Remote Sensing of Plant Biodiversity
This Open Access volume aims to methodologically improve our understanding of biodiversity by linking disciplines that incorporate remote sensing, and uniting data and perspectives in the fields of biology, landscape ecology, and geography. The book provides a framework for how biodiversity can be detected and evaluated--focusing particularly on plants--using proximal and remotely sensed hyperspectral data and other tools such as LiDAR. The volume, whose chapters bring together a large cross-section of the biodiversity community engaged in these methods, attempts to establish a common language across disciplines for understanding and implementing remote sensing of biodiversity across scales. The first part of the book offers a potential basis for remote detection of biodiversity. An overview of the nature of biodiversity is described, along with ways for determining traits of plant biodiversity through spectral analyses across spatial scales and linking spectral data to the tree of life. The second part details what can be detected spectrally and remotely. Specific instrumentation and technologies are described, as well as the technical challenges of detection and data synthesis, collection and processing. The third part discusses spatial resolution and integration across scales and ends with a vision for developing a global biodiversity monitoring system. Topics include spectral and functional variation across habitats and biomes, biodiversity variables for global scale assessment, and the prospects and pitfalls in remote sensing of biodiversity at the global scale.
Cultural Values and Human Ecology in Southeast Asia, Volume 27
Ecologists have long based their conceptual frameworks in the natural sciences. Recently, however, they have acknowledged that ecosystems cannot be understood without taking into account human interventions that may have taken place for thousands of years. And for their part, social scientists have recognized that human behavior must be understood in the environment in which it is acted out. Researchers have thus begun to develop the area of "human ecology." Yet human ecology needs suitable conceptual frameworks to tie the human and natural together.In response, Cultural Values and Human Ecology uses the framework of cultural values to collect a set of highly diverse contributions to the field of human ecology. Values represent an important and essential aspect of the intellectual organization of a society, integrated into and ordained by the over-arching cosmological system, and constituting the meaningful basis for action, in terms of concreteness and abstraction of content as well as mutability and permanence. Because of this balance, values lend themselves to the kinds of analyses of ecological relationships conducted here, those that demand a reasonable amount of specificity as well as historical stability.The contributions to Cultural Values and Human Ecology are exceedingly diverse. They include abstract theoretical discussions and specific case studies, ranging across the landscape of Southeast Asia from the islands to southern China. They deal with hunting-gathering populations as well as peasants operating within contemporary nation-states, and they are the work of natural scientists, social scientists, and humanists of Western and Asian origin. Diversity in the backgrounds of the authors contributes most to the varied approaches to the theme of this volume, because differences in cultural background and academic tradition will lead to different research interests and to differences in the empirical approaches chosen to pursue given problems.
Pollinators and Pollination
'Fascinating, entertaining, and thought-provoking.' - Professor Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale, Bee Quest, A Buzz in the Meadow and The Garden JungleA unique and personal insight into the ecology and evolution of pollinators, their relationships with flowers, and their conservation in a rapidly changing world.The pollination of flowers by insects, birds and other animals is a fundamentally important ecological function that supports both the natural world and human society. Without pollinators to facilitate the sexual reproduction of plants, the world would be a biologically poorer place in which to live, there would be an impact on food security, and human health would suffer.Written by one of the world's leading pollination ecologists, this book provides an introduction to what pollinators are, how their interactions with flowers have evolved, and the fundamental ecology of these relationships. It explores the pollination of wild and agricultural plants in a variety of habitats and contexts, including urban, rural and agricultural environments. The author also provides practical advice on how individuals and organisations can study, and support, pollinators.As well as covering the natural history of pollinators and flowers, the author discusses their cultural importance, and the ways in which pollinator conservation has been portrayed from a political perspective. The book draws on field work experiences in South America, Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands and the UK.For over 30 years the author has spent his career researching how plants and pollinators evolve relationships, how these interactions function ecologically, their importance for society, and how we can conserve them in a rapidly changing world. This book offers a unique and personal insight into the science of pollinators and pollination, aimed at anyone who is interested in understanding these fascinating and crucial ecological interactions.
Fundamental Principles of Environmental Physics
This book is an interdisciplinary and accessible guide to environmental physics. It allows readers to gain a more complete understanding of physical process and their interaction with ecological ones underpin important environmental issues.The book covers a wide range of topics within environmental physics, including: - natural and anthropogenic canopies, including forests, urban or wavy terrains;- the fundamentals of heat transfer;- atmospheric flow dynamics;- global carbon budget;- climate change; and- the relevance of biochar as a global carbon sink.Including solved exercises, numerous illustrations and tables, as well as an entire chapter focused on applications, book is of interest to researchers, students and industrial engineers alike.
Virus Host Cell Genetic Material Transport
The reproduction and spread of a virus during an epidemic proceeds when the virus attaches to a host cell and viral genetic material (VGM) (protein, DNA, RNA) enters the cell, then replicates, and perhaps mutates, in the cell. The movement of the VGM across the host cell outer membrane and within the host cell is a spatiotemporal dynamic process that is modeled in this book as a system of ordinary and partial differential equations (ODE/PDEs). The movement of the virus proteins through the cell membrane is modeled as a diffusion process expressed by the diffusion PDE (Fick's second law). Within the cell, the time variation of the VGM is modeled as ODEs. The evolution of the dependent variables is computed by the numerical integration of the ODE/PDEs starting from zero initial conditions (ICs). The departure of the dependent variables from zero is in response to the virus protein concentration at the outer membrane surface (the point at which the virus binds to the host cell). The numerical integration of the ODE/PDEs is performed with routines coded (programmed) in R, a quality, open-source scientific computing system that is readily available from the Internet. Formal mathematics is minimized, e.g., no theorems and proofs. Rather, the presentation is through detailed examples that the reader/researcher/analyst can execute on modest computers. The ODE/PDE dependent variables are displayed graphically with basic R plotting utilities. The R routines are available from a download link so that the example models can be executed without having to first study numerical methods and computer coding. The routines can then be applied to variations and extensions of the ODE/PDE model, such as changes in the parameters and the form of the model equations.
Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystems
Produced by a Leading Aquatic ScientistA narrative account of how estuaries around the world are being altered by human forces and human-induced global climate changes, Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystems: Long-Term Effects of Climate and Nutrient Loading on Trophic Organization chronicles a more than 40-year-old research effort conducted by Dr. Robert J. Livingston and his research team at Florida State University. Designed to evaluate system-level responses to natural and anthropogenic nutrient loading and long-term climate changes, the study focused on the northeast Gulf of Mexico river-bay systems, and concentrated on phytoplankton/benthic macrophyte productivity and associated food web organization. It addressed the changes of food web structure relative to long-term trends of climatological conditions, and was carried out using a combination of field-descriptive and experimental approaches.Details Climate Change, Climate Change Effects, and EutrophicationThis book includes comparative analyses of how the trophic organization of different river-bay ecosystems responded to variations of both anthropogenic impacts and natural driving factors in space and time. It incorporates a climate database and evaluates the effects of climate change in the region. It also provides insights into the effects of nutrient loading and climate on the trophic organization of coastal systems in other global regions. Presents research compiled from consistent field sampling methods and detailed taxonomic identifications over an extended period of study Includes the methods and materials that the research team used to access the health and trophic organization of Florida's estuaries Provides an up-to-date bibliography of estuarine publications and reports Based on a longitudinal study of anthropogenic and natural driving factors on river-estuarine systems in the northeast Gulf of Mexico, Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystems: Long-Term Effects of Climate and Nutrient Loading on Trophic Organization is useful as a reference for researchers working on riverine, estuarine, and coastal marine systems.
Arctic Ecology
The Arctic is often portrayed as being isolated, but the reality is that the connectivity with the rest of the planet is huge, be it through weather patterns, global ocean circulation, and large-scale migration patterns to name but a few. There is a huge amount of public interest in the 'changing Arctic', especially in terms of the rapid changes taking place in ecosystems and exploitation of resources. There can be no doubt that the Arctic is at the forefront of the international environmental science agenda, both from a scientific aspect, and also from a policy/environmental management perspective. This book aims to stimulate a wide audience to think about the Arctic by highlighting the remarkable breadth of what it means to study its ecology. Arctic Ecology seeks to systematically introduce the diverse array of ecologies within the Arctic region. As the Arctic rapidly changes, understanding the fundamental ecology underpinning the Arctic is paramount to understanding the consequences of what such change will inevitably bring about. Arctic Ecology is designed to provide graduate students of environmental science, ecology and climate change with a source where Arctic ecology is addressed specifically, with issues due to climate change clearly discussed. It will also be of use to policy-makers, researchers and international agencies who are focusing on ecological issues and effects of global climate change in the Arctic. About the Editor David N. Thomas is Professor of Arctic Ecosystem Research in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki. Previously he spent 24 years in the School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Wales. He studies marine systems, with a particular emphasis on sea ice and land-coast interactions in the Arctic and Southern Oceans as well as the Baltic Sea. He also edited a related book: Sea Ice, 3rd Edition (2017), which is also published by Wiley-Blackwell.
Tropical and Extratropical Air-Sea Interactions
Tropical and Extratropical Air-Sea Interactions: Modes of Climate Variations provides a thorough introduction to global atmospheric and oceanic processes, as well as tropical, subtropical and mid-latitude ocean-atmosphere interactions. Written by leading experts in the field, each chapter is dedicated to a specific topic of air-sea interactions (such as ENSO, IOD, Atlantic Nino, ENSO Modoki, and newly discovered coastal Ni簽os/Ni簽as) and their teleconnections. As the first book to cover all topics of tropical and extra-tropical air-sea interactions and new modes of climate variations, this book is an excellent resource for researchers and students of ocean, atmospheric and climate sciences.
Strategic Decision Making for Sustainable Management of Industrial Networks
This book presents a diverse set of decision-making methodologies to solve some of the most important decisions that most organizations face today. It is an excellent demonstration of some great challenges in our society in the area of sustainability. These great challenges, ranging from sustainability in logistics to the use of renewable energies, needs to be urgently addressed. Sustainability has become one of the most important topics in management and many organizations are taking big steps towards sustainability. Organizations are attempting to use cleaner production technologies and renewable energies sources, to improve health and safety issues within their industries and the products and services they offer. These points involve several important strategic and managerial decisions, highlighted in this book. The book can be used by decision-makers and policy-makers as exemplary guidelines to solve sustainability problems.
Recycle Based Organic Agriculture in a City
Chapter 1: Status and Prospects of Urban Agriculture.- Chapter 2: Discharge and Recycling of Urban Wasted Biomass.- Chapter 3: Carbonization of Waste Biomass and Carbon Sequestration.- Chapter 4: Nutrient Recovery from Wasted Biomass using Microbial Electrochemical Technologies.- Chapter 5: Energy Production from Wasted Biomass.- Chapter 6: New Technologies to Implement Precise Management of Farming in a City.- Chapter 7: Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration in Urban Farmland.- Chapter 8: Cover Crop Farming System.- Chapter 9: Symbiotic Co-Existence of Paddy Field and Urban Ecosystem.- Chapter 10: Recycle-based Organic Agriculture in Japan and World.
