Download or read book Ecology and the Environment written by Russell K. Monson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-10-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, plant biology is considered from the perspective of plants and their surrounding environment, including both biotic and abiotic interactions. The intended audience is undergraduate students in the middle or final phases of their programs of study. Topics are developed to provide a rudimentary understanding of how plant-environment interactions span multiple spatiotemporal scales, and how this rudimentary knowledge can be applied to understand the causes of ecosystem vulnerabilities in the face of global climate change and expansion of natural resource use by human societies. In all chapters connections are made from smaller to larger scales of ecological organization, providing a foundation for understanding plant ecology. Where relevant, environmental threats to ecological systems are identified and future research needs are discussed. As future generations take on the responsibility for managing ecosystem goods and services, one of the most effective resources that can be passed on is accumulated knowledge of how organisms, populations, species, communities and ecosystems function and interact across scales of organization. This book is intended to provide some of that knowledge, and hopefully provide those generations with the ability to avoid some of the catastrophic environmental mistakes that prior generations have made.
Download or read book Globalization and the Environment written by Pete Newell and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-04-24 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Globalization and the Environment critically explores the actors, politics and processes that govern the relationship between globalization and the environment. Taking key aspects of globalisation in turn - trade, production and finance - the book highlights the relations of power at work that determine whether globalization is managed in a sustainable way and on whose behalf. Each chapter looks in turn at the political ecology of these central pillars of the global economy, reviewing evidence of its impact on diverse ecologies and societies, its governance - the political structures, institutions and policy making processes in place to manage this relationship - and finally efforts to contest and challenge these prevailing approaches. The book makes sense of the relationship between globalisation and the environment using a range of theoretical tools from different disciplines. This helps to place the debate about the compatibility between globalisation and sustainability in an explicitly political and historical context in which it is possible to appreciate the ‘nature’ of interests and power relations that privilege some ways of responding to environmental problems over others in a context of globalisation.
Download or read book Ecology Without Nature written by Timothy Morton and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2009-09-15 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Ecology without Nature, Timothy Morton argues that the chief stumbling block to environmental thinking is the image of nature itself. Ecological writers propose a new worldview, but their very zeal to preserve the natural world leads them away from the "nature" they revere. The problem is a symptom of the ecological catastrophe in which we are living. Morton sets out a seeming paradox: to have a properly ecological view, we must relinquish the idea of nature once and for all. Ecology without Nature investigates our ecological assumptions in a way that is provocative and deeply engaging. Ranging widely in eighteenth-century through contemporary philosophy, culture, and history, he explores the value of art in imagining environmental projects for the future. Morton develops a fresh vocabulary for reading "environmentality" in artistic form as well as content, and traces the contexts of ecological constructs through the history of capitalism. From John Clare to John Cage, from Kierkegaard to Kristeva, from The Lord of the Rings to electronic life forms, Ecology without Nature widens our view of ecological criticism, and deepens our understanding of ecology itself. Instead of trying to use an idea of nature to heal what society has damaged, Morton sets out a radical new form of ecological criticism: "dark ecology."
Download or read book Ecology and Environment written by R N Bhargava and published by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). This book was released on 2016-06-02 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The alarming rise in greenhouse gas and pollution level which has resulted in serious environmental and ecological harm is the biggest concern today. It has not only made the lives of mankind miserable but also threatens their very existence. The survival of human beings on Earth depends on the availability of clean environment. The nature can be protected only when there is a good understanding of the ecology. For this, young people and the general public have to become aware of the underlying issues associated with maintaining a clean environment and protecting the nature. Ecology and Environment has delved in depth on the subject and brings a broad perspective of the various issues. Following the curriculum of University Grants Commission, the book covers different types of ecosystem on the earth. It deals with the effective and sustainable use of natural resources which includes water, forest, mineral resources in the ground and productive land. The book explains the population trends in the world and India, and how it is impacting the environment. The role of public participation in promoting environmental sustainability is explored too.
