Bacterial Fish Diseases: Environmental and Economic Constraints will be useful for researchers and academics who need to understand the nature and consequences of bacteria-related disease in fishes. It has in-depth information on the complete genome of various bacterial species and identifies an essential number of virulence genes that affect the pathogenic potential of the bacteria in fish. Users will find the most relevant information derived from the available bacterial genomes concerning virulence and the diverse virulence factors that actively participate in host adherence, colonization and infection, including structural components, extracellular factors, secretion systems, iron acquisition and quorum sensing mechanisms. This reference is beneficial for understanding economic losses due to bacterial pathogens in fish fauna and its impact on the economy. It addition, it provides information on good aquaculture practices and how to scientifically manage aquaculture and fishery sectors.

This book highlights current trends and research advances in nanotechnology and its applications. It discusses the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials / nanocomposites for novel applications in environmental monitoring and sustainability, and presents new findings on wastewater treatment technologies using nanofiltration membranes.

This book is the proceedings of the conference Faecal Indicators: problem or solution? Has technical progress reduced the need for faecal indicators? held on 6th to 8th June 2011 at Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot Watt University, UK. It addresses existing and emerging issues in environmental microbiology which in turn offer exciting new challenges in microbiology, public health and environmental science. The ultimate aim being to assist the monitoring and modelling of environmental systems to protect human health, animal welfare and environmental quality. With contributions from leading scientists and experts in academia and industry, it offers a truly international perspective on both current research and our ability to respond with useful and sustainable solutions to many of the emerging challenges of today's modern communities. The conference featured two combative, provocative and engaging debates examining the moral issues behind the statements "What is a coliform and are coliforms relevant to public health?" and "Do regulations help or hinder the innovation in testing methods?." The reports of these questions are captured in the book. The book appeals across the board from those working in universities and research institutes to local governments, the water and food industries, and health professionals.

The floristic studies carried out during the 19th and 20th centuries in the Retezat Massif identified 1,152 plant species and 104 subspecies within the Cormobionta sub-regnum. Of these, about 12% are endemic Carpathian and Dacian-Balkan taxa that induce a regional specificity to the hosting communities. The phytocoenological research led to the description of 67 plant associations, grouped in 28 alliances, 19 orders and 13 vegetation classes. These classes are: Asplenietea trichomanis, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Salicetea herbaceae, Montio-Cardaminetea, Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Oxycocco-Sphagnetea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Caricetea curvulae, Loisleurio-Vaccinietea, Elyno-Seslerietea, Mulgedio-Aconitetea, Carpino-Fagetea and Vaccinio-Piceetea. The following plant associations herein described are new syntaxa: Phyteumo confusi-Junicetum trifidi, Salici kitaibelianae-Dryadetum octopetalae and Aconito taurici-Rumicetum alpine. For the protection of some rare plant species and vulnerable plant associations, two natural reserves are proposed to be created within the "Limestone Retezat" area.

This publication includes peer-reviewed manuscripts from the 2009 International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) held in Calgary, Canada on August 31 through September 1, 2009. INEF is an organization founded by environmental forensic scientists for the express purpose of sharing and disseminating environmental forensic information to the international scientific community. Environmental forensic information presented at the Calgary conference included topics on contaminant age dating, chemical biomarkers, environmental statistics, the interpretation of forensic data, emerging analytical techniques used in forensic investigations, legal sampling and strategies, petroleum hydrocarbon fingerprinting and diagnostic markers used to age date chlorinated solvents. All of these topics were presented in the context of using these techniques to ultimately identify the origin and age of contaminants released into the environment. This professionally edited book is the first of a series of conference publications chronicling the current state of the art in environmental forensics. The intent of this publication and subsequent INEF conference volumes is to compile a library of state-of-the-art scientific articles dealing with environmental forensic topics.

The issue of water quality monitoring is becoming a huge area as the EU requirements for cleaner water increase. On-line monitoring involves measuring a body of water constantly and in-situ as opposed to analysing samples in the lab. Currently filling the gap in the market, "Wastewater Quality Monitoring: On-line Methods" provides information on how to produce the best analyses of wastewater in order to meet the above mentioned requirements.