Pro-Poor Strategies in Urban Water Provisioning
Water utilities are the main instrument for countries to achieve universal service coverage. In pursuing universal service coverage, water utilities have turned to pro-poor water services to extend water services in low-income areas. This thesis discusses the use of pro-poor water services by water utilities in Kenya, with the intention of highlighting the dimensions of the approach that require attention of policy makers and practitioners when engaging with the concept. Based on the analysis of the technologies, financial and organisational arrangements associated with the pro-poor concept, this thesis shows that the use of pro-poor strategies allows water utilities to reduce the risks of servicing low-income areas while still claiming to fulfil their mandate of providing access to all in a commercially viable manner. The analysis also shows that rather than a decision of the water utility, the choice for pro-poor strategies emerges as the result of a consensus or compromise between the different actors that constitute the broader institutional environment in which water utilities operate. The thesis concludes that while pro-poor water services may serve the interests of water utilities and other stakeholders, in the absence of well-directed subsidies and proper monitoring they will not result in low-income households benefiting from more affordable and reliable access to water.
Urban Heat Island (Uhi) Mitigation
This book discusses the concepts and technologies associated with the mitigation of urban heat islands (UHIs) that are applicable in hot and humid regions. It presents several city case studies on how UHIs can be reduced in various areas to provide readers, researchers, and policymakers with insights into the concepts and technologies that should be considered when planning and constructing urban centres and buildings. The rapid development of urban areas in hot and humid regions has led to an increase in urban temperatures, a decrease in ventilation in buildings, and a transformation of the once green outdoor environment into areas full of solar-energy-absorbing concrete and asphalt. This situation has increased the discomfort of people living in these areas regardless of whether they occupy concrete structures. This is because indoor and outdoor air quality have both suffered from urbanisation. The development of urban areas has also increased energy consumption so that the occupants of buildings can enjoy indoor thermal comfort and air quality that they need via air conditioning systems. This book offers solutions to the recent increase in the number of heat islands in hot and humid regions.​
Carbon Footprint Case Studies
Global warming and its effects are felt and understood by almost every one across the globe now. Carbon footprint calculation and mitigation in different industrial sectors is the need of the hour. There are numerous industrial sectors, whose carbon footprints need to be calculated and the ways to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions from those sectors need to be started with immediate effect. This book highlights case studies involving the carbon footprints of municipal solid waste, sustainable road transport and Carbon footprint accounting of sources and sinks by studying carbon sequestration of Karnataka, a state in India.
Case Studies in Systems Biology
This book provides case studies that can be used in Systems Biology related classes. Each case study has the same structure which answers the following questions: What is the biological problem and why is it interesting? What are the relevant details with regard to cell physiology and molecular mechanisms? How are the details put together into a mathematical model? How is the model analyzed and simulated? What are the results of the model? How do they compare to the known facts of the cell physiology? Does the model make predictions? What can be done to extend the model? The book presents a summary of results and references to more relevant sources.The volume contains the classic collection of topics and studies that are well established yet novel in the systems biology field.
Introduction to Systems Ecology
Possibly the first textbook to present a practically applicable ecosystems theory, Introduction to Systems Ecology helps readers understand how ecosystems work and how they react to disturbances. It demonstrates--with many examples and illustrations--how to apply the theory to explain observations and to make quantitative calculations and predictions.In this book, Sven Erik J繪rgensen takes a first step toward integrating thermodynamics, biochemistry, hierarchical organization, and network theory into a holistic theory of systems ecology. The first part of the book covers the laws of thermodynamics and the basic biochemistry of living organisms, as well as the constraints they impose on ecosystems. To grow and develop, however, ecosystems have to evade these thermodynamic and biochemical constraints, so the second part of the book discusses the seven basic properties that enable ecosystems to grow, develop, and survive: They are open systems, far from thermodynamic equilibrium. They are organized hierarchically. They have a high diversity. They have high buffer capacities toward changes. Their components are organized in cooperative networks, which allows for sophisticated feedback, regulation mechanisms, and higher efficiencies. They contain an enormous amount of information embodied in genomes. They have emerging system properties. This timely textbook also looks at how systems ecology is applied in integrated environmental management, particularly in ecological modeling and engineering and in the assessment of ecosystem health using ecological indicators. Acknowledging that there is still much room for improvement, it will inspire ecologists to develop a stronger and more widely applicable ecosystem theory.
Emergency Characterization of Unknown Materials
Emergency Characterization of Unknown Materials, Second Edition is fully updated to serve as a portable reference that can be used in the field and laboratory by workers who are responsible for a safe response to and management of unknown hazardous materials. As with the first edition, the book emphasizes public safety and the management of life safety hazards, including strategies and emerging technologies to identify the hazards presented by an unknown material. When responding to a hazardous material emergency involving an unknown substance, firefighters and HAZMAT teams are primarily interested in protecting public safety. The book details risk analysis procedures to identify threats and vulnerabilities, analyzing them to determine how such risks can be eliminated or reduced. If an unknown material can be identified with a high degree of confidence, that can considerably change the response, and measures to be taken. In addition, the book covers practical field applications with updated and additional examples of field instruments. The hazard identification methods presented are intended for use by frontline workers. The test methods presented involve manipulation of small sample amounts - using, literally, a hands-on approach. The three technologies used by first responders and military personnel to identify unknown chemicals, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and high-pressure mass spectroscopy, are covered in depth. Features Presents how to identify unknown materials and, if identification is not possible, to characterize the hazards of the material Offers practical examples to introduce new first responders to hazardous materials response Provides up-to-date field applications of the latest developments in commercially available instrumentation Details practical sample manipulations to help the reader successfully identify materials with popular high-end instrumentation Includes several examples of spectra and describes ways in which the reader can utilize data to inform decision making New coverage to this edition includes a chapter and content that focuses on sample manipulation and separations using instruments developed and revised since the first edition was published. These sample manipulations may be performed in the field with a very simple toolkit, which is fully outlined and explained in detail. Identifying the hazards of the unknown substance is essential to plan for response, contingencies and sustained actions. As such, Emergency Characterization of Unknown Materials, Second Edition will be a welcome and essential resource to all response and safety professionals concerned with hazardous materials.
