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Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Conservation of the environment > Conservation of wildlife & habitats > General
The aim of this book is to systematize and discuss population
genetic studies of freshwater fish in a region that harbors the
greatest diversity of species among all inland water ecosystems.
This volume explores the genetic evaluation for a number of orders,
families and species of Neotropical fishes, and provides an
overview on genetic resources and diversity and their relationships
with fish domestication, breeding, and food production.
This is the first ever monumental and scientific documentation of
the faunal wealth of the Indian Desert state of Rajasthan. This
volume, the second of two, provides a comprehensive picture of the
conservation efforts undertaken to prevent further degradation of
the condition of Rajasthan's faunal wealth. A scholarly
contribution to the field of knowledge, it provides novel and vital
information on wildlife preservation initiatives in India's largest
state. Broadly falling under the Indo-Malaya Ecozone, the three
major biomes of Rajasthan include deserts and xeric shrublands,
tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and
subtropical moist broadleaf forests. The corresponding ecoregions
to the above biomes are, respectively, the Thar Desert and
northwestern thorn scrub forests, the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous
forests, and the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests.
Contrary to popular belief, the well-known Thar or Great Indian
Desert occupies only a part of the state. Rajasthan is diagonally
divided by the Aravalli mountain ranges into arid and semi-arid
regions. The latter have a spectacular variety of highly
diversified and unique yet fragile ecosystems comprising lush green
fields, marshes, grasslands, rocky patches and hilly terrains,
dense forests, the southern plateau, fresh water wetlands, and salt
lakes. Apart from the floral richness, there is faunal abundance
from fishes to mammals. In this volume, the various flagship and
threatened species are described in the 20 chapters penned by top
notch wildlife experts and academics. The world famous heronry,
tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and some threat-ridden
biodiversity-rich areas shall certainly draw the attention of
readers from around the world.
This book focuses on the effects of industrial effluents,
specifically those generated from tanneries, on aquatic life i.e.
fish. Readers will learn about the impacts of untreated effluents
that find its way into potable water bodies, rivers and lakes. A
detailed analysis of the morphological and reproductive responses
of fish to Chromium VI, a carcinogen and hazardous metal, will be
provided. Particular attention is given to the effects of these
effluents on the guppy, a fish used for the biological control of
malaria. Students and researchers in environmental science,
biology, ecology, marine and freshwater sciences will find the book
most appealing. Freshwater ecologists working in the field and
managers responsible for the protection and monitoring of natural
areas will also find this book interesting.
`Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away … God has cared
for these trees … but he cannot save them from fools – only
Uncle Sam can do that.’ First published in 1901, Our National
Parks is possibly the bestselling book of Muir’s
wilderness-discovery titles and was certainly the most influential
published in his lifetime, with a strong focus on the preservation
of forest reserves. With a strong political tone and shrewd, subtle
manoeuvring, Muir uses Our National Parks to persuade his
readership of the necessity of nature and national parks for human
recreation and more importantly for health and wellbeing, as well
as the – in his mind – obvious need for preservation of wild
ecosystems. Cannily he counterbalances this with the
acknowledgement of the need for timber and irrigation systems, in
order that his message is taken seriously; Muir’s passion is
portrayed so vividly and flamboyantly that without his learned
political and scientific reinforcement, he could be misconstrued as
purely a radical and eccentric nonconformist. However, the two
combined result in an engaging and convincing argument that these
landscapes are our `natural home’, and `fountains of life’. As
Muir expert Terry Gifford observes in the foreword, `Muir’s tone
can shift in this book from seductive persuasion, to charming
details of creatures, flora and landscapes, to scientific
information, to trail guide, to religious uplift, to a final
political speech of startling ferocity.’ John Muir’s strategic
yet genuine and beautiful conservationist essays were a first at
the time of publication, and are still highly applicable to our
attitudes and lifestyles today in the twenty-first century.
This book encompasses the body of available scientific information
on the notothenioid fish Pleuragramma antarctica commonly known as
Antarctic silverfish. This plankton-feeder of the intermediate
trophic level is the most abundant fish in the coastal regions of
high Antarctica, and plays a pivotal ecological role as the main
prey of top predators like seals, penguins, whales and Antarctic
toothfish. Broad circum-polar distribution, a key role in the
Antarctic shelf pelagic ecosystem, and adaptations makes
understanding the species' likely response to environmental change
relevant to foresee the potential responses at the local ecosystem
level. Additionally, a detailed understanding of the abundance and
trophic interactions of such a dominant keystone species is a vital
element of informing the development of marine spatial planning and
marine protected areas in the Antarctic continental shelf region.
Experts in the field provide here unique insights into the
evolutionary adaptation, eco-physiology, trophic ecology,
reproductive and population ecology of the Antarctic silverfish and
provide new clues about its vulnerability in facing the challenges
of the ongoing environmental changes.
