Ecological science, the Biosphere Books

Book SynopsisLearn how the deep history of nature became a dominant paradigm of historical thinking, through a study of landscapes of India. Winner of the BSHS Pickstone Prize by the British Society for the History of Science, Shortlisted for the Pfizer Award for an Outstanding Book in the History of Science by the History of Science SocietyIn the nineteenth century, teams of men began digging the earth like never before. Sometimes this diggingoften for sewage, transport, or mineralsrevealed human remains. Other times, archaeological excavation of ancient cities unearthed prehistoric fossils, while excavations for irrigation canals revealed buried cities. Concurrently, geologists, ethnologists, archaeologists, and missionaries were also digging into ancient texts and genealogies and delving into the lives and bodies of indigenous populations, their myths, legends, and pasts. One pursuit was intertwined with another in this encounter with the earth and its inhabitantspast, present, and future. In Trade ReviewWritten in clear and engaging prose, Inscriptions of Nature will become mandatory reading for scholars and the broader public interested in how the field sciences shaped notions of race and racism, planetary geography, and deep time that persist in the present day.—IsisTable of ContentsIntroduction: Past Unlimited1. The Canal of Zabita Khan: The Nature of History2. Ancient Alluviums: Landscapes of Antiquity3. Mythic Pasts and Naturalized Histories: The Deep History of Sacred Geography4. Remnants of the Race: Geology and the Naturalization of Human Antiquity5. The Other Side of Tethys: Gondwana and the Geology of PrimitivismConclusion: The New Deep History

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Book SynopsisWith the continual growth of the world's urban population, biodiversity in towns and cities will play a critical role in global biodiversity. This is the first book to provide an overview of international developments in urban biodiversity and sustainable design.Table of ContentsContributors ix Foreword xv Preface xvii Introduction 1 1 Urban Biodiversity and the Case for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Towns and Cities 3Norbert Müller and Peter Werner Fundamentals of Urban Biodiversity 35 2 Biodiversity of Urban-Industrial Areas and its Evaluation – a Critical Review 37Rüdiger Wittig 3 Cultural Aspects of Urban Biodiversity 56Andy Millard 4 Social Aspects of Urban Biodiversity – an Overview 81Sarel Cilliers 5 Urban Biodiversity and Climate Change 101David J. Nowak 6 Design and Future of Urban Biodiversity 118Maria Ignatieva 7 Urban Patterns and Biological Diversity: A Review 145Peter Werner and Rudolf Zahner History and Development of Urban Biodiversity 175 8 Urban Flora: Historic, Contemporary and Future Trends 177Philip James 9 Environmental History and Urban Colonizations from an Avian Perspective 191Timo Vuorisalo 10 Constraints of Urbanization on Vegetation Dynamics in a Growing City: A Chronological Framework in Rennes (France) 206Vincent Pellissier, Françoise Roze and Phillipe Clergeau 11 Most Frequently Occurring Vascular Plants and the Role of Non-native Species in Urban Areas – a Comparison of Selected Cities in the Old and the New Worlds 227Norbert Müller 12 Factors Influencing Non-Native Tree Species Distribution in Urban Landscapes 243Wayne C. ZippererAnalysis and Evaluation of Biodiversity in Cities 253 13 Towards an Automated Update of Urban Biotope Maps Using Remote Sensing Data: What is Possible? 255Mathias Bochow, Theres Peisker, Sigrid Roessner, Karl Segl and Hermann Kaufmann 14 Analysis of the Planted and Spontaneous Vegetation at Selected Open Spaces in Apipucos District of Recife, Brazil 273Dietmar Sattler, Simone Schmidt and Marccus Vinicius da Silva Alves 15 Multivariate Approaches to the Study of Urban Biodiversity and Vegetation: An Example from a Southern Temperate Colonial City, Christchurch, New Zealand 291Glenn H. Stewart, Maria Ignatieva and Colin D. Meurk 16 The Biodiversity of Historic Domestic Gardens – A Study in the Wilhelminian Quarter of Erfurt (Germany) 309Norbert Müller 17 Old Masonry Walls as Ruderal Habitats for Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement in Urban Hong Kong 323C.Y. Jim 18 Green Roofs – Urban Habitats for Ground-Nesting Birds and Plants 348Nathalie Baumann and Friederike Kasten 19 South Atlantic Tourist Resorts: Predictors for Changes Induced by Afforestation 363Ana Faggi, Pablo Perepelizin and Jose R. Dadon Social Integration and Education for Biodiversity 381 20 Urban Green Spaces: Natural and Accessible? The Case of Greater Manchester, UK 383Aleksandra Kázmierczak, Richard Armitage and Philip James 21 UrbanWastelands –A Chance for Biodiversity in Cities? Ecological Aspects, Social Perceptions and Acceptance of Wilderness by Residents 406Juliane Mathey and Dieter Rink 22 Perception of Biodiversity – The Impact of School Gardening 425Dorothee Benkowitz and Karlheinz Köhler 23 Landscape Design and Children’s Participation in a Japanese Primary School – Planning Process of School Biotope for 5 Years 441Keitaro Ito, Ingunn Fjortoft, Tohru Manabe, Kentaro Masuda, Mahito Kamada and Katsunori Fujiwara 24 Attracting Interest in Urban Biodiversity with Bird Studies in Italy 454Marco Dinetti 25 Allotment Gardens as Part of Urban Green Infrastructure: Actual Trends and Perspectives in Central Europe 463Jürgen H. Breuste Conservation, Restoration and Design for Biodiversity 477 26 Integration ofNatural Vegetation in Urban Design – Information, Personal Determination and Commitment 479Clas Florgård 27 Prospects of Biodiversity in the Mega-City of Karachi, Pakistan: Potentials, Constraints and Implications 497Salman Qureshi and Jürgen H. Breuste 28 Potential of Biodiversity and Recreation in Shrinking Cities: Contextualization and Operationalization 518Dagmar Haase and Sophie Schetke 29 Near-Natural Restoration Strategies in Post-mining Landscapes 539Anita Kirmer and Sabine Tischew 30 Restoration and Design of Calcareous Grasslands in Urban and Suburban Areas: Examples from the Munich Plain 556Christine Joas, Johannes Gnädinger, Klaus Wiesinger, Rüdiger Haase and Kathrin Kiehl 31 Contribution of Landscape Design to Changing Urban Climate Conditions 572Katrin Hagen and Richard Stiles 32 Economics and the Convention on Biodiversity: Financial Incentives for Encouraging Biodiversity in Nagoya 593Ryo Kohsaka Conclusions 608Norbert Müller, Peter Werner and John G. Kelcey Index 611