Applications of Hypothesis Testing for Environmental Science
Applications of Hypothesis Testing for Environmental Science presents the theory and application of hypothesis testing in environmental science, allowing researchers to carry out suitable tests for decision-making on a variety of issues. This book works as a step-by-step resource to provide understanding of the concepts and applications of hypothesis testing in the field of environmental science. The tests are presented in simplified form without relying on complex mathematical proofs to allow researchers to easily locate the most appropriate test and apply it to real-world situations. Each example is accompanied by a case study showing the application of the method to realistic data. This book provides step-by-step guidance in analyzing and testing various environmental data for researchers, postgraduates and graduates of environmental sciences, as well as academics looking for a book that includes case studies of the applications of hypothesis testing. It will also be a valuable resource for researchers in other related fields and those who are not familiar with the use of statistics who may need to analyze data or perform hypothesis tests in their research.
Urban Agroecology
Today, 20 percent of the global food supply relies on urban agriculture: social-ecological systems shaped by both human and non-human interactions. This book shows how urban agroecologists measure flora and fauna that underpin the ecological dynamics of these systems, and how people manage and benefit from these systems. It explains how the sociopolitical landscape in which these systems are embedded can in turn shape the social, ecological, political, and economic dynamics within them. Synthesizing interdisciplinary approaches in urban agroecology in the natural and social sciences, the book explores methodologies and new directions in research that can be adopted by scholars and practitioners alike. With contributions from researchers utilizing both social and natural science approaches, Urban Agroecology describes the current social-environmental understandings of the science, the movement and the practices in urban agroecology. By investigating the role of agroecology in cities, the book calls for the creation of spaces for food to be sustainably grown in urban spaces: an Urban Agriculture (UA) movement. Essential reading for graduate students, practitioners, policy makers and researchers, this book charts the course for accelerating this movement.
Life in Extreme Environments
From deep ocean trenches and the geographical poles to outer space, organisms can be found living in remarkably extreme conditions. This book provides a captivating account of these systems and their extraordinary inhabitants, 'extremophiles'. A diverse, multidisciplinary group of experts discuss responses and adaptations to change; biodiversity, bioenergetic processes, and biotic and abiotic interactions; polar environments; and life and habitability, including searching for biosignatures in the extraterrestrial environment. The editors emphasize that understanding these systems is important for increasing our knowledge and utilizing their potential, but this remains an understudied area. Given the threat to these environments and their biota caused by climate change and human impact, this timely book also addresses the urgency to document these systems. It will help graduate students and researchers in conservation, marine biology, evolutionary biology, environmental change and astrobiology better understand how life exists in these environments and their susceptibility or resilience to change.
Marine Coastal Ecosystems Modelling and Conservation
SECTION I. Natural and human environment of coastal ecosystems.- Chapter 1. Ecological modelling and conservation on the coasts of Mexico.- Chapter 2. SE Pacific: the ecosystem and its use along the Chilean and Peruvian coast.- SECTION II. Marine ecosystem models in the South East Pacific coast.- Chapter 3. Modelling the Northern Humboldt Current Ecosystem; from winds to predators.- Chapter 4. Marine ecosystem models in the South Pacific coast.- Chapter 5. Keystone Species Complexes and macroscopic properties for improving ecosystem-based conservation practices in kelp forest along the north-central Chilean coast.- Chapter 6. Exploring alternative management policies for benthic ecological systems of northern Chile (SE Pacific).- SECTION III. Central Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic coastal ecosystem models.- Chapter 7. How much biomass must remain at the sea after fishing to conserve ecosystem.- functioning? The case of the Monterey sardine in the Gulf of California, Mexico.- Chapter 8. Dynamic and spatial model of the coral reef of Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve (Caribbean Sea) for assessment harvest scenarios: short-term responses.- Chapter 9. Ecological role of sharks assessed by Ecopath models.- SECTION IV. System-based conservation and management: conclusions.- Chapter 10. Graph theory in food webs: uses and applications for conservation of marine ecosystems.- Chapter 11. Modelling aim the conservation of coastal marine ecosystem in Latin America.
Avian Malaria and Related Parasites in the Tropics
1 - Avian Haemosporida research in the Neotropics before the year 2000.- 2 - Phylogenetics and systematics in a nutshell.- 3 - Life cycle, taxonomy, and molecular biology of avian haemosporidian parasites, with a discussion of research techniques.- 4 - Introduction to the taxonomy of Diptera vectors of medical and veterinary importance in the tropics.- 5 - The ecology of Diptera vectors of avian haemosporidians in the tropics: with emphasis in the neotropical region.- 6 - Geographical distribution patterns of malaria and other haemosporida in the Neotropics: a review from a biogeographical perspective and ecological niche modelling.- 7 - Island biogeography of avian haemosporidians in the tropics: with emphasis on the neotropical region.- 8 - Altitudinal and latitudinal patterns of tropical avian haemosporidians.- 9 - An introduction to macroecology and ecological networks for antagonistic interactions.- 10 - Host specialization and dispersal in avian haemosporidians.- 11 - Cophylogenetic patterns and speciation.- 12 - Community ecology and network analysis of tropical avian haemosporidians.- 13 - An introduction to urban and landscape ecology.- 14 - Anthropic impacts on avian haemosporidians and their vectors.- 15 - The role of parasites in invasion biology16 - Avian migration as a mechanism of latitudinal parasite spread between tropical and temperate regions.- 17 - Experimental parasitology and ecoimmunology: concepts and opportunities.- 18 - Concluding remarks.
