Download or read book Plant Ecology Herbivory and Human Impact in Nordic Mountain Birch Forests written by Frans E. Wielgolaski and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-01-12 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work analyzes vegetation and soils, and investigates the influence of climate change, insect pests, grazing pressure by sheep and reindeer, construction of roads and other consequences of increasing tourism in the Nordic mountain birch forests.
Download or read book Nordic Mountain Birch Ecosystems written by F.E. Wielgolaski and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2001-11-15 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents the results of an extensive, long-running program of research on mountain birch, Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii, conducted by the Nordic Subarctic and Subalpine Ecology (NSSE) group, as part of the UNESCO/MAB Northern Sciences Network. The book contains an almost complete overview of NSSE research and results, presented in 31 data-rich chapters in six sections: introduction, ecosystem distribution, plant growth, animal herbivory, impact by man, and conclusions. These chapters cover the history, climatic influences and interactions of animals and insects on the growth and distribution of mountain birch, considering both physical and chemical aspects of performance and distribution, and using research methods ranging from plant and animal ecophysiology to social anthropology and remote sensing. The work also examines past and future climates and the effects of air pollution on the growth and distribution of mountain birch and associated herbs, insect, rodent and bird populations. This information is especially important in view the effects of climate change, topography and grazing on the treeline. Both wild and domestic animal populations, including domestic and semi-domestic reindeer, are responsible for grazing and trampling of birch forest. Reindeer herding and migration have been prevented or limited during the last century for political and economic reasons, while farming and increased tourism have also had direct impacts on birch forest regeneration through trampling and new building projects. Mountain birch are also used as firewood, for lumber or furniture, and traditionally by the Sami (Lappish) people for tools and handicrafts. The book includes bibliographic references and index.
Download or read book Reindeer Management in Northernmost Europe written by Bruce C. Forbes and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-03-09 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The findings presented in this volume represent a concerted effort to develop a more inclusive form of reindeer management for northernmost Europe. Our guiding principle has been to foster a new paradigm of participatory research. We wish to move beyond the historical reliance on western approaches to basic and applied science. These have been concerned prim- ily with interactions between herded animals and the various components of their biophysical environment, e. g. , plants, insects, predators, climate, and others. In our view,sociocultural and economic drivers,along with herders’ experience-based knowledge,gain equal currency in the effort to understand how management may mitigate against the negative aspects of the challenges modern herding faces, while also exploring concepts of sustainability from different perspectives (see also Jernsletten and Klokov 2002; Kankaanpää et al. 2002; Ulvevadet and Klokov 2004). This broadening of the pool of disciplines and local,national,and int- national stakeholders in policy-relevant research invariably complicates v- tually all aspects of the research process. Multidisciplinary or, in our sense, transdisciplinary approaches also require extraordinary effort from all p- ticipants if they are to succeed. As such, those approaches should not be undertaken lightly, nor without personnel who possess appropriate expe- ence in cooperating with those of different disciplines and, preferably, also with relevant practitioners and public social and administrative institutions. In such settings the potential for misunderstandings is quite high.
Download or read book The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing written by Iain J. Gordon and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-09-14 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume investigates how large herbivores not only influence the structure and distribution of the vegetation, but also affect nutrient flows and the responses of associated fauna. The mechanisms and processes underlying the herbivores' behavior, distribution, movement and direct impact on the vegetation are discussed in detail. It is shown that an understanding of plant/animal interactions can inform the management of large herbivores to integrate production and conservation in terrestrial systems.
Download or read book Mountain Timberlines written by Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-03-15 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than 40 years I have been engaged in timberline research. Thus, one could suppose that writing this book should not have been too difficult. It was harder, however, than expected, and in the end I felt that more questions had arisen than could be answered within its pages. Perhaps it would have been easier to write the book 30 years ago and then leave the subject to mature. Lastly it was the late Prof. Heinz Ellenberg who had convinced me to portray a much needed and complete picture of what we know of the timberline with special respect to its great physiognomic, structural and ecological variety. The first version of this book was p- lished in the German language (Holtmeier, 2000). Nevertheless, I was very delighted when Prof. Martin Beniston encouraged me to prepare an English edition for the series ‘Advances in Global Change Research’, which guaranteed a wider circulation. Timberline is a worldwide and very heterogeneous phenomenon, which can only be presented by way of examples. My own field experience is necessarily limited to certain timberline areas, such as the Alps, northern Scandinavia, northern Finland and many high mountain ranges in the western United States and Canada. However, my own observations and the results of my and my previous collaborators research were essential for developing the concept of the book and became integrated into the picture of timberline that is presented in the following chapters.
