Download or read book Plants for Arid Lands written by G.E. Wickens and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 458 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Economic plants have been defined by SEPASAT as those plants that are utilised either directly or indirectly for the benefit of Man. Indirect usage includes the needs of Man's livestock and the maintenance of the environment; the benefits may be domestic, commercial or aesthetic. Economic plants constitute a large and so far uncalculated percentage of the quarter of a million higher plants in the World today. However, it has been calculated that 10% (25 000) of these species are now on the verge of extinction and extinction means that a genetic resource that could be of benefit to Man will be lost for ever. Furthermore, for every species lost an estimated 10-30 other dependent organisms are also doomed. Fewer than 1 per cent of the World's plants have been sufficiently well studied for a true evaluation of the potential floral wealth awaiting discovery, not only in the rain forests, which man is now actively destroying at a rate of 20 ha a minute, but also in the very much neglected dry areas of the World.

Download or read book Arid Land Ecosystems Volume 1 written by R. A. Perry and published by CUP Archive. This book was released on 1979-03-08 with total page 920 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive account of arid-land ecosystems will be of importance to university teachers and professional ecologists throughout the world.

Download or read book Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi Arid Lands written by Gerald E. Wickens and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-04-17 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book deals with arid and semi-arid environments and their classification, and the physiological restraints and adaptations of plants to the environment. Further, it discusses economic botany and the needs and methods of conserving economic plants. A broad view is taken regarding the definition of economic plants, taking into account their value to the environment as well as to man and to livestock. The individual deserts and associated semi-arid regions are described in separate chapters, providing background information on the regional environments in terms of climate and major plant formations. The economic plants within these formations, their usages, geographical distribution together with their morphological and physiological adaptations are treated in detail.

Download or read book Management of Semi Arid Ecosystems written by B.H. Walker and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extensive regions of the world have a climate which, whilst permitting development of a continuous vegetative cover, is too dry for successful annual cropping. These are the semi-arid areas where land use is based on the natural vegetation. Easily degraded and difficult to maintain, they are under increasing pressure as expanding human populations move in and endeavour to force a living from them. As a result they contain some of the worst examples of resource degradation. This book examines the problems and opportunities involved in man's use of semi-arid areas. The authors are all actively involved in research and land management in the areas discussed. Each chapter begins with a detailed, up-to-date account of the ecology of the region (its climate, soils, vegetation, fauna and main ecological characteristics). This is followed by a history of land use, problems involved in its management, a review of current research and recommended land use practices. The common features of semi-arid ecosystems are brought together in a final section.

Download or read book Plant Resources of Arid and Semiarid Lands written by J. R. Goodin and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-09-25 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant Resources of Arid and Semiarid Lands: A Global Perspective is a collection of papers that evaluates the existing native plant resources in the arid and semiarid regions. The papers deal with the resources found in these arid regions such as food potential, forage, fuel, fiber, medicinal or industrial uses. The book covers the arid regions of Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, North America, China, South America, and the USSR. The treatment of these regions includes geographical descriptions such as area, annual precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind ranges or patterns, and seasons. These papers also discuss the effects of topography on water drainage and loss, the basic soil types, holding capacity, water runoffs, and the availability of water (surface and subsurface), The book examines the current and projected growth rates for relevant countries and dry regions in each continent. These papers discuss the economic output from arid lands, the balance of trade, current or developing resources, as well as the prospects of these countries with dry regions. The book also focuses on the types of plants found in these regions whether these are used for food, forage, medicine or for industry. This collection is suitable for environmentalists, ecologists, sociologist, anthropologists, and researchers involved in biological and environmental conservation.

Download or read book Introduction to World Vegetation written by P.E. Collinson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A textbook (1st ed., 1978) presenting a wide range of information for students of ecology, geography, and biogeography.

Download or read book Vegetation and climate interactions in semi arid regions written by A. Henderson-Sellers and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The chapters in this section place the problems of vegetation and climate interactions in semi-arid regions into the context which recur throughout the book. First, Verstraete and Schwartz review desertification as a process of global change evaluating both the human and climatic factors. The theme of human impact and land management is discussed further by Roberts whose review focuses on semi-arid land-use planning. In the third and final chapter in this section we return to the meteorological theme. Nicholls reviews the effects of El Nino/Southern Oscillation on Australian vegetation stressing, in particular, the interaction between plants and their climatic environment. Vegetatio 91: 3-13, 1991. 3 A. Henderson-Sellers and A. J. Pitman (eds). Vegetation and climate interactions in semi-arid regions. © 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Desertification and global change 2 M. M. Verstraete! & S. A. Schwartz ! Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, CEC Joint Research Centre, Ispra Establishment, TP 440, 1-21020 Ispra (Varese), Italy; 2 Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109-2143, USA Accepted 24. 8. 1990 Abstract Arid and semiarid regions cover one third of the continental areas on Earth. These regions are very sensitive to a variety of physical, chemical and biological degradation processes collectively called desertification.

