Download or read book Floral Biodiversity of the Mascarene Islands written by Rachna Seenauth and published by . This book was released on 2020-04-14 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mascarene Archipelago comprises of the three large islands: Republic of Mauritius, Rodrigues (Mru.) and La Reunion (Fr.) along with other volcanic remnants in the South West Indian Ocean. Mauritius is the oldest and emerged some 7-10 million years ago while Rodrigues and Reunion have emerged in the last 2 million years. Reunion still has an active volcano - Piton de La Fournaise.The remoteness of these islands from landmasses, the tropical, oceanic climate have had significant impact on their unique vegetation. These islands along with Madagascar are among the global biodiversity hotspots which are defined by a high degree of endemism. The Mascarenes are closely associated with iconic floral species such as the black Ebony tree, the red nectar Nesocodon of Mauritius, the rare Café marron from Rodrigues and the Bois de senteur blanc of La Reunion.This book takes the reader through the various ecosystems ranging from the coastal islets of all three islands to the cloud forests and the unique, almost subalpine scrubs at high elevations in Reunion Island. They will also learn about our unique and fragile floral biodiversity and its associated fauna.
Download or read book Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Indian Ocean Islands written by Ameenah Gurib-Fakim and published by Medpharm Gmbh Scientific Pub. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 567 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a scientific evaluation of some 350 medicinal and aromatic plants of Madagascar, Comoros, the Seychelles and the Mascarene islands. It concentrates on those endemic plants, which are now rare and less well-known. This volume combines a rich source of ancient local biodiversity and knowledge with a western approach to preserving both, knowledge and environment. An authoritative and fascinating reference work, which captures the interest in traditional medicine as well as the potential for the development of new drugs.
Download or read book The Biology of Island Floras written by David Bramwell and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-07-21 with total page 539 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Oceanic islands offer biologists unparalleled opportunities to study evolutionary processes and ecological phenomena. However, human activity threatens to alter or destroy many of these fragile ecosystems, with recent estimates suggesting that nearly half of the world's insular endemics are threatened with extinction. Bringing together researchers from around the world, this book illustrates how modern research methods and new concepts have challenged accepted theories and changed our understanding of island flora. Particular attention is given to the impact of molecular studies and the insights that they provide into topics such as colonisation, radiation, diversification and hybridisation. Examples are drawn from around the world, including the Hawaiian archipelago, Galapagos Islands, Madagascar and the Macronesian region. Conservation issues are also highlighted, with coverage of alien species and the role of ex situ conservation providing valuable information that will aid the formulation of management strategies and genetic rescue programmes.
Download or read book Medicinal Plant Biodiversity of Lesser Himalayas Pakistan written by Arshad Mehmood Abbasi and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-12-16 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Himalayan region is among the largest mountains systems of the world with uncounted unique medicinal plants resources. The lesser Himalayas ranges are the extension of Greater Himalayas. They have unique ecology, vegetation and diversity of medicinal flora due to tremendous variation in the altitude, climate and associated wildlife. The utilization of medicinal plants in medicine suffers from the fact that although plants are used to treat diseases, scientific evidence is lacking in many cases. Different societies of the world use the plants according to their own beliefs and knowledge and previous experiences. Their knowledge about the use of the plants is usually not known to the other world or science. This book provides a brief introduction of Lesser Himalayas, ethnobotanical aspects, marketing and anthropogenic pressure on medicinal flora. It comprises one hundred medicinal plant species including Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (Monocots and Dicots) along with their scientific description and traditional uses.
Download or read book Medicinal Plants and Their Active Constituents in the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome written by Lei Chen and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2022-11-17 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Coastal Ecosystems of the Tropics Adaptive Management written by Velmurugan Ayyam and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-10-11 with total page 595 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The coastal areas of the tropics are rich in biodiversity, natural resources and place of intensive developmental activities as it provides livelihood to millions of people. At the same time evidences suggest that several unique coastal ecosystems viz., mangroves, wetlands, salt marshes, corals, estuaries, sand dunes and agro-ecosystem are vulnerable to natural disasters and events associated with global climate change. In recent times degradation of land, water and genetic erosion besides threat to native flora and fauna have been increasing due to unsustainable developmental activities. Therefore, a paradigm shift in deriving livelihood through conventional methods, developmental strategies, conservation practices are required for balanced and sustainable growth of the coastal areas. This publication strives to cover the status of different natural resources of the coastal region, various aspects of degradation process, production need and restorative methods besides new technological options and its socio-economic implications with case examples. Special focus is given to bring out the scope and potential of mangrove based farming, integrated and organic farming and its value addition besides the role of coastal vegetations as bioshield in protecting these regions from sea erosion, cyclones and tsunami. As the tropical coastal areas are vulnerable to climate change events, this book also covers the recent weather pattern, impacts of climate change and climate resilient technologies besides intuitional linkages and policy framework aimed at balancing development and environmental concerns.
