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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Botany & plant sciences > General
A significant component of many different ecosystems, cyanobacteria
occupy almost every niche of the earth, including fresh and salt
waters, rice fields, hot springs, arid deserts, and polar regions.
Cyanobacteria, along with algae, produce nearly half the global
oxygen, making assessment of their ecophysiologies important for
understanding climate impacts and potential remediation. Stress
Biology of Cyanobacteria: Molecular Mechanisms to Cellular
Responses is a compilation of holistic responses of cyanobacteria,
ranging from ecological and physiological to the modern aspects of
their molecular biology, genomics, and biochemistry. Covering
almost every aspect of cyanobacterial stress biology, this book is
divided into two parts: Bioenergetics and Molecular Mechanisms of
Stress Tolerance and Cellular Responses and Ecophysiology. The
first few chapters focus on the molecular bioenergetics of
photosynthesis and respiration in cyanobacteria, and provide a
clear perspective on different stress tolerance mechanisms. Part I
also covers the effect of specific stresses-including heavy metal,
high and low temperature, salt, osmotic, and UV-B stress-on a wide
range of vital physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes
of cyanobacteria. Part II describes mechanisms of symbiosis,
stress-induced bioproducts, and the role of environmental factors
on nitrogen fixation, which along with photosynthesis is a major
contributor to the current geochemical status of the planet. The
text also covers mutation and cyanobacterial adaptation, and the
most widely studied cyanotoxin, microcystin, which has effects on
both human and animal health. With contributions from experts
around the world, representing the global importance of
cyanobacteria, this book provides a broad compilation of research
that deals with cyanobacterial stress responses in both controlled
laboratory conditions as well as in their natural environment.
The ONLY textbook available on marine mammal physiology, a core
topic in Marine Science undergrad teaching Builds on the unique
overall theme 'How would you design a marine mammal?' which focuses
on what an undergrad student would actually want to know. What
would they ask? So rather than "What are the biochemical
differences between marine and terrestrial mammals?" the book
addresses "How can marine mammals dive for such a long time?" or
"How do they stay warm in such cold water?" Organises the Table of
Contents into common 'real' student questions. The book thus
centres around the point of view of the student. This makes it
accessible and student-focused. Consistency across all chapters
Provides consistent Power Point slides that teachers can use when
they don't know the field well AND that students can use as study
guides. Offers Study Questions and future thinking/implications
questions. A Driving Question for each chapter is highlighted in a
box. A concluding chapter ties up loose ends and consolidates the
driving questions from the individual chapters. Contains the
contributions of well-respected, prominent scientists in the field.
Author bios for each chapter showcase diversity in contributor
pool. Focuses on physiological adaptations of marine mammals and
connects them with the ecological context, including anthropogenic
impacts. Discusses differences that might exist by type of marine
mammal, development questions, and behavioral issues.
Flora of the Pacific Northwest, first published in 1973, became an
instant classic for its innovative style of providing species
descriptions in the identification keys and for its comprehensive
illustrations of nearly all treated taxa (species, subspecies, and
varieties). Students rely on it as an essential primer, while
veteran botanists and natural resource managers use it as the
definitive reference for the region’s flora. This completely
revised and updated edition captures the advances in vascular plant
systematics over the decades since publication of the first
edition. These advances, together with significant changes in plant
nomenclature, the description of taxa new to science from the
region, and the recent documentation of new native and nonnative
species in the Pacific Northwest required a thorough revision of
this authoritative work. Flora of the Pacific Northwest covers all
of Washington, the northern half of Oregon, Idaho north of the
Snake River Plain, the mountainous portion of western Montana, and
the southern portion of British Columbia. It accounts for the
wild-growing native and introduced vascular plants falling within
those boundaries and includes: Treatment of 5,545 taxa (more than
1,000 taxa added from the first edition) Illustrations for 4,716
taxa (1,382 more than the first edition) Nomenclature changes for
more than 40 percent of the taxa included in the first edition
These enhancements make this new edition the most comprehensive
reference on Pacific Northwest vascular plants for professional and
amateur botanists, ecologists, rare plant biologists, plant
taxonomy instructors, land managers, nursery professionals, and
gardeners.
Considered by his 18th-century contemporaries to be the greatest
botanist since Linnaeus', this is the first full biography of The
Founding Father of Indian Botany', William Roxburgh. Born in the
mid 18th-century, William Roxburgh was brought up in the centre of
the Edinburgh Enlightenment, with all the patronage and
intellectual curiosity that this entailed. After joining the East
India Company as an Assistant Surgeon on one of their ships, he
joined the staff of the General Hospital at Madras. Soon, he was
Company Naturalist, describing many species for the first time
which inspired some beautiful watercolour drawings by Indian
artists, copies of which were sent to Sir Joseph Banks at Kew.
Arising from his scientific work, he was appointed the first paid
Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden in 1793, where he
continued his previous experimental work as well as looking into
the introduction of a wide range of crops.
