Aquatic Macrophytes: Ecology, Functions and Services


Book Description

This book is a comprehensive collection of information about the features, functions, and services of aquatic macrophytes. As primary producers, aquatic macrophytes form the basis of food webs, play a major role in highly productive aquatic ecosystems, and have a significant impact on ecosystem functions and services. Macrophytes are also known to strongly influence the micro-climate and biogeochemical processes occurring in the littoral zones of marine ecosystems and the sediment dynamics of freshwater systems. They also serve as highly effective carbon sinks and play an important role in carbon sequestration. This book deals with various aspects of aquatic macrophytes, including nutrient recycling, biogeochemical processes, biomass production, wetland ecosystems, water resource management, carbon sequestration, environmental clean-up, and bioenergy production. Additionally, it presents the current status of aquatic macrophytes and discusses the impact of climate change on these plants. The book also highlights the major challenges associated with harnessing the benefits provided by aquatic macrophytes as ecosystem services. The book holds value and relevance for academicians and scientists working in the related domain. Additionally, it will serve as a valuable resource for students and researchers working in the field of ecology, biogeochemistry, wetland conservation, phytoremediation, elements biomonitoring, wastewater management, bioenergy production, etc.




Tropical Stream Ecology


Book Description

Tropical Stream Ecology describes the main features of tropical streams and their ecology. It covers the major physico-chemical features, important processes such as primary production and organic-matter transformation, as well as the main groups of consumers: invertebrates, fishes and other vertebrates. Information on concepts and paradigms developed in north-temperate latitudes and how they do not match the reality of ecosystems further south is expertly addressed. The pressing matter of conservation of tropical streams and their biodiversity is included in almost every chapter, with a final chapter providing a synthesis on conservation issues. For the first time, Tropical Stream Ecology places an important emphasis on viewing research carried out in contributions from international literature. - First synthetic account of the ecology of all types of tropical streams - Covers all of the major tropical regions - Detailed consideration of possible fundamental differences between tropical and temperate stream ecosystems - Threats faced by tropical stream ecosystems and possible conservation actions - Descriptions and synstheses life-histories and breeding patterns of major aquatic consumers (fishes, invertebrates)




Aquatic Ecosystems Monitoring


Book Description

This book collates traditional and modern applications of remote sensing in aquatic ecosystem monitoring. It covers conventional assessment methods like sampling, surveying, macroinvertebrates, and chlorophyll estimation for aquatic ecosystem health assessment. Advanced remote sensing technology provides timely spectral information for quantitative and qualitative assessment of water quality, shoreline changes, coral bleaching, and vegetation monitoring. The book covers different types of aquatic ecosystems like wetlands, rivers, lakes, saline, and the brackish lake. It also: Reviews the latest applications of remote sensing in the monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems Includes traditional methods like cartography, sampling, surveying, phytoplankton assessment, river interlinking, and chlorophyll estimation Discusses the application of multi-source data and machine learning in monitoring aquatic ecosystems Discusses aquatic ecosystem management, services, threats, and sustainability Explores challenges, opportunities, and prospects of future Earth observation applications for aquatic ecosystem monitoring The book discusses space-borne, airborne, and drone geospatial data. The parts broadly cover aquatic ecosystem monitoring, vegetation management, advanced modeling practices, and challenges. It is meant for scientists, professionals, and policymakers working in environmental sciences, remote sensing, and geology.




Multiple Roles of Alien Plants in Aquatic Ecosystems: from Processes to Modelling


Book Description

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact.




Afrotropical Streams and Rivers


Book Description

The Afrotropical Streams and Rivers: Structure, Ecological Processes and Management is a comprehensive guide that provides assessment of major rivers and tributaries in Africa. Unlike other books available, the editors present a thorough study of geomorphological, hydrological, biological, and ecological processes incorporating a range of plant and animal communities, while considering implications of human communities that depend upon them. This book, edited by a diverse cohort of researchers and/or scholars, is intended as an educational and practical guide for graduate students, researchers and scientists who focus on the biodiversity, conservation and management/policy issues of the African river systems. - Provides a comprehensive introduction to African freshwater rivers, their biota, and abiotic processes. - Contains unique case studies on African streams and rivers. - Organised around an interdisciplinary approach that covers the complex aspects of conservation and management of African river systems on the continent.




The Structuring Role of Submerged Macrophytes in Lakes


Book Description

The rapid growth of the discipline of aquatic ecology has been driven both by scientific interest in the complexities of aquatic ecosystems and by their enormous environmental importance and sensitivity. This book focuses on the remarkably diverse roles played by underwater plants, and is divided into three parts: 10 thematic chapters, followed by 18 case studies, and rounded off by three integrative chapters. The topics range from macrophytes as fish food to macrophytes as mollusc and microbe habitat, making this of interest to aquatic ecologists as well as limnologists, ecosystem ecologists, microbial ecologists, fish biologists, and environmental managers.




Aquatic Ecosystems: Interactivity of Dissolved Organic Matter


Book Description

Overviews of the source, supply and variability of DOM, surveys of the processes that mediate inputs to microbial food webs, and syntheses consolidating research findings provide a comprehensive review of what is known of DOM in freshwater. This book will be important to anyone interested in understanding the fundamental factors associated with DOM that control aquatic ecosystems."--BOOK JACKET.




Wetland Plants


Book Description

A detailed account of the biology and ecology of vascular wetland plants and their applications in wetland plant science, Wetland Plants: Biology and Ecology presents a synthesis of wetland plant studies and reviews from biology, physiology, evolution, genetics, community and population ecology, environmental science, and engineering. It provides a




Resource Competition and Community Structure. (MPB-17), Volume 17


Book Description

One of the central questions of ecology is why there are so many different kinds of plants and animals. Here David Tilman presents a theory of how organisms compete for resources and the way their competition promotes diversity. Developing Hutchinson's suggestion that the main cause of diversity is the feeding relations of species, this book builds a mechanistic, resource-based explanation of the structure and functioning of ecological communities. In a detailed analysis of the Park Grass Experiments at the Rothamsted Experimental Station in England, the author demonstrates that the dramatic results of these 120 years of experimentation are consistent with his theory, as are observations in many other natural communities. The consumer-resource approach of this book is applicable to both animal and plant communities, but the majority of Professor Tilman's discussion concentrates on the structure of plant communities. All theoretical arguments are developed graphically, and formal mathematics is kept to a minimum. The final chapters of the book provide some testable speculations about resources and animal communities and explore such problems as the evolution of "super species," the differences between plant and animal community diversity patterns, and the cause of plant succession.




Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services


Book Description

This volume examines the topic of local biodiversity conservation in the Asia-Pacific region, one of the most rapidly changing areas in the world. With a focus on aquatic systems, this book offers insight on the state of local biodiversity, challenges in management and conservation of biodiversity, and newly developed methods for monitoring biodiversity. In addition, because the service provided by an ecosystem for humans is interlinked with conservation, the final part is dedicated to evaluating the socioeconomic aspect of ecosystem services, with special reference to local biodiversity. In effect, all contributions provide information that is invaluable for effective conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This work will interest all stakeholders in biodiversity conservation, including policy makers, NPOs, NGOs, environment-related industries, and biodiversity researchers, not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but also across the entire globe.