Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles

Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles PDF Author: Marcelo S. de la Fuente
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3319005189
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Get Book Here

Book Description
The extended continental South American turtle record (Norian to Lujanian) allows us to follow the evolution of this reptile clade from its origins. Several significant stem turtle taxa such as: Palaeochersis talampayensis and Condorchelys antiqua provide information on the first steps of turtle evolution. Others such as: Chubutemys copelloi or Patagoniaemys gasparinae provide clues to the origin of the bizarre horned tortoises of the clade Meiolaniidae. The panpleurodiran species such as Notoemys laticentralis or Notoemys zapatocaensis shed light on the origin of modern pleurodiran turtles. This book explores aquatic and terrestrial cryptodiran turtles, South Gondwana pleurodiran turtles, North Gondwana pleurodiran turtles; Meiolaniforms and early differentiation of Mesozoic turtles.

Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles

Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles PDF Author: Marcelo S. de la Fuente
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3319005189
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Get Book Here

Book Description
The extended continental South American turtle record (Norian to Lujanian) allows us to follow the evolution of this reptile clade from its origins. Several significant stem turtle taxa such as: Palaeochersis talampayensis and Condorchelys antiqua provide information on the first steps of turtle evolution. Others such as: Chubutemys copelloi or Patagoniaemys gasparinae provide clues to the origin of the bizarre horned tortoises of the clade Meiolaniidae. The panpleurodiran species such as Notoemys laticentralis or Notoemys zapatocaensis shed light on the origin of modern pleurodiran turtles. This book explores aquatic and terrestrial cryptodiran turtles, South Gondwana pleurodiran turtles, North Gondwana pleurodiran turtles; Meiolaniforms and early differentiation of Mesozoic turtles.

The Physical Geography of South America

The Physical Geography of South America PDF Author: Thomas T. Veblen
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190286059
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 750

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Physical Geography of South America, the eighth volume in the Oxford Regional Environments series, presents an enduring statement on the physical and biogeographic conditions of this remarkable continent and their relationships to human activity. It fills a void in recent environmental literature by assembling a team of specialists from within and beyond South America in order to provide an integrated, cross-disciplinary body of knowledge about this mostly tropical continent, together with its high mountains and temperate southern cone. The authors systematically cover the main components of the South American environment - tectonism, climate, glaciation, natural landscape changes, rivers, vegetation, animals, and soils. The book then presents more specific treatments of regions with special attributes from the tropical forests of the Amazon basin to the Atacama Desert and Patagonian steppe, and from the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific coasts to the high Andes. Additionally, the continents environments are given a human face by evaluating the roles played by people over time, from pre-European and European colonial impacts to the effects of modern agriculture and urbanization, and from interactions with El NiƱo events to prognoses for the future environments of the continent.

High-Latitude Rainforests and Associated Ecosystems of the West Coast of the Americas

High-Latitude Rainforests and Associated Ecosystems of the West Coast of the Americas PDF Author: Richard G. Lawford
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461239702
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 430

Get Book Here

Book Description
Regional intercomparisons between ecosystems on different continents can be a powerful tool to better understand the ways in which ecosystems respond to global change. Large areas are often needed to characterize the causal mechanisms governing interactions between ecozones and their environments. Factors such as weather and climate patterns, land-ocean and land-atmosphere interactions all play important roles. As a result of the strong physical north-south symmetry between the western coasts of North and South America, the similarities in climate, coastal oceanography and physiography between these two regions have been extensively documented. High Latitude Rain Forests and Associated Ecosystems of the West Coast of the Americas presents current research on West Coast forest and river ecology, and compares ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest with those of South America.

Biogeographic Patterns of South American Anurans

Biogeographic Patterns of South American Anurans PDF Author: Tiago S. Vasconcelos
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030262960
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 155

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book analyzes different facets of anuran amphibian distribution in South America. We integrate alternative biological metrics employing cutting-edge methods to understand the dynamic processes underlying species distribution patterns. By using the modern biogeographic toolbox, we explore how richness gradients, phylogenetic diversity, functional diversity, and range size/endemism distribution of amphibians vary along the continent. Moreover, we present a robust proposal for priority areas for conservation of anurans in South America that maximizes representativeness of distinct biodiversity facets.

Proceedings of The Academy of Natural Sciences (Vol. 143, 1991)

Proceedings of The Academy of Natural Sciences (Vol. 143, 1991) PDF Author:
Publisher: Academy of Natural Sciences
ISBN: 9781437955422
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 214

Get Book Here

Book Description


Analytical Biogeography

Analytical Biogeography PDF Author: A.A. Myers
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400904355
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 578

Get Book Here

Book Description
Biogeography may be defined simply as the study of the geographical distribution of organisms, but this simple defmition hides the great complexity of the subject. Biogeography transcends classical subject areas and involves a range of scientific disciplines that includes geogra phy, geology and biology. Not surprisingly, therefore, it means rather different things to different people. Historically, the study of biogeogra phy has been concentrated into compartments at separate points along a spatio-temporal gradient. At one end of the gradient, ecological biogeography is concerned with ecological processes occurring over short temporal and small spatial scales, whilst at the other end, historical biogeography is concerned with evolutionary processes over millions of years on a large, often global scale. Between these end points lies a third major compartment concerned with the profound effects of Pleistocene glaciations and how these have affected the distribution of recent organisms. Within each of these compartments along the scale gradient, a large number of theories, hypotheses and models have been proposed in an attempt to explain the present and past biotic distribution patterns. To a large extent, these compartments of the subject have been non-interactive, which is understandable from the different interests and backgrounds of the various researchers. Nevertheless, the distribu tions of organisms across the globe cannot be fully understood without a knowledge of the full spectrum of ecological and historical processes. There are no degrees in biogeography and today' s biogeographers are primarily born out of some other discipline.

Food Webs and Container Habitats

Food Webs and Container Habitats PDF Author: R. L. Kitching
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 113942839X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 449

Get Book Here

Book Description
The animal communities in plant-held water bodies, such as tree holes and pitcher plants, have become models for food-web studies. In this book, Professor Kitching introduces us to these fascinating miniature worlds and demonstrates how they can be used to tackle some of the major questions in community ecology. Based on thirty years' research in many parts of the world, this work presents much previously unpublished information, in addition to summarising over a hundred years of natural history observations by others. The book covers many aspects of the theory of food-web formation and maintenance presented with field-collected information on tree holes, bromeliads, pitcher plants, bamboo containers and the axils of fleshy plants. It is a unique introduction for the field naturalist and a stimulating source treatment for graduate students and professionals working in the fields of tropical and other forest ecology, as well as entomology.

Alternative Life-History Styles of Animals

Alternative Life-History Styles of Animals PDF Author: Michael N. Bruton
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400926057
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 621

Get Book Here

Book Description


Ecology of Tropical Savannas

Ecology of Tropical Savannas PDF Author: B. J. Huntley
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642687865
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 677

Get Book Here

Book Description


Monteverde

Monteverde PDF Author: Nalini Nadkarni
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 9780195095609
Category : Cloud forest ecology
Languages : en
Pages : 626

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has captured the attention of biologists, conservationists and ecologists and has been the setting for extensive investigation over the past 30 years. This provides information on this ecosystem and the biota.