Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae

Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae PDF Author: Renato Goldenberg
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030997421
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 786

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Book Description
This book presents a synthesis of critical new information for the Melastomataceae, one of the ten richest families among flowering plants with over 5,800 species that has its diversity highly concentrated in tropical or subtropical areas. It describes the family’s global diversity and distribution and summarizes recent advances in systematics, evolution, biogeography, reproductive biology and ecology.

Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae

Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae PDF Author: Renato Goldenberg
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030997421
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 786

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Book Description
This book presents a synthesis of critical new information for the Melastomataceae, one of the ten richest families among flowering plants with over 5,800 species that has its diversity highly concentrated in tropical or subtropical areas. It describes the family’s global diversity and distribution and summarizes recent advances in systematics, evolution, biogeography, reproductive biology and ecology.

Dicotyledons: Rosids

Dicotyledons: Rosids PDF Author: Urs Eggli
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030934926
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1155

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Book Description
The succulent species of the families of subclass Rosidae are presented by alphabet of families, genera, and species, with comprehensive listings of synonyms added at all levels. Detailed descriptions are given for all accepted taxa, together with data on the distribution and typification, and references to the most important literature. Where necessary, information on ecology, ethnobotany, history, etc. is added, and in many places, proposed relationships are critically discussed. The volume covers the succulents from the families Anacardiacae, Begoniaceae, Bixaceae, Brassicaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, Clusiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Francoaceae, Geraniaceae, Malvaceae, Melastomataceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae, Moringaceae, Oxalidaceae, Passifloraceae, Sapindaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Urticaceae, Vitaceae and Zygophyllaceae.

Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms

Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms PDF Author: Douglas Soltis
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022644175X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 587

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Book Description
Although they are relative latecomers on the evolutionary scene, having emerged only 135?170 million years ago, angiosperms—or flowering plants—are the most diverse and species-rich group of seed-producing land plants, comprising more than 15,000 genera and over 350,000 species. Not only are they a model group for studying the patterns and processes of evolutionary diversification, they also play major roles in our economy, diet, and courtship rituals, producing our fruits, legumes, and grains, not to mention the flowers in our Valentine’s bouquets. They are also crucial ecologically, dominating most terrestrial and some aquatic landscapes. This fully revised edition of Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms provides an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the evolution of and relationships among these vital plants. Incorporating molecular phylogenetics with morphological, chemical, developmental, and paleobotanical data, as well as presenting a more detailed account of early angiosperm fossils and important fossil information for each evolutionary branch of the angiosperms, the new edition integrates fossil evidence into a robust phylogenetic framework. Featuring a wealth of new color images, this highly synthetic work further reevaluates long-held evolutionary hypotheses related to flowering plants and will be an essential reference for botanists, plant systematists, and evolutionary biologists alike.

The Braconid and Ichneumonid Parasitoid Wasps

The Braconid and Ichneumonid Parasitoid Wasps PDF Author: Donald L. J. Quicke
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118907078
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 704

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Book Description
The Ichneumonoidea is a vast and important superfamily ofparasitic wasps, with some 60,000 described species and estimatednumbers far higher, especially for small-bodied tropical taxa. Thesuperfamily comprises two cosmopolitan families - Braconidae andIchneumonidae - that have largely attracted separate groups ofresearchers, and this, to a considerable extent, has meant thatunderstanding of their adaptive features has often been consideredin isolation. This book considers both families, highlightingsimilarities and differences in their adaptations. The classification of the whole of the Ichneumonoidea, along withmost other insect orders, has been plagued by typology wherebyundue importance has been attributed to particular characters indefining groups. Typology is a common disease of traditionaltaxonomy such that, until recently, quite a lot of taxa have beenassociated with the wrong higher clades. The sheer size of thegroup, and until the last 30 or so years, lack of accessibleidentification materials, has been a further impediment to researchon all but a handful of ‘lab rat’ species usuallycultured initially because of their potential in biologicalcontrol. New evidence, largely in the form of molecular data, have shownthat many morphological, behavioural, physiological and anatomicalcharacters associated with basic life history features,specifically whether wasps are ecto- or endoparasitic, or idiobiontor koinobiont, can be grossly misleading in terms of the phylogenythey suggest. This book shows how, with better supportedphylogenetic hypotheses entomologists can understand far more aboutthe ways natural selection is acting upon them. This new book also focuses on this superfamily with which theauthor has great familiarity and provides a detailed coverage ofeach subfamily, emphasising anatomy, taxonomy andsystematics, biology, as well as pointing out the importance andresearch potential of each group. Fossil taxa are included and italso has sections on biogeography, global species richness, culturing and rearing andpreparing specimens for taxonomic study. The book highlights areaswhere research might be particularly rewarding and suggestssystems/groups that need investigation. The author provides a largecompendium of references to original research on each group. Thisbook is an essential workmate for all postgraduates and researchersworking on ichneumonoid or other parasitic wasps worldwide. It willstand as a reference book for a good number of years, and whilerapid advances in various fields such as genomics and hostphysiological interactions will lead to new information, as anoverall synthesis of the current state it will stay relevant for along time.

