Balogh International IncBalogh International Inc1911 North Duncan Road, Champaign, Illinois 61821 USA; email:balogh@balogh.com; phone:217 355 9331 & 355 1704: fax: 217 355 9413
Plankton of
Inland Waters. Gene E.
Likens. 2010. ISBN: 9780123819949. 412 pp. Hardcover. $89.95
This book covers protists, bacteria, fungi, algae and zooplankton as well as the
functional and system interactions of planktonic and attached forms in aquatic
ecosystems. It includes an up-to-date summary of global aquatic ecosystems and
issues and covers current environmental problems and management solutions.
Algae Energy:
Algae As a New Source of Biodiesel.
Ayhan Demirbas. 2010. ISBN: 9781849960496. Hardcover. $169.00
Algal oil can be an important source of biomass and algaes ability to grow
almost anywhere has encouraged scientists to also investigate its potential as a
source of biodiesel. Algae Energy covers the production of algae culture and the
usage of algal biomass conversion products. It also reviews modern biomass-based
transportation fuels, including biodiesel, bio-oil, biomethane and biohydrogen.
Each chapter opens with fundamental explanations suitable for those with a
general interest in algae energy and goes on to provide in-depth scientific
details for more expert readers. Algae energy is discussed within the wider
context of green energy, with chapters covering topics such as: green energy
facilities, algae technology, energy from algae and biodiesel from algae.
River
Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective.
Gene E. Likens. 2010. ISBN: 9780123819987. 424 pp. Hardcover. $89.95
A derivative of the Encyclopedia of Inland Waters, River Ecosystem Ecology
reviews the function of rivers and streams as ecosystems as well as the varied
activities and interactions that occur among their abiotic and biotic
components.
Coastal
Lagoons: Critical Habitats of Environmental Change.
Michael J. Kennish, et al. 2010. ISBN: 9781420088304. 568 pp.
Hardcover. $119.95
Coastal Lagoons: Critical Habitats of Environmental Change examines the function
and structure of coastal lagoonal ecosystems and the natural and anthropogenic
drivers of change that affect them.
The contributors examine the susceptibility of coastal lagoons to eutrophication,
the indicators of eutrophic conditions, the influences of natural factors such
as major storms, droughts and other climate effects, and the resulting biotic
and ecosystem impairments that have developed worldwide. They provide detailed
descriptions of the physical-chemical and biotic characteristics of diverse
coastal lagoonal ecosystems, and address the environmental factors, forcing
features, and stressors affecting hydrologic, biogeochemical, and trophic
properties of these important water bodies. They also discuss the innovative
tools and approaches used for assessing ecological change in the context of
anthropogenically- and climatically-mediated factors. The book investigates the
biogeochemical and ecological responses to nutrient enrichment and other
pollutants in lagoonal estuaries and compares them to those in other estuarine
types. With editors among the most noted international scholars in coastal
ecology and contributors who are world-class in their fields, the chapters in
this volume represent a wide array of studies on natural and anthropogenic
drivers of change in coastal lagoons located in different regions of the world.
Although a significant number of journal articles on the subject can be found in
the literature, this book provides a single-source reference for coastal lagoons
within the arena of the global environment.
Diel
Vertical Migration of Zooplankton in Lakes and Oceans: Causal Explanations and
Adaptive Significances.
Joop Ringelberg. 2010. ISBN: 978-90-481-3092-4. 356 pp. Hardcover. $169.00
The book deals with Diel Vertical Migration (DVM) of zooplankton in oceans and
lakes and is the first critical discussion of the literature in 100 years of
research. The accent is on photo-response experiments that revealed the
physiological fundament unifying migration behaviour in both biotopes.