Download or read book New Perspectives on the Biology of Nectaries and Nectars written by Clay Carter and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2019-08-27 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The number of currently known, described and accepted plant species is ca 374,000, of which approximately 295,00 (79%) are angiosperms. Almost 90% of this huge number of flowering plants is pollinated by animals (mostly insects) via nectar-mediated interactions. Notably, three-fourths of the leading global crop plants produce nectar and are animal pollinated, which is estimated to account for one-third of human food resources. Nectar can also be produced on tissues outside of flowers, by so-called extrafloral nectaries, and commonly mediate interactions with ‘body-guard’ ants and other pugnacious insects that defend the plant from herbivores. Extrafloral nectar is present in almost 4,000 plant species, a majority of them in the angiosperms. This brief summary on the occurrence of nectar in the plant kingdom is just to highlight that nectar has a fundamental role in two basal functions that allow the maintenance of our ecosystems: sexual plant reproduction and protection of plants from herbivory. Despite playing essential ecological and evolutionary functions, our current knowledge about nectar is largely incomplete; however, new research directions and perspectives on nectaries and nectars have arisen in recent years. In the last two decades, there were only a few ‘moments’ in which nectar was the main character in international meetings or in published books. In 2002, the first (and only) international meeting “Nectar and nectary: from biology to biotechnology” dedicated exclusively to nectar and nectaries was held in Italy (Montalcino, Siena) and in 2003 the proceedings were published in a special volume of Plant Systematics and Evolution (238, issue 1-4). In 2007, the book Nectar and Nectaries was published (Springer) with most of the contributions provided by authors that attended the meeting in Italy. Another book dedicated to nectar was published in 2015 (Nectar: Production, Chemical Composition and Benefits to Animals and Plants, Nova Science Publishers) covering aspects mainly related to nectar chemical composition and plant-pollinator interactions. Similarly, symposia focused on nectar have been organized within the International Botanical Congress in 2011 and 2017. Considering that the last few years has yielded essential developments in the understanding of nectar biology, we thought now is the moment to further stimulate research on this important topic. This aim has been met through 18 papers published in our Research Topic New Perspectives on the Biology of Nectaries and Nectars, with subjects spanning evolution and ecology to nectar chemistry and nectary structure.
Download or read book Orchids Phytochemistry Biology and Horticulture written by Jean-Michel Mérillon and published by Springer. This book was released on 2022-01-26 with total page 662 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This reference work provides an authoritative and comprehensive review of the latest developments in orchids’ biology, biotechnology and phytochemistry, and it also explores the applications of orchids in medicinal chemistry, nutrition and cosmetics industry. Chapters from expert contributors are organised into six sections and cover the entire gamut of orchid research and uses. In this work, readers will learn about topics such as biogeography and diversity of orchids, their biology and environmental factors, their horticulture and phytochemistry, and their use in agri-food, medicinal and perfumery industries. This book will appeal to graduate students, scholars, researchers interested in botany, agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and phytochemistry. Industrial scientists and those involved in marketing flowers and phytochemicals, plants and their extracts will also understand the importance of this reference work.
Download or read book The Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants written by Bertrand de Montmollin and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2005 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The flora of the Mediterranean islands includes many rare and localized species unique to the islands. Some of these are particularly threatened with extinction due to various pressures caused by people and their activities in Mediterranean ecosystems. It includes 50 descriptive sheets of species which are especially threatened, based on the IUCN Red List criteria. Each sheet gives a description of the species with illustrations and maps, emphasizing the threats to the species, existing conservation measures and additional measures needed for their conservation. Aimed at the layman, the text is easily accessible to the non-botanist.
Download or read book Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology written by David M. Richardson and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-01-18 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Invasion ecology is the study of the causes and consequences of the introduction of organisms to areas outside their native range. Interest in this field has exploded in the past few decades. Explaining why and how organisms are moved around the world, how and why some become established and invade, and how best to manage invasive species in the face of global change are all crucial issues that interest biogeographers, ecologists and environmental managers in all parts of the world. This book brings together the insights of more than 50 authors to examine the origins, foundations, current dimensions and potential trajectories of invasion ecology. It revisits key tenets of the foundations of invasion ecology, including contributions of pioneering naturalists of the 19th century, including Charles Darwin and British ecologist Charles Elton, whose 1958 monograph on invasive species is widely acknowledged as having focussed scientific attention on biological invasions.
