The Ecology of Hedgerows and Field Margins

The Ecology of Hedgerows and Field Margins
Author: John W. Dover
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2019-02-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 135135549X

Hedges and field margins are important wildlife habitats and deliver a range of ecosystem services, and their value is increasingly recognised by ecologists. This book reviews and assesses the current state of research on hedgerows and associated field margins. With the intensification of agriculture in the second half of the last century, field sizes were increased by amalgamation and the rooting out of hedges, synthetic pesticide and inorganic fertiliser use increased, and traditional methods of hedge management were largely abandoned. The book is split into two main sections. The first deals with definitions, current and historic management, the impact of pesticides, the decline in hedge stock and condition, and new approaches to hedge evaluation using remote sensing techniques. The second section explores the pollination and biological pest control benefits provided by hedges and field margins and examines the ecology of some of the major groups that are found in hedgerows and field margins: butterflies and moths, carabid beetles, mammals, and birds. A case study on birds and invertebrates from a research farm managed as a commercial enterprise, but which attempts to farm with wildlife in mind, brings these themes together. A final chapter introduces the neglected area of hedges in the urban environment. The book will be of great interest to advanced students, researchers and professionals in ecology, agriculture, wildlife conservation, natural history, landscape, environmental and land management.

Rewilding European Landscapes

Rewilding European Landscapes
Author: Henrique M. Pereira
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2015-05-04
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 3319120395

Some European lands have been progressively alleviated of human pressures, particularly traditional agriculture in remote areas. This book proposes that this land abandonment can be seen as an opportunity to restore natural ecosystems via rewilding. We define rewilding as the passive management of ecological successions having in mind the long-term goal of restoring natural ecosystem processes. The book aims at introducing the concept of rewilding to scientists, students and practitioners. The first part presents the theory of rewilding in the European context. The second part of the book directly addresses the link between rewilding, biodiversity, and habitats. The third and last part is dedicated to practical aspects of the implementation of rewilding as a land management option. We believe that this book will both set the basis for future research on rewilding and help practitioners think about how rewilding can take place in areas under their management.

Open Ecosystems

Open Ecosystems
Author: William J. Bond
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2019
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0198812450

Explores the geography, ecology, and antiquity of 'open ecosystems' which include grasslands, savannas, and shrublands.

Hedges and Hedgelaying

Hedges and Hedgelaying
Author: Murray Maclean
Publisher: Crowood
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2015-05-31
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1785000551

In recent years there has been a much greater appreciation of the enormous contribution that hedges make to the countryside. Today, their beauty, their ability to provide wind protection and contain livestock, their environmental importance and their significance as a wildlife habitat, are all widely recognized. Not surprisingly, this transformation in the way we view hedges has, in turn, produced a welcome revival in the ancient craft of hedgelaying. Whether you own hedges, are thinking of growing them, or just have an interest in hedgerows, this fascinating, well-illustrated book will be of value to you. Hedges and Hedgelaying - A Guide to Planting, Management and Conservation contains of wealth of practical information and covers: the selection of hedgerow shrubs and trees and the associated significance of soil types and topography; the planting of hedges and the necessary preparation work; the use of trees in the hedgerow and the value of field margins; weed, pest and disease control, and hedge cutting, maintenance and protection; the craft of hedgelaying and the tools and processes involved. Well illustrated with nearly 200 drawings and photographs, this is an indispensable guide for all those interested in managing and preserving our hedgerows for future generations.

Urban Landscape Ecology

Urban Landscape Ecology
Author: Robert A. Francis
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2016-04-14
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1317497813

The growth of cities poses ever-increasing challenges for the natural environment on which they impact and depend, not only within their boundaries but also in surrounding peri-urban areas. Landscape ecology – the study of interactions across space and time between the structure and function of physical, biological and cultural components of landscapes – has a pivotal role to play in identifying sustainable solutions. This book brings together examples of research at the cutting edge of urban landscape ecology across multiple contexts that investigate the state, maintenance and restoration of healthy and functional natural environments across urban and peri-urban landscapes. An explicit focus is on urban landscapes in contrast to other books which have considered urban ecosystems and ecology without specific focus on spatial connections. It integrates research and perspectives from across academia, public and private practitioners of urban conservation, planning and design. It provides a much needed summary of current thinking on how urban landscapes can provide the foundation of sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal well-being.

Linkages in the Landscape

Linkages in the Landscape
Author: Andrew F. Bennett
Publisher: IUCN
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2003
Genre: Corridors
ISBN: 2831707447

The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the major issues in wildlife management and conservation. Habitat "corridors" are sometimes proposed as an important element within a conservation strategy. Examples are given of corridors both as pathways and as habitats in their own right. Includes detailed reviews of principles relevant to the design and management of corridors, their place in regional approaches to conservation planning, and recommendations for research and management.

Marine Biodiversity Conservation

Marine Biodiversity Conservation
Author: Keith Hiscock
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2014-08-21
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1317934334

Effective marine biodiversity conservation is dependent upon a clear scientific rationale for practical interventions. This book is intended to provide knowledge and tools for marine conservation practitioners and to identify issues and mechanisms for upper-level undergraduate and Masters students. It also provides sound guidance for marine biology field course work and professionals. The main focus is on benthic species living on or in the seabed and immediately above, rather than on commercial fisheries or highly mobile vertebrates. Such species, including algae and invertebrates, are fundamental to a stable and sustainable marine ecosystem. The book is a practical guide based on a clear exposition of the principles of marine ecology and species biology to demonstrate how marine conservation issues and mechanisms have been tackled worldwide and especially the criteria, structures and decision trees that practitioners and managers will find useful. Well illustrated with conceptual diagrams and flow charts, the book includes case study examples from both temperate and tropical marine environments.

Towns, Ecology, and the Land

Towns, Ecology, and the Land
Author: Richard T. T. Forman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 637
Release: 2019-02-07
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1107199131

A pioneering book highlighting the dynamic environmental dimensions of towns and villages and spatial connections with surrounding land.

The Biology of Agroecosystems

The Biology of Agroecosystems
Author: Nicola Randall
Publisher:
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2020
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0198737521

This book provides a novel perspective on agroecosystems, summarising our current understanding of the basic and applied aspects of these important and complex habitats, whilst focusing on environmental concerns in the context of global change.

Hedges

Hedges
Author: Robert Wolton
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2024-02-29
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1399411748

An absorbing celebration of the ecology, biology and cultural history of the rich hedgerow heritage in the British Isles. Much of the UK is intensively farmed, and in such landscapes hedges are often the only refuge for wildlife. In addition to providing shelter, protection and food for animals, they also connect and bind together the patches of habitat that do remain, as well as playing vital roles in soil conservation and flood prevention – in short, they are vital for nature's recovery. In Hedges, Robert Wolton brings together decades of research, while also incorporating personal experiences from his farm in Devon, to explore the ecology, nature conservation and wider environmental values of our hedges. From improving water quality and producing wood fuel as a renewable energy source to the use of hedges in boosting crop pollination, this engaging and authoritative book will help to inspire people to value and look after the remarkably rich hedgerow heritage we have in the British Isles. Containing more than 300 photographs and figures, this latest addition to the British Wildlife Collection is a comprehensive commentary on hedges and our relationship with them.