Accelerations in relative changes in light intensity of dawn and dusk are the
stimuli that trigger a PhotoBehaviour Mechanisms (PBM) evolved to realise
predator evasion and starvation prevention. Physiology and behaviour are tuned
to these adaptive goals. A "set of ecological factors" is necessary and an
algorithm shows the operation of the "set". However, not only the kinetic
component of behaviour is based on light, also orientation but now the angular
light distribution is responsible. Contrast orientation as in Daphnia may also
hold for other animals, for example, Euphausia.The application of the PBM in
lakes and oceans is demonstrated amongst other for the vertical movements of
Sound Scattering Layers. These layers move faster, slower or as fast as an
isolume which was a problem for the decennia long explanation that migrating
animals followed an optimal light intensity. The enigma was solved. Using time
series of changes in population size, egg ratios, development times and death
rates due to predation by juvenile fish, the influence of DVM on population
dynamics was analysed. Finally, covering the flow of matter in the traditional
food web by a network of information transitions illustrates the controlling
function of infochemicals, such as fish kairomones.
Bibliotheca Diatomologica, Band 55
Diatom assemblages from Sphagnum bogs of the World. I. Nur bog in northern
Mongolia.
Ed.: Maxim S. Kulikovskiy; Horst Lange-Bertalot; Andrzej Witkowski; Nadwzsda I.
Dorofeyuk; Sergei I. Genkal. 2010. ISBN: 978-3-443-57046-0. 326 pp., 1 figure,
118 plates. Paperback. $187.20
Pond
Conservation in Europe. Series: Developments in Hydrobiology, Vol. 210. B. Oertli. 2010. ISBN:
978-90-481-9087-4. 385 pp. Hardcover. $209.00
Ponds are an exceptional freshwater resource around the world and represent
thirty percent of the global surface area of standing water. Furthermore, the
millions of ponds which exist exhibit a particularly high biodiversity and have
a high potential for ecosystem functions and services. Despite these impressive
features, ponds face many threats from a variety of human activities and receive
little or no protection under European and national legislation. Consequently,
there is an urgent need to protect, consolidate and increase the pond resource
in Europe. In order to achieve these objectives, the European Pond Conservation
Network (EPCN) was launched 2004 in Geneva. Its aim is to promote the awareness,
understanding and conservation of these small water bodies in the European
landscape. This volume of “Developments in Hydrobiology” presents a selection of
31 papers presented during EPCN conferences held in 2006 in France (Toulouse)
and in 2008 in Spain (Valencia). They represent a diverse collection of themes
from across the continent and North Africa and present new and original insights
into topics as wide ranging as pond biodiversity; human disturbance; landscape
ecology; ecological assessment and monitoring; practical management measures;
ecological restoration; hydrology and climate change; invasive species and
threatened species.
Freshwater
Algae: Identification and Use as Bioindicators.
Dr. Edward Bellinger and Dr. David D. Sigee. 2010. ISBN:
978-0-470-05814-5. 284 pp. Hardcover. $130.00
Freshwater Algae: Identification and Use as Bioindicators provides a
comprehensive guide to temperate freshwater algae, with additional information
on key species in relation to environmental characteristics and implications for
aquatic management. The book uniquely combines practical material on techniques
and water quality management with basic algal taxonomy and the role of algae as
bioindicators. Freshwater Algae: Identification and Use as Bioindicators is divided into two
parts. Part I describes techniques for the sampling, measuring and observation
of algae and then looks at the role of algae as bioindicators and the
implications for aquatic management. Part II provides the identification of
major genera and 250 important species.
Ecology of
Fresh Waters: A View for the Twenty-First Century, 4th Edition.
Brian Moss. 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4443-3474-6. 480 pp. Hardcover. $200.00
This new edition of an established textbook provides a comprehensive and
stimulating introduction to rivers, lakes and wetlands, and was written as the
basis for a complete course on freshwater ecology. Designed for undergraduate
and early postgraduate students who wish to gain an overall view of this vast
subject area, this accessible guide to freshwater ecosystems and man's
activities will also be invaluable to anyone interested in the integrated
management of freshwaters. The author maintains the tradition of clarity and
conciseness set by previous editions, and the text is extensively illustrated
with photographs and diagrams. Examples are drawn from the author's experience
in many parts of the world, and the author continues to stress the human
influence. The scientific content of the text has been fully revised and
updated, making use of the wealth of data available since publication of the
last edition.
