Author: J I Nirmal Kumar Publisher: Apple Academic Press ISBN: 9781771886079 Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Biodiversity--the variety of genes, species, and ecosystems--is the basis for long-term ecosystem health and stability. Fifty percent of the world's biodiversity is inhabited in tropical forests. The world's biodiversity is diminishing and dwindling before our eyes at an alarming rate day by day. Half of the world's wetlands have been lost in the past century; 80 percent of grasslands are suffering from soil degradation; and 20 percent of drylands are in danger of becoming deserts. Every minute of the day, 28 hectares of forest are lost the world over. Wetlands and forests are being cleared for urban and industrial development and encroached upon by local people. Because of the irreversibility of species extinction and habitat loss, this rampant depletion of our biodiversity exerts a terrible toll on both the natural and economic world, affecting both current and future generations. It is the need of the hour to preserve and conserve biological diversity of all wetlands, forests and other ecosystems of the world. Seeing the importance of this, the United Nations designated the years 2011-2020 as the -United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.- This volume, Biodiversity of Tropical Wetlands and Forests, is the compiled research of Dr. Nirmal Kumar and his team over the last couple of decades on a diverse array of impacts on the biodiversity of tropical wetlands and forests. Divided into two parts, the volume provides valuable information on spatial and temporal fluctuations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, birds, and seaweed biodiversity of important tropical wetlands, including pond, lakes, rivers, mangroves, and estuarine and coastal environments. It looks at their relationships and interactions with various hydro-geochemical nutrients along with limiting factors and quantification of anthropogenic pressures. The second part of this book presents an evaluation of plant and tree biodiversity in relation to soil nutrient content, concentration, nutrient dynamics, ethnobotanical, aesthetic values, resources use patterns, phenology of floral elements, biomass, net primary productivity, carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and plantations. Providing a plethora of valuable information, the book will be a rich resource for researchers and students in the forestry, life sciences, environmental science, and related areas.
Author: J. I. Nirmal Kumar Publisher: ISBN: 9781315168159 Category : SCIENCE Languages : en Pages : 495
Book Description
"Biodiversity—the variety of genes, species, and ecosystems—is the basis for long-term ecosystem health and stability. Fifty percent of the world’s biodiversity is inhabited in tropical forests. The world’s biodiversity is diminishing and dwindling before our eyes at an alarming rate day by day. Half of the world’s wetlands have been lost in the past century; 80 percent of grasslands are suffering from soil degradation; and 20 percent of drylands are in danger of becoming deserts. Every minute of the day, 28 hectares of forest are lost the world over. Wetlands and forests are being cleared for urban and industrial development and encroached upon by local people. Because of the irreversibility of species extinction and habitat loss, this rampant depletion of our biodiversity exerts a terrible toll on both the natural and economic world, affecting both current and future generations. It is the need of the hour to preserve and conserve biological diversity of all wetlands, forests and other ecosystems of the world. Seeing the importance of this, the United Nations designated the years 2011–2020 as the "United Nations Decade on Biodiversity." This volume, Biodiversity of Tropical Wetlands and Forests, is the compiled research of Dr. Nirmal Kumar and his team over the last couple of decades on a diverse array of impacts on the biodiversity of tropical wetlands and forests. Divided into two parts, the volume provides valuable information on spatial and temporal fluctuations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, birds, and seaweed biodiversity of important tropical wetlands, including pond, lakes, rivers, mangroves, and estuarine and coastal environments. It looks at their relationships and interactions with various hydro-geochemical nutrients along with limiting factors and quantification of anthropogenic pressures. The second part of this book presents an evaluation of plant and tree biodiversity in relation to soil nutrient content, concentration, nutrient dynamics, ethnobotanical, aesthetic values, resources use patterns, phenology of floral elements, biomass, net primary productivity, carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and plantations.Providing a plethora of valuable information, the book will be a rich resource for researchers and students in the forestry, life sciences, environmental science, and related areas."--Provided by publisher.
