Marine Paleobiodiversity


Book Description

Marine Paleobiodiversity presents a concise history, development and current status of paleobiodiversity research, thus forming a reference work for beginners, graduates and postgraduates, who are interested in this subject and intend venture into serious research. This book provides a link-reference between text book and highly-specialized journal articles, and so will be valuable for a wide audience of geologists and climatologists. - Presents studies on the human environmental impacts in climate changes, future sea level perturbations and the influence these have on biodiversity - Authored by a renowned researcher with over 15 years' experience in the field - Includes recent research on the importance of paleobiodiversity patterns that influence sea level fluctuations




Paleobiodiversity and Tectono-Sedimentary Records in the Mediterranean Tethys and Related Eastern Areas


Book Description

This edited volume contains the best papers accepted for presentation during the 1st Springer Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG-1), Tunisia 2018. The volume shares the latest results from paleontological, biostratigraphic and sedimentological studies by experienced researchers mainly from research institutes in the Mediterranean and Middle East. Main topics include: paleontology, biostratigraphy, sedimentology, paleoclimatology and geomorphology. Some new insights are given on paleobiodiversity and major biological tools for biostratigraphy, patterns, mechanisms and processes of meso-cenozoic sedimentation in the Mediterranean and Middle East. In particular, case studies are included to highlight the major controlling factors of Tethyan biosphere-geosphere interactions as inferred from the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. The book is of interest to all researchers in the fields of different disciplines involved in the sedimentary geology.




Microplastics


Book Description

This book presents information on the origin and distribution of microplastics, evaluates the methods of their detection, documents their interactions with natural systems, and analyzes the current understanding of their management. Owing to the size, varied compositions, pathways of transport, accumulation and myriad processes of interactions with ecosystems, the microplastics pose severe threats to ecosystem services and natural environmental systems. Therefore, the environmental challenges that microplastics present and the strategies to mitigate their harmful impacts are of great importance to the scientific community, and only a few publications exist that collate this information in a single resource. The book aims to be a comprehensive resource for students, professionals and practitioners of environmental studies on microplastics and how to better understand the threats they pose and the practices to manage them.




Eustasy, High-Frequency Sea Level Cycles and Habitat Heterogeneity


Book Description

Eustatic High-Frequency Sea Level Cycles and Habitat Heterogeneity: Basinal-Regional-Global Implications presents the current understanding and future directions of the research on Cretaceous sea level cycles in a single source. This reference work is for beginners, graduates, and postgraduates who are interested in the subject and intend to venture into serious research. This hybrid text/reference is for beginners, academics, and professionals who intend to document sea level dynamics on long and short time scales and resultant habitat and paleobiodiversity changes. - Presents new and important regional geological knowledge with regard to the sedimentary basins of India - Provides a one-stop-shop on high-frequency sea level cycles and fluctuations, and the impact created by tectonics and climatic cycles - Contains reviews on the current status, case studies, and a look at future trends




Late Cenozoic of Península Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina


Book Description

This book presents extensive and new information on the Cenozoic marine and continental systems of one of the most important World Heritage sites of Southern South America: The Península Valdés. Using an interdisciplinary approach, that includes geological, biological and archeological perspectives of more than 30 specialists, an integrated description and analysis of the Cenozoic environments of the study region is presented. The volume brings together an update of the geology, climate, geomorphology, soils, biodiversity, archeology and human impact of the Península Valdés. The scope of this book extends to any natural science researcher of the world interested on the Cenozoic history of the Península Valdés.




The Ocean Sunfishes


Book Description

The Ocean Sunfishes: Evolution, Biology and Conservation is the first book to gather into one comprehensive volume our fundamental knowledge of the world-record holding, charismatic ocean behemoths in the family Molidae. From evolution and phylogeny to biotoxins, biomechanics, parasites, husbandry and popular culture, it outlines recent and future research from leading sunfish experts worldwide This synthesis includes diet, foraging behavior, migration and fisheries bycatch and overhauls long-standing and outdated perceptions. This book provides the essential go-to resource for both lay and academic audiences alike and anyone interested in exploring one of the ocean’s most elusive and captivating group of fishes.




Marine Biodiversity of Costa Rica, Central America


Book Description

Life began in the sea, and even today most of the deep diversity of the planet is marine. This is often forgotten, especially in tropical countries like Costa Rica, renowned for their rain forests and the multitude of life forms found therein. Thus this book focusing on marine diversity of Costa Rica is particularly welcome. How many marine species are there in Costa Rica? The authors report a total of 6,777 species, or 3. 5% of the world’s total. Yet the vast majority of marine species have yet to be formally described. Recent estimates of the numbers of species on coral reefs range from 1–9 million, so that the true number of marine species in Costa Rica is certainly far higher. In some groups the numbers are likely to be vastly higher because to date they have been so little studied. Only one species of nematode is reported, despite the fact that it has been said that nematodes are the most diverse of all marine groups. In better studied groups such as mollusks and crustaceans, reported numbers are in the thousands, but even in these groups many species remain to be described. Indeed the task of describing marine species is daunting – if there really are about 9 million marine species and Costa Rica has 3. 5% of them, then the total number would be over 300,000. Clearly, so much remains to be done that new approaches are needed. Genetic methods have en- mous promise in this regard.




Recent Sedimentary Carbonates


Book Description

Few fields of research in the earth sciences have produced as much data and litera ture as the study of carbonate sediments and rocks. The past 25 years in particular, have seen a significant increase in studies concerning modern marine and fresh water carbonates. With the present worldwide interest in oceanographic research, marine carbonates have received the bulk of the attention, particularly with respect to shallow-water sediments. However, in terms of the variety of environ ments, compositions and modes of formation, non-marine carbonates probably encompass a wider spectrum than do marine types. Our purpose is to present a two-volume treatise on carbonate sediments and rocks, both marine and non-marine. We have confined ourselves to the discussion of modern (Holocene) environments, sediments and components, assuming that the compilation of these data will not only be relevant to those working with modern carbonates but will also serve as a necessary reference source for those interested in ancient analogs. The first volume, by MILLIMAN, deals almost exclu sively with marine environments, while the second volume, by MULLER and FORST NER, will concentrate on the non-marine carbonates.




Exploring the Nexus of Geoecology, Geography, Geoarcheology and Geotourism: Advances and Applications for Sustainable Development in Environmental Sciences and Agroforestry Research


Book Description

This edited volume is based on the best papers accepted for presentation during the 1st Springer Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG-1), Tunisia 2018. The book is of interest to all researchers in the fields of Environmental Sciences, Geoecology, Agroforestry, Geography, Geoarcheology and Geotourism. The Mediterranean Basin, Middle East and surrounding regions are ecologically unique due to large differences in climatic, geographical, and geological features, which grant countries of these regions with significant socio-economic potentials in terms of fertile agricultural lands, rich natural resources, and the existence of strategic resources such as crude oil and natural gas. However, the valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services of natural and cultural heritages and bioressources of these regions is still little known. This volume offers an overview of the latest information and ideas on the physical environment of these regions, assessment and monitoring of natural bioressources including flora and fauna, and the use of cutting-edge methods for the development of sustainable agricultural systems. It gives also new socio-economic insights on geotourism and archaeology. Main topics include:1. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring of Agrisilvicultural Systems2. Environmental Impacts and Restoration Ecology of Natural and Agricultural Habitats3. Investigations and Applications in Environmental Biotechnology4. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Marine Biodiversity and Terrestrial Paleobiodiversity5. Socio-economics of Geotourism and Archaeology