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Biofuels in Africa
by Donald Mitchell DonaldA new economic opportunity for sub-Saharan Africa is looming large: biofuel production. Rapidly rising energy prices are expected to remain high for an extended period of time because of the increasing demand in prospering and populous countries such as China and India, the depletion of easily accessible supplies of crude oil, and concern over global climate change. As a result, there is renewed interest in biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. Africa is uniquely positioned to produce these new cash crops for both domestic use and export. The region has abundant land resources and preferential access to protected markets with higher-than-world-market prices. The rapid growth in the demand for transport fuels in Africa and high fuel prices create domestic markets for biofuels. The European Union and the United States have approved legislation that requires large increases in the consumption of biofuels over at least the next decade. Imports are expected to be needed to meet these mandates, thus opening the door to African and other developing countries that can produce biofuels or feedstocks for biofuels competitively. Expanding the production of crops for biofuels will affect the entire rural sector in Africa as resources are shifted away from traditional crops and the prices of all agricultural commodities rise. Even smallholders can participate in producing biofuel crops. To promote the sustainability and significant contribution of this enterprise, Biofuels in Africa provides guidance in formulating suitable policy regimes, which are based on protecting the rights of current land users, developing revenue-sharing schemes with local communities, safeguarding the environment and biodiversity, expanding institutional capacity, formulating new regulations and procedures, and emulating best practices from experienced countries. This volume will be of value to anyone interested in biofuels, including policy makers, development practitioners, private investors, researchers, and the general public. Now that African countries are trying to significantly increase their energy supply systems, biofuels are an attractive option using both dedicated crops and agricultural waste. This book provides guidance for them to develop a suitable policy regime for a significant contribution by biofuels. -Professor Ogunlade R. Davidson, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Sierra Leone Biofuels in Africa is a sorely needed resource for our understanding of the problems of expanding biofuels production in Africa. A high point of the book is a description of the projects that were started in several countries. A very useful book! -Professor José Goldemberg, University of São Paulo, Brazil As Africa most likely will play the same role for global biofuels as the Middle East does for oil, this comprehensive book on African biofuels should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in either African development or biofuels. The book captures the essence of long-term drivers and opportunities as well the complex challenges for investors and society of this huge emerging industry. -Per Carstedt, Executive Chairman, EcoEnergy Africa
Biogenic Nano-Particles and their Use in Agro-ecosystems
by Ajit Varma Devendra K. Choudhary Mansour Ghorbanpour Prachi BhargavaSeveral nano-scale devices have emerged that are capable of analysing plant diseases, nutrient deficiencies and any other ailments that may affect food security in agro-ecosystems. It has been envisioned that smart delivery systems can be developed and utilised for better management of agricultural ecosystems. These systems could exhibit beneficial, multi-functional characteristics, which could be used to assess and also control habitat-imposed stresses to crops.Nanoparticle-mediated smart delivery systems can control the delivery of nutrients or bioactive and/or pesticide molecules in plants. It has been suggested that nano-particles in plants might help determine their nutrient status and could also be used as cures in agro-ecosystems. Further, to enhance soil and crop productivity, nanotechnology has been used to create and deliver nano fertilizers, which can be defined as nano-particles that directly help supply nutrients for plant growth and soil productivity. Nano-particles can be absorbed onto clay networks, leading to improved soil health and more efficient nutrient use by crops. Additionally, fertilizer particles can be coated with nano-particles that facilitate slow and steady release of nutrients, reducing loss of nutrients and enhancing their efficiency in agri-crops. Although the use of nanotechnology in agro-ecosystems is still in its early stages and needs to be developed further, nano-particle-mediated delivery systems are promising solutions for the successful management of agri-ecosystems. In this context, the book offers insights into nanotechnology in agro-ecosystems with reference to biogenic nanoparticles. It highlights the: • occurrence and diversity of Biogenic Nanoparticles• mechanistic approach involved in the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles• synthesis of nanoparticles using photo-activation, and their fate in the soil ecosystem• potential applications of nanoparticles in agricultural systems• application and biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their characterization• impact of biogenic nanoparticles on biotic stress to plants• mechanistic approaches involved in the antimicrobial effects and cytotoxicity of biogenic nanoparticles• role of biogenic nanoparticles in plant diseases management• relevance of biological synthesized nanoparticles in the longevity of agricultural crops • design and synthesis of nano-biosensors for monitoring pollutants in water, soil and plant systems• applications of nanotechnology in agriculture with special refer to soil, water and plant sciencesA useful resource for postgraduate and research students in the field of plant and agricultural sciences, it is also of interest to researchers working in nano and biotechnology.