Life in Extreme Environments
From deep ocean trenches and the geographical poles to outer space, organisms can be found living in remarkably extreme conditions. This book provides a captivating account of these systems and their extraordinary inhabitants, 'extremophiles'. A diverse, multidisciplinary group of experts discuss responses and adaptations to change; biodiversity, bioenergetic processes, and biotic and abiotic interactions; polar environments; and life and habitability, including searching for biosignatures in the extraterrestrial environment. The editors emphasize that understanding these systems is important for increasing our knowledge and utilizing their potential, but this remains an understudied area. Given the threat to these environments and their biota caused by climate change and human impact, this timely book also addresses the urgency to document these systems. It will help graduate students and researchers in conservation, marine biology, evolutionary biology, environmental change and astrobiology better understand how life exists in these environments and their susceptibility or resilience to change.
Measuring Emission of Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and Developing Mitigation Options Usin
The Seine River Basin
Trajectories of the Seine River Basin.- The evolution of the Seine basin water bodies through historical maps.- Pluri-annual water budget on the Seine basin: past, current and future trends.- The Seine watershed water-agro-food system: long-term trajectories of C, N, P metabolism.- Past and future trajectories of human excreta management systems - the case of Paris 19th-21st centuries.- How agricultural practices should be integrated to understand and simulate long-term pesticide contamination in the Seine River basin?.- Mass balance of PAHs at the scale of the Seine River basin.- Ecological functioning of the Seine River: from long term modelling approaches to high frequency data analysis.- Aquatic organic matter in the Seine basin: sources, spatio-temporal variability, impact of urban discharges and influence on micro-pollutant speciation.- Experience gained from ecotoxicological studies in the Seine River and its drainage basin over the last decade: applicative examples and research perspectives.- Sedimentary archives reveal the concealed history of micropollutant contamination in the Seine River basin.- Changes in fish communities of the Seine Basin over a long-term perspective.- Bathing activities and microbiological water quality in the Paris area: a long-term perspective.- Contaminants of emerging concern in the Seine River basin: overview of recent research.- River basin vision: tools and approaches, from yesterday to tomorrow.
Climate Change and Development Impacts on Groundwater Resources in the Nile Delta Aquifer, Egypt
Climate change is likely to continue to have severe impacts, including sea level rise. At the same time, population increase and development imperatives create additional pressure on available water resources. These changes are problematic for the Mediterranean coastal areas and especially the Nile Delta coast. Particular focus of this study is on salinization of groundwater resources in the Nile Delta Aquifer (NDA) due to saltwater intrusion. To assess current conditions and develop future adaptation strategies for the NDA, a 3D model simulating regional variable-density groundwater flow and coupled salt transport was constructed based on available data set, using the SEAWAT code. A method for identification of the most representative model has been developed, based on testing different simulation periods during which the NDA has 'evolved' from completely fresh groundwater conditions to conditions representative for the year 2010.This model was then applied to analyze possible future NDA conditions under several predefined scenarios of sea level rise and groundwater extraction. This analysis indicated that the impacts from further extractions of groundwater on availability of fresh groundwater in the aquifer are more significant compared to those from sea level rise. Furthermore, three different adaptation measures and their impacts in the Sharkeya Nile Delta governorate were tested. It was shown that that changing crop types and irrigation practices towards water saving options seem to be more promising than artificial recharge with injection wells or extraction and usage of brackish groundwater after desalination. The developed model is useful for further Water-Food Nexus studies.
Land Degradation in the Dinder and Rahad Basins
The spatial and temporal variability of the hydro-climate as well as land use and land cover (LULC) changes are among the most challenging problems facing water resources management. Understanding the interaction between climate variability, land use and land cover changes and their links to hydrology, river morphology and ecohydrology in the Dinder and Rahad basins in Sudan is confronted by the lack of climatic, hydrological and ecological data. This book investigated the impacts of land degradation on the Dinder and Rahad hydrology and morphology, and interlinkage to the ecohydrological system of the Dinder National Park (DNP) in Sudan. It used an ensemble of techniques to improve our understanding of the hydrological processes and LULC changes in these basins. This included long-term trend analysis of hydroclimatic variables, LULC changes analysis, field measurements, rainfall-runoff modelling, hydrodynamic and morphological modelling of the Dinder river and its floodplain, with special focus on the Mayas wetlands. Moreover, this research is the first study to investigate the eco-hydrology of the DNP. It is expected that the results of the study will be beneficial to all stakeholders concerned and support decision-making processes for better management of water resources and ecosystem conservation in the area and possibly beyond.
Plastic Free
In July 2011, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz challenged herself to go plastic free for the whole month. Starting with a small group of people in the city of Perth, the Plastic Free July movement has grown into a 250-million strong community across 177 countries, empowering people to reduce single-use plastic consumption and create a cleaner future. This book explores how one of the world's leading environmental campaigns took off and shares lessons from its success. From narrating marine-debris research expeditions to tracking what actually happens to our waste to sharing insights from behavioral research, it speaks to the massive scale of the plastic waste problem and how we can tackle it together. Interweaving interviews from participants, activists, and experts, Plastic Free tells the inspiring story of how ordinary people have created change in their homes, communities, workplaces, schools, businesses, and beyond. It is easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of global environmental problems and wonder what difference our own actions could possibly make. Plastic Free offers hope for the future through the stories of those who have taken on what looked like an insurmountable challenge and succeeded in innovative and practical ways, one step--and one piece of plastic--at a time.