Download or read book Human Ecology written by Holger Schutkowski and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-02-28 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the relationship between cultural strategies and their biological outcomes, combining for the first time an ecosystems approach with cultural anthropological, archaeological and evolutionary behavioural concepts. Beginning with resource use and food procurement behaviour, the text examines major subsistence modes, the circumstances and dynamics of large-scale subsistence change, the effect of social differentiation on resource use and the effects of subsistence behaviour on population development and regulation.
Download or read book Phenology An Integrative Environmental Science written by Mark D. Schwartz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-07-30 with total page 610 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Phenology refers to recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, such as leafing and flowering, maturation of agricultural plants, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. It is also the study of these recurring events, especially their timing and relationships with weather and climate. Phenological phenomena all give a ready measure of the environment as viewed by the associated organism, and are thus ideal indicators of the impact of local and global changes in weather and climate on the earth’s biosphere. Assessing our changing world is a complex task that requires close cooperation from experts in biology, climatology, ecology, geography, oceanography, remote sensing, and other areas. Like its predecessor, this second edition of Phenology is a synthesis of current phenological knowledge, designed as a primer on the field for global change and general scientists, students, and interested members of the public. With updated and new contributions from over fifty phenological experts, covering data collection, current research, methods, and applications, it demonstrates the accomplishments, progress over the last decade, and future potential of phenology as an integrative environmental science.
Download or read book Disturbance Ecology written by Thomas Wohlgemuth and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-11-19 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited work presents a multi-faceted view on the causes and consequences of disturbance in ecosystems. Vegetation can be affected by a variety of different disturbances such as wind, floods, fire, and insect attack, leading to an abrupt change in live biomass. Disturbance is a motor of vegetation dynamics, but also sensitive to climate change and poses a challenge for ecosystem management. Readers will discover the global distribution of disturbance regimes and learn about the importance of disturbances for biodiversity and the evolution of plant and animal life. The book provides a Central European perspective on disturbance ecology, and addresses important disturbance agents such as fire, wind, avalanches, tree diseases, insect defoliators, bark beetles and large herbivores in dedicated chapters. It furthermore includes chapters on anthropogenic disturbances in forests and grasslands. The impact of climate change on disturbance regimes and approaches to address disturbance risks in ecosystem management are discussed in concluding chapters. Within the 18 chapters 14 textboxes highlight current topics of disturbance ecology and provide deeper methodological insights into the field. Disturbances strongly shape our landscapes and maintain our biodiversity. A better understanding of their ecology is thus fundamental for contextualizing the dynamic changes in our environment. This book is a valuable resource for students and practitioners interested in disturbances and their management.
Download or read book The Interconnected Arctic UArctic Congress 2016 written by Kirsi Latola and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-06-15 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book presents the most current research results and knowledge from five multidisciplinary themes: Vulnerability of Arctic Environments, Vulnerability of Arctic Societies, Local and Traditional Knowledge, Building Long-term Human Capacity, New Markets for the Arctic, including tourism and safety. The themes are those discussed at the first ever UArctic Congress Science Section, St. Petersburg, Russia, September 2016. The book looks at the Arctic from a holistic perspective; how the environment (both marine and terrestrial) and communities can adapt and manage the changes due to climate change. The chapters provide examples of the state-of-the-art research, bringing together both scientific and local knowledge to form a comprehensive and cohesive volume. Except where otherwise noted, this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Download or read book Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology written by Richard B. Aronson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-03-09 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a unique perspective on the destruction - both natural and human-caused - of coral reef ecosystems. Reconstructing the ecological history of coral reefs, the authors evaluate whether recent dramatic changes are novel events or part of a long-term trend or cycle. The text combines principles of geophysics, paleontology, and marine sciences with real-time observation, examining the interacting causes of change: hurricane damage, predators, disease, rising sea-level, nutrient loading, global warming and ocean acidification. Predictions about the future of coral reefs inspire strategies for restoration and management of ecosystems. Useful for students and professionals in ecology and marine biology, including environmental managers.
