing matter of conservation of tropical
streams and their biodiversity is included in alomost every
chapter, with a final chapter providing a synthesis on conservation
issues. For the first time, Tropical Streams Ecology places an
important emphasis on viewing research carried out in contributions
from international literature.
This text reference examines how photosynthesis evolved on Earth
and how phytoplankton evolved through time - ultimately to permit
the evolution of complex life, including human beings. The first of
its kind, this book provides thorough coverage of key topics, with
contributions by leading experts in biophysics, evolutionary
biology, micropaleontology, marine ecology, and biogeochemistry.
Sustainable agriculture is a key concept for scientists,
researchers, and agricultural engineers alike.
"This highly synthetic and scholarly work brings together new and
important scientific contributions by leading experts on a rich
diversity of topics concerning the history, ecology, and
conservation of California's endangered grasslands. The editors and
authors have succeeded admirably in drawing from a great wealth of
recent research to produce a widely accessible and compelling,
state-of-the-art treatment of this fascinating subject. Anyone
interested in Californian biodiversity or grassland ecosystems in
general will find this book to be an invaluable resource and a
major inspiration for further research, management, and restoration
efforts."--Bruce G. Baldwin, W. L. Jepson Professor and Curator, UC
Berkeley
In an age when biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, it is vital that floristic and faunistic information is up to date, reliable and easily accessible for the formulation of effective conservation strategies. Electronic data management and communication are transforming descriptive taxonomy radically, enhancing both the collection and dissemination of crucial data on biodiversity. This volume is written by scientists at the forefront of current developments of floras and faunas, along with specialists from applied user groups. The chapters review novel methods of research, development and dissemination, which aim to maximise the relevance and impact of data. Regional case studies are used to illustrate the outputs and impacts of taxonomic research. Integrated approaches are presented which have the capacity to accelerate the production of floras and faunas and to better serve the needs of a widening audience.
This volume is for environmental researchers and government policy
makers who are required to monitor environmental quality for their
environmental investigators and remediation plans. It uses concepts
and applications to aid in the exchange of scientific information
across all the environmental science disciplines ranging from
geochemistry to hydrogeology and ecology to biotechnology. Focusing
on issues such as metals, organics and nutrient contamination of
water and soils, and interactions between
soil-water-plants-chemicals, the book synthesizes the latest
findings in this rapidly-developing, multi-disciplinary field.
Cutting-edge environmental analytical methods are also presented,
making this a must-have for professionals tasked with monitoring
environmental quality. These concepts and applications help in
decision making and problem solving in a single resource.
The " Radioactivity in the Environment Series" addresses the key
aspects of this socially important and complex interdisciplinary
subject. Presented objectively and with the ultimate authority
gained from the many contributions by the world's leading experts,
the negative and positive consequences of having a radioactive
world around us is documented and given perspective. In a world in
which nuclear science is not only less popular than in the past,
but also less extensively taught in universities and colleges, this
book series will fill a significant educational gap.
If evolution has changed humans physically, has it also affected
human behavior? Drawing on evolutionary psychology, sociobiology,
and human behavioral ecology, "Human Nature and the Evolution of
Society "explores the evolutionary dynamics underlying social life.
Environmental problems are becoming an important aspect of our
lives as industries grow apace with populations throughout the
world. Thermodynamics, Solubility and Environmental Issues
highlights some of the problems and shows how chemistry can help to
reduce these them. The unifying theme is Solubility - the most
basic and important of thermodynamic properties. This informative
book looks at the importance and applications of solubility and
thermodynamics, in understanding and in reducing chemical pollution
in the environment.
Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos provides insights into the characteristic features of marine and estuarine benthos that play an important role in coastal ecosystem functioning, a primary level in the food chain. The book provides the latest information on multidisciplinary reflections by various researchers studying the benthic community. Through the chapters, ecosystem services are explored as a way to share approaches and scientific methods to achieve knowledge-based sustainable planning and management of benthic ecosystems. This is a helpful guide for anyone working on marine and estuarine environments, and for those who need an introduction to benthic ecology. The book has a wide range of scientific coverage since it caters primarily to the requirement of marine ecologists, marine benthologists, EIA experts, aquatic researchers, scientists, teachers and research scholars. In addition to this, it also serves as a reference for postgraduate/undergraduate students studying aquatic ecosystems. |
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