This book is the result of a team of approximately 100 scientists
and resource managers who worked together for two years to
understand the effects of climatic variability and change on water
resources, fisheries, forest vegetation, non-forest vegetation,
wildlife, recreation, cultural resources and ecosystem services.
Adaptation options, both strategic and tactical, were developed for
each resource area. This information is now being applied in the
northern rocky Mountains to ensure long-term sustainability in
resource conditions. The volume chapters provide a technical
assessment of the effects of climatic variability and change on
natural and cultural resources, based on best available science,
including new analyses obtained through modeling and synthesis of
existing data. Each chapter also contains a summary of adaptation
strategies (general) and tactics (on-the-ground actions) that have
been developed by science-management teams.
Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation reports on the science and
conservation of the cheetah. This volume demonstrates the
interdisciplinary nature of research and conservation efforts to
study and protect the cheetah. The book begins with chapters on the
evolution, genetics, physiology, ecology and behavior of the
species, as well as distribution reports from range countries.
These introductory chapters lead into discussions of the challenges
facing cheetah survival, including habitat loss, declining prey
base, human-wildlife conflict, illegal trade, and newly-emerging
threats, notably climate change. This book also focuses on
conservation strategies and solutions, including environmental
education and alternative livelihoods. Chapters on the role of
captive cheetahs to conservation and the long-term research of the
species are included, as are a brief discussion of the methods and
analyses used to study the cheetah. The book concludes with the
conservation status and future outlook of the species. Cheetahs:
Biology and Conservation is a valuable resource for the regional
and global communities of cheetah conservationists, researchers,
and academics. Although cheetah focussed the book provides
information relevant to the study of broader topics such as
wildlife conservation, captive breeding, habitat management,
conservation biology and animal behaviour. Cover photograph by
Angela Scott
The work summarizes the current knowledge regarding the controlled
reproduction of an emerging aquaculture species, the Eurasian perch
(Perca fluviatilis). In great detail it describes and explains the
principal of most of the controlled reproductive protocol leading
to obtain high quality larvae. The book is primarily intended to be
used as a hatchery manual by practicing aquaculturists and
laboratory technicians working with this species. On the other
hand, it also summarizes the scientific background of the methods
applied, therefore, it can serve as a reference for the
state-of-the-art in the controlled reproduction of Eurasian perch
and other freshwater percid species.
Many endangered species of wild animals are managed in captivity
through studbooks. In this book these data-rich resources are mined
in innovative, integrated and statistically tested ways to maximise
information gain for conservation practice - whether for captive or
released/reintroduced or managed wild populations. This book is
thus an important tool for all species managers, and for students
and researchers in small population biology and wildlife
conservation. The book's studbook analyses are grouped in three
interrelated sections: natural history, demography and genetics.
Statistical tests to determine the significance of results or to
compare results between subgroups are undertaken throughout. Real
studbooks of a variety of species, e.g. cranes, wolverines,
blesbok, illustrate the practical applications and interpretations
of the analyses and statistics. The "natural history" section
presents analyses to determine baseline species information such as
litter size, inter-birth interval, longevity and seasonality.
"Demography" covers census(-style) analyses, age-class based life
tables, comparative survival analyses and population projections.
Solutions for dealing with small sample sizes are
included.Inbreeding depression and unconscious selection form the
main focus of the "genetics" section. Survival and life table
analyses are used to assess inbreeding effects. Quantitative
genetics methods are applied to natural history traits as a tool to
monitor genetic variation. A fourth section on "conservation" shows
how data from captive populations can be used where natural history
data from wild populations are missing. A real example uses
studbook data to inform Population Viability Analysis. The final
section deals with issues related to incomplete and missing data
and statistical topics. The purpose-written open-source software
programs "Population Management Library (PML)" and "studbookR" used
for analyses in the book, are available at www.princee.com.
Conflicts about wildlife are usually portrayed and understood as
resulting from the negative impacts of wildlife on human
livelihoods or property. However, a greater depth of analysis
reveals that many instances of human-wildlife conflict are often
better understood as people-people conflict, wherein there is a
clash of values between different human groups. Understanding
Conflicts About Wildlife unites academics and practitioners from
across the globe to develop a holistic view of these interactions.
It considers the political and social dimensions of 'human-wildlife
conflicts' alongside effective methodological approaches, and will
be of value to academics, conservationists and policy makers.