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Book SynopsisApplied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework explores ways in which the environmental quality of urban areas can be improved starting with existing environmental conditions and their dynamics. Written by an internationally renowned selection of scientists and practitioners, the book covers a broad range of established and novel approaches to applied urban ecology. Approaches chosen for the book are placed in the context of issues such as climate change, green- and open-space development, flood-risk assessment, threats to urban biodiversity, and increasing environmental pollution (especially in the megacities of newly industrialized countries). All topics covered were chosen because they are socially and socio-politically relevant today. Further topics covered include sustainable energy and budget management, urban water resource management, urban land management, and urban landscape planning and design. Throughout the book, concepts and methods are illustrTrade Review“In return it broadens our perspective on the pathways we might follow in aiming to understand the complexities of urban environments, and ultimately learn how to shape their future and that of the majority of humanity.” (Austral Ecology, 1 October 2013) “This book provides a wealth of information . . . It is a book for the specialist rather than the generalist and is thus most relevant for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates of ecology, geography, environmental science and urban planning.” (Bulletin of the British Ecological Society, 1 June 2012) "I am sure that anyone teaching in this area at undergraduate or postgraduate levels will want it on their bookshelf." (Elsevier's Biological Conservation, 1 January 2012) "I highly recommend the very hands on and engaging book Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework edited by Matthias Richter and Ulrike Weiland, to any field researchers, scientists, practitioners, urban planners, policy makers in government, business leaders, educators, and students at all levels who are seeking a clear and understandable guide to urban ecology, its challenges, and its potential solutions. This book will transform the way decision makers approach urban ecological issues, and provide students with a firm foundation in applied urban ecology." (Blog Business World, 4 January 2012) "Nevertheless, each chapter is worth reading and I am sure this book will become a primer for studies in urban ecology. I am sure that anyone teaching in this area at undergraduate or postgraduate levels will want it on their bookshelf." (Biological Conservation, 12 December 2011)Table of ContentsList of contributors xi Foreword xiii PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 1. Urban ecology – brief history and present challenges 3 Ulrike Weiland andMatthias Richter 1.1 Introduction 3 1.2 Brief history 3 1.2.1 Initials in urban natural history 3 1.2.2 Socioecological tradition 4 1.2.3 Complex bioecological tradition 4 1.2.4 Ecosystem-related tradition 4 1.3 Recent and present challenges 5 1.4 Purpose and structure of the book 7 1.4.1 Purpose of the book 7 1.4.2 Structure of the book 8 References 9 PART II: URBAN ECOLOGY: RELATED DISCIPLINES AND METHODS 13 2. Thematic–methodical approaches to applied urban ecology 15 Matthias Richter and UlrikeWeiland 3. Monitoring urban land use changes with remote sensing techniques 18 Ellen Banzhaf andMaik Netzband 3.1 Land use changes and their consequences for urban ecology 18 3.2 Urban remote sensing (URS) and geographical information systems (GIS) for research in urban ecology 19 3.3 Measuring physical characteristics of urban areas with remote sensing technology 21 3.3.1 Effects of urban form on natural and man-made hazards 21 3.3.2 Urban dynamics and ecosystem function 23 3.4 Global initiatives to measure urban expansion and land use change 24 3.4.1 Global Urban Observatory of UN-HABITAT 24 3.4.2 "The Dynamics of Global Urban Expansion" – a contribution by theWorld Bank 24 3.4.3 Socioeconomic data and applications Center (SEDAC) at the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, New York, USA 25 3.4.4 The "100 Cities Project", Arizona State University, USA 26 3.5 Regional urban monitoring activities 26 3.5.1 Europe: ESPON, MOLAND and the Urban Atlas 26 3.5.2 Governmental research projects on urban growth in the United States 29 3.6 Synthesis and outlook 29 References 30 PART III: SELECTED FIELDS OF URBAN ECOLOGY 33 A. PATHWAYS OF THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH. 4. Quantifying spatiotemporal patterns and ecological effects of urbanization: a multiscale landscape approach 35 Jianguo Wu, Alexander Buyantuyev, G. Darrel Jenerette, Jennifer Litteral, Kaesha Neil and Weijun Shen 4.1 Introduction 35 4.2 Characterizing the spatiotemporal pattern of urbanization 36 4.2.1 Quantifying urbanization patterns with landscape metrics 36 4.2.2 Other methods for quantifying urban landscape pattern 39 4.2.3 Effects of scale on the analysis of urban landscape patterns 39 4.2.4 Examples from CAP-LTER 40 4.3 Simulating spatiotemporal dynamics of urbanization 41 4.3.1 Importance of simulation models in urban studies 41 4.3.2 Approaches to simulating urban dynamics 41 4.3.3 Examples from CAP-LTER 42 4.4 Effects of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem processes: examples from CAP-LTER 43 4.4.1 Effects of urbanization on biodiversity 43 4.4.2 Effects of urbanization on soil biogeochemical patterns 44 4.4.3 Effects of urbanization on net primary production 45 4.4.4 Effects of urbanization on vegetation phenology 45 4.4.5 Urban heat islands and ecological effects 46 4.4.6 Ecosystem responses to urbanization-induced environmental changes 46 4.5 Concluding remarks 47 Acknowledgments 49 References 49 5. Designing urban systems: ecological strategies with stocks and flows of energy and material 54 Peter Baccini 5.1 The challenge of a new urbanity 54 5.2 Urban systems and their resource management 56 5.2.1 Methodology applied investigating resource management of complex systems 56 5.2.2 Relevant differences between agrarian and urban systems on a regional scale 56 5.2.3 The resource management perspectives on a global scale 58 5.2.4 The essential mass resources in the development of urban regions 59 5.3 Strategies of reconstruction 60 5.3.1 The 2000 watt society 60 5.3.2 Transformation of urban regions in a "time of safe practice" 61 5.3.3 The exploration of urban stocks 61 5.4 Developing strategies for the design of urban systems 63 References 65 B. SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL THREATS. 6. Environmental and ecological threats in Indian mega-cities 66 Surinder Aggarwal and Carsten Butsch 6.1 Urbanization dynamics and emergence of mega-cities 66 6.2 Environmental threats 68 6.2.1 Environmental threats from waste water and sewerage disposal 68 6.2.2 Deteriorating air quality 69 6.2.3 Urban wastemismanagement and environmental degradation 71 6.2.4 Ecosystem damages and ecological footprints 72 6.2.5 Threats from natural hazards, disasters, and climate change 73 6.3 Mega-social challenges 74 6.3.1 Poverty and fragmentation 75 6.3.2 Rising vulnerabilities and insecurities 76 6.3.3 Inequities and inequalities in urban services 77 6.4 Concluding remarks 78 Acknowledgments 80 References 80 7. From wasteland to wilderness – aspects of a new form of urban nature 82 Dieter Rink and Harriet Herbst 7.1 Introduction 82 7.2 Urban wilderness – some attempts at defining the term 83 7.3 Wastelands as a source of urban wilderness 83 7.4 Urban wilderness in planning 85 7.5 On the ecology of urban wilderness 86 7.6 Urban wilderness in a social context 87 7.7 Educational value of urban wilderness 89 7.8 Conclusions 90 References 91 C. FLOODING AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION. 8. Multiscale flood risk assessment in urban areas – a geoinformatics approach 93 Norman Kerle and Dinand Alkema 8.1 Introduction 93 8.2 Flood risk in the context of urban ecology 94 8.3 Comprehensive flood risk assessment – Naga City, the Philippines 96 8.3.1 Floods in Naga 96 8.3.2 Naga's flood management practices 97 8.3.3 Model-based flood scenario studies 97 8.3.4 Linking flood modeling with disaster management 98 8.3.5 Naga as example for other flood-prone cities 99 8.4 The role of remote sensing in flood risk assessment and management 99 8.4.1 Quasistatic hazard data 100 8.4.2 Dynamic hazard data 101 8.4.3 Mapping elements at risk 102 8.5 Disaster risk in the context of urban ecology – an outlook 104 References 104 9. Urban open spaces and adaptation to climate change 106 Marialena Nikolopoulou 9.1 Cities, climate change and the role of open spaces 106 9.2 Outdoor comfort 107 9.3 Use of space 108 9.3.1 Seasonal profile 108 9.3.2 Diurnal profile 108 9.4 Thermal perception 111 9.5 Adaptation 113 9.5.1 Physical adaptation 113 9.5.2 Psychological adaptation, 113 9.6 Design interventions 116 9.6.1 Materials 117 9.6.2 Vegetation 118 9.6.3 Shading 118 9.6.4 Water 119 9.6.5 Other measures 119 9.7 Conclusions 120 References 121 D. URBAN BIODIVERSITY. 10. Social aspects of urban ecology in developing countries, with an emphasis on urban domestic gardens 123 Sarel Cilliers, Stefan Siebert, Elandrie Davoren and Rina Lubbe 10.1 Introduction 123 10.2 Social benefits and human perceptions of urban green areas 124 10.3 Consequences of socioeconomic aspects on the urban green infrastructure 125 10.4 Urban domestic gardens 126 10.4.1 Literature review 126 10.4.2 Case studies from the North-West Province, South Africa 128 10.5 Conclusions 133 References 135 11. Plant material for urban landscapes in the era of globalization: roots, challenges and innovative solutions 139 Maria Ignatieva 11.1 Introduction 139 11.2 The beginning of plant material globalization 139 11.3 Victorian Gardenesque (1820–1880) 140 11.4 Influence of the Victorian garden on the global planting pattern 142 11.5 Victorian tropical and subtropical paradise 143 11.6 Modern nurseries’ direction: global pool of plants 145 11.7 Innovative solutions: searching for new ecological planting design 148 11.7.1 Europe: United Kingdom 148 11.7.2 Europe: The Netherlands 148 11.7.3 Europe: Germany 148 11.7.4 United States 149 11.7.5 New Zealand: modern approach to planting design 149 11.8 Discussion and conclusion 150 Acknowledgments 150 References 150 E. ENVIRONMENTAL URBAN DESIGN. 12. Ecological infrastructure leads the way: the negative approach and landscape urbanism for smart preservation and smart growth 152 Kongjian Yu 12.1 Introduction 152 12.1.1 Urbanization in China challenges survival 152 12.1.2 The failure of the conventional approach in urban development planning 153 12.1.3 Green infrastructure leads the way: the negative approach and landscape urbanism 154 12.2 The negative approach: methodology 158 12.2.1 Process analysis 158 12.2.2 Defining landscape security patterns 159 12.2.3 Defining ecological infrastructure 159 12.2.4 Defining urban form at the large scale: urban growth alternatives based on regional EI 159 12.2.5 Defining urban form at the intermediate scale: urban open spaces system based on EI 159 12.2.6 Defining urban form at the small scale: site-specific urban development alternatives based on EI 159 12.3 Urban growth based on EI: a case of negative planning for Taizhou City 159 12.3.1 Critical landscape processes 161 12.3.2 Defining landscape security patterns for the targeted processes 162 12.3.3 Defining ecological infrastructure 164 12.3.4 Scenarios of urban growth pattern based on the regional ecological infrastructure 164 12.3.5 Shaping urban form at the intermediate scale 165 12.3.6 Shaping urban land development at the small scale 165 12.4 Conclusion 165 References 166 13. Integrating science and creativity for landscape planning and design of urban areas 170 Antje Stokman and Christina von Haaren 13.1 Introduction 170 13.2 Landscape planning as a legally based contribution to sustainable development in Germany 171 13.2.1 Tasks of landscape planning 171 13.2.2 Methodologies of landscape planning 172 13.3 Landscape design as a creative cultural action 173 13.3.1 Tasks of landscape design 173 13.3.2 Methodologies of landscape design 174 13.4 Linking landscape planning and design: differences, interfaces and potential synergies 175 13.4.1 A matter of timeline and scale: linking multidimensional perspectives on strategic landscape development 175 13.4.2 A matter of perception and meaning: linking environmental goals and cultural concepts 176 13.4.3 A matter of process and learning: linking management and experimentation to achieve adaptive landscape development 178 13.4.4 A matter of involvement and experience: linking information and participation 181 13.5 Conclusion 182 Acknowledgment 183 References 183 14. Landscape as a living system: Shanghai 2010 Expo Houtan Park 186 Kongjian Yu 14.1 Introduction 186 14.2 Objective 186 14.3 Challenges 186 14.3.1 Pollution 186 14.3.2 Flooding 186 14.3.3 Circulation 187 14.3.4 Transformation 187 14.3.5 Identity 187 14.3.6 Form 188 14.4 Design concept and strategy: a living system 188 14.4.1 Ecological landscape 189 14.4.2 Three dimensions of meanings 190 14.4.3 Experience network 191 14.5 Conclusions 192 F. ENVIRONMENTAL URBAN POLITICS. 15. Geographical perspectives on a radical political ecology of water 193 Alex Loftus 15.1 Introduction 193 15.2 The urbanization of nature 194 15.3 Urban political ecologies of water 195 15.4 Privatization questions 196 15.5 Taking the debates forward 199 15.6 Infrastructures of power: democratizing water technologies 199 15.7 The everyday 201 15.8 Conclusions 202 References 202 PART IV: SYNTHESIS 205 16. Synthesizing urban ecology research and topics for urban environmental management 207 Matthias Richter and UlrikeWeiland Index 213

