Plant Diversity And Ecology In The Chihuahuan Desert

Author : Maria C. Mandujano,Irene Pisanty,Luis E. Eguiarte
Publisher : Springer Nature
Page : 332 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2020-07-18
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783030449636

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Plant Diversity and Ecology in the Chihuahuan Desert by Maria C. Mandujano,Irene Pisanty,Luis E. Eguiarte Pdf

Environmental and specific diversity in the Chihuahuan desert in general, and in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in particular, has long been recognized as outstanding. This book provides a global ecological overview, together with in-depth studies of specific processes. The Chihuahuan desert is the warmest in North America, and has a complex geologic, climatic and biogeographical history, which affects today’s distribution of vegetation and plants and generates complex phylogeographic patterns. The high number of endemic species reflects this complex set of traits. The modern distribution of environments, including aquatic and subaquatic systems, riparian environments, gypsum dunes and gypsum-rich soils, low levels of phosphorous and organic matter, and high salinity combined with an extreme climate call for a range of adaptations. Plants are distributed in a patchy pattern based on punctual variations, and many of them respond to different resources and conditions with considerable morphological plasticity. In terms of physiological, morphological and ecological variability, cacti were identified as the most important group in specific environments like bajadas, characterized by high diversity values, while gypsophytes and gypsovagues of different phylogenies, including species with restricted distribution and endemics.

Author : Kris M. Havstad,Laura F. Huenneke,William H. Schlesinger
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 492 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2006-07-20
Category : Science
ISBN : 0195344278

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Structure and Function of a Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem by Kris M. Havstad,Laura F. Huenneke,William H. Schlesinger Pdf

The Jornada Basin LTER is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest in North America. This region of south central New Mexico has a history of nearly 100 years as the basis for scientific research. This work gives a thorough, encompassing review of the tremendous array of observations resulting from experiments conducted in this ecosystem. Beginning with thorough descriptions of the most salient features of the region, the book then reviews a wide range of archived and active data sets on a diversity of biotic and abiotic features. It next presents a syntheses of important topics including livestock grazing and remediation efforts. A concluding chapter provides a synthesis of the principles that have emerged from this body of work, and how these relate to the broader fields of ecology and natural resource management. It concludes with recommendations for future research directions. The insightful views expressed in this volume should guide management of arid landscapes globally. This is the sixth volume in the Long Term Ecological Network Series.

Author : Valeria Souza,María C. Mandujano,Irene Pisanty,Luis E. Eguiarte
Publisher : Springer Nature
Page : 201 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2022-01-03
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9783030832704

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Conflicts Between Biodiversity Conservation and Humans by Valeria Souza,María C. Mandujano,Irene Pisanty,Luis E. Eguiarte Pdf

This book takes readers on a journey through the history of water in the Coahuila desert. It starts by describing the beauty and mysteries of the landscape, and then explores the rock art of the original desert cultures in Coahuila, offering readers a glimpse of the sacred nature of water in the desert, as well as the rituals surrounding it. Moving on to the colonial times and the post- independence development of the region, it discusses early water management, and explores how water is managed in modern times, as well as the legal complications of the law, and how these faulty laws, designed for less arid regions, have affected a highly diverse wetland, the Cuatro Ciénegas oasis. The book then examines the biological consequences of the water loss for the aquatic plants and animals in Churince – a now extinct system within Cuatro Ciénegas. Further, it addresses how even bacteria can become extinct in this hyper-diverse microbial oasis. Lastly, after this despair and sense of loss, the book provides hope, offering suggestions for how we can transform the future, from a social and educational point of view as well as through good science and changes in policy.

Author : Raymond M. Turner,Janice Emily Bowers,Tony L. Burgess
Publisher : University of Arizona Press
Page : 523 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2005-08
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780816525195

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Sonoran Desert Plants by Raymond M. Turner,Janice Emily Bowers,Tony L. Burgess Pdf

The Sonoran Desert, a fragile ecosystem, is under ever-increasing pressure from a burgeoning human population. This ecological atlas of the region's plants, a greatly enlarged and full revised version of the original 1972 atlas, will be an invaluable resource for plant ecologists, botanists, geographers, and other scientists, and for all with a serious interest in living with and protecting a unique natural southwestern heritage. An encyclopedia as well as an atlas, this monumental work describes the taxonomy, geographic distribution, and ecology of 339 plants, most of them common and characteristic trees, shrubs, or succulants. Also included is valuable information on natural history and ethnobotanical, commercial, and horticultural uses of these plants. The entry for each species includes a range map, an elevational profile, and a narrative account. The authors also include an extensive bibliography, referring the reader to the latest research and numerous references of historical importance, with a glossary to aid the general reader. Sonoran Desert Plants is a monumental work, unlikely to be superseded in the next generation. As the region continues to attract more people, there will be an increasingly urgent need for basic knowledge of plant species as a guide for creative and sustainable habitation of the area. This book will stand as a landmark resource for many years to come.