Brics and Mics: Implications for Global Agrarian Transformation
The economic and political rise of the BRICS countries and powerful middle-income countries (MICs) has far-reaching implications for global agrarian transformation. This comprehensive collection explores these issues through the lens of critical agrarian studies. It was originally published as a special issue of the journal Globalizations
Subtropical Mountain Forests of Las Yungas: Vegetation and Bioclimate
The vegetation addressed in this book is, biologically, one of the most diverse on Earth, with many characteristic taxa offering refuge and food sources for many resident and migratory animals. Yet the forests of Las Yungas remain poorly known from a floristic and vegetation point of view. This book seeks to fill that gap by studying the distribution of forest along an altitudinal but also a bioclimatic gradient. The richness in species demonstrates that these forests are substantially more diverse than other subtropical mountain woodlands. 103 diagnostic (characteristic or indicator) species were selected, of which 29 are dominant, 67 are exclusive, selective, preferential or differential, and 7 are stenoic. In addition, 13 communities were identified and characterized. These forests can be attributed to the Bolivian-Tucuman biogeographical province (South-Andean Region, Neotropical Sub-Kingdom). They are seasonal, semi-deciduous or evergreen micro- and mesowoodlands growing on foothills, hillsides, ravines, gorges and the edges of mountain ranges (terrestrial communities), as well as river terraces and beaches (riparian communities). Thanks to the range of new findings, the content presented here will benefit experts in related fields such as geographers, ecologists and botanists, but also teachers, nature guides, those involved in the management of forest or conservation areas, and policymakers.
Ecology and Conservation of Tropical Ungulates in Latin America
This book brings together the latest information on tropical ungulates in different Latin American countries. These animals are not only important from the point of view of their role in different ecosystems, but also have cultural value for people. The book also discusses topics such as habitat transformation and hunting as these species are an important source of food in many places. Addressing ungulate natural communities in diverse ecosystems and countries, the book provides information on specific aspects of each of the most representative species, and highlights topics to help readers better understand these species and develop effective management and conservation strategies. The information presented also reveals the need for more knowledge and will hopefully provide the incentive for continued studies on this important group of animals. This publication serves as a reference for academic research on ungulate ecology, behavior and dynamics, as well as the basis for conservationstrategies.
Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors for Sustainable Development
Greener Purchasing
Every organization, public and private, no matter what its size, purchases goods and services. Large organizations also have considerable influence over the practices of their suppliers. As greener purchasing practices have become more common in large organisations, the implications for companies in the supply chain have similarly increased. Yet greener purchasing policies remain the exception rather than the norm in large organizations. Why is this? And how can environmental purchasing practices that have produced tangible business benefits for a number of companies worldwide receive wider take-up? Greener Purchasing: Opportunities and Innovations has been published to facilitate the development and dissemination of best practice in environmental supply chain and procurement management worldwide. Divided into four sections, covering "The Public Sector", "The Private Sector", "Innovations" and "Case Studies", this book brings together international expertise from four continents, including contributions from organisations such as the US EPA, Environment Canada, Procter & Gamble, Xerox and The Body Shop, as well as describing burgeoning new initiatives such as the Japanese and European Green Purchasing Networks. It provides a number of checklists and examples on how to establish and maintain successful greener purchasing and supply chain practices in order to bring not only environmental, but business value to organisations of all sizes. The book is essential reading for purchasing officers, environmental managers, CEOs, consultants, academics and students interested in the topic around the world.
Circular Economy and Fly Ash Management
Handling and Utilization of Fly Ash from Thermal Power Plants.- Scope of Fly ash Application as a Replacement for Chemical Pesticides for Pest Control in Certain Crop Pockets of Neyveli and Virudhachalam Regions in Tamil Nadu.- Fly Ash and its Utilisation in Agriculture: Constraints and Opportunities.- Carbon and Nutrient Sequestration Potential of Coal Based Fly Ash Zeolites.- Pesticidal Activity and Future Scenario of Fly ash Dust and Fly ash Based Herbal Pesticides in Agriculture, Household, Poultry and Grains in Storage.- Synthesis, Quality Assay and Assessment of Fly Ash Based Chemical Pesticides for Efficacy against Pests of Crops, Stored Commodities and in Urban Areas.- Potential and Futuristic of Fly Ash Nano-Particle Technology in Pest Control in Agriculture and Synthesis of Chemical and Herbal Insecticides Formulations.- Behaviour of Fly Ash Concrete at High Temperatures.- Effect of Fly Ash on Strength of Concrete.- Potential of Silica Sources Including Fly Ash as Green Technology Inputs To Induce Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Crop Plants: Overview.- Fly ash as a source of Silicon for Mitigating Biotic Stress and improving yield and changes in Biochemical Constituents and Silicon in Rice under Abiotic Stress.- Effective Utilization of Industrial Waste (Fly Ash) for Vermicompost Production by employing Eisenia Fetida.
Urban Health and Wellbeing
This book focuses on interdisciplinary issues of human health in the changing urban environments of India's largest megacities--Delhi and Mumbai. The authors explore human health concerns related to increased temperatures and air pollution in these cities in a study based on primary data collected through interviews, as well as secondary data on causes of mortality from 2001 to 2012. During this period, the surface temperatures for both megacities were mapped using Landsat Images.The rapidly increasing populations of cities and urban centers alter ecosystem services such as water, air and land cover, with disastrous impacts on health and wellbeing, particularly in megacities. In 2015, polluted air was estimated to have been responsible for 6.4 million deaths worldwide, and it is projected that it will cause between 6 and 9 million deaths per year by 2060. In 2017, outdoor air pollution resulted in 1.2 million deaths in India and brought about a 3% loss in GDP. The increase in population, vehicles, and industries has led to changes in land use and land cover and a rise in city temperatures and air pollution, creating urban heat islands (UHIs). Together, UHIs and air pollution have damaging impacts on human health that range from stress and headache to asthma, bronchitis, and chronic diseases, and even to death.Delhi has been experiencing emergency conditions in terms of environmental health over the past two years. At the same time, both the Delhi and Mumbai urban agglomerations are growing at a rapid pace, and the United Nations has projected that they will be the second and third most populous cities in the world by 2025. In this context, the book offers significant insights into the past patterns and responses to the present global urban health emergencies, and explores sustainable means of combating the problem to enable college and university researchers to develop innovative solutions. Further. It presents trans-disciplinary research thatcuts across the WHO Action Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Habitat III to help policymakers gain a better understanding of the global challenges of urban health and wellbeing. The book is especially useful for students and researchers in geography, urban demography, urban studies, environmental studies, health sciences, and policy studies.
