Download or read book Grasslands of the World written by Victor R. Squires and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-09-05 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book begins with a brief account of the extraordinary sequence of events that led to emergence of grasslands as major vegetation formations that now occupy some of the driest and hottest and the highest and coldest on earth as well as vast steppes and prairies in more temperate climes. It is the story of grasses successfully competing with forests and woodlands, aided and abetted by grazing herbivores and by humans and their use of fire as a tool. It is a story of adaptation to changing climates and the changing biophysical environments. A major focus of the book is the Palaearctic biogeographic realm that extends over some 45 million km2 and thus more than 1/3 of the terrestrial ice-free surface on Earth. It comprises extensive grasslands of different types and origin, which can be subdivided into (1) natural grasslands with (1a) steppes (climatogenic in dry climates), (1b) arctic-alpine grasslands (climatogenic in cold climates) and (1c) azonal and extrazonal grasslands (pedogenic and topogenic) as well as (2) secondary grasslands created and sustained by human activities, such as livestock grazing, mowing or burning. Grasslands of the Palaearctic do not only form a major basis for the agriculture of the region and thus its food supply, but are also crucial for other ecosystem services and host a supra proportional part of the realm’s plant and animal diversity. To reflect that suitability of grasslands for biodiversity strongly depends on their state, we apply the term High Nature Value grassland to those natural grasslands that are not degraded (in good state) and those secondary grasslands that are not intensified (semi-natural). The situation in a variety of countries where grasslands are evolving under the influence of global climate change is also considered. Case studies are presented on Southern Africa, Eastern Africa, India, China, South America, North America and Australia. The concluding chapter examines a set of themes arising from the chapters that make up the bulk of this book. The following provide a focus: recent history of grassland biomes – brief recap of current thinking and recent trends with special reference to dry grasslands in the Palearctic regions; the current status of grasslands and germplasm resources (biodiversity) – an overview; management systems that ensure sustainability; how to recover degraded grasslands; socio-economic issues and considerations in grassland management; the impacts of environmental problems in grasslands such as future climate change and intensification and the problems/prospects facing pastoralists and other grassland-based livestock producers.
Download or read book Grassland Ecosystems written by Pam Watts and published by ABDO. This book was released on 2015-08-01 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title will introduce readers to grassland ecosystems, the plants and animals that thrive there, its climate, its food web, any threats to it, and conservation efforts. Readers will also learn about the most well known grasslands and their unique characteristics.. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Download or read book Grassland Biome written by Grace Hansen and published by ABDO. This book was released on 2016-08-15 with total page 27 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Readers will learn about the two main types of grassland biomes, which are tropical grasslands (savannas) and temperate grasslands. The text will focus on the climate, plants, and animals that are found on grasslands around the world. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Abdo Kids is a division of ABDO.
Download or read book Grasslands of the World written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2005 with total page 548 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book brings together information on the contrasting characteristics, condition, present use and problems of the world's main natural grasslands. Since grassland is commercialized through the grazing animal, particular attention is paid to the livestock production systems associated with each main type. Grazing resources are more than simply edible herbage: many other factors have to be taken into account, notably water in all areas, and shelter in winter-cold climates. Seasonality of forage supply is a characteristic of almost all grazing lands, so the strategies for dealing with lean seasons are described. The main problems of each type are mentioned and possible strategies for their sustainable management discussed - taking into account their multiple functions, not only livestock production. The book is primarily aimed at agricultural scientists, educationalists, extensionists and decision-makers with interests in responsible use of extensive grasslands.
Download or read book Tropical Grasslands written by Ben Morgan and published by Heinemann-Raintree Library. This book was released on 2011 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduces animals and plants typical of grasslands areas.