Biogeochemistry of the Critical Zone (Advances in Critical Zone Science)
by Adam S. Wymore Wendy H. Yang Whendee L. Silver William H. McDowell Jon ChoroverThis book highlights recent advances in the discipline of biogeochemistry that have directly resulted from the development of critical zone (CZ) science. The earth's critical zone (CZ) is defined from the weathering front and lowest extent of freely circulating groundwater up through the regolith and to the top of the vegetative canopy. The structure and function of the CZ is shaped through tectonic, lithologic, hydrologic, climatic, and biological processes and is the result of processes occurring at multiple time scales from eons to seconds. The CZ is an open system in which energy and matter are both transported and transformed. Critical zone science provides a novel and unifying framework to consider those coupled interactions that control biogeochemical cycles and fluxes of energy and matter that are critical to sustaining a habitable planet. Biogeochemical processes are at the heart of energy and matter fluxes through ecosystems and watersheds. They control the quantity and quality of carbon and nutrients available for living organisms, control the retention and export of nutrients affecting water quality and soil fertility, and influence the ability for ecosystems to sequester carbon. As the term implies, biogeochemical cycles, and the rates at which they occur, result from the interaction of biological, chemical, and physical processes. However, finding a unifying framework by which to study these interactions is challenging, and the different components of bio-geo-chemistry are often studied in isolation. The authors provide both reviews and original research contributions with the requirement that the chapters incorporate a CZ framework to test biogeochemical theory and/or develop new and robust predictive models regarding elemental cycles. The book demonstrates how the CZ framework provides novel insights into biogeochemistry.
Biogeographic Patterns of South American Anurans
by Tiago S. Vasconcelos Fernando R. da Silva Tiago G. dos Santos Vitor H. Prado Diogo B. ProveteThis book analyzes different facets of anuran amphibian distribution in South America. We integrate alternative biological metrics employing cutting-edge methods to understand the dynamic processes underlying species distribution patterns. By using the modern biogeographic toolbox, we explore how richness gradients, phylogenetic diversity, functional diversity, and range size/endemism distribution of amphibians vary along the continent. Moreover, we present a robust proposal for priority areas for conservation of anurans in South America that maximizes representativeness of distinct biodiversity facets.
Biogeographical Processes (Routledge Library Editions: Ecology #11)
by I. G. SimmonsOriginally published in 1982, Biogeographical Processes is a concise introduction to biogeography aimed at undergraduate students. It provides a detailed overview of man and his environment and includes data from such research projects as that of the International Biological Programme. The book argues that natural processes can be viewed as a datum line to which the human impact through time is added. It suggests that through this datum line, the man and the biological environment are inextricably linked. The book firstly examines the fundamental processes determining the distribution of plants and animals, and the interactions between such processes leading to the concept of the ecosystem. The book also examines major world ecosystems, or biomes, such as forests, grasslands and oceans as if they were in a natural condition and discusses the affect of human impact upon such systems. The book also discusses the alternative future relationships of man and other living organisms. Although over 30 years old, the book still contains a useful and detailed overview of biogeography. It will be of interest to students or lecturers in ecology, biology and the environmental sciences.
Biogeography: An Integrative Approach of the Evolution of Living
by Eric GuilbertThe recent progress in analytical methods, aided by bringing in a wide range of other disciplines, opens up the study to a broader field, which means that biogeography now goes far beyond a simple description of the distribution of living species on Earth.Originating with Alexander von Humboldt, biogeography is a discipline in which ecologists and evolutionists aim to understand the way that living species are organized in connection with their environments. Today, as we face major challenges such as global warming, massive species extinction and devastating pandemics, biogeography offers hypotheses and explanations that may help to provide solutions.This book presents as wide an overview as possible of the different fields that biogeography interacts with. Sixteen authors from all over the world offer different approaches based on their specific areas of knowledge and experience; thus, we intend to illustrate the vast number of diverse aspects covered by biogeography.
