The Ecology of Fynbos

The Ecology of Fynbos PDF Author: Richard M. Cowling
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
South Africa's Cape Floristic Region includes approximately 8,500 plant species. Most of this biodiversity is concentrated in fynbos, a fire-prone shrubland occurring on the sandy, infertile soils which predominate in this region.This book reviews a decade of rigorous research into the biogeography, ecology and management of fynbos, carried out under the auspices of the Fynbos Biome Project.

The Ecology of Fynbos

The Ecology of Fynbos PDF Author: Richard M. Cowling
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
South Africa's Cape Floristic Region includes approximately 8,500 plant species. Most of this biodiversity is concentrated in fynbos, a fire-prone shrubland occurring on the sandy, infertile soils which predominate in this region.This book reviews a decade of rigorous research into the biogeography, ecology and management of fynbos, carried out under the auspices of the Fynbos Biome Project.

Biological Invasions in South Africa

Biological Invasions in South Africa PDF Author: Brian W. van Wilgen
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030323943
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 972

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Book Description
This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions.

Cape Plants

Cape Plants PDF Author: Peter Goldblatt
Publisher: Missouri Botanical Garden Press
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 802

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Book Description


Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems PDF Author: Philip W. Rundel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 366203543X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 460

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Book Description
Human impact on natural landscapes through urbanization and agricultural expansion are becoming more and more dramatic and are the cause of serious environmental problems. This volume examines the effect of landscape disturbance on plant and animal diversity in the five mediterranean-climate regions of the world. It begins with three introductory chapters broadly reviewing the issues of landscape degradation. Further contributions describe regional land use conflicts in each of the five regions. Landscape disturbance and plant diversity, and landscape disturbance and animal diversity are treated in separate chapters. Four contributions deal with demography and ecophysiology in vegetation succession following disturbance. The volume closes with a consideration of the future addressing aspects of environmental politics.

Vegetation of Southern Africa

Vegetation of Southern Africa PDF Author: R. M. Cowling
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521548014
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 656

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Book Description
Comprehensive illustrated guide to plant science and ecology of southern African vegetation.

Plant Invasions

Plant Invasions PDF Author: Anna Traveset
Publisher: CABI
ISBN: 1789242177
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 481

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Book Description
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.

Fynbos Fynmense

Fynbos Fynmense PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781919976297
Category : Biodiversity
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description


Nature's Services

Nature's Services PDF Author: Gretchen Cara Daily
Publisher: Island Press
ISBN: 1597267759
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 415

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Book Description
Life itself as well as the entire human economy depends on goods and services provided by earth's natural systems. The processes of cleansing, recycling, and renewal, along with goods such as seafood, forage, and timber, are worth many trillions of dollars annually, and nothing could live without them. Yet growing human impacts on the environment are profoundly disrupting the functioning of natural systems and imperiling the delivery of these services. Nature's Services brings together world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines to examine the character and value of ecosystem services, the damage that has been done to them, and the consequent implications for human society. Contributors including Paul R. Ehrlich, Donald Kennedy, Pamela A. Matson, Robert Costanza, Gary Paul Nabhan, Jane Lubchenco, Sandra Postel, and Norman Myers present a detailed synthesis of our current understanding of a suite of ecosystem services and a preliminary assessment of their economic value. Chapters consider: major services including climate regulation, soil fertility, pollination, and pest control philosophical and economic issues of valuation case studies of specific ecosystems and services implication of recent findings and steps that must be taken to address the most pressing concerns Nature's Services represents one of the first efforts by scientists to provide an overview of the many benefits and services that nature offers to people and the extent to which we are all vitally dependent on those services. The book enhances our understanding of the value of the natural systems that surround us and can play an essential role in encouraging greater efforts to protect the earth's basic life-support systems before it is too late.

Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities

Urbanization, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities PDF Author: Thomas Elmqvist
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 940077088X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 771

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Book Description
Urbanization is a global phenomenon and the book emphasizes that this is not just a social-technological process. It is also a social-ecological process where cities are places for nature, and where cities also are dependent on, and have impacts on, the biosphere at different scales from local to global. The book is a global assessment and delivers four main conclusions: Urban areas are expanding faster than urban populations. Half the increase in urban land across the world over the next 20 years will occur in Asia, with the most extensive change expected to take place in India and China Urban areas modify their local and regional climate through the urban heat island effect and by altering precipitation patterns, which together will have significant impacts on net primary production, ecosystem health, and biodiversity Urban expansion will heavily draw on natural resources, including water, on a global scale, and will often consume prime agricultural land, with knock-on effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services elsewhere Future urban expansion will often occur in areas where the capacity for formal governance is restricted, which will constrain the protection of biodiversity and management of ecosystem services

Ecology and Biogeography of Mediterranean Ecosystems in Chile, California, and Australia

Ecology and Biogeography of Mediterranean Ecosystems in Chile, California, and Australia PDF Author: Mary T. Kalin Arroyo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 146122490X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 468

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Book Description
Mediterranean-type ecosystems have provided ecologists with some of the most scientifically-rewarding opportunities to formulate and evaluate hypotheses about large and small-scale ecological phenomena. Comparison of mediterranean-type climate ecosystems in different parts of the world has not only permitted a strong test for ecological convergence, but also critical understanding of key ecophysiological and population processes.