The Biology of Alpine Habitats (Paperback)

This book is unique in providing a global overview of alpine (high mountain) habitats that occur above the natural (cold-limited) tree line, describing the factors that have shaped them over both ecological and evolutionary timescales. The broad geographic coverage helps synthesize common features whilst revealing differences in the world's major alpine systems from the Arctic to the Tropics. The words "barren" and "wasteland" have often been applied to describe landscapes beyond the tree line. However, a closer look reveals a large diversity of habitats, assemblages and individual taxa in the alpine zone, largely connected to topographic diversity within individual alpine regions.
The book considers habitat-forming factors (landforms, energy and climate, hydrology, soils, and vegetation) individually, as well as their composite impacts on habitat characteristics. Evolution and population processes are examined in the context of the responsiveness/resilience of alpine habitats to global change. Finally, a critical assessment fo the potential impacts of climate change, atmospheric pollutants and land use is made and related to the management and conservation options available for these unique habitats.
Interest in mountains continues to grow as their resource importance is increasingly recognized. This accessible text is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in ecology and environmental sciences as well as the many professional ecologists and conservation biologists requiring a concise, authoritative overview of the topic.
Each of the books in the Oxford Biology of Habitats Series introduces a different habitat, and gives an integrated overview of the design, physiology, ecology, and behaviour of the organisms found there. The practical aspects of working within each habitat, the sorts of studies that are possible, and habitat biodiversity and conservation status are all explored.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Biology of Habitats
Release date:	March 2009
First published:	May 2009
Authors:	Laszlo Nagy • Georg Grabherr
Dimensions:	235 x 145 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	390
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-856704-2
Categories:	Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Botany & plant sciences > Plant ecology Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Animal ecology Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Applied ecology > Biodiversity Books > Earth & environment > Geography > Physical geography > Topography > Mountains Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Conservation of the environment > Conservation of wildlife & habitats > General
LSN:	0-19-856704-9
Barcode:	9780198567042

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!