This reference will prove invaluable to all local water companies, industrial companies producing wastewater, as well as environment agencies and researchers.

This book discusses current knowledge and challenges with the ecological management and conservation of wetlands, with a focus on the East Kolkata Wetlands of India. This area is referred to as a Ramsar Site, a designation given to areas with special protection statuses, since it is the largest natural waste recycling system in the world. The site faces many threats to its biodiversity and ecosystem functioning due to anthropogenic activity in the region, and therefore an assessment of the ecosystem services, bio-ecological uniqueness, and issues stemming from climate change and human impacts is needed to develop protection strategies for the future ecological functioning and sustainability of the wetlands. The authors use GIS and remote sensing techniques to assess and monitor harmful industrial and environmental impacts on the wetlands, and to inform mitigation and conservation strategies in the face of ongoing threats such as pollution, habitat destruction and bioinvasion. The book also highlights various social and economic aspects tied to the functioning and management of the wetlands, along with ecological, biological, and physio-chemical considerations. The study will be of use to students and researchers in aquatic ecology, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability and conservation, as well as to environmental planners, engineers, and policymakers.

Extraterrestrial Remote Sensing and Climate Change Thought provoking treatise that aims to answer questions about Earth's environment based on research done through remote sensing techniques In Extraterrestrial Remote Sensing and Climate Change, the author addresses longstanding questions about a possible correlation between fluctuations in solar activity and changes in the Earth's atmosphere and geosphere that have been observed during periods of extraterrestrial changes such as solar eclipses or solar storms. The author goes on to suggest possible mechanisms for anomalies seen in climate change and other environmental effects through a deep examination of interdisciplinary research. Core topics covered in the work include: Data from ground-based detectors and from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite, which monitor solar activity Key variables associated with sunspot eruption, such as electron flux, proton flux, X-ray flux, and planetary indices Observable changes in other planets and their moons, as well as in cosmic radiation from beyond the sun Extraterrestrial effects on the Earth's magnetic field and on seismic activity With its fresh and multidisciplinary approach, Extraterrestrial Remote Sensing and Climate Change is a thought-provoking treatise for students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of environmental science and climate science.

This book summarizes the new major research findings about formation mechanism and control strategies of haze in China, including basic theories, key technologies, equipment and platforms and the applications and implementations of control technologies, in implementing the Strategic Priority Research Program (Class B) of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Different types of air pollution processes experienced by the developed countries in different stages are out-breaking simultaneously in China in the recent years and resulting a new type of "haze chemistry smog" pollution, which is different from the "London smog" and the "Los Angeles photochemical smog". This book provides a useful reference for related researchers, engineers and policy-makers engaged in atmospheric pollution research, prevention and control in China and other countries.

This book introduces a comprehensive understanding in the use of space techniques in natural hazards and risk management in the MENA Region. The book is based on different case-studies from 25 MENA countries, and will be useful in highlighting the issues from all aspects. In recent years the number of natural hazard events has increased in the MENA Region. This is exacerbated by the changing climate and extreme climate events, as well as a large increase in the population in this area. Disastrous events occur on a yearly basis characterized by a vulnerability of physical processes. Floods, earthquakes, and mass movement result in severe damage to property and livelihoods, and have devastating effects upon the environment. These events cause severe financial losses, which on an annual basis, can exceed millions of dollars. The predication, assessment and monitoring approaches remain inadequate in managing these hazards and in mitigating their impacts, but with the development of space techniques and geo-information systems, these situations can now be better managed. The miscellany of satellite images, with different spatial and temporal resolutions, enable the detection of terrain features and provide indications of potential natural risks. This book will of interest to stakeholders, including field experts, academics, researchers and decision makers.