Biofuels: Methods and
Protocols. Series: Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 581.
Jonathan R.
Mielenz. 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60761-213-1. 293 pp., 55 illustrations. Hardcover.
$99.00
With
the dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and growing concerns regarding climate
changes due to green house gasses from these fuels, public opinion has swung
dramatically towards favoring the development of renewable energy sources. In
Biofuels: Methods and Protocols, career-long experts explore a full range of
methods for bioenergy covering important topics such as biomass production and
delivery to the biorefinery, detailed biochemical characterization, as well as
biotechnological techniques for converting plant matter into fuels and
chemicals. Time is of the essence in this field, and this volume aims to
provide direction and assistance to the growing cadre of researchers endeavoring
to develop new sources of bioenergy with a solid, easy-to-use collection of
tried-and-true methods which will save time and effort in the field and the
laboratory. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™
series format, chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics,
lists of the necessary equipment, materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily
reproducible field and laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and
avoiding common pitfalls.
Polar
Microbiology: The Ecology, Biodiversity and Bioremediation Potential of
Microorganisms in Extremely Cold Environments.
Asim K. Bej. 2009. ISBN: 9781420083842. 424 pp. Hardcover. $159.95
The only book to cover the breadth of microbial ecology and diversity in polar
regions with an emphasis on bioremediation, Polar Microbiology: The Ecology,
Biodiversity, and Bioremediation Potential of Microorganisms in Extremely Cold
Environments examines the diversity of polar microorganisms and their ability to
degrade petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in polar terrestrial and aquatic
environments. Providing a unique perspective of these microorganisms in
extremely cold temperatures, the book focuses on their taxonomy, physiology,
biochemistry, population structure, bioremediation potential, and potential for
biotechnology applications. Leading investigators in the field provide complete
coverage of the microbiology relevant to the study of biodiversity and
biodegradation of pollutants in the Arctic and Antarctic, including:
*Microbial extremophiles living in cold and subzero temperature environments
*Genetics and physiology of cold adaptation of microorganisms *Biodegradative
microbial consortia in a defined closed environment *Molecular characterization
of biodegradative microbial populations *Molecular approaches to assess
biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons *Environmental impact of hydrocarbon
contamination *Microbial biodiversity across Antarctic deserts
Algae of Australia:
Marine Benthic Algae of Lord Howe Island and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. 2:
Brown Algae.
Algae of
Australia Series. Gerald T. Kraft. 2009. ISBN: 9780643097377. 370 pp., color
illustrations, b&w plates. Hardcover. $160.00 approx.
Lord
Howe Island, an oceanic outcrop of volcanic origin situated between Australia
and New Zealand, is fringed by the world's southernmost consolidated coral reef.
The Capricorn Group of the southern Great Barrier Reef is a series of patch
reefs and low coral cays. For more than 30 years Dr Gerry Kraft, along with his
students and colleagues, has studied the species-rich marine algal communities
of these reefs, paying special attention to subtidal habitats. This
authoritative account, documenting the brown algae of Lord Howe Island and the
southern Great Barrier Reef, follows a highly commended volume on the green
algae (2007) and will, in due course, be followed by treatments of the red
algae.
This volume includes 7 orders, 12 families, 38 genera and 92 species of benthic
brown algae. Richly illustrated with photographs, many of them in colour, it
includes an introduction to the islands, identification keys to genera and
species and a comprehensive description and discussion of each taxon. The genera
Lucasia (Sporochnales) and Herringtonia (Dictyotales) are newly described, as
are 29 species of the genera Discosporangium, Feldmannia, Hincksia, Hecatonema,
Myrionema, Streblonema, Compsonema, Myriactula, Lucasia, Sphacelaria, Dictyota,
Distromium, Lobophora, Padina, Spatoglossum and Sargassum.
