Sturgeons are considered living fossils, sharing many morphological and biological features with ancestral fish. Furthermore, sturgeons are of the utmost interest from an economic perspective, not only for the caviar but for the flesh. However, the wild populations of the majority of the species are at serious risk of extinction all over the world. So, it is urgent to develop strategies for both farming culture and conservation and recovery in natural habitats.

This book provides a comprehensive view of the biology and sustainable development of sturgeons putting emphasis on the Southern Europe autochthonous species such as Acipenser nacarii and Acipenser sturio that share geographical distribution. Other relevant species (such as Huso huso, A. oxyrhinchus, A. ruthenus, A. stellatus) and areas (Germany, Russia, North America) are also considered. The contents are organised in three sections: Taxonomy and Biogeography (including the morphological and genetic analyses that clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of sturgeons, focused on those from Southern Europe), Biology and Aquaculture (where several aspects of the developmental biology, feeding, and reproduction are considered in relation to the improvement of sturgeon farming), and Recovery and Conservation (that collates and analyses different recovery research actions, the ecology of the rivers for restoration as well as the problems related to the trade of caviar)."

Explains the theory behind Machine Learning and highlights how Mathematics can be used in Artificial Intelligence Illustrates how to improve existing algorithms by using advanced mathematics and discusses how Machine Learning can support mathematical modeling Captures how to simulate data by means of artificial neural networks and offers cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence technologies Emphasizes the classification of algorithms, optimization methods, and statistical techniques Explores future integration between Machine Learning and complex mathematical techniques

This book reviews the frameworks and implementation of marine, fishery and coastal laws and policies in Chile, Mexico and Peru. Chile, Mexico and Peru share biodiverse coastal and marine environments which are being affected by unregulated and informal developments, and thus share similar challenges. Each country is currently at a different stage of advancement in their institutional response to these complex challenges. By providing a comparison of the frameworks, approaches and overall implementation of policies and laws, this book acts as a tool to influence and inform further efforts in conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, particularly fisheries, in these countries and others in Latin America and the Caribbean. A broad range of issues are covered including food security, tourism, fisheries, oil and mineral extraction from the seabed, wind power, coastal and marine pollution and endangered species conservation. The chapters compare how each country addresses these issues from an institutional, legal and policy perspective. The book concludes by identifying common lessons, reoccurring challenges and develops scalable recommendations applicable to the case study countries and the wider region. The book will be of interest to advanced students, policy makers and researchers in marine and fishery science, law and policy.

Demonstrating the shortcomings of current policy and legal approaches to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this book recognizes that genetic resources are widely distributed across countries and that bilateral contracts undermine fairness and equity. The book offers a practical and feasible regulatory alternative to ensure the goal of fairness and equity is effectively and efficiently met. Through a legal analysis that also incorporates historic, economic and sociological perspectives, the book argues that genetic resources are not tangible resources but information. It shows that the existing preference for bilateralism and contracts reflects resistance on the part of many of the stakeholders involved in the CBD process to recognize them as such. ABS issues respond very well to the economics of information, yet as the author explains, these have been either sidelined or overlooked. At a time when the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has renewed interest in feasible policy options, the author provides a constructive and provocative critique. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework constitute "bounded openness" under which fairness and equity emerge.

Demonstrating the shortcomings of current policy and legal approaches to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this book recognizes that genetic resources are widely distributed across countries and that bilateral contracts undermine fairness and equity. The book offers a practical and feasible regulatory alternative to ensure the goal of fairness and equity is effectively and efficiently met. Through a legal analysis that also incorporates historic, economic and sociological perspectives, the book argues that genetic resources are not tangible resources but information. It shows that the existing preference for bilateralism and contracts reflects resistance on the part of many of the stakeholders involved in the CBD process to recognize them as such. ABS issues respond very well to the economics of information, yet as the author explains, these have been either sidelined or overlooked. At a time when the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has renewed interest in feasible policy options, the author provides a constructive and provocative critique. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework constitute "bounded openness" under which fairness and equity emerge.

