Geoecology: An Evolutionary Approach
Geoecology: An Evolutionary Approach

Author: Richard Huggett

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2002-09-11

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1134882947

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Animals, plants and soils interact with one another, with the terrestrial spheres, and with the rest of the Cosmos. On land, this rich interaction creates landscape systems or geoecosystems. Geoecology investigates the structure and function of geoecosystems, their components and their environment. The author develops a simple dynamic systems model, the `brash' equation, to form the conceptual framework for the book suggesting an `ecological' and `evolutionary' approach. Exploring internal of `ecological' interactions between geoecosystems and their near-surface environments - the atmosphere, hydrosphere, toposhere, and lithosphere - and external influences, both geological and cosmic, Geoecology presents geoecosystems as dynamic entities constantly responding to changes within themselves and their surroundings. An `evolutionary' view emerges of geoecological systems, and the animals, plants, and soils comprising them, providing a new way of thinking for the whole environmental complex and the rich web of interdependencies contained therein.

Mountain Geoecology and Sustainable Development of the Tibetan Plateau
Mountain Geoecology and Sustainable Development of the Tibetan Plateau

Author: Du Zheng

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9401009651

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Intense uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in Late Cenozoic Era is one of the most important events in geological history of the Earth. The plateau offers an ideal region for studying of lithospheric formation and evolution, probing into the mechanism of crustal movement, and understanding of changes in environments and geo-ecosystems in Asia. Intense uplift ofthe plateau resulted in drastic changes of natural environment and apparent regional differentiation on the plateau proper and neighboring regions. The plateau therefore becomes a sensitive area of climate change in Asian monsoon region, which is closely related to the global change. As a special physical unit, its ecosystems occupy a prominent position in the world. Due to its extremely high elevation and great extent, natural types and characteristics of physical landscapes on the plateau are quite different from those in lowlands at comparable latitudes, and environments are also different from those in high latitudinal zones. Consequently, the Tibetan Plateau has been classified as one of three giant physical regions in China and considered as a unique unit on Earth. Scientific surveys and expeditions to the Tibetan Plateau on large scale began from 1950's. Amongst them, a number of comprehensive scientific expeditions to the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, Hengduan Mts. areas, Karakorum and Kunlun Mts. regions, as well as the Hoh Xii Mts. areas, have been successively carried out by the Integrated Scientific Expedition to Tibetan Plateau, sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences since 1973.

Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America
Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America

Author: Earl B. Alexander

Publisher: OUP USA

Published: 2007-03-22

Total Pages: 521

ISBN-13: 019516508X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book is about geology, soils, and plant communities in serpentine landscapes of western North America. Aspects of the interaction of geology and soils reveal a fascinating symbiosis relating the structure, composition, and distribution of plant communities. The plants that survive are a unique group. There are some entire genera or even families of plants that are common throughout California that are poorly represented on serpentine, while other genera are more diverse on serpentine than on other soils. Serpentine rocks have dramatic effects on the vegetation that grows on them. Many common plants cannot grow on serpentine soils, leaving distinctive suites of plants to occupy serpentine habitats. The floristic diversity associated with serpentine soils formed above ultramafic rocks is surprising considering that these soils are toxic to many plants. Serpentine barrens of California often look like moonscapes but here we find numerous species of plants of low biomass that produce a richness of species rarely found in the world.

Geoecology and Computers
Geoecology and Computers

Author: SergeyA. Yufin

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2018-05-02

Total Pages: 556

ISBN-13: 1351445618

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This volume presents technical papers devoted to development and practical use of computer methods in geotechnical and geoenviromental engineering. It covers issues on space use and construction, soil and rock mechanics, and mining applications amongst other topics.

Geoecology of Landscape Dynamics
Geoecology of Landscape Dynamics

Author: Seema Sahdev

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-03-03

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13: 9811520976

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book provides an overview of the ecological indicators of landscape dynamics in the context of geographical landscape integration. Landscape dynamics depicts every change that occurs in the physical, biological, and cognitive assets of a landscape. To understand and interpret the complex physical, biological, and cognitive phenomena of landscapes, it is necessary to operate conceptually and practically on a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. Rapid land use changes have become a concern to environmentalists and planners because of their impacts on the natural ecosystem, which further determines socioeconomic dynamics. In this regard, the book discusses case studies that share new insights into how landscape patterns and processes impact small creatures, and how small creatures in turn influence landscape structure and composition. In turn, the relevant aspects of land use and land cover dynamics are covered, and the multi-faceted relationship between the substrata and ecological community is highlighted. The book is unique in its focus on the application of spatial informatics such as automatic building extraction from high-resolution imagery; a soil resource inventory for meeting the challenges of land degradation; hydrological modeling; the temporal variation analysis of glacier area and the identification and mapping of glacial lakes; morphometric analysis of river basins; and the monitoring and modeling of urban sprawl, among other features.

Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes
Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes

Author: L. Beyer

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2002-03-26

Total Pages: 460

ISBN-13: 9783540422686

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has fundamentally changed our perceptions of the southern continent. This volume describes typical terrestrial environments of the maritime and continental Antarctic. Life and chemical processes are restricted to small ranges of ambient temperature, availability of water and nutrients. This is reflected not only in life processes, but also in those of weathering and pedogenesis. The volume focuses on interactions between plants, animals and soils. It includes aspects of climate change, soil development and biology, as well as above- and below-ground results of interdisciplinary research projects combining data from botany, zoology, microbiology, pedology, and soil ecology.

High Altitude Geoecology
High Altitude Geoecology

Author: Patrick J. Webber

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-03-08

Total Pages: 149

ISBN-13: 0429727356

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book is concerned with section 6 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program, "Impact of Human Activities on Temperate and Tropical Mountain and Tundra Ecosystems."