Download or read book Handbook of Functional Plant Ecology written by Francisco Pugnaire and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1999-03-10 with total page 928 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Offers the latest findings and research breakthroughs in plant ecology, as well as consideration of classic topics in environmental science and ecology. This wide-ranging compendium serves as an extremely accessible and useful resource for relative newcomers to the field as well as seasoned experts. Investigates plant structure and behavior across the ecological spectrum, from the leaf to the ecosystem levels."
Download or read book Environmental Ecology written by Bill Freedman and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 638 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Like ecology, environmental science is multi- and interdisciplinary. The three major subdisciplines of environmental science are : Population, Resources, Environment. Of the above three major subdisciplines with environmental science, this book is more concerned with the third - the ecological effects of stressors, with particular reference to those associated with the activities of humans. A chapter deals with the use and abuse of biological resources and the emerging field of ecological economics. Some sections deal with environmental impact assessment; ecological monitoring; and the responsibilities of ecologists in environmental issues, environmental education, and the design of sustainable economic systems.
Download or read book Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation written by Oswald J. Schmitz and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2013-03-19 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 isn’t. Subsequent chapters address critical issues in conservation and show how ecological science can be applied to them. The book explores questions such as: • What is the role of ecological science in decision making? • What factors govern the assembly of ecosystems and determine their response to various stressors? • How does Earth’s climate system function and determine the distribution of life on Earth? • What factors control the size of populations? • How does fragmentation of the landscape affect the persistence of species on the landscape? • How does biological diversity influence ecosystem processes? The book closes with a final chapter that addresses the need not only to understand ecological science, but to put that science into an ecosystem conservation ethics perspective.
Download or read book Environment and Ecology in the Mediterranean Region II written by Recep Efe and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2014-03-17 with total page 415 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The environment in ecological systems includes both physical parameters and biotic attributes, and is a holocoenotic, dynamically interlinked system. Its investigation requires a dialectical approach which examines the different parts, but integrates the organism and the environment into a dynamic whole. Environment and ecology place emphasis on the real world. Many decisions that directly or indirectly affect the balance of our environment are based on individual, community, state, national and international decisions. Given that ecological systems now also involve the economy, ecology and its relationship with the environment are taking on an increasingly important role in today’s world. This book includes 32 chapters dealing with the different aspects cited above. It discusses transhumance activities; social changes in new life environments; dendrohistorical studies; recreation and tourism based on natural resources; physical and social geographical studies on the riparian borders; threats and environmental interactions in mountain forest ecosystems; the evolution of the traditional agricultural landscapes; the landscapes of Sierra Nevada; cork oak forests and climate change; the causes of flooding; water scarcity and adaptation in agriculture; nutrient pollution in rivers; ethnobotanical studies; and phenological observations of young beech stands. The topics discussed in this book will attract the attention of students and researchers from different disciplines, and will prove fruitful for all scholars working under the umbrella of environment and ecology studies.
Download or read book Information Ecology written by Thomas H. Davenport and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1997-06-26 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to virtually every business writer, we are in the midst of a new "information age," one that will revolutionize how workers work, how companies compete, perhaps even how thinkers think. And it is certainly true that Information Technology has become a giant industry. In America, more that 50% of all capital spending goes into IT, accounting for more than a third of the growth of the entire American economy in the last four years. Over the last decade, IT spending in the U.S. is estimated at 3 trillion dollars. And yet, by almost all accounts, IT hasn't worked all that well. Why is it that so many of the companies that have invested in these costly new technologies never saw the returns they had hoped for? And why do workers, even CEOs, find it so hard to adjust to new IT systems? In Information Ecology, Thomas Davenport proposes a revolutionary new way to look at information management, one that takes into account the total information environment within an organization. Arguing that the information that comes from computer systems may be considerably less valuable to managers than information that flows in from a variety of other sources, the author describes an approach that encompasses the company's entire information environment, the management of which he calls information ecology. Only when organizations are able to combine and integrate these diverse sources of information, and to take them to a higher level where information becomes knowledge, will they realize the full power of their information ecology. Thus, the author puts people, not technology, at the center of the information world. Information and knowledge are human creations, he points out, and we will never excel at managing them until we give people a primary role. Citing examples drawn from his own extensive research and consulting including such major firms as A.T. & T., American Express, Ford, General Electric, Hallmark, Hoffman La Roche, IBM, Polaroid, Pacific Bell, and Toshiba Davenport illuminates the critical components of information ecology, and at every step along the way, he provides a quick assessment survey for managers to see how their organization measures up. He discusses the importance of developing an overall strategy for information use; explores the infighting, jealousy over resources, and political battles that can frustrate information sharing; underscores the importance of looking at how people really use information (how they search for it, modify it, share it, hoard it, and even ignore it) and the kinds of information they want; describes the ideal information staff, who not only store and retrive information, but also prune, provide context, enhance style, and choose the right presentation medium (in an age of work overload, vital information must be presented compellingly so the appropriate people recognize and use it); examines how information management should be done on a day to day basis; and presents several alternatives to the machine engineering approach to structuring and modeling information. Davenport makes explicit what many managers already know in their gut: that useful information flow depends on people, not equipment. In Information Ecology he paves the way for all managers to build a more competitive, creative, practical information environment for their companies.