Download or read book Animals Influence on the Landscape and Ecological Importance written by Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-10-22 with total page 547 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In its first English-language edition, this book introduces the many-faceted interactions of animal populations with their habitats. From soil fauna, ants and termites to small and large herbivores, burrowing mammals and birds, the author presents a comprehensive analysis of animals and ecosystems that is as broad and varied as all nature. Chapter 2 addresses the functional role of animals in landscape ecosystems, emphasizing fluxes of energy and matter within and between ecosystems, and the effects of animals on qualitative and structural habitat change. Discussion includes chapters on the role of animal population density and the impacts of native herbivores on vegetation and habitats from the tropics to the polar regions. Cyclic mass outbreaks of species such as the larch bud moth in Switzerland, the mountain pine beetle and the African red-billed weaver bird are described and analyzed. Other chapters discuss Zoochory – the dispersal of seeds by ants, mammals and birds – and the influence of burrowing animals on soil development and geomorphology. Consideration extends to the impact of feral domestic animals. Chapter 5 focuses on problems resulting from introduction of alien animals and from re-introduction of animal species to their original habitats, discusses the effects on ecosystems of burrowing, digging and trampling by animals. The author also addresses keystone species such as kangaroo rats, termites and beavers. Chapter 6 addresses the role of animals in landscape management and nature conservation, with chapters on the impact of newcomer species such as animals introduced into Australia, New Zealand and Europe, and the consequences of reintroduction of species to original habitat. It also discusses the carrying capacity of natural habit, public attitudes toward conversation and more. The final section ponders the effects of climate on interactions between animals and their habitats.
Download or read book Nutrient Acquisition by Plants written by Hormoz BassiriRad and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2005-05-20 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an integrated review of the mechanisms controlling plant nutrient uptake and how plants respond to changes in the environment. Among key topics covered are: soil nutrient bioavailability; root responses to variations in nutrient supply; nitrogen fixation; root architecture; life span; mycorrhizae; responses to climate change. The book helps us understand the mechanisms that govern present-day plant communities and to predict the response of plants to a changing climate.
Download or read book Western North American Juniperus Communities written by Oscar van Auken and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-12-04 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In North America, Juniperus woodlands occupy approximately 55 million hectares, an area larger than the state of Texas. This title addresses various aspects of the biology, ecology, and management of Juniperus woodlands and savannas, synthesizing past and current research findings as well as proposed research. The book provides ecologists, land managers, and foresters with a solid foundation in Juniperus ecosystems, enabling them to manage the communities for maximum sustained productivity and diversity.
Download or read book Global Vegetation written by Jörg S. Pfadenhauer and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-09-09 with total page 858 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This up-to-date textbook of global vegetation ecology, which comprises the current state of knowledge, is long overdue and much-needed. It is a translation of the textbook “Vegetation der Erde” (Springer-Spektrum, Heidelberg). A short introductory chapter deals with the fundamentals of vegetation ecology that are of importance for the delimitation and characterization of the global vegetation presented in this book (chorology, evolution of plants, physiognomic and structural characteristics, phytodiversity and the human impact on it as well as general terminology concerning both plant growth forms and on vegetation structure types). In the following chapters the zonal and azonal vegetation from the tropics to the polar regions including high mountains is described and discussed. The main focus is on the characterization of interactions between the spatial location of plants and plant communities on the one hand and site conditions, historic and genetic processes, spatial and temporal patterns, ecophysiology and anthropogenic influences on the other hand. Additional information on specific topics is provided in 51 boxes.
Download or read book Ecology of Baltic Coastal Waters written by Ulrich Schiewer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-01-12 with total page 443 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first comprehensive overview of the enormous ecological diversity of Baltic coastal ecosystems is presented in this volume provides. A short introduction into the Baltic Sea as a reference ecosystem is followed by detailed descriptions of the characteristics of coastal ecosystems. Ecological case studies from four regions illustrate the different reactions of these ecosystems to natural and anthropogenic influences.
Download or read book Biological Invasions in New Zealand written by Robert B. Allen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-07-04 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Human colonization of New Zealand has dramatically altered the resident biota, introduced numerous alien organisms to these once remote islands, and exported local species to the world. This book reviews invasions, investigates what controls the success of invaders and studies the consequences for ecosystems both on land and offshore. The book tests current theories about the success of invaders and evaluates principles for effective management of biological invasions worldwide.
Download or read book Wetlands and Natural Resource Management written by Jos T.A. Verhoeven and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-11-22 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a broad and well-integrated overview of recent major scientific results in wetland science and their applications in natural resource management issues. The contributors, internationally known experts, summarize the state of the art on an array of topics, divided into four broad areas: The Role of Wetlands for Integrated Water Resources Management: Putting Theory into Practice; Wetland Science for Environmental Management; Wetland Biogeochemistry; Wetlands and Climate Change Worldwide.