Globally, local and indigenous approaches to conserving biodiversity, crop improvement, and managing precious natural resources are under threat. Many communities have to deal with 'biopiracy, ' for example. As well, existing laws are usually unsuitable for protecting indigenous and traditional knowledge and for recognizing collective rights, such as in cases of participatory plant breeding, where farmers, researchers and others join forces to improve existing crop varieties or develop new ones, based on shared knowledge and resources.

This book addresses these issues. It outlines the national and international policy processes that are currently underway to protect local genetic resources and related traditional knowledge and the challenges these initiatives have faced. In particular these themes are addressed within the context of the Convention of Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The authors broaden the policy and legal debates beyond the sphere of policy experts to include the knowledge-holders themselves. These are the 'custodians of biodiversity': farmers, herders and fishers in local communities. Their experience in sharing access and benefits to genetic resources is shown to be crucial for the development of effective national and international agreements. The book presents and analyzes this experience, including case studies from China, Cuba, Honduras, Jordan, Nepal, Peru and Syria.

Copublished with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

This multi-author contributed volume includes methodological advances and original applications to actual chemical or biochemical phenomena which were not possible before the increased sophistication of modern computers. The chapters contain detailed reviews of the developments of various computational techniques, used to study complex molecular systems such as molecular liquids and solutions (particularly aqueous solutions), liquid-gas, solid-gas interphase and biomacromolecular systems. Quantum modeling of complex molecular systems is a useful resource for graduate students and fledgling researchers and is also an excellent companion for research professionals engaged in computational chemistry, material science, nanotechnology, physics, drug design, and molecular biochemistry.

This book reviews the frameworks and implementation of marine, fishery and coastal laws and policies in Chile, Mexico and Peru. Chile, Mexico and Peru share biodiverse coastal and marine environments which are being affected by unregulated and informal developments, and thus share similar challenges. Each country is currently at a different stage of advancement in their institutional response to these complex challenges. By providing a comparison of the frameworks, approaches and overall implementation of policies and laws, this book acts as a tool to influence and inform further efforts in conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, particularly fisheries, in these countries and others in Latin America and the Caribbean. A broad range of issues are covered including food security, tourism, fisheries, oil and mineral extraction from the seabed, wind power, coastal and marine pollution and endangered species conservation. The chapters compare how each country addresses these issues from an institutional, legal and policy perspective. The book concludes by identifying common lessons, reoccurring challenges and develops scalable recommendations applicable to the case study countries and the wider region. The book will be of interest to advanced students, policy makers and researchers in marine and fishery science, law and policy.

The Neotropics contains the greatest abundance and diversity of primate species of any bio-region in the world. They make up an impressive and varied assemblage of species, from the small pigmy marmoset weighing one hundred grams, to the woolly spider monkey tipping the scale at 10-14 kg. Some in the group, such as the bearded capuchin, show signs of high intelligence evidenced by their use of primitive tools to open nuts and fruit, and many of these species are flagships whose very presence is crucial for the dispersal of seeds and maintenance of primary forests. Unfortunately, a large percentage of Neotropical primate species are threatened or endangered due to various anthropogenic activities including deforestation, illegal hunting, illegal wildlife trade, mining, and road construction. Moreover, there is a general paucity of data of this group because their habitats can be difficult to access and the sheer expansiveness of the Neotropical area. In this book, the authors present new research findings from sixty of the worlds leading Neotropical primate scientists in order to bridge this information gap. Specifically, the authors provide up-to-date biological, molecular, conservation, and phylogenic information on many of these poorly understood, yet amazing creatures. It is the authors intention that this new information will be used as a resource by the novice and professional alike in order to improve societys understanding of Neotropical primates and to help protect them long into the future.