This volume offers expert contributions proposing new and recently set scientific standards for smart air quality (AQ) networks data processing, along with results obtained during field deployments of pervasive and mobile systems. The book is divided into 5 main sections; 1) future air quality networks, 2) general data processing techniques, 3) field deployments performances, 4) special applications, and 5) cooperative and regulatory efforts. The authors offer different sources of data for the production of trustworthy insights, including spatio-temporal predictive AQ maps meant to boost citizen awareness, and informed participation in remediation and prevention policies. Readers will learn about the best and most up-to-date practices for measuring and assessing air quality, while also learning about current regulatory statuses regarding air quality technology design and implementation. The book will be of interest to air quality regulatory agencies, citizen science groups, city authorities, and researchers and students working with air quality sensors and geostatistics.

This volume offers the latest theory, procedures, techniques and applications pertaining to the bioremediation of pesticides, as well as current case studies. The book is composed of chapters written by global experts and is divided into three topical sections. Section A deals with concepts and mechanisms of pesticides bioremediation; Section B examines latest tools and techniques; Section C offers global case studies of pesticides bioremediation. The novel methods described here are timely, as traditional pesticide usage leads to high wastage via decay, vaporization and seepage. This of course leads to environmental contamination and has necessitated the development and use of novel technologies like bioremediation for minimizing the impact of pesticides on the environment. This volume will be of relevance to academics, researchers and students who are working in the realm of pesticide bioremediation, and will enable policy makers and managerial experts across the globe in drafting policies and strategies for the management and treatment of pesticides.

This book explores the drivers and impacts of sand mining in the coastal areas of Lagos Nigeria. Based on empirical evidence, sand mining activity is driven by a number of urbanization-related factors while sand mining impacts are underlined by a number of sustainability-related factors. Four urbanization components describe the drivers of sand mining and four sustainability components describe the impacts of sand mining in Lagos. This book concludes on the puzzling dilemma of sand mining that supports thriving urbanization but undermines environmental sustainability in Lagos. Of course, sand mining has strong implications for environmental sustainability in Lagos coastal areas. This book is of immense benefit to environmental planners, city administrators, students of environmental science and the general public who have regards for environmental management.

This edited book first gives an overview of issues in the studies of atmospheric sciences and then elaborates on extreme events in air pollution, their assessment, impacts, and mitigation strategies. It covers general overview of factors governing in atmosphere that lead to air pollution, description about recent and hazardous air pollution episodes, emergencies and extremes in atmospheric sciences, impact studies on living organisms and atmosphere related to emergencies and possible remedies/mitigation strategies which may also include green growth strategies for management. Increase in anthropogenic activities from different sources results in very high concentrations of air pollutants in the atmospheres and they lead to cause disturbance in seasonal cycles and atmospheric phenomena, ecological imbalance and change in the quality of air. These impacts are the major cause of short-term or long-term effects on living and non-living systems. In the recent years, several instances of extremes atmosphere and air pollution related emergencies causing accidental episodes, fog, smog, health related, heat and cold wave etc. are experienced. This book brings the attention on such issues in atmospheric sciences and discuss the disaster preparedness and management plus emergencies. This book is valuable reading material for students in Environmental Science, Biological Science, Medical Science, Policy Planning, Disaster Management and Agriculture. It's useful for environmental consultants, researchers and other professionals involved in air quality, plant, humans and disasters related research.

Participatory Modelling for Resilient Futures: Action for Managing Our Environment from the Bottom-Up, Volume One provides an important contribution to environmental management by introducing an integrative framework for participatory research for better land use and natural resource planning, organized around compelling recent case studies. It is a valuable guide for the increasing number of students looking for solutions in sustainability science and also practitioners who are on the ground working with local communities to improve specific places. The book was developed in response to the need to provide a clear and synthetic account, in accessible and non-technical language, of the way in which innovative integrative research can help solve real world human-environment interaction problems at a range of levels and scales, e.g., participatory modelling to secure a sustainable future for a natural protected area, working with stakeholders to break the deadlock on renewable energy implementation in Europe or tackling social exclusion and reducing food carbon footprint through local agroecology schemes.