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Book SynopsisAdditional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/vandermaarelfranklin/vegetationecology. Vegetation Ecology, 2nd Editionis a comprehensive, integrated account of plant communities and their environments. Written by leading experts in their field from four continents, the second edition of this book: covers the composition, structure, ecology, dynamics, diversity, biotic interactions and distribution of plant communities, with an emphasis on functional adaptations; reviews modern developments in vegetation ecology in a historical perspective; presents a coherent view on vegetation ecology while integrating population ecology, dispersal biology, soil biology, ecosystem ecology and global change studies; tackles applied aspects of vegetation ecology, including management of communities and invasive species; Table of ContentsContributors xi Preface xv 1 Vegetation Ecology: Historical Notes and Outline 1 Eddy van der Maarel and Janet Franklin 1.1 Vegetation ecology at the community level 1 1.2 Internal organization of plant communities 14 1.3 Structure and function in plant communities and ecosystems 17 1.4 Human impact on plant communities 20 1.5 Vegetation ecology at regional to global scales 22 1.6 Epilogue 24 2 Classifi cation of Natural and Semi-natural Vegetation 28 Robert K. Peet and David W. Roberts 2.1 Introduction 28 2.2 Classifi cation frameworks: history and function 30 2.3 Components of vegetation classifi cation 33 2.4 Project planning and data acquisition 35 2.5 Data preparation and integration 40 2.6 Community entitation 42 2.7 Cluster assessment 52 2.8 Community characterization 54 2.9 Community determination 58 2.10 Classifi cation integration 60 2.11 Documentation 63 2.12 Future directions and challenges 64 3 Vegetation and Environment: Discontinuities and Continuities 71 Mike P. Austin 3.1 Introduction 71 3.2 Early history 72 3.3 Development of numerical methods 74 3.4 Current theory: continuum and community 78 3.5 Current indirect ordination methods 86 3.6 Species distribution modelling or direct gradient analysis 93 3.7 Synthesis 101 4 Vegetation Dynamics 107 Steward T.A. Pickett, Mary L. Cadenasso and Scott J. Meiners 4.1 Introduction 107 4.2 The causes of vegetation dynamics 108 4.3 Succession in action: interaction of causes in different places 114 4.4 Common characteristics across successions 131 4.5 Summary 134 5 Clonality in the Plant Community 141 Brita M. Svensson, Hakan Rydin and Bengt A. Carlsson 5.1 Modularity and clonality 141 5.2 Where do we fi nd clonal plants? 145 5.3 Habitat exploitation by clonal growth 148 5.4 Transfer of resources and division of labour 151 5.5 Competition and co-existence in clonal plants 153 5.6 Clonality and herbivory 158 6 Seed Ecology and Assembly Rules in Plant Communities 164 Peter Poschlod, Mehdi Abedi, Maik Bartelheimer, Juliane Drobnik, Sergey Rosbakh and Arne Saatkamp 6.1 Ecological aspects of diaspore regeneration 164 6.2 Brief historical review 166 6.3 Dispersal 167 6.4 Soil seed bank persistence 177 6.5 Germination and establishment 180 6.6 Ecological databases on seed ecological traits 186 6.7 Seed ecological spectra of plant communities 186 6.8 Seed ecological traits as limiting factors for plant species occurrence and assembly 187 6.9 Seed ecological traits and species co-existence in plant communities 191 7 Species Interactions Structuring Plant Communities 203 Jelte van Andel 7.1 Introduction 203 7.2 Types of interaction 204 7.3 Competition 205 7.4 Allelopathy 211 7.5 Parasitism 212 7.6 Facilitation 215 7.7 Mutualism 218 7.8 Complex species interactions affecting community structure 221 7.9 Assembly rules 225 8 Terrestrial Plant-Herbivore Interactions: Integrating Across Multiple Determinants and Trophic Levels 233 Mahesh Sankaran and Samuel J. McNaughton 8.1 Herbivory: pattern and process 233 8.2 Coping with herbivory 241 8.3 The continuum from symbiotic to parasitic 247 8.4 Community level effects of herbivory 250 8.5 Integrating herbivory with ecosystem ecology 255 9 Interactions Between Higher Plants and Soil-dwelling Organisms 260 Thomas W. Kuyper and Ron G.M. de Goede 9.1 Introduction 260 9.2 Ecologically important biota in the rhizosphere 261 9.3 The soil community as cause and consequence of plant community composition 263 9.4 Specifi city and selectivity 265 9.5 Feedback mechanisms 268 9.6 Soil communities and invasive plants 274 9.7 Mutualistic root symbioses and nutrient partitioning in plant communities 275 9.8 Mycorrhizal networks counteracting plant competition? 278 9.9 Pathogenic soil organisms and nutrient dynamics 279 9.10 After description 279 10 Vegetation and Ecosystem 285 Christoph Leuschner 10.1 The ecosystem concept 285 10.2 The nature of ecosystems 287 10.3 Energy fl ow and trophic structure 289 10.4 Biogeochemical cycles 299 11 Diversity and Ecosystem Function 308 Jan Leps 11.1 Introduction 308 11.2 Measurement of species diversity 309 11.3 Determinants of species diversity in the plant community 315 11.4 Patterns of species richness along gradients 319 11.5 Stability 324 11.6 On the causal relationship between diversity and ecosystem functioning 329 12 Plant Functional Types and Traits at the Community, Ecosystem and World Level 347 Andrew N. Gillison 12.1 The quest for a functional paradigm 347 12.2 Form and function: evolution of the 'functional' concept in plant ecology 348 12.3 The development of functional typology 348 12.4 Plant strategies, trade-offs and functional types 355 12.5 The mass ratio hypothesis 361 12.6 Functional diversity and complexity 362 12.7 Moving to a trait-based ecology – response and effect traits 363 12.8 Plant functional types and traits as bioindicators 370 12.9 Environmental monitoring 372 12.10 Trait-based climate modelling 374 12.11 Scaling across community, ecosystem and world level 376 12.12 Discussion 377 13 Plant Invasions and Invasibility of Plant Communities 387 Marcel Rejmanek, David M. Richardson and Petr Pysek 13.1 Introduction 387 13.2 Defi nitions and major patterns 388 13.3 Invasibility of plant communities 393 13.4 Habitat compatibility 401 13.5 Propagule pressure and residence time 402 13.6 What are the attributes of successful invaders? 404 13.7 Impact of invasive plants, justifi cation and prospects of eradication projects 413 14 Vegetation Conservation, Management and Restoration 425 Jan P. Bakker 14.1 Introduction 425 14.2 From agricultural exploitation to nature conservation 427 14.3 Vegetation management in relation to a hierarchy of environmental processes 430 14.4 Laissez-faire and the wilderness concept 430 14.5 Management and restoration imply setting targets 433 14.6 Setting targets implies monitoring 437 14.7 Effects of management and restoration practices 438 14.8 Constraints in management and restoration 444 14.9 Strategies in management and restoration 447 15 Vegetation Types and Their Broad-scale Distribution 455 Elgene O. Box and Kazue Fujiwara 15.1 Introduction: vegetation and plant community 455 15.2 Form and function, in plants and vegetation 456 15.3 Vegetation types 464 15.4 Distribution of the main world vegetation types 466 15.5 Regional vegetation 469 15.6 Vegetation modelling and mapping at broad scales 472 15.7 Vegetation and global change 479 16 Mapping Vegetation from Landscape to Regional Scales 486 Janet Franklin 16.1 Introduction 486 16.2 Scale and vegetation mapping 489 16.3 Data for vegetation mapping 490 16.4 Methods for vegetation mapping 495 16.5 Examples of recent vegetation maps illustrating their different uses 500 16.6 Dynamic vegetation mapping 501 16.7 Future of vegetation mapping research and practice 502 17 Vegetation Ecology and Global Change 509 Brian Huntley and Robert Baxter 17.1 Introduction 509 17.2 Vegetation and climatic change 510 17.3 Confounding effects of other aspects of global change 518 17.4 Conclusions 525 References 527 Index 531

