African Ecology: Benchmarks and Historical Perspectives

ISBN-13: 9783642228711 / Angielski / Twarda / 2012 / 1562 str.

C.A. Spinage

Opis

This benchmark reference offers a holistic view that examines humans as well as animals. Using historical data, it shows how the ecology of Africa has been shaped by its past, and explores diseases both human and animal which have shaped Africa's ecology.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"It is one of the best recent synthetic works, drawing widely from the historical literature, and presents a wealth of past and current information in an accessible and highly readable format. ... this work sets a valuable historical baseline for those interested in regional biogeography and especially for those currently working in this area ... . This book therefore will be of use not just to students and scientists in the field of ecology, but to anyone interested in African history, wildlife conservation and development." (Dino J. Martins, Frontiers of Biogeography, Vol. 5 (1), 2013)

"A benchmark book this is. ... This reads like the memoirs of a knowledgeable naturalist who has spent a lot of time in the field but who also knows the literature (references cover 123 pages). I can't think of any other book that covers such a wide range of African ecology with such a depth of historical understanding. ... this will be a superb resource for anyone wanting a broad picture, and it certainly deserves a place in an ecological library." (Peter Thomas, Bulletin of the British Ecological Society, Vol. 43 (4), December, 2012)

Spis treści

1. Introduction I: The Abiotic Environment.- 2. The changing climate of Africa.- Part I: Introduction  and Eastern Africa.- 3. The changing climate of Africa.- Part II: West Africa and the Sahel.- 4. The changing climate of Africa Part III: Southern Africa.- 5. The changing climate of Africa Part IV: Its effects.- 6. Fire Part I: Introduction and History.- 7. Fire Part II: Effects and Ecolotgy.- The Floral Environment: 8. Vegetation and change: Introduction and Western Africa.- 9. Vegetation and change: Eastern and Southern Africa and conclusion.- Abundance of Populations.- 10. Locusts the forgotten plague I.- 11. Locusts the forgotten plague II.- 12. Other abundant populations.- 13. To many hippopotamuses?.- 14. Elephants - a continent-wide problem Part I.- 15. Elephants - continent-wide problem Part II.- 16. Elephants - a continent-wide problem Part III.- Animal Parasites and Diseases.- 17 The tsetse fly I: Africa's bane and benefice.- 18. The tsetse fly II: Decline and recovery.- 19. The Trypanosomiases I.- 20. The Trypanosomiases II.- 21. The Trypanosomiases III.- 22. Rinderpest, the great panzootic and its after effects.- 23. Zoonoses, animal and human diseases, endo and ectoparasites mainly mamal I.- 25. Epidemic disease in African history I: Micro and macro parasites, zoonoses, introduction, viral and protozoal diseases.- 26. Epidemic disease in African history II: Viral diseases.- 27. Epidemic disease in African history III: Bacterial and higher order infections.- 28. Epidemic disease in African history IV: Bubonic and pneumonic plague.- Conclusion.- 29. Man's place in the ecology of Africa.- Appendices.- Appendix I: Age of baobabs.- Appendix II: African mammal trypanosome host-parasite list

Blurb

In view of the rapidly changing ecology of Africa ,this work provides benchmarks for some of the major, and more neglected, aspects, with an accent on historical data to enable habitats to be seen in relation to their previous state, forming a background reference work to understanding how the ecology of Africa has been shaped by its past. Reviewing historical data wherever possible it adopts an holistic view treating man as well as animals, with accent on diseases both human and animal which have been a potent force in shaping Africa’s ecology, a role neglected in ecological studies.