The New Natural History of Madagascar

The New Natural History of Madagascar PDF Author: Steven M. Goodman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691229406
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2297

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Book Description
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

The Natural History of Flowers

The Natural History of Flowers PDF Author: Michael Fogden
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 1623496446
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description
Flowers have played an important role in human culture and survival for thousands of years. The final products of flowers—fruits and seeds—are vitally important as food. Flowers provide bursts of color to homes and gardens and they symbolize love, sorrow, and renewal. Yet we often overlook their real purpose. Why do flowers exist and why do they have certain colors, shapes, and smells? What function does a flower have in the life and survival of the plants themselves? In nature, flowers play an essential role in improving a plant’s chances of survival. Some flowers are pollinated by wind or water but most are designed to attract and reward pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, to carry their pollen from flower to flower. After being pollinated, flowers produce fruits and again take advantage of wind, water, and animals to disperse their seeds, ensuring a new generation of their species. Pollination and seed dispersal are fine-tuned systems, and their importance in sustaining a healthy environment cannot be overstated. And, as ongoing climate and other environmental changes apply new pressures, flowers must continue to adapt in order to survive. In this beautifully illustrated book with over 200 stunning photographs, Michael Fogden and Patricia Fogden draw from existing research and their extensive field experiences all over the world to present a detailed but accessible introduction to the natural history of flowers. They discuss a representative sample of flowering and fruiting strategies, illustrating interactions between plants and their pollinators and dispersers, and conclude with descriptions of their favorite tropical flowers.

The Ecology of Tropical East Asia

The Ecology of Tropical East Asia PDF Author: Richard T. Corlett
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191503495
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
Tropical East Asia is home to over one billion people and faces massive human impacts from its rising population and rapid economic growth. It has already lost more than two-thirds of its forest cover and has the highest rates of deforestation and logging in the tropics. Hunting, coupled with the relentless trade in wildlife products, threatens all its large and many of its smaller vertebrates. Despite these problems, the region still supports an estimated 15-25% of global terrestrial biodiversity and is therefore a key area for conservation. Effective conservation action depends on a clear understanding of the ecological patterns and processes in the region. The first edition of The Ecology of Tropical East Asia was the first book to describe the terrestrial ecology of the entire East Asian tropics and subtropics, from southern China to western Indonesia. This second edition updates the contents and extends the coverage to include the very similar ecosystems of northeast India and Bhutan. The book deals with plants, animals, and the ecosystems they inhabit, as well as the diverse threats to their survival and the options for conservation. It provides the background knowledge of the region's ecology needed by both specialists and non-specialists to put their own work into a broader context. The accessible style, comprehensive coverage, and engaging illustrations make this advanced textbook an essential read for senior undergraduate and graduate level students studying the terrestrial ecology of the East Asian tropics, as well as an authoritative reference for professional ecologists, conservationists, and interested amateurs worldwide.

Land Bridges

Land Bridges PDF Author: Alan Graham
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022654432X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 335

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Book Description
Land bridges are the causeways of biodiversity. When they form, organisms are introduced into a new patchwork of species and habitats, forever altering the ecosystems into which they flow; and when land bridges disappear or fracture, organisms are separated into reproductively isolated populations that can evolve independently. More than this, land bridges play a role in determining global climates through changes to moisture and heat transport and are also essential factors in the development of biogeographic patterns across geographically remote regions. In this book, paleobotanist Alan Graham traces the formation and disruption of key New World land bridges and describes the biotic, climatic, and biogeographic ramifications of these land masses’ changing formations over time. Looking at five land bridges, he explores their present geographic setting and climate, modern vegetation, indigenous peoples (with special attention to their impact on past and present vegetation), and geologic history. From the great Panamanian isthmus to the boreal connections across the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans that allowed exchange of organisms between North America, Europe, and Asia, Graham’s sweeping, one-hundred-million-year history offers new insight into the forces that shaped the life and land of the New World.

Cycad Biology and Conservation

Cycad Biology and Conservation PDF Author: Nan Li (Botanist)
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780893275389
Category : Cycads
Languages : en
Pages : 608

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Book Description


Biodiversity of Pantepui

Biodiversity of Pantepui PDF Author: Valentí Rull
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128155922
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
Biodiversity of Pantepui: The Pristine "Lost World" of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands provides the most updated and comprehensive knowledge on the biota, origin, and evolution of the Pantepui biogeographical province. It synthesizes historical information and recent discoveries, covering the main biogeographic patterns, evolutionary trends, and conservational efforts. Written by international experts on the biodiversity of this pristine land, this book explores what makes Pantepui a unique natural laboratory to study the origin and evolution of Neotropical biodiversity under the influence of only natural drivers. It discusses the organisms living in Pentepui, including algae, plants, several groups of invertebrates, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The latter portion of the book delves into the effects of human activity and global warming on Pantepui, and current conservational efforts to combat these threats. Biodiversity of Pantepui is an important resource for researchers in ecology, biogeography, evolution, and conservation, who want to understand the biodiversity and natural history of this region, and how to help conserve and protect the Guiana Highlands from environmental and human damages. - Offers a climactic and ecological history of the region since the Late Glacial epoch - Discusses the evolutionary origin of the Pantepui biota and its biogeographical patterns - Led by a team of editors whose expertise includes Pantepui, the Guiana Shield, and the Neotropics in general