Download or read book Environmental Ecology written by Bill Freedman and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-09-25 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental Ecology: The Impacts of Pollution and Other Stresses on Ecosystem Structure and Function deals with environmental studies on the ecological impacts of anthropogenic stresses. The book discusses more particularly the ways that anthropogenic or natural influences affect the quality of the inorganic and biotic components of the biosphere, as well as the human environment. The text discusses the sources of air pollution, the different toxic elements (naturally occurring contamination or anthropogenic sources), and acidifying substances or "acid rain." The author also cites several studies that deal with the reclamation of acidified bodies of water. Another topic the author addresses is declining forest areas; he then cites several case studies of this occurrence, such as those by Fowells, 1965; Hepting, 1971; and Auclair, 1987. The text also investigates the ecological effects of oil pollution caused during the refining process and transportation. The author then examines the general response patterns to ecological stress. The text is intended for advanced students of environmental ecology and environmental science, as well as for ecologists, environmentalists, and urban planners and officials.
Download or read book Political Ecology written by Karl S. Zimmerer and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2012-06-15 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume offers a unique, integrative perspective on the political and ecological processes shaping landscapes and resource use across the global North and South. Twelve carefully selected case studies demonstrate how contemporary geographical theories and methods can contribute to understanding key environment-and-development issues and working toward effective policies. Topics addressed include water and biodiversity resources, urban and national resource planning, scientific concepts of resource management, and ideas of nature and conservation in the context of globalization. Giving particular attention to evolving conceptions of nature-society interaction and geographical scale, an introduction and conclusion by the editors provide a clear analytical focus for the volume and summarize important developments and debates in the field.
Download or read book Earth Stewardship written by Ricardo Rozzi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book advances Earth Stewardship toward a planetary scale, presenting a range of ecological worldviews, practices, and institutions in different parts of the world and to use them as the basis for considering what we could learn from one another, and what we could do together. Today, inter-hemispheric, intercultural, and transdisciplinary collaborations for Earth Stewardship are an imperative. Chapters document pathways that are being forged by socio-ecological research networks, religious alliances, policy actions, environmental citizenship and participation, and new forms of conservation, based on both traditional and contemporary ecological knowledge and values. “The Earth Stewardship Initiative of the Ecological Society of America fosters practices to provide a stable basis for civilization in the future. Biocultural ethic emphasizes that we are co-inhabitants in the natural world; no matter how complex our inventions may become” (Peter Raven).