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Book Synopsis*A New York Times Editor's Choice pick*Shortlisted for the 2022 Pacific Northwest Book AwardsA beloved natural historian explores how climate change is driving evolution  In Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, biologist Thor Hanson tells the remarkable story of how plants and animals are responding to climate change: adjusting, evolving, and sometimes dying out. Anole lizards have grown larger toe pads, to grip more tightly in frequent hurricanes. Warm waters cause the development of Humboldt squid to alter so dramatically that fishermen mistake them for different species. Brown pelicans move north, and long-spined sea urchins south, to find cooler homes. And when coral reefs sicken, they leave no territory worth fighting for, so aggressive butterfly fish transform instantly into pacifists. A story of hope, resilience, and risk, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is natural history for readers of Bernd Heinrich, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and David Haskell. It is also a reminder of how unpredictable climate change is as it interacts with the messy lattice of life.

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Book SynopsisCharts color exploration and expression from the 1600s to the present day through painters' tools, art, ephemera, and literatureThroughout history, artists, scientists, and philosophers have attempted to explain and order the visible color spectrum. Color: A Visual History from Newton to Modern Color Matching Guides offers the fascinating history of how color has been recorded, explored, and understood. Using an extraordinary collection of original color material that includes charts, wheels, artists' palettes, and swatches, the book showcases centuries of significant scientific discoveries and artistic exploration. It celebrates the visual quality and beauty of various color theories over time and highlights the creativity of their design and codification. The book showcases everything from fourteenth-century illuminated manuscripts to Moses Harris's The Natural System of Colours (ca. 1769), and from 1814's Werner's Nomenclature of Colours to Paul Klee's color harmonies to highlight the fascinating interactions of science and art. This stunning display of shades, tints, and tones is an authoritative guide for anyone working in the arts, as well as anyone passionate about color in their personal lives, homes, and surroundings.