Eutrophication in
Coastal Ecosystems: Towards better understanding and management strategies.
Series:
Developments in Hydrobiology, Vol. 207. Reprinted from Hydrobiologia, Vol. 629.
2009. Jesper H. Andersen; Daniel J. Conley (Eds.). 2009. ISBN:
978-90-481-3384-0. 264 pp. Hardcover. $179.00
Coastal eutrophication has been and still remains an important issue for the
scientific community. Despite many efforts to mitigate coastal eutrophication,
the problems associated with eutrophication are still far from being solved.
This book focusses on the most recent scientific results in relation to specific
eutrophication issues, e.g. definition(s) and causes; nutrient loads, cycling
and limitation; reference conditions, primary effects and secondary effects;
trend reversal (oligotrophication), as well as links to other pressures (climate
change and top/down control). It also focusses on monitoring and modelling of
coastal eutrophication, and adaptive and science-based nutrient management
strategies. The book is based on selected papers from the Second International
Symposium on Research and Management of Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems,
held 20-23 June 2006 in Nyborg, Denmark.
Methods for the Study of Deep-Sea Sediments, Their Functioning and Biodiversity.
Roberto Danovaro. 2009. ISBN: 9781439811375. 458 pp. Hardcover. $139.95
For years scientists viewed the deep sea as calm, quiet, and undisturbed, with
marine species existing in an ecologically stable and uniform environment.
Recent discoveries have completely transformed that understanding and the deep
sea is recognized as a complicated and dynamic environment with a rich diversity
of marine species. Carefully designed to provide practical information in an
easily accessible format, Methods for the Study of Deep-Sea Sediments, Their
Functioning, and Biodiversity covers how to investigate the biological
components through analysis of their biodiversity. It also provides the
protocols and methodological details needed to investigate some aspects of the
functional biodiversity of variables commonly utilized to describe and
understand the drivers of deep-sea ecosystem functioning. This volume contains
detailed protocols for analyzing all benthic components from benthic viruses,
prokaryotes, protozoa, foraminifera, to meio-, macro-, and megafauna. It
includes step-by-step procedures, with additional notes on the crucial steps or
possible difficulties arising from the analysis. Each chapter provides a brief
introduction, a description of the sampling procedures and/or the sample
treatment, and then the laboratory protocols, providing information on
instrument setting and/or the solutions utilized. Each chapter also contains a
visual scheme of the protocol for use during laboratory activities and for
tracking each laboratory step. Linking information on biodiversity with the
functioning of the marine ecosystems, the book covers all living components of
the benthos. It provides practical information for anyone studying deep-sea
habitats, their characteristics, functioning, and biodiversity.
Biofouling.
Simone Dürr
and Jeremy Thomason. Due January 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4051-6926-4. 456 pp.
Hardcover. $199.99
This
comprehensive book covers in detail in its first section the processes involved
in marine , freshwater and medical biofouling including coverage of settlement
by larvae and spores, biofouling community processes, epibiosis (biofouling on
living organisms) and microbial fouling, including biofilms deleterious to human
health. The book's second section, encompassing biofouling processes with
industrial implications, includes coverage of biofouling on artificial
substrata, paints and coatings technology for the control of marine biofouling,
biofouling and antifouling in the maritime industries, such as shipping,
offshore oil , and aquaculture, and in power stations and other industries. The
impacts of both biofouling and biofouling control and details of current
legislation of relevance to biofouling issues are fully covered. The book's
final section looks at methods for the measurement of biofouling, and future
prospects for biofouling, including in-depth coverage of the changes anticipated
in biofouling worldwide due to global climate change, and likely future
directions in antifouling research, technology and legislation.
Methods for the Study
of Deep-Sea Sediments, Their Functioning and Biodiversity.