Download or read book Grasslands in Europe written by Peter Veen and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2014-04-14 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grasslands are an important element of European nature. About half of Europe's endemic species depend on grasslands, whether in mountains, lowlands, river plains or coastal areas. Many grasslands originate in traditional agricultural landscapes. Modern intensification, however, brings many of these ecosystems under threat. 'Grasslands in Europe' is a tribute to these important ecosystems. It was written by an international team of grassland experts, who describe twenty-four case studies from countries in all of Europe - ranging from the grasslands of Gotland and #land (Sweden) to the Spanish Dehesa, and from the hay meadows of the British Pennine Dales to the steppes of Turkish Anatolia. Together, these case studies provide a fascinating glimpse into the various European grasslands, their value for nature, culture and agriculture, and the threats they are facing today. The accessible text as well as the rich illustrations will appeal to a wide audience. Grasslands in Europe contains a large number of stunning full-colour photographs of grassland landscapes, species and cultural history. It also contains many maps and infographics. Thematic chapters provide essential background information on topics such as grassland fauna, the history of agriculture, grassland communities, and the connection between grasslands and climate. The book also analyses the opportunities and risks of EU policy to conserve these grasslands. It offers a farmer-centred outlook to manage and to maintain the European grasslands of high nature value.
Download or read book Grasslands and Climate Change written by David J. Gibson and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-03-21 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive assessment of the effects of climate change on global grasslands and the mitigating role that ecologists can play.
Download or read book Life in a Grassland written by Laura Hamilton Waxman and published by Bellwether Media. This book was released on 2016-01-01 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grasslands vary around the globe and are home to many life forms, including big cats and grazing animals. These sprawling fields are found on every single continent except Antarctica. Tropical savannahs and rolling prairies are just two different types of grasslands. Curious young learners are sure to discover that grasslands are a fascinating biome in this engaging title!
Download or read book Forgotten Grasslands of the South written by Reed F. Noss and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2012-12-03 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forgotten Grasslands of the South is the study of one of the biologically richest and most endangered ecosystems in North America. In a seamless blend of science and personal observation, renowned ecologist Reed Noss explains the natural history of southern grasslands, their origin and history, and the physical determinants of grassland distribution, including ecology, soils, landform, and hydrology. In addition to offering fascinating new information about these little-studied ecosystems, Noss demonstrates how natural history is central to the practice of conservation. Although theory and experimentation have recently dominated the field of ecology, ecologists are coming to realize how these distinct approaches are not divergent but complementary, and that pursuing them together can bring greater knowledge and understanding of how the natural world works and how we can best conserve it. This long-awaited work sets a new standard for scientific literature and is essential reading for those who study and work to conserve the grasslands of the South as well as for everyone who is fascinated by the natural world.
Download or read book Explore the Grasslands written by Kay Jackson and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2007 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discusses the plants, animals, and characteristics of the grasland biome.
Download or read book Over in the Grasslands written by Marianne Berkes and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2016-03-01 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learning is fun while discovering one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world! Begin to appreciate the adorable baby animals in and around the grasslands like zebras that gallop, hippos that graze, and mearkats that watch. Explore the world around you, and inspire a bond with nature through curiosity and wonder! Parents, teachers and gift givers will find: a book filled with baby animals from the grasslands habitat. educational backmatter about this habitat and the animals that live there. a nature book to explore new and beautiful habitats! The creative art will inspire many projects at home and at school! Kids will explore the grasslands habitat and learn about baby animals like giraffes, hippos, and more creatures around the grasslands habitat in this bestselling book for young explorers!
Download or read book Grassland Ecosystems of the World Analysis of Grasslands and Their Uses written by Robert T. Coupland and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1979-05-10 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Background; The nature of grassland; Problems in studying grassland ecosystems; Natural temperate grasslands; Semi-natural temperate meadows and pastures; Tropical grasslands; Arable grasslands; Croplands.