Download or read book Plant Invasions written by Anna Traveset and published by CABI. This book was released on 2020-11-20 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are many books on aspects of plant invasions, but none that focus on the key role of species interactions in mediating invasions. This book reviews exciting new findings and explores how new methods and tools are shedding new light on crucial processes in plant invasions. This book will be of interest to academics and students of ecology, researchers engaged in developing management solutions, scientific managers of natural ecosystems, and policy-makers.
Download or read book Biology Digest written by and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Coastal Science written by M. Schwartz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-11-08 with total page 1243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new Encyclopedia of Coastal Science stands as the latest authoritative source in the field of coastal studies, making it the standard reference work for specialists and the interested lay person. Unique in its interdisciplinary approach. This Encyclopedia features contributions by 245 well-known international specialists in their respective fields and is abundantly illustrated with line-drawings and photographs. Not only does this volume offer an extensive number of entries, it also includes various appendices, an illustrated glossary of coastal morphology and extensive bibliographic listings.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Islands written by Rosemary G. Gillespie and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2009-08-19 with total page 1110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Islands have captured the imagination of scientists and the public for centuries - unique and rare environments, their isolation makes them natural laboratories for ecology and evolution. This authoritative, alphabetically arranged reference, featuring more than 200 succinct articles by leading scientists from around the world, provides broad coverage of all the island sciences. But what exactly is an island? The volume editors define it here as any discrete habitat isolated from other habitats by inhospitable surroundings. The Encyclopedia of Islands examines many such insular settings - oceanic and continental islands as well as places such as caves, mountaintops, and whale falls at the bottom of the ocean. This essential, one-stop resource, extensively illustrated with color photographs, clear maps, and graphics will introduce island science to a wide audience and spur further research on some of the planet's most fascinating habitats." --Book Jacket.
Download or read book The New Natural History of Madagascar written by Steven M. Goodman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2022-11-15 with total page 2297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A marvelously illustrated reference to the natural wonders of one of the most spectacular places on earth Separated from Africa’s mainland for tens of millions of years, Madagascar has evolved a breathtaking wealth of biodiversity, becoming home to thousands of species found nowhere else on the planet. The New Natural History of Madagascar provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis available of this island nation’s priceless biological treasures. Now fully revised and expanded, this beautifully illustrated compendium features contributions by more than 600 globally renowned experts who cover the history of scientific exploration in Madagascar, as well as the island’s geology and soils, climate, forest ecology, human ecology, marine and coastal ecosystems, plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This invaluable two-volume reference also includes detailed discussions of conservation efforts in Madagascar that showcase several successful protected area programs that can serve as models for threatened ecosystems throughout the world. Provides the most comprehensive overview of Madagascar’s rich natural history Coedited by 18 different specialists Features hundreds of new contributions by world-class experts Includes hundreds of new illustrations Covers a broad array of topics, from geology and climate to animals, plants, and marine life Sheds light on newly discovered species and draws on the latest science An essential resource for anyone interested in Madagascar or tropical ecosystems in general, from biologists and conservationists to ecotourists and armchair naturalists
Download or read book Green Food written by Dustin Mulvaney and published by SAGE Publications. This book was released on 2010-05-04 with total page 545 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This third volume in the SAGE Series on Green Society lays out the contours of the field of agri-food studies. It draws on scholars working in the fields of political ecology, rural sociology, geography, and environmental studies to paint a picture of the past, present, and future of agriculture and food. It provides readers with a basic understanding of the institutions, practices, and concepts to identify what is and is not a "green" food. Because food is so intimately connected to our daily lives, the food system offers perhaps the most promise to make change in a sustainable direction. This volume addresses what a sustainable and green food system might look like, what policies would help realize it, and what kinds of tradeoffs we face in deciding which paths to choose. Green Food: An A-to-Z Guide provides people interested in food and agricultural systems the basic analytical and conceptual ideas that explain why our food system looks the way it does, and what can be done to change it for the better. Roughly 150 entries discuss how to address issues related to a green food system, and vivid photos, searchable hyperlinks, numerous cross references, an extensive resource guide, and a clear, accessible writing style make the Green Society volumes ideal for classroom use.
Download or read book Darwin s Orchids written by Retha Edens-Meier and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2014-11-05 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A quorum of scientists offer reviews and results to celebrate the 150th anniversary of 'On The Various Contrivances By Which British And Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised By Insects, And On The Good Effects Of Intercrossing' (1862). Authors of the first ten chapters follow research on the pollination and breeding systems of the same orchid lineages that interested Darwin, including temperate and tropical species. Authors on the last two chapters provide information on the floral attractants and flowering systems of orchids using protocols and technologies unavailable during Darwin's lifetime.