Roberto
Danovaro. 2009. ISBN: 9781439811375. 458 pp. Hardcover. $139.95
Carefully designed to provide practical information in an easily accessible
format, Methods for the Study of Deep-Sea Sediments, Their Functioning, and
Biodiversity covers how to investigate the biological components through
analysis of their biodiversity. It also provides the protocols and
methodological details needed to investigate some aspects of the functional
biodiversity of variables commonly utilized to describe and understand the
drivers of deep-sea ecosystem functioning. This volume contains detailed
protocols for analyzing all benthic components from benthic viruses,
prokaryotes, protozoa, foraminifera, to meio-, macro-, and megafauna. It
includes step-by-step procedures, with additional notes on the crucial steps or
possible difficulties arising from the analysis. Each chapter provides a brief
introduction, a description of the sampling procedures and/or the sample
treatment, and then the laboratory protocols, providing information on
instrument setting and/or the solutions utilized. Each chapter also contains a
visual scheme of the protocol for use during laboratory activities and for
tracking each laboratory step. Linking information on biodiversity with the
functioning of the marine ecosystems, the book covers all living components of
the benthos. It provides practical information for anyone studying deep-sea
habitats, their characteristics, functioning, and biodiversity.
Marine Macroecology.
Edited by Jon
D. Witman and Kaustuv Roy. 2009. ISBN: 9780226904115. 440 pp., 31 halftones, 55
line drawings. Hardcover. $95.00
Pioneered in the late 1980s, the concept of macroecology—a framework for
studying ecological communities with a focus on patterns and
processes—revolutionized the field. Although this approach has been applied
mainly to terrestrial ecosystems, there is increasing interest in quantifying
macroecological patterns in the sea and understanding the processes that
generate them. Taking stock of the current work in the field and advocating a
research agenda for the decades ahead, Marine Macroecology draws together
insights and approaches from a diverse group of scientists to show how marine
ecology can benefit from the adoption of macroecological approaches.
Divided into three parts, Marine Macroecology first provides an overview of
marine diversity patterns and offers case studies of specific habitats and
taxonomic groups. In the second part, contributors focus on process-based
explanations for marine ecological patterns. The third part presents new
approaches to understanding processes driving the macroecolgical patterns in the
sea. Uniting unique insights from different perspectives with the common goal of
identifying and understanding large-scale biodiversity patterns, Marine
Macroecology will inspire the next wave of marine ecologists to approach their
research from a macroecological perspective.
Marine Phytoplankton. Mona Hoppenrath; Malte Elbrächter; Gerhard Drebes: Selected microphytoplankton species from the
North Sea around Helgoland and Sylt.
2009. 264 pages, 87 figures, 24x17cm.
Kleine
Senckenberg-Reihe, Band 49). This book provides a key to determine
almost 300 phytoplankton species from the North Sea around Helgoland and Sylt,
documenting them with close to 1100 images and 70 line drawings on 85 plates.
This book is an important contribution to our unterstanding of marine
phytoplankton of North Sea ecosystems. ISBN 978-3-510-61392-2 paperback,
$49.00
Diatom Taxonomy, Ultrastructure and Ecology: Modern Methods and Timeless Questions. A tribute to Eugene F. Stoermer. Ed.: Kociolek, J.P.; Theriot, E.C.; Stevenson, R.J. 2009. 323 pages, 369 figures, 28 tables, 47 plates, 24x17cm. (Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft, Beiheft 135). ISBN 978-3-443-51057-2 paperback, $320.00
Ecology and
Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates. 3rd Edition.
James Thorp. Due October 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0-12-374855-3.
