Ecological science, the Biosphere Books

Book SynopsisIn Advances in Entomopathogenic Nematode Taxonomy and Phylogeny the numerous species of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis described since the previous volume, published in 2007, are evaluated and discussed. Valid species proposed from 2007-2015 are covered in detail, each taxon having an illustrated diagnostic description and additional data on molecular characterisation, distribution and biology, etc. An addendum gives brief details of species proposed during 2016. An overview of the taxonomy of the two families provides an up-to-date list of species for both genera, including new synonyms and detailed commentary on specific status where appropriate. Tabular keys to all valid species of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis assist in diagnostics. A chapter on phylogeny and phylogeography completes the book.Table of ContentsContributors    ix Foreword    xi–xiii Acknowledgements    xv 1. Introduction    1–11 David J. HUNT 2. Taxonomy and systematics    13–58 David J. HUNT and Sergei A. SUBBOTIN 3. Tabular keys to species of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis    59–109 Khuong B. NGUYEN 4. Steinernematidae: species descriptions   111–375 David J. HUNT, Khuong B. NGUYEN and Sergei E. SPIRIDONOV 5. Heterorhabditidae: species descriptions    377–411 Khuong B. NGUYEN and David J. HUNT 6. Phylogeny and phylogeography of Heterorhabditis and Steinernema    413–427 Sergei E. SPIRIDONOV and Sergei A. SUBBOTIN Index    429

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Book SynopsisSeagrasses are unique plants; the only group of flowering plants to recolonise the sea. They occur on every continental margin, except Antarctica, and form ecosystems which have important roles in fisheries, fish nursery grounds, prawn fisheries, habitat diversity and sediment stabilisation. Over the last two decades there has been an explosion of research and information on all aspects of seagrass biology. However the compilation of all this work into one book has not been attempted previously. In this book experts in 26 areas of seagrass biology present their work in chapters which are state-of–the-art and designed to be useful to students and researchers alike. The book not only focuses on what has been discovered but what exciting areas are left to discover. The book is divided into sections on taxonomy, anatomy, reproduction, ecology, physiology, fisheries, management, conservation and landscape ecology. It is destined to become the chosen text on seagrasses for any marine biology course.Trade Review"This is an excellent and timely volume, which shows that research on seagrasses has a good balance between studies of the basic biology of these fascinating organisms and studies of threats to seagrasses and their conservation." "The editors and authors are to be congratulated..." Phycologia (2006) volume 45 (5) "...exhaustively researched and superbly produced..." "...this book will stand for a number of years as the definite statement on the status of research on seagrasses and seagrass ecosystems at the turn of the 21st century." Marine Ecology 27 (2006)Table of ContentsTaxonomy and Biogeography of Seagrasses.- Seagrass Evolution, Ecology and Conservation: A Genetic Perspective.- Seagrass Morphology, Anatomy, and Ultrastructure.- Sexual Reproduction of Seagrasses: Pollination in the Marine Context.- Ecology of Seagrass Seeds and Seagrass Dispersal Processes.- Seagrass Beds and Coastal Biogeochemistry.- 7.- Fluid Dynamics in Seagrass Ecology—from Molecules to Ecosystems.- 9.- Oxygen Movement in Seagrasses.- Dynamics of Seagrass Stability and Change.- Aquatic Optics: Basic Concepts for Understanding How Light Affects Seagrasses and Makes them Measurable from Space.- Light and Photosynthesis in Seagrass Meadows.- Photosynthesis and Metabolism in Seagrasses at the Cellular Level.- Remote Sensing of Seagrass Ecosystems: Use of Spaceborne and Airborne Sensors.- Zostera: Biology, Ecology, and Management.- Biology of Posidonia.- The Biology of Thalassia: Paradigms and Recent Advances in Research.- Epiphytes of Seagrasses.- The Central Role of Grazing in Seagrass Ecology.- Seagrasses, Fish, and Fisheries.- Predation in Seagrass Beds.- Decline and Recovery of Seagrass Ecosystems— The Dynamics of Change.- Human Impacts on Seagrasses: Eutrophication, Sedimentation, and Contamination.- Seagrass Conservation Biology: An Interdisciplinary Science for Protection of the Seagrass Biome.- Seagrass Ecology: New Contributions from a Landscape Perspective.