Author : Moshe Shachak,James R. Gosz,Stewart T. A. Pickett,Avi Perevolotsky
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 368 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2004-12-09
Category : Science
ISBN : 0198032013

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Biodiversity in Drylands by Moshe Shachak,James R. Gosz,Stewart T. A. Pickett,Avi Perevolotsky Pdf

Biodiversity in Drylands, the first internationally based synthesis volume in the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Series, unifies the concepts of species and landscape diversity with respect to deserts. Within this framework, the book treats several emerging themes, among them: ? how animal biodiversity can be supported in deserts ? diversity's relation to habitat structure, environmental variability, and species interactions ? the relation between spatial scale and diversity ? how to use a landscape simulation model to understand diversity ? microbial contributions to biodiversity in deserts ? species diversity and ecosystem processes ? resource partitioning and biodiversity in fractal environments ? effects of grazing on biodiversity ? reconciliation ecology and the future of conservation management In the face of global change, integration is crucial for dealing with the problem of sustaining biodiversity. This book promises to be a vital resource for students, researchers, and managers interested in integrative species, resource, and landscape diversities.

Author : Robert H. Robichaux
Publisher : University of Arizona Press
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2023-01-17
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780816552467

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Ecology of Sonoran Desert Plants and Plant Communities by Robert H. Robichaux Pdf

The Sonoran Desert is a distinctive biotic region that fascinates scientist, students, and nature lovers. This book offers an accessible introduction to Sonoran Desert ecology. Eight original essays by Sonoran Desert specialists provide an overview of the practice of ecology at landscape, community, and organismal scales. The essays explore the rich diversity of plant life in the Sonoran Desert and the ecological patterns and processes that underlie it. They also reveal the history and scientific legacy of the Desert Laboratory in Tucson, which has conducted research on the Sonoran Desert since 1903. Coverage includes diversity and affinities of the flora, physical environments and vegetation, landscape complexity and ecological diversity, population dynamics of annual plants, form and function of cacti, and the relationship between plants and the animals that use them as feeding and breeding resources. The text also examines the ecological consequences of modern agricultural development, as well as the impact on the modern biota of 40,000 years of change in climate, vegetation, megafauna, and ancient cultures. This comprehensive book covers a broad range of spatial and temporal scales to highlight the diversity of research being pursued in the Sonoran Desert. It is both a testament to these ongoing studies and an authoritative introduction to the diverse plant life in the region. Contents 1. Diversity and Affinities of the Flora of the Sonoran Floristic Province, Steven P. McLaughlin and Janice E. Bowers 2. Vegetation and Habitat Diversity at the Southern Edge of the Sonoran Desert, Alberto Bórquez, Angelina Martínez Yrízar, Richard S. Felger, and David Yetman 3. The Sonoran Desert: Landscape Complexity and Ecological Diversity, Joseph R. McAuliffe 4. Population Ecology of Sonoran Desert Annual Plants, D. Lawrence Venable and Catherine E. Pake 5. Form and Function of Cacti, Park S. Nobel and Michael E. Loik 6. Ecological Genetics of Cactophilic Drosophila, William J. Etges, W. R. Johnson, G. A. Duncan, G. Huckins, and W. B. Heed 7. Ecological Consequences of Agricultural Development in a Sonoran Desert Valley, Laura L. Jackson and Patricia W. Comus 8. Deep History and a Wilder West, Paul S. Martin

Author : Walter G. Whitford,Benjamin D. Duval
Publisher : Academic Press
Page : 473 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2019-08-20
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780081026557

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Ecology of Desert Systems by Walter G. Whitford,Benjamin D. Duval Pdf

Nearly one-third of the land area on our planet is classified as arid or desert. Therefore, an understanding of the dynamics of such arid ecosystems is essential to managing those systems in a way that sustains human populations. This second edition of Ecology of Desert Systems provides a clear, extensive guide to the complex interactions involved in these areas. This book details the relationships between abiotic and biotic environments of desert ecosystems, demonstrating to readers how these interactions drive ecological processes. These include plant growth and animal reproductive success, the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation and animals, and the influence of invasive species and anthropogenic climate change specific to arid systems. Drawing on the extensive experience of its expert authors, Ecology of Desert Systems is an essential guide to arid ecosystems for students looking for an overview of the field, researchers keen to learn how their work fits in to the overall picture, and those involved with environmental management of desert areas. Highlights the complexity of global desert systems in a clear, concise way Reviews the most current issues facing researchers in the field, including the spread of invasive species due to globalized trade, the impact of industrial mining, and climate change Updated and extended to include information on invasive species management, industrial mining impacts, and the current and future role of climate change in desert systems

Author : Stanley D. Smith,Russell Monson,Jay E. Anderson
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 287 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783642592126

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Physiological Ecology of North American Desert Plants by Stanley D. Smith,Russell Monson,Jay E. Anderson Pdf

Following a description of the physical and biological characterization of the four North American deserts together with the primary adaptations of plants to environmental stress, the authors go on to present case studies of key species. They provide an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the major patterns of adaptation in desert plants, with one chapter devoted to several important exotic plants that have invaded these deserts. The whole is rounded off with a synthesis of the resource requirements of desert plants and how they may respond to global climate change.