$139.95
Contents: 1 Introduction to Invertebrates of Inland Waters, 2 An Overview of
Inland Water Habitats, 3 Protozoa, 4 Porifera, 5 Cnidaria, 6 Flatworms: Turbellarians
and Nemertea, 7 Gastrotricha, 8 Rotifera, 9 Nematoda and Nematomorpha, 10
Mollusca: Gastropoda, 12 Annelida (Clitellata): Oligochaeta,
Branchiobdellida, Hirudinida, and Acanthobdellida, 13 Bryozoans, 14 Tardigrada,
15 Water Mites (Hydrachnidiae) and Other Arachnids, 16 Diversity and
Classification of Insects and Collembola, 17 Aquatic Insect Ecology, 18
Introduction to the Subphylum Crustacea, 19 Ostracoda, 20 Cladocera and Other Branchiopoda, 21
Copepoda, 22 Decapoda, Literature Cited IX. Selected
References.
Endosymbionts in Paramecium. Series: Microbiology Monographs, Vol. 12. Masahiro Fujishima. 2009. ISBN: 978-3-540-92676-4. 252 pp., 69
illustrations, 22 in color. Hardcover. $179.00
Endosymbiosis is a primary
force in eukaryotic cell evolution. In order to understand the molecular
mechanisms involved in this mutualistic relationship, experiments to reproduce
endosymbiosis are indispensable. The ciliate "Paramecium" is an ideal host for
performing such studies. Topics presented in this volume are: the origins of
algal and bacterial symbionts in "Paramecium", the diversity of endosymbiotic
bacteria, such as "Holospora" bacteria and especially "Chlorella" species, as
well as the infection and maintenance processes. The metabolic control, the
regulation of circadian rhythms and photobiological aspects of the mutualistic
association, as well as the killer effect of "Paramecium" and its causative
agents are further points discussed.
The Impact
of Climate Change on European Lakes. Series: Aquatic Ecology Series, Vol. 4.
Glen George. Due October
2009. ISBN: 978-90-481-2944-7. Approx. 450 pp. Hardcover. $179.00 approx.
In this book, scientists from eleven countries summarize the results of an EU
project (CLIME) that explored the effects of observed and projected changes in
the climate on the dynamics of lakes in Northern, Western and Central Europe.
Historical measurements from eighteen sites were used to compare the seasonal
dynamics of the lakes and to assess their sensitivity to local, regional and
global-scale changes in the weather. Simulations using a common set of water
quality models, perturbed by six climate-change scenarios, were then used to
assess the uncertainties associated with the projected changes in the climate.
The book includes chapters on the phenology and modelling of lake ice, the
supply and recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus, the flux of dissolved organic
carbon and the growth and the seasonal succession of phytoplankton. There are
also chapters on the coherent responses of lakes to changes in the circulation
of the atmosphere, the development of a web-based Decision Support System and
the implications of climate change for the Water Framework Directive.
New
Technologies in Aquaculture: Improving Production Efficiency, Quality and
Environmental Image. G.
Burnell & G. Allan. Due September 2009. ISBN: 9781439801093. 800 pp. Hardcover.
$309.95
With well-known editors and an international team of contributors, New
Technologies in Aquaculture begins by focusing on the genetic improvement of
farmed species and control of reproduction then reviews key issues in health,
diet and husbandry, such as the control of viral and parasitic diseases, diet
and husbandry techniques to improve disease resistance, advances in diets for
particular fish species and the impact of harmful algal bloom on shellfisheries
aquaculture. It examines the design of different aquaculture production systems,
including offshore technologies, tank-based recirculating systems and ponds, and
key environmental issues and concludes with coverage of farming new species.