Biogeography and Evolution in New Zealand (CRC Biogeography Series #1)
by Michael HeadsBiogeography and Evolution in New Zealand provides the first in-depth treatment of the biogeography of New Zealand, a region that has been a place of long-enduring interest to ecologists, evolutionary scientists, geographers, geologists, and scientists in related disciplines. It serves as a key addition to the contemporary discussion on regionalization—how is New Zealand different from the rest of the world? With what other areas does it share its geology, history, and biota? Do new molecular phylogenies show that New Zealand may be seen as a biological ‘parallel universe’ within global evolution?
Biogeography of Australasia
by Michael HeadsOver the last decade, molecular studies carried out on the Australasian biota have revealed a new world of organic structure that exists from submicroscopic to continental scale. Furthermore, in studies of global biogeography and evolution, DNA sequencing has shown that many large groups, such as flowering plants, passerine birds and squamates, have their basal components in this area. Using examples ranging from kangaroos and platypuses to kiwis and birds of paradise, the book examines the patterns of distribution and evolution of Australasian biodiversity and explains them with reference to tectonic and climatic change in the region. The surprising results from molecular biogeography demonstrate that an understanding of evolution in Australasia is essential for understanding the development of modern life on Earth. A milestone in the literature on this subject, this book will be a valuable source of reference for students and researchers in biogeography, biodiversity, ecology and conservation.
The Biogeography of the British Isles: An Introduction (Routledge Library Editions: Ecology #17)
by Peter VincentOriginally published in 1990, The Biogeography of the British Isles is devoted to the biogeography of the British Isles and surrounding shelf seas. Bringing together a wealth of diverse information, it is thoroughly referenced and well illustrated, and will be invaluable to students of geography, environmental science, ecology, botany, and zoology. The book traces the development of British biogeography over the last two centuries, examining key topics such as ecosystems, habitats, and niches in the context of plant and animal distribution. The book gives a detailed account of the development of biogeographical mapping and recording systems, and describes modern-day distributions, both in the countryside and in urban areas against the backcloth of human activities.
Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives, Second Edition
by Charles A. Woods Florence E. SergileAs a review of the status of biogeography in the West Indies in the 1980s, the first edition of Biogeography of the West Indies: Past, Present, and Future provided a synthesis of our current knowledge of the systematics and distribution of major plant and animal groups in the Caribbean basin. The totally new and revised Second Edition, Biogeography
Biogeology: Evolution in a Changing Landscape (CRC Biogeography Series)
by Bernard MichauxThis detailed exposition gives background and context to how modern biogeography has got to where it is now. For biogeographers and other researchers interested in biodiversity and the evolution of life on islands, Biogeology: Evolution in a Changing Landscape provides an overview of a large swathe of the globe encompassing Wallacea and the western Pacific. The book contains the full text of the original article explored in each chapter, presented as it appeared on publication. Key features: Holistic treatment, collecting together a series of important biogeographical papers into a single volume Authored by an expert who has spent nearly three decades actively involved in biogeography Describes and interprets a region of exceptional biodiversity and extreme endemism The only book to provide an integrated treatment of Wallacea, Melanesia, New Zealand, the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica Offers a critique of fashionable neo-dispersalist arguments, showing how these still suffer from the same weaknesses of the original Darwinian formulation. The chapters also include analysis of many major theoretical and philosophical issues of modern biogeographic theory, so that those interested in a more philosophical approach will find the book stimulating and thought-provoking.
The Biography of Bananas (How Did That Get Here)
by Rachel EagenAlmost unknown in North America before the 1870s, bananas quickly became a popular fruit with a rough history. It was explained who grows your bananas, how they are harvested, and why the banana may soon become extinct.
The Biography of Corn (How Did That Get Here?)
by L. Michelle Nielsen L. Michelle NielsonMaize, or com, was the staple food of many early cultures in South America, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. <p><p>The Biography of Corn will teach young readers how the farming of corn spread to the rest of the world and how corn may be one answer to today's problem of fossil fuel consumption.
The Biography of Wheat (How Did That Get Here?)
by Jennifer LackeyThe growing of wheat as a staple food source made permanent settlements possible, particularly for settlers moving West. In this fascinating new book, children will learn how one of the world's most important food crops is grown, harvested, sold, and processed.