Author: Hiren B. Soni, Ph.D. Publisher: Google Play Books ISBN: Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 183
Book Description
The book “Biodiversity of Wetlands and Forests: A Nature Trail” focuses on biodiversity of wetlands and forests with special emphasis on field observations of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals recorded by the author in various geographical provinces of Gujarat, India. It highlights the need of biodiversity conservation, causes and concerns, exploitation of biodiversity, habitat destruction, interaction of man and technology with biodiversity, policy framework for biodiversity conservation, and wilderness and forests. Moreover, it summarizes a review on birds with special emphasis on geographical and ecological distribution of avifauna of north-western India, birds in ancient times with myths and motifs, an integral association of trees and birds, birds migration, magnetic orientation of birds, and mythological beliefs about birds. The present book covers exhaustive information on wetlands for tourism, important wetlands of national importance, wise use, characteristics and prime importance of wetlands as enduring habitats, and threats to viable wetlands. It emphasizes significant wetlands as abode for avifauna, wetlands as bird habitats, significant factors for survival of wetland birds, importance of wetlands for birds’ population, influence of wetlands on waterfowl population, wetland loss and decline of bird diversity, threats to avian habitats, and conservation and management strategies for potential avian ecosystems and legal policy framework for sustainability of waterbirds. The book is written in articulate manner citing notable sightings of some unique floral and faunal elements in the forested pockets. It encompasses archetypal records of plants, animals and birds along with their distinctive occurrence, feeding patterns, conservation, and management of threatened biodiversity, and many more. It describes some remarkable, noteworthy and astonishing sightings of species inhabiting in potential niches, habitats and ecosystems of Western India. Here, the author has shared his incidental as well as subsisting experiences in amazing habitats amidst the nature trails of forested patches and thickets. This book will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of naturalists in the field. This book is a blend of two previously published books by the same author (Hiren B. Soni, Ph.D.) viz. ‘Biodiversity, Birds and Wetlands’, and ‘Biodiversity and Birds: A Field Journey’. This book is published to be handy and helpful to every reader and amateur of the world. Author believes that it would surely be a ready-reference for every researcher as well as nature lover in each and every corner of the world.
Author: William J. Mitsch Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 047028630X Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 309
Book Description
New focused text introduces readers to wetland ecosystems and systems approaches to studying wetlands With its comprehensive coverage of wetland science, management, and restoration, Mitsch and Gosselink's Wetlands has been the premier reference on wetlands for more than two decades. Now, the coverage of specific wetland ecosystem types from earlier editions of this acclaimed work has been updated, revised, and supplemented with additional content in order to create this new text focusing exclusively on wetland ecosystems. This book now complements Wetlands, Fourth Edition. Following an introduction to ecosystems in general and wetland ecosystems in particular, Wetland Ecosystems examines the major types of wetlands found throughout the world: coastal wetlands, freshwater marshes and forested swamps, and peatlands. The final chapter reviews three fundamental systems approaches to studying wetlands: mesocosms, full-scale experimental ecosystems, and mathematical modeling. This new text features: Updated descriptions of the hydrology, biogeochemistry, and biology of the main types of wetlands found in the world New content introducing general ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, whole ecosystem and mesocosm experiments with wetlands, and systems ecology and modeling A detailed description of the ecosystem services provided by wetlands A broad international scope, including many examples of wetlands located outside North America Two new coauthors offering new perspectives and additional insights into the latest ecosystem and modeling techniques An abundance of illustrations helps readers understand how different biological communities and the abiotic environment in wetland ecosystems interact and function. Tables and text boxes provide at-a-glance summaries of key information. Lastly, each chapter concludes with a list of recommended readings. This text has been designed as an introduction for students and professionals in wetland ecology and management, general ecology, environmental science, and natural resource management.
Author: Charles A. Perrings Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 9401102775 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 397
Book Description
This book reports the more policy-oriented results of the Biodiversity programme of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Beijer Institute. The programme brought economists and ecologists together to consider where the problem in biodiversity loss really lies, what costs it has for society, and how it might best be addressed. The results are strikingly different from those reported in other works on the subject. Biodiversity loss matters for all ecosystems -- not just the megadiversity tropical forests. And it matters because it compromises the resilience and so the productivity of those systems. Biodiversity conservation requires the development of policies that change the behaviour of resource use everywhere -- not just in parks and reserves. The book is required reading for researchers and policy makers alike. It canvasses options for the reform of park management, biodiversity conservation projects, property rights, tax, trade and price regimes that are within the reach of governments everywhere.
Author: Committee on Characterization of Wetlands Publisher: National Academies Press ISBN: 0309587220 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 329
Book Description
"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management. This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action. Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels. This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.
Author: Rathoure, Ashok Kumar Publisher: IGI Global ISBN: 1799812286 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 313
Book Description
Understanding the balance of society and nature is imperative when researching ecosystems and their global influence. A method of studying the health of these ecosystems is biodiversity. The more diverse the species that live in an ecosystem, the healthier it is. As the climate continues to transform, small-scale ecosystems are affected, altering their diversity. Environmentalists need a book of research that studies the specific impacts of climate change and how it affects the future of the environment. Current State and Future Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on biological systems and how climate change influences their health. While highlighting topics such as genetic diversity, economic valuation, and climatic conditions, this publication explores the effects of climate change as well as the methods of sustainable management within ecosystems. This book is ideally designed for environmental scientists, environmental professionals, scientists, ecologists, conservationists, government officials, policymakers, agriculturalists, environmentalists, zoologists, botanists, entomologists, urban planners, researchers, scholars, and students seeking research on current and future developments of various ecosystems.
Author: J I Nirmal Kumar
Author: J. I. Nirmal Kumar
Author: Malcolm L. Hunter
Author: Hiren B. Soni, Ph.D.
Author: Brij Gopal
Author: A. J. Hails
Author: William J. Mitsch
Author: Charles A. Perrings
Author: Committee on Characterization of Wetlands
Author: Rathoure, Ashok Kumar