Plankton:
A Guide to their Ecology and Monitoring for Water Quality. David Rissik. Edited by Iain M. Suthers. 2009. ISBN: 9780643
090583. 274 pp., color illustrations. Paperback. $42.95
Plankton serves
as a wonderful tool for measuring water quality. Many local councils and water
quality managers collect phytoplankton and zooplankton in response to the
increasing incidence of algal (phytoplankton) blooms in rivers and estuaries;
however, a lack of consistency and scientific rigor in the methodologies used
often results in unresolved outcomes. While some guidelines have been developed
for the collection and monitoring of freshwater algae (Algal Watch), there are
differences between the methods and protocols used to sample estuaries and
freshwater systems as well as those used to sample zooplankton. This practical
book gives an introduction to the biology and ecology of plankton and its use as
a tool for monitoring water quality. It explores the ecology of plankton, its
associated environmental and water quality issues, and its importance as an
environmental indicator. A chapter on best practice in sampling and monitoring
details how to design, implement and conduct meaningful phytoplankton
and zooplankton monitoring programs in marine and freshwater habitats. It gives
overviews of the major freshwater and coastal phytoplankton and zooplankton
groups and outlines their associated environmental issues and the management
implications. A select number of real-life case studies demonstrate the use of
plankton for identifying and monitoring water quality issues. This useful
resource: explains the role of plankton in aquatic ecosystems and its usefulness
as a water quality indicator; updates and details best practice in methodology
for plankton sampling and monitoring programs; demonstrates how to analyze and
interpret the results of sampling programs in terms of management strategies;
and brings together widely-scattered information on freshwater and coastal
phytoplankton and zooplankton and provides a list of up-to-date references.
The
Wetlands Handbook. Edward
Maltby & Tom Barker. Due October 2009. ISBN: 978-0-632-05255-4. 800 pp.
Hardcover. $300.00
Forty-two chapters by international experts from a wide range of disciplines
make The Wetlands Handbook the essential tool for those seeking comprehensive
understanding of the subject. A departure from more traditional treatises, this
text examines freshwater wetland ecosystem science from the fundamentals to
issues of management and policy. Introductory chapters address the scope and
significance of wetlands globally for communities, culture and biodiversity.
Subsequent sections deal with processes underpinning wetland functioning, how
wetlands work, their uses and values for humans and nature, their sensitivity to
external impacts, and how they may be restored. The text is illustrated by
numerous examples, emphasising functional and holistic approaches to wetland
management, including case studies on the wise use and rehabilitation of
wetlands in farmed, urban, industrial and other damaged environments,
highlighting the long-term benefits of multiple use.
Seaweeds of India: The
Diversity and Distribution of Seaweeds of Gujarat Coast. Developments
in Applied Phycology , Vol. 3. Jha, B., Reddy, C.R.K., Thakur, M.C., Rao, M.U.
2009. ISBN: 978-90-481-2487-9. 216 pp. Hardcover. $129.00.
This book is first of
its kind from India and describes a total of 198 species of marine macroalgae
representing all three major groups of Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta
collected from the Gujarat coast which is well known for its algal abundance and
diversity. All species described in this book are based on primary collections
exclusively made for this purpose and truly reflect the current status of
seaweed biodiversity of Gujarat coast. For easy identification, high resolution colour pictures of each species in its natural habitat together with well spread
habit of thallus with cross sections showing characteristic features of
respective specimens have been provided. Further, the taxonomical descriptions
along with distribution and GPS data, abundance, ecology, economic importance
etc. have also been included. The contents of this book are user friendly and
provide most reliable baseline data on seaweed biodiversity for monitoring and
evaluating the impact of any coastal developmental activities aimed at long term
economic gains or environmental changes as a result of global warming and
climate change.
Biofuels.
Wim Soetaert. 2009. ISBN: 978-0-470-02674-8. 256 pp. Hardcover. $130.00.
This
book gives a broad overview of the key topics in this field of study,
approaching them from a technical and economic angle giving the reader a
comprehensive insight into biofuels as a whole. Dealing specifically with liquid
and gaseous biofuels that can be produced from renewable resources this text
also gives a summary of the past, present and future production technologies and
applications of biofuels. This book is particularly relevant as it highlights
the extensive debate of the on-going global needs to find alternative fuels,
making it not only a necessary text for working professionals and researchers in
the field, but for anyone with an interest in sustaining the earth.
Protist Diversity and
Geographical Distribution. Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 8.