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Book SynopsisBeautifully presented facsimile reproductions of the drawings and notes of pioneering entomologist Henry Walter Bates documenting his 11-year-long travels in the Amazon in the mid-1850s.This charming book showcases the two journals produced by entomologist Henry Walter Bates during his groundbreaking travels and discoveries in the Amazon from 1848 to 1859, on which his classic work The Naturalist on the River Amazon, was based. It includes facsimile reproductions of stunning illustrated pages taken from his Amazon journals, as well as an essay describing his travels. The journals reveal how a self-taught naturalist and butterfly enthusiast had a profound impact on the science of evolution.Bates, a trusted companion of Alfred Russel Wallace, traveled with him to the Amazon in 1848. There he became fascinated by close similarities in appearance between unrelated butterflies, and discovered a scientific phenomenon we now refer to as Batesian mimicry: species that are highly desirable to predators began evolving to look more like other, more toxic species in order to avoid predation.Bates spent a total of 11 years in the Amazon; when he returned to England, he had collected, by his own estimate, some 14,000 species of insects, of which no less than 8,000 were previously unknown. This beautiful book offers valuable new insight into the scientific implications and findings of Henry Walter Bates's rich and fruitful time in the Amazon, and it is the ideal book for anyone interested in science, scientific history, and science illustrations.

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Book SynopsisEcology and the Environment: The Mechanisms, Marring, and Maintenance of Nature is the ninth title published in the Templeton Science and Religion Series, in which scientists from a wide range of fields distill their experience and knowledge into brief tours of their respective specialties. In this volume, R. J. Berry, a well-known leader in the field of ecology, describes the basic concepts of ecology and seeks to put them into a general context for a reader who lacks any scientific background. Berry explores the implications of these basic concepts and how they affect human life and the decisions we have to make, both as individuals and as members of a species that has colonized and influenced every part of the globe. He points out that we are a part of the animal world, but at the same time, we are apart from it, and he makes it clear that how we relate to our environment affects the quality of our life—indeed, it may affect our very survival. Going beyond a simple introduction of concepts, the book explores wider questions about the nature of humanity and how human ecology relates to humanness. Berry proposes that we are more than machines or even advanced apes—we are Homo divinus, transformed from an organism descended from the same stock as the apes but qualitatively different and able to relate to a creator God. The book argues that those who conclude otherwise are neglecting relevant data. Berry offers the perfect introduction to these philosophical and theological issues, but his work never loses sight of the practical issues either—the kind that is increasingly being addressed by national and international environmental agencies. In order to grasp the full scope of these issues and to more fully understand the ubiquitous news headlines concerning environmental matters, a reader would do well to start with Ecology and the Environment.Table of ContentsPreface / vii Chapter 1: Ecology—The Study of Place / 3 Chapter 2: A Green Machine / 26 Chapter 3: From Deluge to Biogeography / 69 Chapter 4: Stewardship and Ecological Services / 99 Chapter 5: Environmental Literacy / 117 Chapter 6: The Proper Study of Mankind / 132 Chapter 7: The Most Dangerous Species / 150 Chapter 8: God’s Two Books / 184 Acknowledgments / 211 Notes / 213 Further Reading / 217 Index / 221

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Book Synopsis Contemporary scholarship has given rise to several modes of understanding biophysical and human nature, each entangled with related notions of science and religion. Envisioning Nature, Science, and Religion represents the culmination of three years of collaboration by an international group of fourteen natural scientists, social scientists, humanists, and theologians. The result is an intellectually stimulating volume that explores how the ideas of nature pertain to science and religion. Editor James D. Proctor has gathered sixteen in-depth essays, each examining and comparing five central metaphors or "visions" of biophysical and human nature. These visions are evolutionary nature, emergent nature, malleable nature, nature as sacred, and nature as culture. The book's diverse contributors offer a wide variety of unique perspectives on these five visions, spanning the intellectual spectrum and proposing important and often startling implications for religion and science alike. Throughout the essays, the authors do a great deal of cross-referencing and engaging each other's ideas, creating a cohesive dialogue on the visions of nature.Envisioning Nature, Science, and Religion offers a blend of scholarly rigor and readable prose that will be appreciated by anyone engaged in the fields of religion, philosophy, and the natural sciences. Table of ContentsAcknowledgments / vii Introduction: Visions of Nature, Science, and Religion / 3 James D. Proctor 1. The Nature of Visions of Nature: Packages to Be Unpacked / 36 Willem B. Drees 2. Visions of Nature through Mathematical Lenses / 59 Douglas E. Norton 3. Between Apes and Angels: At the Borders of Human Nature / 83 Johannes M.M.H. Thijssen 4. Locating New Visions / 103 David N. Livingstone 5. Enduring Metaphysical Impatience? / 131 Robert E. Ulanowicz 6. God from Nature: Evolution or Emergence? / 149 Barbara J. King 7. Who Needs Emergence? / 166 Gregory Peterson 8. Creativity through Emergence: A Vision of Nature and God / 180 Antje Jackelén 9. Rereading a Landscape of Atonement on an Aegean Island / 205 Martha L. Henderson 10. The Vision of Malleable Nature: A Complex Conversation / 227 Andrew Lustig 11. Visions of a Source of Wonder / 245 Fred D. Ledley 12. Nature as Culture: The Example of Animal / Behavior and Human Morality / 271 Nicolaas A. Rupke 13. Environment after Nature: Time for a / New Vision / 293 James D. Proctor 14. Should the Word Nature Be Eliminated? / 312 John Hedley Brooke Afterword: Visualizing Visions and Visioners / 337 James D. Proctor Contributors / 353 Index / 357