The neotropical ecoregion consisting of South America, Central America, Southern Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and Southern Florida, has long been considered an area rich in mammalian diversity and one that contains some of the world's iconic carnivores such as the Jaguar and Puma. These, and other carnivores represent the highest trophic levels within neotropical areas and as keystone species, can markedly alter omnivore and herbivore mammalian communities and indirectly, plant communities. Unfortunately, due to human population pressures, many neotropical areas and the mammals within them are increasingly at risk. This problem is compounded by the lack of current genetics, evolutionary biology and conservation data of these critical carnivores available to conservation biologists at the forefront of trying to preserve and protect these imperiled geographical areas. This book helps to meet these shortcomings by providing contributions from 60 of the world's leading scientists in the area of neotropical carnivores. The first section of the book covers molecular population genetics and phylogeography of diverse neotropical carnivores such as otters, coatis and other Mustelidae and Procyonidae, wild cats (jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarondi, Pampas cat, and Andean cat) and the Andean bear. Significant sections of the book are also devoted to the topics of reproduction, geometric morphometrics of wild canids and a complete paleontological view of the evolution of all neotropical carnivore groups. Furthermore, the book contains several chapters on the conservation details and varying cultural perspectives regarding the two larger and more mythical neotropical carnivores, the jaguar and the Andean bear, which together, are the paradigm for the conservation programs in Central and South America.

True river dolphins as well as marine dolphins that frequent freshwater systems are large animals that have traditionally gone unnoticed by the general public and, in a certain sense, by marine mammal specialists as well. In fact, only a limited number of researchers have investigated the biology of these dolphin species. This is quite surprising given that these species are commonly the top predators in their habitats. Now for the first time, revolutionary molecular techniques are being applied to answer evolutionary reconstruction questions of many animals, including river dolphins. In addition, new paleontological records are dramatically changing our perspective about the relationships of these dolphins with each other and with other cetaceans. In this book, new census information and important ecological characteristics are provided of the river dolphins Inia, Sotalia, Pontoporia, Lioptes, and Orcaella. For the first time, molecular and genetic results of theses dolphin species are presented. A compilation of these data is essential if we are to present a strategic conservation plan for these animals. Upon being informed of critical evolutionary historical data, conservation biologists will now be able to tailor their conservation efforts for each threatened river dolphin species. Additionally, new morphological data and the new discoveries in the fossil record for river dolphins are examined. The major dolphin specialists in Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, the United States of America, China, and India present their newest results within a single book that graduate students, professors, scientists, evolutionary ecologists, aquatic mammalogists, population ecologists, conservation ecologists, and marine biologists will all find valuable for the foreseeable future.

SINOPSIS: Alejandro Ruiz es un medico que tiene que desplazarse de Sevilla, su ciudad natal, a Alcala de Henares para comenzar su periodo como residente en anestesiologia. Alli conocera a su amigo Manu, un neurobiologo que esta realizando su tesis doctoral. Ambos entraran en contacto con dos bellas jovenes, Marival y Daniella, gracias a un misterioso libro que esta ultima heredo de su abuelo, y que guarda en la biblioteca de su casa en Roma. Tras descubrir que el texto posee un terrible secreto oculto, se ven obligados a seguir las pistas del enigma por Roma, Capri, Egipto, Sevilla y Nueva York, mientras son perseguidos por una faccion de los Illuminati que intentara evitar por todos los medios que descubran el arcano de la masoneria. Conseguiran desvelar nuestros personajes lo que lleva milenios velado, o pereceran en el intento?

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Descripcion Geografica Y Topografica Del Valle De Toranzo, En La Provincia De Santander Y Observaciones Hidrologicas Sobre Los Banos Y Aguas Hidrosulfuradas De Ontaneda Y Alceda Manuel Ruiz de Salazar y Fernandez, Semanario Pintoresco Espanol y de la Ilustracion (Madrid) Imp. del Semanario Pintoresco Espanol e Ilustracion, 1850