Foissner, W.; Hawksworth, David Leslie (Eds.). Due September 2009. ISBN:
978-90-481-2800-6. 212 pp. Hardcover. $179.00.
There is still a widespread
belief that microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, protists, and small
multicellulars, have a cosmopolitan distribution due to a presumed easy
dispersal by wind and water. However, the contributions collected in this book –
ranging from protists to rotifers and mosses – show that microorganisms have
community structures and biogeographies similar to those found in animals and
vascular plants, although the ranges of many can be wider and local endemism is
rarer. Accordingly, the cosmopolitan distribution model of Finlay & Fenchel is
to be replaced by the moderate endemicity model of Foissner, which assumes that
one third of microscopic organisms are morphological and/or genetic endemics.
This has far-reaching consequences for estimates of the number of species and
their conservation. There is convincing evidence that we know only about 20% of
the actual diversity in many protist groups, especially saprotrophs and
heterotrophs such as amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates. It is probable that
this great diversity of microscopic organisms is caused by low extinction rates
over geological time, and short generation times which foster dispersal of
genetic variants. That the great diversity of microorganisms has remained
unrecognized for such a long time has several reasons, of which the most serious
is a shortage of taxonomists. Considering the dramatic losses of habitats
occurring, especially in the tropics, a large portion of the Earth’s protist
biodiversity will disappear before it has been discovered. Reprinted from
Biodiversity and Conservation, volume 17:2 (2008)
Biofuels: Securing the
Planet’s Future Energy Needs. Demirbas, Ayhan. 2009. ISBN:
978-1-84882-010-4. 336 pp., 71 illustrations. Hardcover. $139.00.
Biofuel is a
renewable energy source produced from natural (biobased) materials, which can be
used as a substitute for petroleum fuels. The benefits of biofuels over
traditional fuels include greater energy security, reduced environmental impact,
foreign exchange savings, and socioeconomic issues related to the rural sector.
Furthermore, biofuel technology is relevant to both developing and
industrialized countries. For these reasons, the share of biofuels in the
automotive fuel market is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. The
most common biofuels, such as ethanol from corn, wheat or sugar beet and
biodiesel from oil seeds, are produced from classic food crops that require
high-quality agricultural land for growth. However, bioethanol is a petrol
additive/substitute that can be produced from plentiful, domestic, cellulosic
biomass resources such as herbaceous and woody plants, agricultural and forestry
residues, and a large portion of municipal and industrial solid waste streams.
Production of bioethanol from biomass is one way to reduce both the consumption
of crude oil and environmental pollution. There is also a growing interest in
the use of vegetable oils for making biodiesel, which is less polluting than
conventional petroleum diesel fuel. Biofuels: Securing the Planet’s Future
Energy Needs discusses the production of transportation fuels from biomass (such
as wood, straw and even household waste) by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Marine Hard Bottom
Communities: Patterns, Dynamics, Diversity, and Change. Ecological Studies, Vol.
206. Wahl, Martin (Ed.). 2009. ISBN: 978-3-540-92703-7. 445 pp., 36
illustrations, 1 in color. Hardcover. $199.00.
Marine hard bottoms feature some
of the most spectacular and diverse biological communities on this planet. These
not only contain a rich treasure of genetic, taxonomic and functional
information but also deliver irreplaceable ecosystem services. At the same time,
they are highly vulnerable and increasingly threatened by anthropogenic
pressures. This volume has collected contributions by 50 scientists from
numerous biogeographic regions, dealing with characteristics of hard bottom
communities. Distributional patterns in space and time are described, followed
by analyses of the intrinsic and extrinsic dynamics producing these patterns. A
strong emphasis is placed on the ongoing changes occurring in the structure and
diversity of these communities in response to spiralling environmental impacts,
and on state-of-the-art countermeasures aiming to preserve these ecological
treasures. Finally, various values of diversity are assessed, hopefully as an
incentive for enhanced conservation efforts.