Kategoria BISAC: Science >> Life Sciences - Biological Diversity

Meeting today s environmental challenges requires a new way of thinking about the intricate dependencies between humans and nature. "Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation" provides students and other readers with a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of ecological science and their applications, offering an essential overview of the way ecology can be used to devise strategies to conserve the health and functioning of ecosystems.

The book begins by exploring the need for ecological science in understanding current environmental issues and briefly discussing what ecology is and...

In the past two decades, an increasing number of ecologists have started to investigate the importance of biodiversity for ecological processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling, often referred to as 'ecosystem functioning'. Insects are a dominant component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and play a key role in mediating the relationship between plants and ecosystem processes. This volume is the first to summarize their effects on ecosystem functioning, focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on herbivorous insects. Renowned authors with extensive experience in the field of...

This volume contains a complete systematic treatment of the flowering plant order Asterales. This comprises 12 families with approx. 1,720 genera and about 26,300 species. Identification keys are provided for all genera, and likely phylogenetic relationships are discussed extensively. The wealth of information contained in this volume makes it an indispensable source for all working in the fields of pure and applied plant sciences.

In this volume, the ninth of the series, treatments are offered for 52 families containing 432 genera belonging to 13 eudicot orders, many of which have recently been newly designed; four families remain unassigned to order. Emphasis is on the early-diverging eudicots and basal core eudicots the phylogenetic relationships and diversification of which have recently been in focus and are critically discussed. Systematically relevant information includes descriptions of families and genera, keys to the genera, and references to recent revisions. Introductions to the families provide...

Harmful algal can cause a variety of deleterious effects, including the poisoning of fish and shellfish, habitat disruptions for many organisms, water discoloration, beach fouling, and even toxic effects for humans. In this volume, international experts provide an in-depth analysis of harmful algae topics and offer a comprehensive synthesis of the latest research in the field.

Fred Van Dyke s new textbook, Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications, 2^nd Edition represents a major new text for anyone interested in conservation. Drawing on his experience as a conservation biologist, college teacher, and successful textbook author, Van Dyke s organizational clarity and readable style make this book an invaluable resource for students in conservation around the globe.

Presenting key information and well-selected examples, this student-friendly volume carefully integrates the science of conservation biology with its...

Key insights by some of the world's leading experts in landscape ecology and conservation biology make...

Fitness and adaptation are fundamental characteristics of plant and animal species, enabling them to survive in their environment and to adapt to the inevitable changes in this environment. This is true for both the genetic resources of natural ecosystems as well as those used in agricultural production.

Extensive genetic variation exists between varieties/breeds in a species and amongst individuals within breeds. This variation has developed over very long periods of time. A major ongoing challenge is how to best utilize this variation to meet short-term demands...