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Book Synopsis"If you’re looking for a dose of wonder in your reading life, I recommend this beautiful book about the magic of fig trees."—Book Riot Over millions of years, fig trees have shaped our world, influenced our evolution, nourished our bodies and fed our imaginations. And as author and ecologist Mike Shanahan proclaims, “The best could be yet to come.” Gods, Wasps and Stranglers weaves together the mythology, history and ecology of one of the world’s most fascinating—and diverse—groups of plants, from their starring role in every major religion to their potential to restore rainforests, halt the loss of rare and endangered species and even limit climate change. In this lively and joyous book, Shanahan recounts the epic journeys of tiny fig wasps, whose eighty-million-year-old relationship with fig trees has helped them sustain more species of birds and mammals than any other trees; the curious habits of fig-dependent rhinoceros hornbills; figs’ connection to Krishna and Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad; and even their importance to Kenya’s struggle for independence. Ultimately, Gods, Wasps and Stranglers is a story about humanity’s relationship with nature, one that is as relevant to our future as it is to our past. Trade ReviewChoice Reviews- "Fig trees are found throughout the tropical world with over 800 species in the genus Ficus. Many figs have an elaborate pollination system in which tiny wasps mate inside of the fruit. This book considers the biology, ecology, natural history, and the historical/cultural importance of this interesting plant. An especially fascinating aspect of fig trees is that they are utilized in forest restoration efforts. For example, in Central America and Africa, scientists have planted mature fig tree branches to use as 'instant trees' in deforested areas. The fig trees attract animals and promote biodiversity in the immediate area. The author highlights how edible figs have been discovered in archaeological sites that date back to 13,000 years ago. The author also devotes several chapters to specific historical eras and notes that in the Bible, Adam and Eve used fig leaves to serve as clothing. The book contains many fine-quality line drawings to illustrate principles, such as how a wasp enters a fig and the natural variation in the morphology of figs. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers."Shelf Awareness, Starred Review- "Mike Shanahan's Gods, Wasps and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees is a deceptively brief account of the Ficus genus of trees in history, emphasizing but not limited to their relationship with humans. Shanahan brings the expertise of decades of ecological fieldwork and a bubbling enthusiasm to a topic clearly close to his heart. He makes a strong argument that his readers should be attuned to and excited about fig trees, too. The plant figures into the origin stories of cultures all over the world. Fig trees have provided food, shelter, medicine and materials to humans for as long as humans have existed: figs predate us by nearly 80 million years. Because of their contributions as keystone species in ecosystems around the world, figs offer distinctive services in reforestation efforts and the mitigation of climate change. They have contributed to the theory of evolution, the birth of agriculture and possibly humans' development of opposable thumbs. The story of the fig is inseparable from that of fig wasps, numerous tiny insect species that have evolved to pair respectively in symbiosis with individual species of fig. Shanahan relates all this and more in a joyous voice with occasional lyricism, as when 'the Buddhist monk's robe sang out loud saffron over the rainforest's muffled tones of brown and green and grey.’ Mythology, biology and hope for the future combine in this highly accessible story of the family of fig trees, with its profound ecological relevance. A joyful, celebratory world history of the fig tree and its ecological impact.”Booklist- "Fig trees, with their 'sinuous aerial roots,' hidden flowers, wondrous pollinators, and nourishing fruits, have sustained diverse ecosystems and civilizations for millennia. In this lively and mind-expanding mix of personal adventures, myth, religious history, and science, rain-forest ecologist and award-winning journalist Shanahan traces the intricate connection between humans and Ficus species. He cogently illuminates how fig trees were held sacred by various spiritual traditions around the world, including those of ancient Egypt and Greece, along with the fig tree’s place in the Buddha’s story and the Garden of Eden. He profiles intrepid fig-tree experts and vividly explains how tiny fig-wasps burrow into figs, lay eggs, and reemerge to distribute pollen, allowing the planet’s 750 Ficus species to thrive and feed 1,274 species of birds and mammals, including humans. Scientists now recognize that fig trees are “keystone resources” essential to sustaining life and foresee their playing a central role in forest restoration as we struggle with the consequences of environmental decimation and global warming. Shanahan’s spirited celebration of the fig tree as symbol and life force is richly entertaining and truly enlightening.”“In his insightful book, Gods, Wasps and Stranglers, Mike Shanahan combines poetry and science, history and humanity, to tell a story not only of the fig tree but of life on Earth in all its beautiful and astonishing complexity. In doing so, he reminds us of what a remarkable place we inhabit—and how much we should all want to protect and preserve it.”--Deborah Blum, director, Knight Science Journalism Program, MIT; author of The Poisoner’s Handbook“Surprising, engrossing, disturbing and promising, Gods, Wasps and Stranglers combines masterful storytelling and spellbinding science. This is a beautifully written and important book about trees that have shaped human destiny.”--Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus“The complex web of ecological connections between fig trees, tropical forest animals and plants, as well as people and human culture is nothing short of a marvel. Gods, Wasps and Stranglers is a page-turner and a revelation: You will never again think of a fig as just something to eat. There is no better way to introduce the complexity and wonder of nature—and our intricate relationship with it. A must read.”--Thomas E. Lovejoy, University Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University; fellow, National Geographic Society“This book concerns the stunningly versatile and ancient family of fig trees now being used as a framework species to restore damaged tropical forests. Figs are not only considered the keystone species in forests but are perhaps the world’s most perfect tree—they provide highly nutritious fruits with health-giving and medicinal qualities. They attract birds and animals. They grow very rapidly and produce abundant fruits in a few years. They make shade and shelter, their deep powerful roots can break up compacted soils, they draw up water, they prevent erosion, and they have important spiritual qualities. The tree in the Garden of Eden was very likely not an apple but a fig.”--Annie Proulx“In Gods, Wasps and Stranglers, rainforest ecologist Mike Shanahan charts a lifelong love affair with figs, one that has taken him from India to Kenya, through temples and rainforests, all in search of a deeper understanding of what he describes as ‘humanity’s relationship with nature.’ The fig becomes a tasty lens that reveals not only the fruit’s cultural and biological significance but our relationship to that which most deeply nourishes us.”--Simran Sethi, author of Bread, Wine, Chocolate“A real labour of love, concisely and elegantly told.”--Fred Pearce, author; environmental consultant for New Scientist

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Book SynopsisPublished by Sinauer Associates, an imprint of Oxford University Press. Marine Community Ecology and Conservation was written to give advanced undergraduate and graduate students a current overview of what is known about the structure, organization, and conservation of organism assemblages that live on the sea floor. It largely focuses on advancements over the past decade since the publication of Marine Community Ecology (2001). Each chapter is written by leading researchers to give students an up-to-date look at these communities, and what remains to be learned about them. The book is organized into three parts. The first part explores general processes that generate pattern in benthic communities. These introductory chapters examine how physical and biological forces interacting with historical and genetic constraints operate to structure marine communities. The second part examines the ecology of specific marine benthic community types, ranging from rocky shores and soft substrate habitats to kelp forests to coral reefs. These chapters are intended to be the most current summaries available of our understanding of these communities. The final part examines conservation and management issues of marine communities. The closing chapters emphasize how pervasively and profoundly marine communities are impacted by humans and outlines how we can use our understanding of these systems to manage and preserve the valuable services and resources they provide. Marine Community Ecology and Conservation is extensively referenced and includes a bibliography of over 5,000 citations. It is suitable as a text for advanced marine ecology courses and seminars, as well as a general reference for students and researchers.Trade ReviewIn the second edition of Marine Community Ecology and Conservation, Bertness and co-editors provide an update of the dominant elements of marine community ecology as well as the now maturing science of our generation: conservation. The editors state that the book is intended to fill intellectual gaps and update readers on new developments in applied ecology in the oceans. The book targets upper-level undergraduate to graduate level users. We feel that the book achieves this goal and is a very useful resource for graduate-level readers. * Anna Shaffer, Marine Ecology *Overall, I recommend this thoughtfully conceived compendium of essays on marine community ecology for its intended audiences. It achieves broad coverage, comprehensive insights, and novel visions. * Charles H. Peterson, The Quarterly Review of Biology *Marine Community Ecology and Conservation is a rich source of information suitable for advanced undergraduates to advanced professionals in marine ecology and conservation. Having taught marine biology, ecology, and conservation courses for more than 30 years, I recommend this book without reservation. * Jeanine L. Olsen, Restoration Ecology *Table of ContentsForward by JBC Jackson and Robert Treat Paine.- 1. A Historical Perspective of Marine Community Ecology; John F. Bruno, Brian R. Silliman, John J. Stachowicz and Mark D. Bertness.- PART 1: PROCESSES THAT GENERATE PATTERN IN MARINE COMMUNITIES.- 2. The Physical Context of Marine Communities; Marc Weissburg, Brian Helmuth and Jon Witman.- 3. Foundation Species in Marine Ecosystems; Andrew H. Altieri and Johan van de Koppel.- 4. Marine Dispersal, Ecology, and Conservation; Stephen R. Palumbi and Malin L. Pinsky.- 5. The Role of Infectious Disease in Marine Communities; Kevin D. Lafferty and C. Drew Harvell.- 6. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Does Pattern Influence Process?; Mary I. O'Connor and Jarrett E. Byrnes.- 7. The Biogeography of Marine Communities; Eric Sanford.- 8. Historical Ecology: Informing the Future by Learning from the Past; Heike K. Lotze and Loren McClenachan.- PART 2: COMMUNITY TYPES.- 9. Intertidal Rocky Shores; Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi and Geoffrey C. Trussell.- 10. Soft Sediment Communities; James E. Byers and John H. Grabowski.- 11. Salt Marshes; Mark D. Bertness and Brian R. Silliman.- 12. Ecology of Seagrass Communities; Emmett Duffy, Randall Hughes and Per Moksnes.- 13. Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Decade of Discoveries; Isabelle M. Côté and Nancy Knowlton.- 14. Kelp Beds; Robert Steneck and Craig Johnson.- 15. Pelagic Communities; Jon Fisher and Ken Frank.- 16. Phytoplankton Communities; Kyle F. Edwards and Elena Litchman.- 17. Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vent Communities; Lauren S. Mullineaux.- PART 3: CONSERVATION.- 18. Services of Marine Ecosystems: A Quantitative Perspective; Edward B. Barbier, Heather M. Leslie and Fiorenza Micheli.- 19. Threats to Marine Ecosystems: Climate Change and Bottom-up Forcing; John Bruno and C. Harley.- 20. Threats to Marine Ecosystems: Overfishing and Habitat Degradation; Boris Worm and Hunter S. Lenihan.- 21. Ecosystem Based Approaches to Marine Conservation and Management; Benjamin S. Halpern and Tundi Agardy.- 22. Marine Restoration Ecology; Sean P. Powers and Katharyn E. Boyer.- 23. The Future of Marine Conservation and Management; Mary Ruckelshaus, Peter Kareiva and Larry Crowder.

