Mountain Biodiversity: A Global Assessment

ISBN-13: 9781842140918 / Angielski / Miękka / 2002 / 350 str.

Christian Korner; E. Spehn

Opis

This book is the result of the first global conference on mountain biodiversity, and is a contribution to the International Year of Mountains, 2002. The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment program is a Special Target Area Region project of DIVERSITAS (UNESCO and UNEP). Biological diversity is essential for the integrity of mountain ecosystems and this dependency is likely to increase as environmental (climate) and social conditions change. Steep terrain and climate, and severe land-use pressure cause mountain ecosystems to rank among the world's most endangered landscapes. The 28 chapters in this book represent research on the biological riches in all major mountain ranges of the world, and synthesize existing knowledge on mountain biodiversity - from diversity of bacteria, plants and animals to human diversity. The book is divided into five sections: an introduction providing an overview of the issues; plant and animal diversity; climate change and mountain biodiversity; land use and conservation; and a synthesis.

Spis treści

Mountain biodiversity: its causes and function: an overviewIntraspecific genetic diversity in alpine plantsCauses and consequences of alpine vascular plant diversity in the Rocky MountainsBiodiversity of the vascular timberline flora in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, CanadaPlant species richness and endemism of upper montane forests and timberline habitats in the Bolivian AndesBiotope patterns, phytodiversity and forestline in the Andes, based on GIS and remote sensing dataMulti-scale patterns in plant species richness of European high mountain vegetationEnvironmental determinants of vascular plant species richness in the Swiss alpine zoneQuantitative basic data on a geographical scheme of the florogenesis of the Central Asian high mountains and adjacent regionsCold spots in the highest mountains of the world - diversity patterns and gradients in the flora of the KarakorumPatterns of plant species diversity of the northeastern Tibetan plateau, Qinghai, ChinaFactors influencing the spatial restriction of vascular plant species in the alpine archipelago of AustraliaBiodiversity of the subalpine forest/grassland ecotone of the Andringitra Massif, MadagascarDiversity in primary succession: the chronosequence of a glacier forelandStatus and trends in diversity of alpine vertebrates in the northwestern United StatesPotential effects of climate change on alpine and nival plants in the AlpsVariations in community structure and growth rates of high Andean plants with climatic fluctuationsA scenario for mammal and bird diversity in the Snowy Mountains in relation to climate changeModeling and monitoring ecosystem responses to climate change in three North American mountain rangesScenarios of plant diversity in South African mountain ranges to climate changeBiodiversity in mountain medicinal plants and possible impacts of climatic changeLand use and biodiversity in upland pastures in EthiopiaBalancing conservation of biodiversity and economic profit in the high Venezuelan Andes: Is fallow agriculture an alternative? Conserving mountain biodiversity in protected areasHow effective is protected area management in mountains? National action plans for mountain biodiversity conservation and researchA global assessment of mountain biodiversity synthesis