Gentopia, das gelobte Land
Das vorliegende Buch ist eine aufschlussreiche und informative Lekt羹re, die den Leser aufr羹tteln will. Die Autorin hebt in verst瓣ndlicher und fundierter Weise die beunruhigenden Ergebnisse und die "unbeabsichtigten Folgen" einer wissenschaftlichen Elite hervor, die sich auf ihre eigenen Interessen konzentriert, ohne zuk羹nftige Konsequenzen zu ber羹cksichtigen. Wer sind diese Wissenschaftler mit ihrer "sch繹nen neuen Welt"? Was versprechen sie uns und wie analysieren sie ihre Forschung? Vor allem aber: Was antworten wir denen, die deren Arbeit blind unterst羹tzen? Wie sind wir 羹berhaupt dazu gekommen, unseren Planeten derart zu entstellen, dass viele vor den schwerwiegenden Wirkungen genetischer Manipulationen warnen? Beginnen wir folglich bald damit, einen GMO-Menschen zu z羹chten, dessen Nachkommen im Labor in einer k羹nstlichen Geb瓣rmutter ausgetragen werden? Doch sollten wir uns nicht erst einmal darauf besinnen, eine verantwortungsbewusste Forschung zu betreiben, die mehr auf die Umweltgesundheit als auf Profit Wert legt, bevor wir in unserem "Machbarkeitswahn" hochtrabende Pl瓣ne hegen? Selbst wenn der Mensch in der Lage w瓣re, sich selber zu "erschaffen", muss er dennoch fr羹her oder sp瓣ter einsehen, dass er bereits zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt ein Desaster heraufbeschworen hat. Die Bioethik kann schon lange nicht mehr mit unserer Biotechnologie mithalten - und so ist uns eine kontrollierende Instanz abhanden gekommen. Ja, selbst einen allwissenden Sch繹pfer, der die F瓣den in der Hand h瓣lt, haben wir fr羹h genug ausgeschaltet. Zumindest leiten wir damit das Ende der einzigartigen Sonderstellung des Menschen bzw. der humanen Exklusivit瓣t ein. Das Anliegen dieses Buches ist es, Laien einen ?berblick 羹ber die zurzeit am meisten diskutierten biotechnologischen Errungenschaften zu vermitteln. In einer lockeren Art und doch mit dem n繹tigen Fachwissen greift die Autorin auch in diesem Buch umstrittene Themen auf, die sie uns in einer unkomplizierten Weise nahe bringt. Sie verwandelt ein eher trocken wirkendes Thema in ein spannendes und unterhaltsames Lese-Ereignis, das Perspektiven in zahlreichen wissenschaftlichen und bioethischen Kontroversen aufzeigt.
Umweltgerechtigkeit: Wissens- Und Bildungserwerb, Teilhabe Und Arbeit
Ausgehend vom Konzept des "Sozialen Raumes", der im ganzheitlichen Begriff der Umwelt verankert ist, stellen sich Fragen nach dem Einfluss sozialer R瓣ume auf den Menschen. Welchen Einfluss haben Lern- und Arbeitsumwelt? Wie ist es mit Chancengleichheit des Einzelnen und seiner Teilhabe bestellt? Wie h瓣ngen Wissen und Bildung zusammen? Nicht jeder, der viel wei?, ist auch gebildet. Welche Bedeutung hat die antizipatorische Bildung in der Familie und welche der Arbeits-, Lern- und Lebensumwelt? Fragen, die zweifelsohne mit sozio繹konomischen Bedingungen eng zusammenh瓣ngen. Aber ist das ausschlie?lich darauf zu reduzieren? Wie wird die Zukunft der Arbeitswelt als Wissenswelt und damit deren Einfluss auf den Einzelnen aussehen? Welche Kompetenzen werden erforderlich sein f羹r diese neue Arbeitswelt und wer wird sie vermitteln? Welche Bildungsinhalte werden deren soziale R瓣ume vermitteln und mit welchem Ziel? Wenn Wissen zur Ware wird und damit beliebig, wer 羹bernimmt dann die Verantwortung f羹r dessen Vergegenst瓣ndlichung als Produkt?
Dryland Ecohydrology
By combining the analysis of biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, this book synthesizes material on arid and semiarid landscapes, which was previously scattered among various books and journal articles. It focuses on water-limited ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to fluctuations in hydrologic conditions and, in turn, play an important role in affecting the regional water cycle. Intended as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. Written by authors with diverse areas of expertise who work in arid areas around the world, the contributions describe the various interactions between the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, ranging from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns
Covid-19 Analisi epidemiologica e studio della pandemia
La pandemia di Covid-19 ha rappresentato e rappresenta tutt'ora un evento di proporzioni mondiali, catastrofico e surreale. E' la prima met? del mese di dicembre 2019 quando le autorit? cinesi riportano i primi casi di pazienti affetti da una sindrome di polmonite nuova e sconosciuta. La trattazione che segue indaga sotto la grande lente di ingrandimento degli studi epidemiologici le pi羅 rilevanti notizie scientifiche, attraversando tappa per tappa le cronache e gli eventi che hanno segnato la vita di milioni di persone nel mondo.
Risks and Challenges of Hazardous Waste Management
This reference presents reviews and case studies of hazardous waste management in a selection of cities. The overarching themes of the compiled topics include 1) the problems of healthcare waste management, 2) case studies of hazardous waste mismanagement, 3) health risks associated with environmental waste, issues in environmental health and 4) grassroots environmentalism.The volume initially presents reviews and case studies from developing countries, including countries in South America (Argentina), Africa (Algeria and Nigeria), and Asia (India). The latter chapters of the book focus on environmental issues in Campania, a region in Italy. These chapters also provide an insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on waste management practices in this region.Risks and Challenges of Hazardous Waste Management is an insightful reference for management trainees, professionals and researchers associated with waste management and environmental health firms. Readers will gain insights into current issues and practices in the respective industries. The reviews and case studies presented in the reference are also useful to professionals involved in risk assessment studies.