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Book SynopsisLeonardo da Vinci is celebrated as the archetypal Renaissance man. He made extraordinary discoveries in numerous fields and pioneered entire disciplines, among them fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, theoretical botany, and embryology. Leonardo's unique synthesis of art, science, and technology is not only fascinating intellectually but also very relevant to our timeâit prefigures modern systems theory.Our sciences and technologies have become increasingly narrow in their focus, unable to understand our multi-faceted problems from an interdisciplinary perspective; and our business and political leaders are often incapable of "connecting the dots." This is exactly what we can learn from Leonardo. As the author shows throughout the book, Da Vinci practiced a science and technology that honored and respected the unity of all life, recognized the fundamental interdependence of all natural phenomena, and connected the microcosm (the human being) with the macrocosm (the living Earth). That is exactly the kind of science and technology we need today.

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Book Synopsis"Derek Gow might be the most colorful character in all of Beaverdom."--Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager Read the 2021 Profile of Derek on NewYorker.com: An Ark for Vanished Wildlife Bringing Back the Beaver is farmer-turned-ecologist Derek Gow's inspirational and often riotously funny firsthand account of how the movement to rewild the British landscape with beavers has become the single most dramatic and subversive nature conservation act of the modern era. Since the early 1990s--in the face of outright opposition from government, landowning elites, and even some conservation professionals--Gow has imported, quarantined, and assisted the reestablishment of beavers in waterways across England and Scotland. In addition to detailing the ups and downs of rewilding beavers, Bringing Back the Beaver makes a passionate case as to why the return of one of nature's great problem solvers will be critical as part of a sustainable fix for flooding and future drought, whilst ensuring the creation of essential lifescapes that enable the broadest possible spectrum of Britain's wildlife to thrive. "Bringing Back the Beaver is a hilarious, eccentric and magnificent account of a struggle . . . to reintroduce a species crucial to the health of our ecosystems."--George Monbiot "A treasure."--Booklist

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Book Synopsis'A do-er, not a dreamer, Gow has become one of our most outspoken rewilders.' Countryfile Magazine ‘In this warm and funny autobiography, [Gow] writes with a whimsical fluency about the moments of humour and pathos in an unusual life.’ Country Life ‘Gow reinvents what it means to be a guardian of the countryside.’ Guardian ‘Courageous, visionary, funny.’ Isabella Tree, author of Wilding Tearing down fences literally and metaphorically, Birds, Beasts and Bedlam recounts the adventures of Britain’s most colourful rewilder, Derek Gow. How he raised a sofa-loving wild boar piglet, transported a raging bison bull across the UK, got bitten by a Scottish wildcat and restored the ancient white stork to the Knepp Estate with Charlie Burrell and Isabella Tree. After a Shetland ewe captured a young Derek’s heart, he grew up to become a farmer with a passion for ancient breeds. But when he realised how many of our species were close to extinction, even on his own land, he tore up his traditional Devon farm and transformed it into a rewilding haven for beavers, water voles, lynx, wildcats, harvest mice and more. Birds, Beasts and Bedlam is the story of a rewilding maverick and his single-minded mission to save our wildlife.Trade Review‘A larger-than-life character who writes as well as he thinks, Derek Gow has seen the future – rewilding – and it works.’—Stanley Johnson‘Derek’s passion for our native wildlife is matched by his highly pragmatic approach to helping it thrive. He gets stuff done. The story of his amazing work at Broadwoodwidger is highly entertaining but also a heartfelt plea for a wilder, more inspiring Britain.’—Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall‘Derek Gow’s riotous adventures rescuing threatened species and releasing them for rewilding read like Gerald Durrell on steroids. Courageous, visionary, funny and always up for a scrap with bureaucracy and complacency, the world needs many more Derek Gows.’—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding‘A brilliant read – and the entertaining backstory of a species of human megafauna who has transformed the British conservation scene.’—Benedict Macdonald, author of Rebirding (winner, 2020 Wainwright Conservation Prize)‘There is only one Derek Gow. Like a gruff, bearded naiad, he speaks for nature with all the force of someone who has spent a life protecting it. The trickle of good news stories coming out of British conservation nearly all owe a significant debt to Gow; he has been instrumental in the restoration of the marvellous beaver, the increase in water voles and the return of storks to English land. In Birds, Beasts and Bedlam, this fascinating man tells us about his life and how he ended up championing rewilding as a solution to our impoverished landscape. More than this, there are hilarious stories of his many interactions with animals, both wild and less than pleased, that have dotted his journey in turning sterile Devon farmland into a beautifully rewilded tapestry of faunal interactions.’—Dr Ross Barnett, author of The Missing Lynx‘A great read from a rewilding polymath. This is how it’s done – and you’ll also learn about the struggles. Nature needs more bold people like Derek Gow to restore our damaged planet.’—Roy Dennis MBE, author of Restoring the Wild‘It is a charming, passionate and timely book. It will stir thoughts in many, and motivate them to do even small things that can have large consequences. I hope it will become a classic.’—Bernd Heinrich, author of A Naturalist at Large‘Derek Gow’s Birds, Beasts and Bedlam is charming, witty and has a “get it done” approach to the reintroduction of endangered species and restoration of natural habitats destroyed by hundreds of years of overmanagement.’—Benjamin Kilham, wildlife biologist; author of In the Company of Bears 'Gow writes with abandon, tattling off tales with the loquacity of a folklorist, or any salty farmer worth their salt. Luckily for us, the splendor of his life’s work, and its ecologic importance, emerges as conspicuously as a bison in a raspberry bush, shaking and stomping.'—World Literature Today'Derek Gow’s hilarious Birds, Beasts and Bedlam exposes the bureaucratic hurdles to be over-come by those trying to restore lost species.'—Robin Hanbury-Tenison

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Book SynopsisThis beginner?s guide explores the major attributes of rivers and streams and showcases their remarkable diversity using examples of waterways from around the globe.In this addition to the About Habitats series, award-winning author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what rivers and streams are and explain how various species of animals and plants have adapted to life in or along these waterways. John Sill?s detailed, full-color illustrations show the characteristics of the world?s different rivers and streams?from the mountain streams of the Alps to the mighty Amazon River in South America. A glossary and afterword provide further fascinating details about rivers and streams to inspire readers to learn more.