Arthropods are invertebrates that constitute over 90% of the animal
kingdom, and their bio-ecology is closely linked with global
functioning and survival. Arthropods play an important role in
maintaining the health of ecosystems, provide livelihoods and
nutrition to human communities, and are important indicators of
environmental change. Yet the population trends of several
arthropods species show them to be in decline. Arthropods
constitute a dominant group with 1.2 million species influencing
earth's biodiversity. Among arthropods, insects are predominant,
with ca. 1 million species and having evolved some 350 million
years ago. Arthropods are closely associated with living and
non-living entities alike, making the ecosystem services they
provide crucially important. In order to be effective, plans for
the conservation of arthropods and ecosystems should include a
mixture of strategies like protecting key habitats and genomic
studies to formulate relevant policies for in situ and ex situ
conservation. This two-volume book focuses on capturing the
essentials of arthropod inventories, biology, and
conservation.Further, it seeks to identify the mechanisms by which
arthropod populations can be sustained in terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems, and by means of which certain problematic species be
managed without producing harmful environmental side-effects. This
edited compilation includes chapters contributed by over 80
biologists on a wide range of topics embracing the diversity,
distribution, utility and conservation of arthropods and select
groups of insect taxa. More importantly, it describes in detail the
mechanisms of sustaining arthropod ecosystems, services and
populations. It addresses the contribution of modern biological
tools such as molecular and genetic techniques regulating gene
expression, as well as conventional, indigenous practices in
arthropod conservation. The contributors reiterate the importance
of documenting and understanding the biology of arthropods from a
holistic perspective before addressing conservation issues at
large. This book offers a valuable resource for all zoologists,
entomologists, ecologists, conservation biologists, policy makers,
teachers and students interested in the conservation of biological
resources.
This is the first ever monumental and scientific documentation of
the faunal wealth of the Indian Desert state of Rajasthan. This
volume, the first of two, provides background on Rajasthan and
covers species diversity and distribution of fauna. A scholarly
contribution to the field of knowledge, it provides novel and vital
information on the vertebrate faunal heritage of India's largest
state. Broadly falling under the Indo-Malaya Ecozone, the three
major biomes of Rajasthan include deserts and xeric shrublands,
tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and
subtropical moist broadleaf forests. The corresponding ecoregions
to the above biomes are, respectively, the Thar Desert and
northwestern thorn scrub forests, the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous
forests, and the Upper Gangtic Plains moist deciduous forests.
Contrary to popular belief, the well-known Thar or Great Indian
Desert occupies only a part of the state. Rajasthan is diagonally
divided by the Aravalli mountain ranges into arid and semi-arid
regions. The latter have a spectacular variety of highly
diversified and unique yet fragile ecosystems comprising lush green
fields, marshes, grasslands, rocky patches and hilly terrains,
dense forests, the southern plateau, fresh water wetlands, and salt
lakes. Apart from the floral richness, there is faunal abundance
from fishes to mammals. In this volume, the various flagship and
threatened species are described in the 24 chapters penned by top
notch wildlife experts and academics. The world famous heronry,
tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and some threat-ridden
biodiversity rich areas shall certainly draw the attention of
readers from around the world.
This book addresses the impacts of current and future reproductive
technologies on our world food production and provides a
significant contribution to the importance of research in the area
of reproductive physiology that has never been compiled before. It
would provide a unique opportunity to separate the impacts of how
reproductive technologies have affected different species and their
contributions to food production. Lastly, no publication has been
compiled that demonstrates the relationship between developments in
reproductive management tools and food production that may be used
a reference for scientists in addressing future research areas.
During the past 50 years assisted reproductive technologies have
been developed and refined to increase the number and quality of
offspring from genetically superior farm animal livestock species.
Artificial insemination (AI), estrous synchronization and
fixed-time AI, semen and embryo cryopreservation, multiple
ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), in vitro fertilization, sex
determination of sperm or embryos, and nuclear transfer are
technologies that are used to enhance the production efficiency of
livestock species.
This book reports significant progress of scientific research on
horseshoe crabs, including aspects of evolution, genetics, ecology,
population dynamics, general biology and physiology, within the
recent 10 years. It also highlights the emerging issues related to
world-wide conservation threats, status and needs. The
contributions in this book represent part of an ongoing global
effort to increase data and concept sharing to support basic
research and advance conservation for horseshoe crabs.
This volume examines fish sounds that have a proven signal
function, as well as sounds assumed to have evolved for
communication purposes. It provides an overview of the mechanisms,
evolution and neurobiology behind sound production in fishes, and
discusses the role of fish sounds in behavior with a special focus
on choice of mate, sex-specific and age-specific signaling.
Furthermore, it highlights the ontogenetic development of sound
communication and ecoacoustical conditions in fish habitats and the
influence of hormones on vocal production and sound detection.
Sound Communication in Fishes offers a must-have compendium for
lecturers, researchers and students working in the fields of animal
communication, fish biology, neurobiology and animal behavior.
Wild salmon, trout, char, grayling, and whitefish (collectively
salmonids) have been a significant local food and cultural resource
for Pacific Northwest peoples for millennia. The location, size,
and distribution of urban areas along streams, rivers, estuaries,
and coasts directly and indirectly alter and degrade wild salmonid
populations and their habitats. Although urban and exurban areas
typically cover a smaller fraction of the landscape than other land
uses combined, they have profound consequences for local
ecosystems, aquatic and terrestrial populations, and water quality
and quantity.
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