From an Antagonistic to a Synergistic Predator Prey Perspective

From an Antagonistic to a Synergistic Predator Prey Perspective
Author: Tore Johannessen
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2014-03-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0124201113

From an Antagonistic to a Synergistic Predator Prey Perspective: Bifurcations in Marine Ecosystems is a groundbreaking reference that challenges the widespread perception that predators generally have a negative impact on the abundance of their prey, and it proposes a novel paradigm — Predator-prey Synergism — in which both predator and prey enhance abundance by their co-existence. Using this model, the text explains a number of issues that appear paradoxical in the case of a negative predator-prey relationship, including observed ecosystem bifurcations (regime shifts), ecosystem resilience, red tides in apparently nutrient depleted water, and the dominance of grazed phytoplankton over non-grazed species under high grazing pressure. This novel paradigm can also be used to predict the potential impact of global warming on marine ecosystems, identify how marine ecosystem may respond to gradual environmental changes, and develop possible measures to mitigate the negative impact of increasing temperature in marine ecosystems. This book approaches the long-standing question of what generates recruitment variability in marine fishes and invertebrates in an engaging and unique way that students and researchers in marine ecosystems will understand. - Introduces a new paradigm, Predator-prey Synergism, as a building block on which to construct new ecological theories. It suggests that Predator-prey Synergism is important in some terrestrial ecosystems and is in agreement with the punctuated equilibria theory of evolution (i.e., stepwise evolution). - Suggests a general solution to the recruitment puzzle in marine organisms - Proposes a holistic hypothesis for marine spring blooming ecosystems by considering variability enhancing and variability dampening processes - Asserts that fisheries will induce variability in marine ecosystems and alter the energy flow patterns in predictable ways

Biology and Ecology of Atlantic Cod

Biology and Ecology of Atlantic Cod
Author: Nataliia Kulatska
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2024-10-31
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1040228739

Atlantic cod is an important fish species in human history and continues to be a major influence on North Atlantic fisheries management, as stock collapses and recoveries impact coastal communities and shelf sea food webs. This book provides an overview of Atlantic cod biology and ecology, focussing on regional differences in life-history and stock dynamics that affect productivity and the challenges faced by management. By comparing the success of management approaches and the local influence of changing climate and food webs, the book highlights the different pressures facing stocks and identifies knowledge gaps across the species’ range.

Amphibian Declines

Amphibian Declines
Author: Michael Lannoo
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 1117
Release: 2005-06-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0520929438

This benchmark volume documents in comprehensive detail a major environmental crisis: rapidly declining amphibian populations and the disturbing developmental problems that are increasingly prevalent within many amphibian species. Horror stories on this topic have been featured in the scientific and popular press over the past fifteen years, invariably asking what amphibian declines are telling us about the state of the environment. Are declines harbingers of devastated ecosystems or simply weird reflections of a peculiar amphibian world? This compendium—presenting new data, reviews of current literature, and comprehensive species accounts—reinforces what scientists have begun to suspect, that amphibians are a lens through which the state of the environment can be viewed more clearly. And, that the view is alarming and presages serious concerns for all life, including that of our own species. The first part of this work consists of more than fifty essays covering topics from the causes of declines to conservation, surveys and monitoring, and education. The second part consists of species accounts describing the life history and natural history of every known amphibian species in the United States.

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning, and Human Wellbeing

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning, and Human Wellbeing
Author: Shahid Naeem
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2009-07-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0191563323

How will biodiversity loss affect ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, and human well-being? In an age of accelerating biodiversity loss, this timely and critical volume summarizes recent advances in biodiversity-ecosystem functioning research and explores the economics of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The book starts by summarizing the development of the basic science and provides a meta-analysis that quantitatively tests several biodiversity and ecosystem functioning hypotheses. It then describes the natural science foundations of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research including: quantifying functional diversity, the development of the field into a predictive science, the effects of stability and complexity, methods to quantify mechanisms by which diversity affects functioning, the importance of trophic structure, microbial ecology, and spatial dynamics. Finally, the book takes research on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning further than it has ever gone into the human dimension, describing the most pressing environmental challenges that face humanity and the effects of diversity on: climate change mitigation, restoration of degraded habitats, managed ecosystems, pollination, disease, and biological invasions. However, what makes this volume truly unique are the chapters that consider the economic perspective. These include a synthesis of the economics of ecosystem services and biodiversity, and the options open to policy-makers to address the failure of markets to account for the loss of ecosystem services; an examination of the challenges of valuing ecosystem services and, hence, to understanding the human consequences of decisions that neglect these services; and an examination of the ways in which economists are currently incorporating biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research into decision models for the conservation and management of biodiversity. A final section describes new advances in ecoinformatics that will help transform this field into a globally predictive science, and summarizes the advancements and future directions of the field. The ultimate conclusion is that biodiversity is an essential element of any strategy for sustainable development.