Download or read book Ecology and Control of the Natural Environment written by Yu.A. Izrael and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent decades it has become increasingly urgent to protect human health and wellbeing from the possible negative consequences of man's economic activities, both at the actual production sites and in areas where the im pact is felt. These negative effects have gradually become more and more widespread, presenting a major hazard to the natural environment, taking on an international character, and assuming global proportions. For the countries of Europe and North America, transport of pollutants and acid rain across boundaries is a serious problem. After the Chernobyl reactor accident, regular measurements of radioactive isotopes became im perative. It is obvious that drastic measures, including steps taken on an interna tionallevel, are required to limit the negative anthropogenic impact on the environment. Under the conditions of this growing man-caused impact on nature, the existing ecological reserves of the biosphere should be husbanded especially carefully. We must determine the regimes of rational utilization of these reserves and of judicious management of the natural environment, thereby maintaining a high quality of the biosphere and preserving nature's regener ative capacity. Reliable methods should be developed to keep the environ ment from being overloaded and to safeguard the elements of the biosphere from injury. Given such a situation, it is of particular importance to have objective information about the critical factors of the human impact and the actual state of the biosphere, as well as to obtain forecasts of its future state.
Download or read book Ecology and Applied Environmental Science written by Kimon Hadjibiros and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecology and Applied Environmental Science addresses the impact of contemporary environmental problems by using the main principles of scientific ecology. It offers a brief yet comprehensive explanation of ecosystems based on energy, populations, and cycles of chemical elements. The book presents a variety of scientific ecological issues and uses these to examine a range of environmental problems while considering potential engineering, scientific, and managerial solutions. It takes an engineering approach and avoids excessive biological detail, while introducing ecology with a systemic approach. The book examines categories of organisms as well as the physical and chemical processes that affect them. It refers to the dynamics of populations and analysis of their major mutual influences, elaborates on the roles of primary production, limiting factors, energy flow, and circulation of chemical substances in the ecosystems, and presents the basic functions of aquatic ecosystems. The author considers important issues related to environmental degradation of forests, aquatic habitats, coastal zones, other natural landscapes, and urban areas, includes a survey of problems related to waste and toxic and radioactive substances, and presents the greenhouse effect and impacts from climate change. He discusses environmental management prospects and the potential for technological control of pollution from liquid, solid, and gaseous waste. He also highlights existing tools for environmental management, ecological and social aspects of biodiversity and landscape protection, and the contrast between development and environment in combination with ideas about sustainability. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
Download or read book The Ecology Book written by DK and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-04-02 with total page 704 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn about species, environments, ecosystems and biodiversity in The Ecology Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Ecology in this overview guide to the subject, great for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Ecology Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Ecology, with: - More than 90 of the greatest ideas in ecology - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Ecology Book is a captivating introduction to what’s happening on our planet with the environment and climate change, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you’ll discover more than 90 of the greatest ideas when it comes to understanding the living world and how it works, through exciting text and bold graphics. Your Ecological Questions, Simply Explained How do species interact with each other and their environment? How do ecosystems change? What is biodiversity and can we afford to damage it? This fresh new guide looks at our influence on the planet as it grows, and answers these profound questions. If you thought it was difficult to learn about this field of science, The Ecology Book presents the information in a clear layout. Learn the key theories, movements, and events in biology, geology, geography, and environmentalism from the ideas of classical thinkers in this comprehensive guide. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Ecology Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.
Download or read book Tourism Environment and Ecology in the Mediterranean Region written by Recep Efe and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2014-09-26 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As humans we have stewardship over the environment. Man’s dominion does not mean a license to abuse, spoil, squander or destroy. Future cultures will be able to reach their potential only if this generation remembers that sustainable land use is a combination of economics, ecology and social justice. Our ancestors survived due to an innate sense of “oneness” whereby they helped each other. For them everything was “holy”. Sustaining desired ecological, economic, and social conditions in the system is a big challenge, but not an impossible task. This book presents chapters by scientists from different disciplines from the Mediterranean Basin and its environs. It presents updated information and highlights the way forward for the fields of economy, environment and ecology, making this book a very useful source for people working in these different disciplines. Contributions have been prepared by experts in these respective fields. The book also brings to the fore important future tasks for these particular disciplines, and provides up-to-date references, tables and figures illustrating research findings. As such, this volume is a must-read for students, researchers and professionals in environmental sciences, ecology, forestry, geography and other related fields.
Download or read book The Great Kapok Tree written by Lynne Cherry and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2000 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The many different animals that live in a great Kapok tree in the Brazilian rainforest try to convince a man with an ax of the importance of not cutting down their home.