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Book SynopsisMicropropagation has become a reliable and routine approach for large-scale rapid plant multiplication, which is based on plant cell, tissue and organ culture on well defined tissue culture media under aseptic conditions. A lot of research efforts are being made to develop and refine micropropagation methods and culture media for large-scale plant multiplication of several number of plant species. However, many forest and fruit tree species still remain recalcitrant to in vitro culture and require highly specific culture conditions for plant growth and development. The recent challenges on plant cell cycle regulation and the presented potential molecular mechanisms of recalcitrance are providing excellent background for understanding on totipotency and what is more development of micropropagation protocols. For large-scale in vitro plant production the important attributes are the quality, cost effectiveness, maintenance of genetic fidelity, and long-term storage. The need for appropriate in vitro plant regeneration methods for woody plants, including both forest and fruit trees, is still overwhelming in order to overcome problems facing micropropagation such as somaclonal variation, recalcitrant rooting, hyperhydricity, polyphenols, loss of material during hardening and quality of plant material. Moreover, micropropagation may be utilized, in basic research, in production of virus-free planting material, cryopreservation of endangered and elite woody species, applications in tree breeding and reforestation. Table of ContentsSection A.- Totipotency and the cell cycle.- Micropropagation via organogenesis in slash pine.- Micropropagation of Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens).- Micropropagation of Pinus pinea L.- Micropropagation of Pinus armandii var. Amamiana.- Organogenesis and Cryopreservation of Juvenile Radiata Pine.- Genetic Fidelity Analyses of In Vitro Propagated Cork Oak (Quercus suber L.).- Protocol for Micropropagation of Quercus spp.- Micropropagation of Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.).- In vitro Shoot Development of Taxus Wallichiana Zucc., a Valuable Medicinal Plant.- Micropropagation of Yew (Taxus Baccata L.).- Micropropagation of Larix Species via Organogenesis.- Propagation of Selected Pinus Genotypes Regardless of Age.- Root Induction of Pinus Sylvestris L. Hypocotyl Cuttings using Specific Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in Vitro.- Micropropagation of Betula Pendula Roth including Genetically modified Material.- Protocol for Doubled-Haploid Micropropagation in Quercus suber L. and Assisted Verification.- In vitro Propagation of Fraxinus Species.- Micropropagation of Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia L.).- Albizia Odoratissima L.F. (Benth) Micropropagation.- Micropropagation of Salix caprea L.- Micropropagation of Cedrela fissilis Vell. (Meliaceae).- Micropropagation of Mature Trees of Ulmus Glabra, Ulmus Minor and Ulmus Laevis.- Section B.- Micrografting in Grapevine (Vitis spp.).- Micrografting Grapevine for Virus Indexing.- Apricot micropropagation.- In vitro conservation and Micropropagation of Breadfruit (Artocarpus Altilis, Moracea).- Micrografting of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Siirt).- Protocol for Micropropagation of Castanea Sativa.- Micropropagation of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.).- In vitro Mutagenesis and Mutant Multiplication.- In vitro propagation of Nutmeg, Myristica Fragrans Houtt.- Micropropagation of Elite Neem Tree (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss.).- Micropropagation Protocol for Microspore Embryogenesis in Olea Europaea L.- Micropropagation of Prunus Domestica and Prunus Salicina using Mature Seeds.- Micropropagation of Juglans regia L.- Tissue culture propagation of Mongolian cherry (Prunus fruticosa L.) and Nanking cherry (Prunus Tomentosa L.).- Micropropagation of Fig Tree (Ficus carica sp).- High frequency shoot formation of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis F. flavicarpa) via thin Cell Layer (TCL) Technology.- Micropropagation of Calabash tree Crescentia Cujete L.- Micropropagation of Papaya (Carica Papaya L.).- Section C.- Protocol for Micropropagation of Selected Vaccinium spp.- Protocol for Micropropagation of Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea L.- Micropropagation of Bamboo Species Through Axillary Shoot Proliferation.- In vitro Culture Of Tree Peony Through Axillary Budding.- Micropropagation of pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.- Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera L. Micropropagation.- Light-Emitting Diodes as an Effective Lighting Source for In Vitro Banana Culture.- In vitro Mutagenesis in Banana (Musa spp.) using Gamma Irradiation.