Download or read book Grass Sky Song written by Trevor Herriot and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2012-06-26 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published to wide acclaim, this beautiful meditation on the fate of grassland birds has been praised for its profound wisdom and lyrical grace. Herriot, in a narrative that is at once intimate and informative, argues for the essential nature of these tiny creatures. He invites us into the unique world of dedicated scientists, passionate naturalists and such historical figures as 19th-century botanist John Macoun, the last naturalist to see the Great Plains in its pre-settlement grandeur. Grass, Sky, Song is a blending of personal experience, history, philosophy and scientific research. Filled with evocative “sidebar” descriptions of threatened birds, from the sharp-tailed grouse to the chestnutcollared longspur, this graceful book demonstrates why Trevor Herriot is regarded as one of Canada’s finest non-fiction writers.
Download or read book Open Ecosystems written by William J. Bond and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2019-08-21 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the geography, ecology, and antiquity of 'open ecosystems', which include grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. They occur in climates that can support closed forest ecosystems and often form mosaics with forest patches. With the aid of remote sensing, it is now clear that open ecosystems are a global phenomenon and occur over vast areas in climates that could also support forests. This book goes beyond regional narratives and seeks general explanations for their existence. It develops the theme of open ecosystems as being widespread and ancient, with a distinct biota from that of closed forests. It examines hypotheses for their maintenance in climate zones favouring the development of forests, including fire, vertebrate herbivory, and soils hostile for tree growth. Open Ecosystems: Ecology and Evolution Beyond the Forest Edge provides an accessible introduction for graduate students and researchers of open (non-forested) ecosystem ecology in departments of ecology, geography, and environmental science. It will also be of relevance and use to professional ecologists, biogeographers, and global change biologists requiring a concise, authoritative overview of the topic
Download or read book African Grasslands written by William B. Rice and published by Teacher Created Materials. This book was released on 2012-01-30 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Journey to Africa to explore the world of the grasslands! Readers are taken on an adventure through the grasslands to learn about the various animal and plant life and grassland conservation in this fascinating nonfiction book that features striking photographs and riveting facts. Even the most reluctant of readers will be captivated as they move from cover to cover.
Download or read book Sonoita Plain written by Carl E. Bock and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch is a tract of 8,000 acres on the Sonoita Plain that was established in 1968 by the Appleton family and is now part of the sanctuary system of the National Audubon Society. To all appearances it is an ordinary piece of land, but for the last 35 years it has been treated in an extraordinary way - by leaving it alone. No grazing to influence grass production. No dam building to hold back flash floods. No pest control. No firefighting. By employing such nonaction, might we gain a glimpse of what this land was like hundreds, even thousands, of years ago? Through essays and photographs focusing on the Research Ranch Sanctuary and surrounding area, this book reveals the complex ecology and unique aesthetics of its grasslands and savannas. Carl and Jane Bock and Stephen E. Strom share a passion for the remarkable beauty found here, and in their book they describe its environment, biodiversity, and human history.
Download or read book Perspectives in Grassland Ecology written by N.R. French and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume is a result of the summary and synthesis of data collected in the Grassland Biome Program, which is part of the American contribution to the International Biological Program (IBP). The purpose of this volume is to present a summary of quantitative ecological investigations of North American grass lands and to present a set of broad comparisons of their characteristics and functions as well as the results of some models and experiments that lead to practical considerations of the management of grasslands. Synthesis is a continuing activity in science. Early in the Grassland Biome Program there was a synthesis of literature data on grasslands, edited by R. L. Dix and R. G. Beidleman (1969). Results of the first year of field data collection under this program were synthesized in a volume edited by N. R. French (1971). Development of the large-scale model constructed to depict the processes and the dynamics of state variables in grassland ecosystems was presented by Innis (1978). Soon to appear will be two volumes integrating studies of American grasslands with IBP studies in other grasslands of the world (Coupland, in press) and the application of systems analysis to understanding grassland function and utilization (Breymeyer and Van Dyne, in press). The present volume presents current results and comparisons of field investigations and experimental studies that were conducted under this program.