Download or read book Hot Deserts and Arid Shrublands written by Michael Evenari and published by Elsevier Publishing Company. This book was released on 1985 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the second part of a two-volume work which presents an authoritative world-wide view of our knowledge about, and understanding of, hot-desert ecosystems. This includes some semi-arid and arid areas, as well as deserts in the strict sense. The hot deserts are distinguished from the temperate deserts (which form the subject of another volume in the series) by the virtual absence of snowfall, even though frosts may occur. For each major hot-desert region, expert authors have summarized existing knowledge according to a general outline. This includes descriptions of the ecosystem components (climate, soil, flora and fauna), and discussion of interaction between components and overall ecosystem functioning. The information from the regional chapters has been integrated into a world-wide view in the ''synthesis'' chapters. Because of its length, the volume is published in two parts. The first part included the general synthesis chapters, and regional descriptions of the hot deserts of America and Australia. The present volume covers hot deserts of Asia and Africa.

Download or read book Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia written by Andrew A. Mitchell and published by ISBS. This book was released on 1994 with total page 490 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An attractive and accessible guide to identification and appreciation of the native flora of the arid region of Western Australia, this revised edition of Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia now describes over 200 herbs, grasses, shrubs and trees. Each species is illustrated in colour, and the non-technical text gives vegetative and floral characteristics, habitat, forage value, the response to grazing and, where appropriate, the value of plants for degraded land and mine site rehabilitation. The only book of its kind, Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia is an important resource for pastoralists, mining companies, geologists, shire councils and native tree growers, and will also appeal to travellers and lovers of the Australian bush.

Download or read book Rangelands of the Arid and Semi arid Zones in Uzbekistan written by Gustave Gintzburger and published by Editions Quae. This book was released on 2003 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This abundantly illustrated book presents a panorama of the biodiversity, climatology and flora of the arid zones of Uzbekistan and describes around 150 dominant range species, with their ecology, utilization and range rehabilitation techniques. It should contribute to a better understanding of these little-known arid zones of Central Asia and to the conservation and rational use of their fragile natural resources.

Download or read book Semiarid Lands and Deserts written by J. Skujins and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1991-04-16 with total page 688 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compendium of current information on arid soils. Provides a comprehensive background of the various soils and biota of arid regions, as well as a detailed account of the current understanding of degradation processes, and includes methodologies for arid land maintenance and rehabilitation and for

Download or read book Conserving Biodiversity in Arid Regions written by J. Lemons and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the eve of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in autumn 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended five specific areas as focal points of discussion for the global forum: Water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. In his address, "Towards a Sustainable Future," delivered just four months before the WSSD, Secretary General Annan contended that concrete progress in each of these areas, often referred to by their acronym WEHAB, would be key to improving the quality of life not only in the developing world but across the globe. For most people, I think it is fair to say that the inclusion of biodiversity in a list that focuses on basic human needs may not be self-evident. Water, energy, health and agriculture, yes. But why biodiversity? The truth is that biodiversity is just as critical to global well-being as water, energy, agriculture and health. This is because biodiversity both drives and shapes nature's intricate and dynamic structure in an enduring form and force that enables both current and future generations to enjoy its bounty.

Download or read book Steppes written by Michael Bone and published by Timber Press. This book was released on 2015-07-15 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Steppes—semi-arid biomes dominated by forbs, grasses, and grass-like species, and characterized by extremes of cold and heat—occupy enormous areas on four continents. Yet these ecosystems are among the least studied on our planet. Given that the birth and evolution of human beings have been so intimately interwoven with steppe regions, it is amazing that so few attempts have been made to compare and quantify the features of these regions. In this ground-breaking volume, five leading voices in horticulture—all staff members of Denver Botanic Gardens—examine the plants, climate, geology, and geography of the world’s steppes: central Asia, central and intermountain North America, Patagonia, and South Africa. Drawing upon their first-hand experience, the writers illuminate the distinctive features of each region, with a particular emphasis on the striking similarities between their floras. Each chapter includes a primer of species of horticultural interest—a rich resource for readers with an interest in steppe plants.