Author : Andrew J. Hansen,Francesco DiCastri
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 462 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9781461228042

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Landscape Boundaries by Andrew J. Hansen,Francesco DiCastri Pdf

The emergence of landscape ecology during the 1980s represents an impor tant maturation of ecological theory. Once enamored with the conceptual beauty of well-balanced, homogeneous ecosystems, ecologists now assert that much of the essence of ecological systems lies in their lumpiness. Patches with differing properties and behaviors lie strewn across the land scape, products of the complex interactions of climate, disturbance, and biotic processes. It is the collective behavior of this patchwork of eco systems that drives pattern and process of the landscape. is not an end point This realization of the importance of patch dynamics in itself, however. Rather, it is a passage to a new conceptual framework, the internal workings of which remain obscure. The next tier of questions includes: What are the fundamental pieces that compose a landscape? How are these pieces bounded? To what extent do these boundaries influence communication and interaction among patches of the landscape? Will con sideration of the interactions among landscape elements help us to under stand the workings of landscapes? At the core of these questions lies the notion of the ecotone, a term with a lineage that even predates ecosystem. Late in the nineteenth century, F. E. Clements realized that the transition zones between plant communi ties had properties distinct from either of the adjacent communities. Not until the emergence of patch dynamics theory, however, has central signif icance of the ecotone concept become apparent.

Author : William J. Resetarits,Joseph Bernardo
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 492 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Science
ISBN : 0195150422

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Experimental Ecology by William J. Resetarits,Joseph Bernardo Pdf

Experimentation is a dominant approach in contemporary ecological research, pervading studies at all levels of biological organization and across diverse taxa and habitats. Experimental Ecology assembles an eminent group of ecologists who synthesize insights from these varied sources into a cogent statement about experimentalism as an analytical paradigm, placing experimentation within the larger framework of ecological investigation. The book discusses diverse experimental approaches ranging from laboratory microcosms to manipulation of entire ecosystem, illustrating the myriad ways experiments strengthen ecological inference. Experimental ecologists critique their science to move the field forward on all fronts: from better designs, to better links between experiments and theory, to more realism in experiments targeted at specific systems and questions.

Author : David J. Morafka
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 313 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 1977
Category : Amphibians
ISBN : 9401013195

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A Biogeographical Analysis of the Chihuahuan Desert Through Its Herpetofauna by David J. Morafka Pdf

Author : Jerry R. Barrow
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : Global environmental change
ISBN : MINN:30000005036821

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Proceedings, Shrubland Ecosystem Dynamics in a Changing Environment by Jerry R. Barrow Pdf

This proceedings contains 50 papers including an overview of shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment and several papers each on vegetation dynamics, management concerns and options, and plant ecophysiology as well as an account of a Jornada Basin field trip. Contributions emphasize the impact of changing environmental conditions on vegetative composition especially in the Jornada Basin and Chihuahuan Desert but also in other parts of western North America and the world.

Author : John A. Bissonette
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 886 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 1985
Category : Big Bend National Park (Tex.)
ISBN : MINN:31951D01851468E

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Big Bend National Park Biosphere Reserve: Bibliography by John A. Bissonette Pdf

Author : Martin L. Cody,Jeffrey A. Smallwood
Publisher : Academic Press
Page : 597 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 1996-10-24
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0080535623

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Long-Term Studies of Vertebrate Communities by Martin L. Cody,Jeffrey A. Smallwood Pdf

This unique book synthesizes the ongoing long-term community ecology studies of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The studies have been conducted from deserts to rainforests as well as in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats and provide valuable insight that can be obtained only through persistent, diligent, and year-after-year investigation. Long-Term Studies of Vertebrate Communities is ideal for faculty, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates in vertebrate biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, including ecology, natural history, and systematics. Provides unique perspectives of community stability and variation Details the influence of natural and other perturbations on community structure Includes synopses by well-known authors Presents results from a broad range of vertebrate taxa Studies were conducted at different latitudes and in different habitats

Author : Victor D. Thompson,James C. Waggoner Jr.
Publisher : University Press of Florida
Page : 250 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2019-03-01
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780813063911

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The Archaeology and Historical Ecology of Small Scale Economies by Victor D. Thompson,James C. Waggoner Jr. Pdf

Most research into humans' impact on the environment has focused on large-scale societies; a corollary assumption has been that small scale economies are sustainable and in harmony with nature. The contributors to this volume challenge this notion, revealing how such communities shaped their environment—and not always in a positive way. Offering case studies from around the world—from Brazil to Japan, Denmark to the Rocky Mountains—the chapters empirically demonstrate the substantial transformations of the surrounding landscape made by hunter-gatherer and limited horticultural societies. Summarizing previous research as well as presenting new data, this book shows that the environmental impact and legacy of societies are not always proportional their size. Understanding that our species leaves a footprint wherever it has been leads to both a better understanding of our prehistoric past and to deeper implications for our future relationship to the world around us.