A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrasses


Book Description

A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrasses describes the exceptionally diverse seagrasses in the temperate parts of the southern hemisphere. This book introduces readers to the evolution, biology and ecology of the southern temperate seagrasses and presents a visual key to allow species identification using easily recognisable features. Detailed information is presented summarising the distinctive features of each species or 'complex', with brief notes about their taxonomy, reproduction and ecology. With information provided in a highly concise format, this book allows readers to rapidly identify a particular seagrass, as well as other species that it may easily be confused with, confirm that the species occurs in a certain area, and access general information on the biology and ecology of the species. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, environmental consultants and both government and non-government agencies.




A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrassses


Book Description

"A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrasses" describes the exceptionally diverse seagrasses in the temperate parts of the southern hemisphere. The book introduces readers to the evolution, biology and ecology of the southern temperate seagrasses and presents a visual key to allow species identification using easily recognizable features. Detailed information is presented summarizing the distinctive features of each species or "complex," with brief notes about their taxonomy, reproduction and ecology. With information provided in a highly concise format, the book allows readers to rapidly identify a particular seagrass as well as other species that it may easily be confused with, confirm that the species occurs in a certain area, and access general information on the biology and ecology of the species.




Seagrasses of Australia


Book Description

This book takes the place of “Biology of Seagrasses: A Treatise on the Biology of Seagrasses with Special Reference to the Australian Region”, co-edited by A.W.D. Larkum, A.J. MaCComb and S.A. Shepherd and published by Elsevier in 1989. The first book has been influential, but it is now 25 years since it was published and seagrass studies have progressed and developed considerably since then. The design of the current book follows in the steps of the first book. There are chapters on taxonomy, floral biology, biogeography and regional studies. The regional studies emphasize the importance of Australia having over half of the world’s 62 species, including some ten species published for Australia since the previous book. There are a number of chapters on ecology and biogeography; fish biology and fisheries and dugong biology are prominent chapters. Physiological aspects again play an important part, including new knowledge on the role of hydrogen sulphide in sediments and on photosynthetic processes. Climate change, pollution and environmental degradation this time gain an even more important part of the book. Decline of seagrasses around Australia are also discussed in detail in several chapters. Since the first book was published two new areas have received special attention: blue carbon and genomic studies. Seagrasses are now known to be a very important player in the formation of blue carbon, i.e. carbon that has a long turnover time in soils and sediments. Alongside salt marshes and mangroves, seagrasses are now recognized as playing a very important role in the formation of blue carbon. And because Australia has such an abundance and variety of seagrasses, their role in blue carbon production and turnover is of great importance. The first whole genomes of seagrasses are now available and Australia has played an important role here. It appears that seagrasses have several different suites of genes as compared with other (land) plants and even in comparison with freshwater hydrophytes. This difference is leading to important molecular biological studies where the new knowledge will be important to the understanding and conservation of seagrass ecosystems in Australia. Thus by reason of its natural abundance of diverse seagrasses and a sophisticated seagrass research community in Australia it is possible to produce a book which will be attractive to marine biologists, coastal scientists and conservationists from many countries around the world.




Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation


Book Description

Approaching the contributions of a world-wide sector of scientific institutions to addressing the extinction crisis, Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation brings together a diversity of perspectives. There are more than 3,600 botanical gardens worldwide, where trees, shrubs, herbs, and other plants are studied and managed in collections. They are foremost among efforts to conserve the diversity of living plant species and ensure that crucial biodiversity is available for the future of humanity. This book is a showcase for plant conservation, restoration, biodiversity, and related scientific and educational work of botanical gardens around the world, featuring both thematic overview chapters and numerous case studies that illustrate the critical role these institutions play in fighting extinction and ensuring plant diversity is available for sustainable use. FEATURES A wide range of case studies derived from practical experience in a diversity of institutional, national, and biogeographical settings, Reviews of topics such as networking amongst institutions, the importance of global policy agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Profiles of botanical gardens contributions at the national level to conservation priorities, Real-world examples of programs in plant conservation for both critically endangered wild plant diversity and unique horticultural or cultural germplasm. Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation includes contributions from institutions from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, and institutions of all sizes and histories, from long-established national gardens to new gardens offering their perspectives on developing their roles in this vital undertaking.




Under Southern Seas


Book Description

Most Australians live in the southern half of their vast continent and within striking distance of the coast. While great recreational and commercial use is made of the reefs that fringe this enormous coastline, our understanding of the reefs is only fragmentary. In this full colour guide to our reefs, leading marine biologists look at our current understanding of the ecology of subtidal reefs and their fisheries.




A Photographic Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia


Book Description

Full-colour photographs and distribution maps accompany each species. Some species are illustrated with two photographs to show juvenile or adult or sex variations. Each description gives common and scientific names and measurements




Ecology of Australian Temperate Reefs


Book Description

Describes the ecology of important elements of southern Australian sub-tidal reef flora and fauna, and the underlying ecological principles.




World Atlas of Seagrasses


Book Description

Seagrasses are a vital and widespread but often overlooked coastal marine habitat. This volume provides a global survey of their distribution and conservation status.




Wetland Phytodiversity: A Complete Guide to Indian Helobieae


Book Description

Aquatic ecosystem and aquatic plant diversity holds a key position in maintaining the floristic diversity of India - one of the 12 megabiodiversity centres of the world. It provides the material basis for the sustenance of thousands of floral and faunal aquatic life forms. This book ``Wetland Phytodiversity : A Complete Guide to Indian Helobieae'' deals with 75 plant species belonging to the aquatic families of angiosperms under the group Helobieae. Distribution of the taxa, their life forms, floral as well as pollination biology, phenology, chromosome numbers, etc. have been dealt with proper care towards better understanding of the affinities, intra - and interfamilial relationships of the taxa. Chapters on phytogeography, pollen morphology, fossil records etc. will be very much helpful for future workers in tracing origin and segregation of this important aquatic group of angiosperms. Apart from the text 20 maps/figures, 66 illustrations, 24 plates have been provided in the book.