Download or read book Biotic Interactions in Arid Lands written by John L. Cloudsley-Thompson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The exigencies of life in the desert environment have resulted in the se lection of a diversity of adaptations, both morphological and physiologi cal, in the flora and fauna. At the same time, many plants and most small animals are able not merely to exist but even to thrive under desert conditions - mainly by avoiding thermal extremes and by the refine ment of pre-existing abilities to economise in water. In the same way, the biotic interactions of the flora and fauna of the desert do not involve many new principles. Nevertheless, conditions in arid regions frequently do invoke refinements of the complex interrelations between predators and their prey, parasites and their hosts, as well as between herbivores and the plants upon which they feed. In this book, I shall discuss not only such interactions and their feedback effects, but also community processes and population dynamics in the desert. The physical conditions of the desert that principally affect predators and their prey are its openness and the paucity of cover. This is re stricted to scattered plants, occasional rocks, holes, and crevices in the ground. Furthermore, nightfall does not confer relative invisibility, as it does in many other ecobiomes, because of the clarity of the atmosphere. The bright starlight of the desert renders nearby objects visible even to the human eye, while an incandescent moon bathes the empty landscape with a flood of silver light. Consequently, adaptive coloration is func tional at all hours of the day and night.

Download or read book Reclamation of Arid Lands written by Mohammad Jafari and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-10-31 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an overview of arid and semi-arid lands conditions, their general characteristics, methods of management, conservation, exploitation and reclamation. It also focuses on how to utilize the potential of arid lands with the minimum manipulation and alteration. Arid and semi-arid areas represent a major part of natural ecosystems not only in Iran, but around the world, and mismanagement and inappropriate exploitation of these areas may lead to further gradual degradation. As such, an understanding of the characteristics of these areas is vital if they are to be conserved and reclaimed.

Download or read book Wildland Shrubs Their Biology and Utilization written by Cyrus M. McKell and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2017-11-16 with total page 778 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Wildland Shrubs, Their Biology and Utilization: An International Symposium, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, July 1971 In the past, arid and semiarid regions were defined on the basis of climatic factors alone (koppen 1923; Mathews 1931; Lang 1920; de Martonne 1905; Thornthwaite 1948; Transeau 1905; Emberger 1930; Gorczynski 1943; Stenz 1946; Boyko accord ingly, dpen's world map included Thar and Rajasthan under desert climate and the surrounding portion that extends up to Cutch and Gujarat, and certain parts of Madras are included under Steppe climate. However, since vegetation is the result of the response of plants to many variables of the climatic factors, no single factor can characterize deserts or arid and semiarid regions. Pramanik, Hariharan, and Ghose (1952) defined deserts or arid regions of India as areas having rainfall of 10 inches or less and a mean annual diurnal temperature range of 24° F. Or more; they defined semiarid regions as areas having rainfall ranging from 10 to 20 inches and an annual diurnal temperature range of 18° F. Or more. However, a correlation of climate and vegetation led Bharucha (1955) to retain as the limit of the arid zone the 10 inches isohyet, while the limit of the semiarid zone at the 30 inches isohyet. On the basis of these criteria as well as those of Thornthwaite the areas of arid and semi arid zones in India total sq. Km. And sq. Km respectively (table this excludes the cold desert of Jammu and Kashmir State, which contains sq. Km. Of arid and sq. Km. Of semiarid areas (krishnan Figure 1 gives the distribution and delimitation of these zones. In the North, next to Rajasthan, Gujarat has the largest area within the arid zone. In South India, the arid region is mainly confined to a portion of Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh (fig. 1) and adjoining parts of Mysore. Of the semiarid zone, 59 percent is situated in peninsular India. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Download or read book The Changing Mile Revisited written by Raymond M. Turner and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2021-10-19 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Changing Mile, originally published in 1965, was a benchmark in ecological studies, demonstrating the prevalence of change in a seemingly changeless place. Photographs made throughout the Sonoran Desert region in the late 1800s and early 1900s were juxtaposed with photographs of the same locations taken many decades later. The nearly one hundred pairs of images revealed that climate has played a strong role in initiating many changes in the region. This new book updates the classic by adding recent photographs to the original pairs, providing another three decades of data and showing even more clearly the extent of change across the landscape. During these same three decades, abundant information about climatic variability, land use, and plant ecology has accumulated, making it possible to determine causes of change with more confidence. Using nearly two hundred additional triplicate sets of unpublished photographs, The Changing Mile Revisited utilizes repeat photographs selected from almost three hundred stations located in southern Arizona, in the Pinacate region of Mexico, and along the coast of the Gulf of California. Coarse photogrammetric analysis of this enlarged photographic set shows the varied response of the region's major plant species to the forces of change. The images show vegetation across the entire region at sites ranging in elevation from sea level to a mile above sea level. Some sites are truly arid, while others are located above the desert in grassland and woodland. Common names are used for most plants and animals (with Latin equivalents in endnotes) to make the book more accessible to non-technical readers. The original Changing Mile was based upon a unique set of data that allowed the authors to evaluate the extent and magnitude of vegetation change in a large geographic region. By extending the original landmark study, The Changing Mile Revisited will remain an indispensable reference for all concerned with the fragile desert environment.