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Book SynopsisIn 1993 and 1994, two Rapid Assessment Program teams conducted biological surveys in the Cordillera del Condor between Ecuador and Peru, one of the largest intact regions of Andean lower montane forest. This book presents the results of their surveys. The great topographical and geological complexity of this region, combined with a climate of year-round humidity, have resulted in very high plant species diversity. This diversity of habitats and species with restricted distributions makes the Condor an important refuge for many taxa.Table of ContentsParticipants Organizational Profiles Acknowledgments Foreword Overview Summary of Results Conservation Opportunities Technical Report Botany and Landscape of the Rio Nangaritza Basin Vegetation and Flora of the Eastern Slopes of the Cordillera del Condor Birds of the Cordillera del Condor Mammal Fauna of the Cordillera del Condor Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cordillera del Condor Icthyofauna of the Cordillera del Condor Lepidoptera of the Cordillera del Condor Literature Cited Gazetteer Appendices 1: Plant Collections from the Rio Nangaritza Basin 2: Plant Collections from Cerro Machinaza and the Upper Rio Comainas 3: Plant Transect Data from the Summit of Cerro Machinaza, Upper Rio Comainas 4: Orchids of the Upper Rio Comainas 5: Bird Species Recorded at Three Sites on the Northern and Western Slopes 6: Birds of the Upper Rio Comainas 7: Mammals of the Northern and Western Slopes 8: Mammals of the Upper Rio Comainas 9: Mammals of the Rio Cenepa Basin 10: Amphibian and Reptile Species Recorded in the Northern and Western Cordillera del Condor 11: Simmons' Herpetological Collection from the Western Slopes of the Cordillera del Condor 12: Amphibian and Reptile Species of the Upper Rio Comainas 13: Systematic List of the Fish Fauna of the Rio Nangaritza 14: Systematic List of the Fish Fauna of the Upper Rio Comainas 15: Lepidoptera of the Cordillera del Condor 16: Scarabacinac Beetle (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae) Species Collected in the Cordillera del Condor

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Book SynopsisThe Lakekamu Basin of Papua New Guinea encompasses roughly 2500 square kilometres of pristine wilderness lowland rain forest. Exceptional both in terms of numbers of species (the greatest diversity of ant species known from anywhere in the world) and species found nowhere else, the basin is also sparsely populated, roadless, and so far unexploited by large-scale logging or mining projects, making it an excellent conservation opportunity. This book provides the results of an intensive survey of the basin's plants, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, and birds. During just one month of field work, 35-47 new species and possibly new genera were discovered, highlighting the biological richness of this region.

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Book SynopsisThe Upper Rio Orthon Basin of Pando, Bolivia, is a transition zone between moister lowland Amazonian forests and dryer deciduous forests. This largely unexplored region potentially harbours one of the most richly biodiverse aquatic systems within Bolivia, if not within the Amazon River basin. A multinational and multidisciplinary team of scientists surveyed the area to provide a baseline assessment of its biological and conservation value as well as the current and future threats facing the region. In just over two intensive weeks, scientists surveyed water quality, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, crustaceans and genetics.

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Book SynopsisThe Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, covering more than 365,000 kilometres of the central floodplains of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. Its fragile ecosystem is threatened by silt runoff from deforested highlands and efforts by man to make the area navigable. This assessment, which discovered new species in the area, examines previously unexplored regions of the Pantanal -essential sanctuaries for migratory birds, critical nursery grounds for aquatic life, and refuges for such creatures as the black caiman, deer and jaguar.

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Book SynopsisWhile the Rio Paraguay Basin is sparsely populated and poorly surveyed, and it has experienced relatively little human disturbance, it currently faces one large development project: the Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana, which proposes to dredge and channel extensive portions of the Rio Paraguay watershed, altering water flow and seasonal flooding cycles. Conservation International's rapid assessment team aided to document aquatic diversity and the state of the aquatic ecosystem in order to determine sustainable conservation and development strategies for the region.

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Book SynopsisBiologically, New Ireland is one of the least-studied regions of Papua New Guinea - its mountainous southern zone has long been considered both a high priority for biodiversity conservation and a major "scientific unknown". Conservation International agreed to organize a rapid assessment of the forests and wildlife of southern New Ireland. The purpose of the rapid assessment exercise was threefold: to assess the biodiversity of southern New Ireland, to field-test rapid-survey methodology in Papua New Guinea, and to share expertise and methodologies with staff scientists from Papua New Guinea's Department of Environment and Conservation.

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Book SynopsisIn 1997, Conservation International held a conservation priority-setting workshop in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, bringing together government agencies and conservation organizations. The Mamberano Lake Basin region was identified as a high priority, and this volume offers a biodiversity assessment for the Yongsu-Cyclops Mountains and the southern portion of the Mamberano Basin, both tropical ecosystems that include well-known fauna such as tree kangaroos, cuscus, cassowaries, and many species of birds.

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Book SynopsisProtected areas are a relatively new development in Guyana, which makes conservation efforts both more difficult and more critical. Conservation International has focused its energy on the Kanuku Mountain region of southwestern Guyana, home to the largest known population of the endangered harpy eagle. Projects in Guyana are meeting with growing success, as conservationists work in league with indigenous people to create protected areas and "conservation concessions", land leased form governments for the purpose of conservation. The data collected here is critical to continuing these efforts.

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Book SynopsisThis report contains the findings from marine biological assessments of fifty-two sites around the coast of Bali. The purpose of the survey was to collect data on biodiversity and coral reef health in order to provide recommendations for the government of Bali to establish a network of marine protected areas. The team found high diversity and endernism, including at least fifteen species and many reef fishes and corals that were previously unknown to science. Many coral reefs that had historically been damaged are recovering surprisingly well, yet several threats and management problems remain. Detailed conservation recommendations also are provided.

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Book SynopsisThis report contains the findings from rapid biological assessments around Mont Panie, the tallest mountain in New Caledonia, southwest Pacific. The purpose of the survey was to gather data on biodiversity, analyze local climate trends, assess threats, and identify conservation priorities. The research team surveyed mammals, birds, plants, freshwater fishes and crustaceans, reptiles and amphibians, and dragonflies and damselflies. They also discovered fifteen new species of plants and lizards, as well as several other rare species, including the endangered Crow Honeyeater. Detailed conservation recommendations are provided.

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