Sphecid Wasps of the World


Book Description




Urban Services to Ecosystems


Book Description

The aim of this book is to bring together multidisciplinary research in the field of green infrastructure design, construction and ecology. The main core of the volume is constituted by contributions dealing with green infrastructure, vegetation science, nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development. The green infrastructure and its ecosystem services, indeed, are gaining space in both political agendas and academic research. However, the attention is focused on the services that nature is giving for free to and for human health and survival. What if we start to see things from another perspective? Our actions shall converge for instance to turn man-made environment like cities from heterotrophic to autotrophic ecosystems. From landscape ecology to urban and building design, like bricks of a wall, from the small scale to the bigger landscape scale via ecological networks and corridors, we should start answering these questions: what are the services that are we offering to Nature? What are we improving? How to implement our actions? This book contains three Open Access chapters, which are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).







Aralkum - a Man-Made Desert


Book Description

Having been the fourth largest lake on the globe roughly 50 years ago, today the Aral Sea no longer exists. Human activities caused its desiccation and the formation of a huge new desert, the Aralkum, which can be regarded as one of the greatest ecological catastrophes and - at the same time - the largest primary succession experiment of mankind. This volume brings together the results of international and interdisciplinary long-term studies on the new desert ecosystem and is divided into four main sections. The first section provides an overview of the physical characteristics of the area and covers geological, pedological, geomorphological and climatological aspects and their dynamics, especially dust-storm dynamics. The second focuses on the biotic aspects and highlights the spatial and temporal patterns of the flora and fauna. In the third section studies and projects aiming to combat desertification by phytomelioration and to develop strategies for the conservation of biodiversity are presented. The book is rounded off with a section providing a synthesis and conclusions.







The Geometrid Moths of Europe


Book Description

The geographical area covered will be the whole of the geographical Europe. Each volume will illustrate the adults of all species in photographical colour plates of the best quality. Sexual dimorphism as well as polymorphism will be illustrated and if possible all subspecies too. Most species will be shown in natural size, but larger groups of small species such as the genera Idaea and Eupithecia will be shown enlarged. Each species will be treated using the following format: FULL NAME. ORIGINAL REFERENCE to all available nominal names (valid names and synonyms). DIAGNOSIS based on external features, including detail figures where necessary. MALE AND FEMALE GENITALIA of all species with line drawings or photographs. DISTRIBUTION. A summary of the European distribution and also of distribution outside the area treated. This paragraph is completed with a map of the European distribution. PHENOLOGY with detailed information about flight period or periods, if possible with reference to various parts of the distribution area. Further also information about how the species hibernates is provided. BIOLOGY including hostplant(s). HABITAT including the altitude of occurence. SIMILAR SPECIES with the differences clearly pointed out. This paragraph may be completed with text figures. REMARKS on information that does not fit into any of the other paragraphs. The Geometrid Moths of Europe is intended for both professional and amateur entomologists. Among the European Geometrid Moths are a number of serious pest species, especially to forestry, and the series will therefore also be an important tool in future pest management, hopefully especially in the biological pest management. 8 colour plates. Line drawings of male and female genitalia to all species. Distribution maps to all species.




Psocoptera (Insecta)


Book Description