This volume is the second (II) of four under the main themes of Digitizing Agriculture and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The four volumes cover rapidly developing processes including Sensors (I), Data (II), Decision (III), and Actions (IV). Volumes are related to 'digital transformation" within agricultural production and provision systems, and in the context of Smart Farming Technology and Knowledge-based Agriculture. Content spans broadly from data mining and visualization to big data analytics and decision making, alongside with the sustainability aspects stemming from the digital transformation of farming. The four volumes comprise the outcome of the 12th EFITA Congress, also incorporating chapters that originated from select presentations of the Congress. The first part of this book (II) focuses on data technologies in relation to agriculture and presents three key points in data management, namely, data collection, data fusion, and their uses in machine learning and artificial intelligent technologies. Part 2 is devoted to the integration of these technologies in agricultural production processes by presenting specific applications in the domain. Part 3 examines the added value of data management within agricultural products value chain. The book provides an exceptional reference for those researching and working in or adjacent to agricultural production, including engineers in machine learning and AI, operations management, decision analysis, information analysis, to name just a few. Specific advances covered in the volume: Big data management from heterogenous sources Data mining within large data sets Data fusion and visualization IoT based management systems Data Knowledge Management for converting data into valuable information Metadata and data standards for expanding knowledge through different data platforms AI - based image processing for agricultural systems Data - based agricultural business Machine learning application in agricultural products value chain

Data Treatment in Environmental Sciences presents the various methods used in the analysis of databases-obtained in the field or in a laboratory-by focusing on the most commonly used multivariate analyses in different disciplines of environmental sciences, from geochemistry to ecology. The book examines the principles, application conditions and implementation (in R software) of various analyses before interpreting them. The wide variety of analyses presented allows users to treat datasets, both large and small, which are often limited in terms of available processing techniques. The approach taken by the author details (i) the preparation of a dataset prior to analysis, in relation to the scientific strategy and objectives of the study, (ii) the preliminary treatment of datasets, (iii) the establishment of a structure of objects (stations/dates) or relevant variables (e.g. physicochemical, biological), and (iv) how to highlight the explanatory parameters of these structures (e.g. how the physico-chemistry influences the biological structure obtained).

This book explores state-of-art techniques based on open-source software and statistical programming and modelling in modern geospatial applications, specifically focusing on recent trends in data mining techniques and robust modelling in Geomorphological, Hydrological, Bio-physical and Social activities. The book is organized into physical, mountainous, coastal, riverine, forest, urban and biological activities, with each chapter providing a review of the current knowledge in the focus area, and evaluating where future efforts should be directed. The text compiles a collection of recent developments and rigorous applications of Geospatial computational intelligence (e.g., artificial neural network, spatial interpolation, physical and environmental modelling and machine learning algorithms etc) in geomorphic processes from a team of expert contributors. The authors address the wide range of challenges and uncertainties in the study of earth system dynamics due to climate change, and complex anthropogenic interferences where spatial modelling may be applied in the risk assessment of vulnerable geomorphological landscapes. The book will act as a guide to find recent advancements in geospatial artificial intelligence techniques and its application to natural and social hazards. This information will be helpful for students, researchers, policy makers, environmentalists, planners involved in natural hazard and disaster management, NGOs, and government organizations.

This edited volume deals with the understanding of the issues concerned with the pollution caused by toxic elements and heavy metals and their impacts on the different agro-ecosystems as well as the techniques involved in sustainable remediation and amelioration of polluted soils. Furthermore, the book is a detailed comprehensive account for the treatment technologies from unsustainable to sustainable which includes chapters prepared by professionals with expertise in environmental microbiology, biotechnology, bioremediation, and environmental engineering. It focuses on the characterization, reclamation, bioremediation, and phytoremediation of polluted soils. The research presented also highlights some of the significantly important plant and microbial species involved in remediation, the physiology, biochemistry, and the mechanisms of remediation by various plants and microbes, and suggestions for future improvement of bioremediation technology. It offers insights into the current focus and recent advances in bioremediation and green technology applications for sustainable soil management.