Game Theory in Biology
The principles of game theory apply to a wide range of topics in biology. This book presents the central concepts in evolutionary game theory and provides an authoritative and up-to-date account. The focus is on concepts that are important for biologists in their attempts to explain observations. This strong connection between concepts and applications is a recurrent theme throughout the book which incorporates recent and traditional ideas from animal psychology, neuroscience, and machine learning that provide a mechanistic basis for behaviours shown by players of a game. The approaches taken to modelling games often rest on idealized and unrealistic assumptions whose limitations and consequences are not always appreciated. The authors provide a novel reassessment of the field, highlighting how to overcome limitations and identifying future directions. Game Theory in Biology is an advanced textbook suitable for graduate level students as well as professional researchers (both empiricists and theoreticians) in the fields of behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology. It will also be of relevance to a broader interdisciplinary audience including psychologists and neuroscientists.
Crisis Management of Chronic Pollution
Crisis Management of Chronic Pollution: Contaminated Soil and Human Health deals with a long term pollution problem, generated by the former use of organochlorine pesticides. Through a case study of the chlordecone pollution in the French West Indies, the authors illustrate a global and systemic mobilization of research institutions and public services. This "management model", together with its major results, the approach and lessons to be learned, could be useful to other situations. This book gathers all the works that have been carried out over the last ten years or more and links them to decision makers' actions and stakeholders' expectations. This reference fills a gap in the literature on chronic pollution.
Game Theory in Biology
The principles of game theory apply to a wide range of topics in biology. This book presents the central concepts in evolutionary game theory and provides an authoritative and up-to-date account. The focus is on concepts that are important for biologists in their attempts to explain observations. This strong connection between concepts and applications is a recurrent theme throughout the book which incorporates recent and traditional ideas from animal psychology, neuroscience, and machine learning that provide a mechanistic basis for behaviours shown by players of a game. The approaches taken to modelling games often rest on idealized and unrealistic assumptions whose limitations and consequences are not always appreciated. The authors provide a novel reassessment of the field, highlighting how to overcome limitations and identifying future directions. Game Theory in Biology is an advanced textbook suitable for graduate level students as well as professional researchers (both empiricists and theoreticians) in the fields of behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology. It will also be of relevance to a broader interdisciplinary audience including psychologists and neuroscientists.
Climate Change and Agriculture in Zimbabwe
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Climate change and lessons from world indigenous minority farmer communities.- Chapter 3. Climate change and indigenous farmers in Zimbabwe.- Chapter 4. Rainfall and Temperature fluctuations in South-west Zimbabwe(1922-2012).- Chapter 5. Climate Change impact on indigenous minority farmer communities in SW Zimbabwe.- Chapter 6. Interventions on climate climate change among indigenous minority farmer communities in SW Zimbabwe.- Chapter 7. Indigenous minority communities development basket of priorities in SW Zimbabwe.- Chapter 8. Conclusion
Emerging Technologies for Waste Valorization and Environmental Protection
This book features carefully selected articles on emerging technologies for waste valorization and environmental protection. The term "waste valorization" is used particularly in engineering, economics, technology, business, environmental and policy literature to refer to any unit operation or collection of operations targeted at reusing, recycling, composting or converting wastes into useful products or energy sources without harming the environment. The book discusses the rudimentary concept, and describes a range of emerging technologies in the field, including nano, fuel-cell and membrane technologies, as well as membrane bioreactors. It also examines in detail essential and common processes in waste valorization, such as rigorous chemical engineering applications, mathematical modeling and other trans-disciplinary approaches. The chapters present high-quality research papers from the IconSWM 2018 conference.
Brazilian Deep-Sea Biodiversity
This book presents the biodiversity of the Brazilian deep-sea and its many unique geological and biological features, as well as a review of its ecology, conservation, and future research needs. The deep-sea Brazilian margin has an incredible geological heterogeneity with numerous characteristic seafloor features, and latitudinal changes in marine productivity, oceanographic conditions and biological communities have resulted in very distinct biological assemblages at regional and bathymetric scales. It is a tremendously rich ecosystem in terms of living species, from which many well-known historical tales have originated, and with unique importance for the global climate and humanity. Nevertheless, vast areas of the Brazilian margin have been explored for fishing, oil and gas, and other commodities, likely impacting a variety of deep-sea habitats at scales and intensities yet undetermined. This book is intended for students, scholars, professionals and a wide audience interested inthe deep-sea in general and, more specifically, in the South Atlantic deep-sea.
The Ocean of Tomorrow
As a response to the climate crisis and its effect on marine ecosystems and coastal populations, this book proposes concrete science driven solutions at establishing transformation pathways towards Sustainable Blue Growth, that are supported by technically and socially innovative innovations. This book proposes investment options and management solutions that have the potential of making our seas and oceans resilient to crises- climate, financial, health- by laying the foundations for a green/blue, circular economy that is anchored in science driven solutions and geared toward public well-being. Now is the time to usher in systemic economic change and the good news is that we have our blueprint: it's the combination of UN Agenda 2030 (17 SDG) and European Commission's European Green Deal! There is no doubt that the Earth's survival will depend on the protection and sustainable management of our seas and oceans and the resources they provide. This is recognized by the Joint Communication on International Ocean Governance, which is an integral part of the EU's response to the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular to the targets set out by Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources". The analytical framework and science-driven concrete management solutions proposed in this book can accelerate the transition to a sustainable management of our seas and oceans, by turning the current challenges into opportunities for sustainable economic growth which is both environmentally resilient and leaves no one behind.