Biological literature of the Roman imperial period remains somehow
'underestimated'. It is even quite difficult to speak of biological
literature for this period at all: biology (apart from medicine)
did not represent, indeed, a specific 'subgenre' of scientific
literature. Nevertheless, writings as disparate as Philo of
Alexandria's Alexander, Plutarch's De sollertia animalium or Bruta
ratione uti, Aelian's De Natura Animalium, Oppian's Halieutika,
Pseudo-Oppian's Kynegetika, and Basil of Caeserea's Homilies on the
Creation engage with zoological, anatomic, or botanical questions.
Poikile Physis examines how such writings appropriate, adapt,
classify, re-elaborate and present biological knowledge which
originated within the previous, mainly Aristotelian, tradition. It
offers a holistic approach to these works by considering their
reception of scientific material, their literary as well as
rhetorical aspects, and their interaction with different
socio-cultural conditions. The result of an interdisciplinary
discussion among scholars of Greek studies, philosophy and history
of science, the volume provides an initial analysis of forms and
functions of biological literature in the imperial period.
'Biopiracy' refers either to the unauthorized extraction of
biological resources, such as plants with medicinal properties, and
associated traditional knowledge from indigenous peoples and local
communities, or to the patenting of spurious 'inventions' based on
such knowledge or resources without compensation. Biopiracy cases
continue to emerge in the media and public eye, yet they remain the
source of considerable disagreement, confusion, controversy and
grief. The aim of this book is to provide the most detailed,
coherent analysis of the issue of biopiracy to date. The book
synthesizes the rise of the issue and increasing use of the term by
activists and negotiators in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to form a critical
understanding of the themes, implications and politics of
biopiracy. Taking a case-study based approach, derived from
interviews and fieldwork with researchers, government, industry,
local farmers, healers and indigenous people, the author
sequentially documents events that have occurred in biopiracy and
bioprospecting controversies. Implications and ethical dilemmas are
explored, particularly relating to work with local communities, and
the power relations entailed. Detailing international debates from
the WTO, CBD and other fora in an accessible manner, the book
provides a unique overview of current institutional limitations and
suggests ways forward. Options and solutions are suggested which
are relevant for local communities, national governments,
international negotiators, NGO and interest groups, researchers and
industry.
For centuries, botanists have been drawn to the rarest species,
sometimes with dire consequences for the species' survival. In this
book, Great Britain's rarest flowering plants are discussed in
turn, including the stories behind their discovery, the reasons for
their rarity, and the work being done to save them from dying out.
It is hoped that it will help to throw light on some of the species
that normally gain little attention, and foster an appreciation of
our most threatened plants. This guide describes 66 native species
of plants that have the most narrowly restricted ranges in Great
Britain. These range from continental, warmth-loving species in the
south of England to those found only on the highest Scottish
mountains. Each species is shown together with its habitat to allow
the reader to better understand the ecological context. Other
scarce plants in the same area are indicated.
This book presents comprehensive coverage on the importance of good
nutrition in the treatment and management of obesity, cancer and
diabetes. Naturally occurring bioactive compounds are ubiquitous in
most dietary plants available to humans and provide opportunities
for the management of diseases. The text provides information about
the major causes of these diseases and their association with
nutrition. The text also covers the role of dietary phytochemicals
in drug development and their pathways. Later chapters emphasize
novel bioactive compounds as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and
anti-obesity agents and describe their mechanisms to regulate cell
metabolism. Written by global team of experts, Dietary
Phytochemicals: A Source of Novel Bioactive Compounds for the
Treatment of Obesity, Cancer and Diabetes describes the potentials
of novel phytochemicals, their sources, and underlying mechanism of
action. The chapters were drawn systematically and incorporated
sequentially to facilitate proper understanding. This book is
intended for nutritionists, physicians, medicinal chemists, drug
developers in research and development, postgraduate students and
scientists in area of nutrition and life sciences.
There has been considerable interest in berries recently, as their
health-related, culinary, and biological properties have driven new
initiatives in berry breeding and production. Breakthroughs in
molecular technologies allow genomics-enabled approaches to augment
research efforts. This volume documents the basic botany and
culture of four major berry crops and then follows the scientific
milestones that have ushered these systems into the modern genomics
era. Leading researchers in each crop system detail the recent
findings in genetics, genomics, and breeding that seek to improve
sustainable cultivation, fruit quality, and availability.
This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. In order to
function and survive, plants produce a wide array of chemical
compounds not found in other organisms. Photosynthesis requires a
large array of pigments, enzymes, and other compounds to function,
and these chemicals have multiple practical uses in the human world
as well, with applications to agriculture, forestry, and
horticulture. This book presents an important collection of
research and studies on the physiology of photosynthesis.
Plant Regeneration from Seeds: A Global Warming Perspective
comprehensively reviews the effects caused by climate change on
global plant regeneration, growth and seed germination. Initial
chapters discuss specific geographical regions such as steppes, the
artic, boreal and alpine zones, dry and tropical forests and
deserts. Subsequent chapters explore special seed-related topics
like fire, soil seed banks, crops, weed emergence, and invasive
species Written by leaders in the field of seed germination and
plant growth, this is an essential read for researchers and
academics interested in plant growth, plant regeneration, seed
germination and the effects of these in relation to climate change.
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