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Book Synopsis"The concept of grasslands as a global resource is not new. Indeed many recognised authorities have been canvassing for a global approach to understanding, managing and exploiting this resource for many years. This is the first book that gathers together leading experts from around the world to outline our current understanding of this complex ecosystem, the ways in which it can be enhanced and utilised and where the research challenges are for the future. The following themes unite the book: - Efficient production from grassland; - Grassland and the environment; - Delivering the benefits from grassland. The reader is given an in depth understanding of the biology of the system and how grasslands are crucial for soil stabilisation and water quality. Secondly, much attention is given to how grasslands offer the possibility of increasing food supply and income generation, which is a hugely important but often ignored facet in today’s climate of extensification and biodiversity. Current advances in the grassland sciences have a proven potential to promote the economic development and environmental stability of regions, nations and peoples, particularly in some of the most resource-limited areas of the world. Approaches for achieving the most effective development and adoption of new technology are reviewed."Table of ContentsForeword 7; Section 1: Efficient production from grassland 11; Grassland in Ireland and the UK 13; M. Rath and S. Peel; Rising demand for meat and milk in developing countries: implications for grasslands-based livestock production 29; C.L. Delgado; Improving the quality of products from grassland 41; N.D. Scollan, R.J. Dewhurst, A.P. Moloney and J.J. Murphy; Grass and forage improvement: temperate forages 57; C.J. Pollock, M.T. Abberton and M.O. Humphreys; Grass and forage plant improvement in the tropics and sub-tropics 69; L. Jank, C.B. do Valle and R.M.S. Resende; Foraging behaviour and herbage intake in the favourable tropics/sub-tropics 81; S.C. Da Silva and P.C. de F. Carvalho; Interactions between foraging behaviour of herbivores and grassland resources in the eastern Eurasian steppes 97; D. Wang, G. Han and Y. Bai; Strategies to mitigate seasonality of production in grassland-based systems 111; C. Porqueddu, S. Maltoni and J.G. Mclvor; Overcoming seasonality of production: opportunities offered by forage conservation technologies 123; P. O'Kiely and A.G. Kaiser; Evolution of integrated crop-livestock production systems 137; M.H.Entz, W.D.Bellotti, J.M. Powell, S.V. Angadi, W. Chen, K.H. Ominski and B. Boelt; Adoption of tropical legume technology around the world: analysis of success 149; H.M. Shelton, S. Franzel and M. Peters; Grasses as biofactories: scoping out the opportunities 167; N. Roberts, K. Richardson, G. Bryan, C. Voisey, W. McNabb, T. Conner, M. Christey and R. Johnson; The potential of grassland and associated forages to produce fibre, biomass, energy or other feedstocks for non-food and other sectors: new uses for a global resource 179; M.F. Askew; Section 2: Grassland & the Environment 191; Grasslands for production and the environment 193; D.R. Kemp and D.L. Michalk; Soil microbial community: understanding the belowground network for sustainable grassland management 209; Y.G. Zhu, W.D. Kong, B.D. Chen, Z.B. Nan and P. Christie; Soil quality assessment and management 219; M.G. Kibblewhite; Water resources, agriculture and pasture: implications of growing demand and increasing scarcity 227; M.W. Rosegrant, R.A. Valmonte-Santos, S.A. Cline, C. Ringler and W. Li; Grassland productivity and water quality: a 21st Century issue 239; D.M. Nash and P.M. Haygarth; Global atmospheric change and its effect on managed grassland systems 251; A. Luscher, J. Fuhrer and P.C.D. Newton; Grazing land contributions to carbon sequestration 265; R.F. Follett and G.E. Schuman; Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from grazed grasslands 279; H. Clark, C. Pinares-Patino and C. deKlein; Relationships between biodiversity and production in grasslands at local and regional scales 295; A. Hector and M. Loreau. Enhancing grassland biodiversity and its consequences for grassland management and utilisation 305; J. Isselstein; Section 3: Delivering the benefits from grassland 321; Grassland and forage to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty 323; S.G. Reynolds, C. Batello, S. Baas and S. Mack; Participatory approach to common use grazing management in dry area developing countries 339; J.A. Tiedeman, A. Larbi, F. Ghassali and N. Battikha; Adoption of Brachiaria grasses in Mexico and Central America: a successful story 343; F. Holmann, P.J. Argel and C.E. Lascano; Improved livelihoods from grasslands; the case of Napier grass in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya 347; D.M. Mwangi, D. Romney, S. Staal, I. Baltenweck and S.W. Mwendia; Role of information and information providers in technology transfer 351; D.J. Undersander; Participatory research for smallholder livestock systems - applying common sense to complex problems 359; P.M. Horne and W.W. Stur; The contribution of participatory research: on-farm research 375; P.F. Fennessy, N.J. Daniels, S.A. Chadwick and P.A. Speck; Computer-based forage management tools: historical, current, and future applications 389; D.H. Hannaway, C.P.Q. Daly, D.F Chapman, B.B. Baker and A.S. Cooper; Paying for our keep: grasslands decision support in more-developed countries 403; A.D. Moore; Decision support for grassland systems in developing countries 415; P.K. Thornton; Keyword index 427; Author index 429.

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