This volume presents the conference proceedings from FinDrones2020. The book highlights recent developments in drone technology by experts, academicians, and entrepreneurs for applications in agriculture, forestry, and other industries. Emphasis is placed on contextualizing the conference presentations and content to Finland and the unique challenges typical to this region. The work will be of interest to academicians and professionals involved in remote sensing applications of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as enthusiasts of drone technological developments.

This book presents a step by step design approach to develop and implement an IoT system starting from sensor, interfacing to embedded processor, wireless communication, uploading measured data to cloud including data visualization along with machine learnings and artificial intelligence. The book will be extremely useful towards a hands-on approach of designing and fabricating an IoT system especially for upper undergraduate, master and PhD students, researchers, engineers and practitioners.

This volume discusses the increasing occurrence of floods and tornadoes in Southern Africa over the last few years. The book discusses existing flood and tornado management protocols, indigenous approaches to mitigate disaster risk, urban and peri-urban flooding, tornado-induced flooding and windstorms, and the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with rural and transboundary floods. The book offers planning and recovery strategies to minimise impacts from these events through sustainable means. Such means include sustainable drainage systems, waste management in harbors and beaches, community engagement in flood-prone areas, and improved food security measures in urban poor households.

Beginning in the second half of the twentieth century, the impacts of climate change have been fierce, causing loss of human life and irreparable destruction to natural and man-made infrastructure in many parts of the world. The difference between climate change now and in the past is that of sudden and disproportionate disruption of the natural energy dynamics by the changing consumption patterns of billions of human beings who have polluted terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The picture that emerges from the exhaustive analysis of international data drawn from the most reliable sources indicates that we have possibly gained access to the gateway of extinction and it is time that we take corrective steps immediately. Global climate change is further altering our relationship with the environment, modifying relatively stable climatic factors and making them uncertain, unpredictable, and threatening. Changes in land use and an increasing demand for water resources due to climate change have affected the capacity of ecosystems to sustain food production, ensure the supply of freshwater resources, provide ecosystem services, and promote rural multi-functionality. Ensuring food production does not just depend on increasing water efficiency, promoting climate resilient crop production, or reducing land-use competition for urbanization but also on a more suitable and stable climate as the changes in climatic factors like precipitation, temperature, radiation, evaporation, and wind bring about some major shifts in global food supplies. According to Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES), focused on greenhouse gas emissions projections, and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change increases the risk of simultaneous crop failures (including corn, rice, legumes, and vegetables) if irrigation systems are not fully adapted to water stress situations. A changing climate could have many adverse impacts on other sectors of our environment. This book offers concrete, up-to-date, and appropriate study cum research material for students, researchers, academicians and policymakers. It will be of a greater interest to students and researchers in the field of environmental science, agriculture science, agronomy, and sustainable development.

Ecologists and economists both use models to help develop strategies for biodiversity management. The practical use of disciplinary models, however, can be limited because ecological models tend not to address the socioeconomic dimension of biodiversity management, whereas economic models tend to neglect the ecological dimension. Given these shortcomings of disciplinary models, there is a necessity to combine ecological and economic knowledge into ecological-economic models. Gradually guiding the reader into the field of ecological-economic modelling by introducing mathematical models and their role in general, this book provides an overview on ecological and economic modelling approaches relevant for research in the field of biodiversity conservation. It discusses the advantages of and challenges associated with ecological-economic modelling, together with an overview of useful ways of integration. Although being a book about mathematical modelling, ecological and economic concepts play an equally important role, making it accessible for readers from very different disciplinary backgrounds.

This book presents the advantages of the circular economy as a powerful - and inevitable - model for tackling the current challenges against shrinking resources and establishing the resource efficient economy. The experienced contributors present the status and strategies of circular economy implementation in several countries with hands on experience to protect the environment while promoting the circular economy through legislative requirements, best practices adopted and popularizing the idea of circulation of resources amongst the researchers & academia, policy makers, industry, and the general public at large. The book advocates model that consists of designing products and processes with a view to endlessly recycling them evolving a greater scope of sustainable development.