Individual Behavior and Community Dynamics

Individual Behavior and Community Dynamics
Author: John Fryxell
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1468414216

A book blending evolution and trophic dynamics, taking into account recent advances in both behavioral and population ecology, is long overdue. A central objective of this book is to consider whether adaptive behavioral decisions on the individual organism level might tend to stabilize trophic interactions. A second major goal of the book is to explore the implications of presumably adaptive behaviors on trophic dynamics and the implications of trophic dynamics for the evolution of adaptive behaviors. All evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and behavioral ecologists should find this exciting volume essential reading.

Insect Science

Insect Science
Author: Mohammad Manjur Shah
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2018-07-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1789234549

The book discusses the recent advances in basic and applied approaches including research on the genetics of insects, its application in resolving the consequences of world population growth, its impact on agriculture, and control strategies and their implications on the fast-depleting insect resources. The application of insects as a probable nutrient substitute along with the role of sex hormones among insects has been thoroughly discussed. The entire book basically contains five chapters spread over two sections: Section I mainly focuses on diversity, conservation and nutrition, while Section II is concerned with economic importance and up-to-date information on the role of peptides. The book is well illustrated with diagrams, graphical representations and flow charts for easy understanding the important information discussed in the book.

Engineered Nanoparticles

Engineered Nanoparticles
Author: Ashok K. Singh
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 556
Release: 2015-11-24
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 012801492X

Engineered Nanoparticles: Structure, Properties and Mechanisms of Toxicity is an indispensable introduction to engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and their potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. Although research in the area of pharmacology and toxicology of ENM is rapidly advancing, a possible correlation between their physicochemical properties and biomedical properties or toxicity is not yet fully understood. This understanding is essential to develop strategies for the safe applications and handling of ENM. The book comprehensively defines the current understanding of ENM toxicity, first describing these materials and their physicochemical properties, and then discussing the toxicological theory and methodology before finally demonstrating the potential impact of ENM on the environment and human health. It represents an essential reference for students and investigators in toxicology, pharmacology, chemistry, material sciences, medicine, and those in related disciplines who require an introduction to ENM and their potential toxicological effects. - Provides state-of-the-art physicochemical descriptions and methodologies for the characterization of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) - Describes the potential toxicological effects of ENM and the nanotoxicological mechanisms of action - Presents how to apply theory to practice in a public health and risk assessment setting

Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2010-09-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 030916155X

The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2 emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification program, but more information is needed to fully understand and address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.

Perspectives for Agroecosystem Management:

Perspectives for Agroecosystem Management:
Author: Peter Schroder
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 457
Release: 2011-08-19
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0080556396

Sustainable agriculture is a key concept for scientists, researchers, and agricultural engineers alike. This book focuses on the FAM- project (FAM Munich Research Network on Agroecosystems) of the 1990s as a means to assessing, forecasting, and evaluating changes in the agroecosystems that are necessary for agricultural sustainability. The management of two separate management systems: an organic and an integrated farming system are described to provide an interdisciplinary approach Changes of matter fluxes in soils, changes of trace gas fluxes from soils, precision farming in a small scale heterogen landscape, influence of management changes on flora and fauna, as well as the development of agroecosystem models, the assessment of soil variability and the changes in nutrient status are important aspects of this book.* Contains detailed results and insight of a long-time project on agricultural sustainability* Provides an interdisciplinary approach for comprehensive understanding by scientists and researchers of soil, plants, agriculture, and environment * Includes an international perspective