Biokohle: Herstellung, Eigenschaften und Verwendung von Biomassekarbonisaten
by Dennis Blöhse Thomas Echterhof Sabrina Eichenauer Simone Heger Claudia Kammann Andrea Kruse Peter Quicker Marc-André Schulten Christoph Sager Saulo Seabra Klaus Serfass Ernst Stadlbauer Kathrin WeberBiomassekarbonisate (Biokohlen) besitzen signifikant unterschiedliche Eigenschaften, die von den Herstellungsverfahren, Prozessbedingungen und Ausgangssubstraten abhängen. Im Buch sind die technisch verfügbaren Verfahren zur Erzeugung von Biokohle beschrieben und die thermochemischen Prozesse erörtert. Anhand von zahlreichen farbigen Abbildungen sind die Prozesse, Eigenschaften und Einsatzmöglichkeiten veranschaulicht. Der Fokus des Buches liegt auf den großtechnischen Anwendungen als Energieträger, als Reduktions- oder Aufkohlungsmittel in metallurgischen Verfahren, in Recyclingprozessen oder in Kraft- und Zementwerken. Aber auch die Anwendung von Biomassekarbonisaten in der Landwirtschaft als Bodenhilfsstoff oder in der Tierhaltung ist aufgezeigt.
Biokunststoffe unter dem Blickwinkel der Nachhaltigkeit und Kommunikation: Status quo, Möglichkeiten und Herausforderungen
by Hans-Josef Endres Marina Mudersbach Hannah Behnsen Sebastian SpierlingDas Buch zeigt, wie eine Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Biokunststoffen gelingen kann und wie die Ergebnisse einer solchen Bewertung ausfallen. Es analysiert die öffentliche Wahrnehmung beim Verbraucher sowie die politischen Rahmenbedingungen von Biokunststoffen.
Biological Control in Latin America and the Caribbean: Its Rich History and Bright Future (CABI Invasives Series)
by Hugo César Arredondo-Bernal Jorge L. Sifontes Anobel Barba Lorena Barra-Bucarei César Basso Wagner Bettiol Fermin Blanco Helga Blanco-Metzler Claudia Carolina Antúnez Guillermo Cabrera Walsh Carmen C. Castillo Charlotte E. Causton Ronald D. CaveThe book summarizes the history of biological control in Latin America and the Caribbean. Few publications provide historical detail and the records are, therefore, fragmented until now. By bringing information together in this book, we offer a more complete picture of important developments in biological control on this continent. There are a wealth of text, tables and references about the history of such projects, and which were successful and which failed. This will help plan future biocontrol projects. An overview is provided of the current situation in biological control for many Latin American and Caribbean countries, revealing an astonishing level of practical biological control applied in the region, making it the largest area under biological control worldwide. The final part describes new developments and speculates about the future of biological control in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Biological Economies: Experimentation and the politics of agri-food frontiers (Routledge Studies in Food, Society and the Environment)
by Michael Carolan Hugh Campbell Nick Lewis Richard Le HeronRecent agri-food studies, including commodity systems, the political economy of agriculture, regional development, and wider examinations of the rural dimension in economic geography and rural sociology have been confronted by three challenges. These can be summarized as: ‘more than human’ approaches to economic life; a ‘post-structural political economy’ of food and agriculture; and calls for more ‘enactive’, performative research approaches. This volume describes the genealogy of such approaches, drawing on the reflective insights of more than five years of international engagement and research. It demonstrates the kinds of new work being generated under these approaches and provides a means for exploring how they should be all understood as part of the same broader need to review theory and methods in the study of food, agriculture, rural development and economic geography. This radical collective approach is elaborated as the Biological Economies approach. The authors break out from traditional categories of analysis, reconceptualising materialities, and reframing economic assemblages as biological economies, based on the notion of all research being enactive or performative.
Biological Invasions in South Africa (Invading Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology #14)
by David M. Richardson John R. Wilson Brian W. van Wilgen John Measey Tsungai A. ZengeyaThis open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions.
Biologie des Geistesblitzes - Speed up your mind!
by Henning BeckDenken Sie, das Gehirn ist eine perfekte Rechenmaschine, die evolutionäre Krone aller Informationssysteme, die komplexeste Struktur des Universums, präziser und leistungsfähiger als jeder Computer? Vergessen Sie das sofort! Das Gehirn ist ein Haufen voller eitler, fauler und selbstverliebter Zellen, die sich ständig verrechnen und dabei noch permanent von ihren Nachbarn abgelenkt werden. Da hält man es kaum für möglich und doch geschieht das Wunder: Das Gehirn funktioniert! Sehr gut sogar, denn Menschen sind im Gegensatz zu rechnenden Maschinen ausgesprochen kreativ. "Wie das?", mag man fragen und dieses Buch gibt die Antwort darauf. Fachlich fundiert und locker aufbereitet berichtet der deutsche Science Slam-Meister 2012 Henning Beck über das Zusammenspiel von Nerven- und ihren Helferzellen, erklärt, was ein Geistesblitz überhaupt ist, wie er entsteht und was die Hirnforschung zum Thema Kreativität zu sagen hat.
Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs
by David Smith Mark L. Botton John T. TanacrediThe four living species of horseshoe crabs face a set of growing threats to their survival, including the erosion and/or man-made alteration of essential spawning habitat, coastal pollution, and overfishing. Horseshoe crabs are "living fossils", with a more than 200 million year evolutionary history. Their blood provides a reagent, known as Limulus amebocyte lysate or LAL, that clots in the presence of minute quantities of bacterial endotoxin; the LAL test is the state-of-the-art methodology used to ensure that pharmaceuticals and surgical implants are free of contamination. Horseshoe crabs are an integral part of the food web in coastal marine ecosystems, and their eggs provide essential food for shorebirds in the Delaware Bay estuary each spring. The commercial fishery for horseshoe crabs, which utilizes animals for bait, contributes to the economies of coastal communities. This book consists of papers presented at the 2007 International Symposium on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs.
Biology and Conservation of the European Sturgeon Acipenser sturio L. 1758: The Reunion of the European and Atlantic Sturgeons
by Eric Rochard Frank Kirschbaum Jörn Gessner Nathalie Desse-Berset Patrick WilliotThe book aims at synthesizing our current knowledge of Acipenser sturio and its management. This species, one of the most widespread sturgeon species all over Western Europe ranging from the Black Sea to the Baltic, is now on the verge of extinction. Major aspects of its biology and management, including mismanagement, are provided in a historic perspective. Similarly, the changes in the restoration programs (in situ and ex situ) initiated in France and Germany are presented. As the species occurred in sympatry with Acipenser oxyrinchus in Germany and Poland and very recently in France as well, a brief outlook on restoration-management programs of A. oxyrinchus are also provided for both North America and Northern European countries, namely Germany and Poland. As conservation-restoration actions go beyond scientific issues, non-governmental stakeholders and marine professional fishermen's organizations have also been asked to contribute, and the key role of a French-German cooperation plan is underlined. A part of the book is devoted to perspectives. Illustrations of the European sturgeon, mainly in photographs, but also in stamps and paintings, are presented.
The Biology and Ecology of Giant Kelp Forests
by Michael S. Foster David R. SchielThe largest seaweed, giant kelp (Macrocystis) is the fastest growing and most prolific of all plants found on earth. Growing from the seafloor and extending along the ocean surface in lush canopies, giant kelp provides an extensive vertical habitat in a largely two-dimensional seascape. It is the foundation for one of the most species-rich, productive, and widely distributed ecological communities in the world. Schiel and Foster's scholarly review and synthesis take the reader from Darwin's early observations to contemporary research, providing a historical perspective for the modern understanding of giant kelp evolution, biogeography, biology, and physiology. The authors furnish a comprehensive discussion of kelp species and forest ecology worldwide, with considerations of human uses and abuses, management and conservation, and the current and likely future impacts of global change. This volume promises to be the definitive treatise and reference on giant kelp and its forests for many years, and it will appeal to marine scientists and others who want a better appreciation and understanding of these wondrous forests of the sea.
Biology and Ecology of Groupers
by Fabiana Cézar Félix-HackradtGroupers are fascinating charismatic fishes commonly found in reef habitats around the world that sustain a global multimillionaire fishery. They are an important top predator species and therefore of paramount ecological importance for reef systems' resilience. The book, Biology and Ecology of Groupers is an up-to-date review of the main bio-ecological topics involving worldwide groupers species oriented to the academic community and managers. It covers aspects of classification and phylogenetic relationships, geographical distribution, and life history related characteristics (Section I), including the major threats of groupers populations, case studies of successful management and comments about the future of groupers in our changing world (Section II).
Biology and Ecology of Pike
by Christian Skov P. Anders NilssonThis book sets out to bridge the order scales among pike researchers, populations, communities, management, and fisheries. It emphasizes the progress of pike research during the last two decades, during which the order-bridging approach emerged. This framework underpins the text and the message, to convey its importance to pike research and to fish research in general. In addition, a considerable part of the book is devoted to management implications and highlights aspects of human dimensions in recreational fisheries.