A Caribbean Forest Tapestry

A Caribbean Forest Tapestry
Author: Nicholas V. L. Brokaw
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 483
Release: 2012-06-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0195334698

This book explains how to foresee and manage ecosystem changes in the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico, by looking at underlying causes and effects. The lessons from the abiotic and biotic environments, populations, and ecosystems in this region apply to analogous forest biomes in Central and South America, as well as around the world.

Hierarchical Modelling for the Environmental Sciences

Hierarchical Modelling for the Environmental Sciences
Author: James Samuel Clark
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2006
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 019856967X

New statistical tools are changing the ways in which scientists analyze and interpret data and models. Many of these are emerging as a result of the wide availability of inexpensive, high speed computational power. In particular, hierarchical Bayes and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods for analysis provide consistent framework for inference and prediction where information is heterogeneous and uncertain, processes are complex, and responses depend on scale. Nowhere are these methods more promising than in the environmental sciences. Models have developed rapidly, and there is now a requirement for a clear exposition of the methodology through to application for a range of environmental challenges.

Tropical Forests

Tropical Forests
Author: Padmini Sudarshana
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 404
Release: 2012-03-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9535102559

The astounding richness and biodiversity of tropical forests is rapidly dwindling. This has severely altered the vital biogeochemical cycles of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen etc. and has led to the change in global climate and pristine natural ecosystems. In this elegant book, we have defined "Tropical Forests" broadly, into five different themes: (1) tropical forest structure, synergy, synthesis, (2) tropical forest fragmentation, (3) impact of anthropogenic pressure, (4) Geographic Information System and remote sensing, and (5) tropical forest protection and process. The cutting-edge synthesis, detailed current reviews, several original data-rich case studies, recent experiments/experiences from leading scientists across the world are presented as unique chapters. Though, the chapters differ noticeably in the geographic focus, diverse ecosystems, time and approach, they share these five important themes and help in understanding, educating, and creating awareness on the role of "Tropical Forests" for the very survival of mankind, climate change, and the diversity of biota across the globe. This book will be of great use to the students, scientists, ecologists, population and conservation biologists, and forest managers across the globe. The publication of this book was supported by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations

Neotropical Gradients and Their Analysis

Neotropical Gradients and Their Analysis
Author: Randall W. Myster
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2023-03-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3031228480

The importance of the Neotropics to the world's climate, biogeochemical cycling and biodiversity cannot be questioned. This book suggests that gradients are key to understanding both these issues and Neotropical ecosystem structure, function and dynamics in general. Those gradients are either spatial, temporal or spatio-temporal, where many temporal and spatio-temporal gradients are initiated by disturbances (e.g., tree-fall, landslide, cultivation). And in particular for the Neotropics, three large spatial gradients - latitude, longitude, altitude (elevation) - are of critical importance. The editor has over 30 years of experience investigating Neotropical gradients in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru and Ecuador, and has published 5 previous books on different aspects of the Neotropics. Once again he has assembled top-shelf Neotropical scientists and researchers, here to focus on gradients: their nature, interactions and how they structure ecosystems.