Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642564755
Total Pages : 506 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (425 download)

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Book Synopsis Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management by : Jayne Belnap

Download or read book Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management written by Jayne Belnap and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-12-01 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In arid lands, where vegetation is sparse or absent, the open ground is not bare but generally covered by a community of small, highly specialized organisms. Cyanobacteria, algae, microfungi, lichens, and bryophytes aggregate soil particles to form a coherent skin - the biological soil crust. It stabilizes and protects the soil surface from erosion by wind and water, influences water runoff and infiltration, and contributes nitrogen and carbon to desert soils. Soil surface disturbance, such as heavy livestock grazing, human trampling or off-road vehicles, breaks up the fragile soil crust, thus compromising its stability, structure, and productivity. This book is the first synthesis of the biology of soil crusts and their importance as an ecosystem component. Composition and functioning of different soil-crust types are discussed, and case studies are used to show the impact of crusts on landscape hydrology, soil stability, nutrient cycles, and land management.

Biological Soil Crusts

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9783642564765
Total Pages : 524 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (647 download)

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Book Synopsis Biological Soil Crusts by : Jayne Belnap

Download or read book Biological Soil Crusts written by Jayne Belnap and published by . This book was released on 2014-09-01 with total page 524 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319302140
Total Pages : 549 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (193 download)

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Book Synopsis Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands by : Bettina Weber

Download or read book Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands written by Bettina Weber and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-05-21 with total page 549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume summarizes our current understanding of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), which are omnipresent in dryland regions. Since they cover the soil surface, they influence, or even control, all surface exchange processes. Being one of the oldest terrestrial communities, biocrusts comprise a high diversity of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens and bryophytes together with uncounted bacteria, and fungi. The authors show that biocrusts are an integral part of dryland ecosystems, stabilizing soils, influencing plant germination and growth, and playing a key role in carbon, nitrogen and water cycling. Initial attempts have been made to use biocrusts as models in ecological theory. On the other hand, biocrusts are endangered by local disruptions and global change, highlighting the need for enhanced recovery methods. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the fascinating field of biocrust research, making it indispensable not only for scientists in this area, but also for land managers, policy makers, and anyone interested in the environment.

Ecological Development and Functioning of Biological Soil Crusts After Natural and Human Disturbances

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Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2889712559
Total Pages : 214 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (897 download)

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Book Synopsis Ecological Development and Functioning of Biological Soil Crusts After Natural and Human Disturbances by : Vincent John Martin Noah Linus Felde

Download or read book Ecological Development and Functioning of Biological Soil Crusts After Natural and Human Disturbances written by Vincent John Martin Noah Linus Felde and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2021-09-02 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Fungal Community

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Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 9781420027891
Total Pages : 982 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (278 download)

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Book Synopsis The Fungal Community by : John Dighton

Download or read book The Fungal Community written by John Dighton and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2005-05-24 with total page 982 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, Third Edition addresses many of the questions related to the observations, characterizations, and functional attributes of fungal assemblages and their interaction with the environment and other organisms. This edition promotes awareness of the functional methods of classification over taxonomic methods, and approaches the concept of fungal communities from an ecological perspective, rather than from a fungicentric view. It has expanded to examine issues of global and local biodiversity, the problems associated with exotic species, and the debate concerning diversity and function. The third edition also focuses on current ecological discussions - diversity and function, scaling issues, disturbance, and invasive species - from a fungal perspective. In order to address these concepts, the book examines the appropriate techniques to identify fungi, calculate their abundance, determine their associations among themselves and other organisms, and measure their individual and community function. This book explains attempts to scale these measures from the microscopic cell level through local, landscape, and ecosystem levels. The totality of the ideas, methods, and results presented by the contributing authors points to the future direction of mycology.

The Biology of Arid Soils

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Publisher : Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN 13 : 3110419149
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis The Biology of Arid Soils by : Blaire Steven

Download or read book The Biology of Arid Soils written by Blaire Steven and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2017-07-24 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soils have been called the most complex microbial ecosystems on Earth. A single gram of soil can harbor millions of microbial cells and thousands of species. However, certain soil environments, such as those experiencing dramatic change exposing new initial soils or that are limited in precipitation, limit the number of species able to survive in these systems. In this respect, these environments offer unparalleled opportunities to uncover the factors that control the development and maintenance of complex microbial ecosystems. This book collects chapters that discuss the abiotic factors that structure arid and initial soil communities as well as the diversity and structure of the biological communities in these soils from viruses to plants.

Keys to Lichens of North America

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Publisher : Yale University Press
ISBN 13 : 0300195737
Total Pages : 424 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (1 download)

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Book Synopsis Keys to Lichens of North America by : Irwin M. Brodo

Download or read book Keys to Lichens of North America written by Irwin M. Brodo and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2016-01-01 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the acclaimed reference Lichens of North America, this resource for the classroom, field, and laboratory presents updated and expanded keys for the identification of over 2,000 species of lichens indigenous to the continent, twice the number covered by previous keys. The book includes a glossary illustrated with photographs by Sylvia Duran Sharnoff and Stephen Sharnoff and drawings by Susan Laurie-Bourque, all from the original book. The revised keys are an indispensable identification tool for botanists, students, scientists, and enthusiasts alike.--COVER.

Rainfed Farming Systems

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 140209132X
Total Pages : 1324 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Rainfed Farming Systems by : Philip Tow

Download or read book Rainfed Farming Systems written by Philip Tow and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-09-16 with total page 1324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture is important, it is equally essential for all those involved in agriculture to understand the functioning of the farming system as a whole and how it can be best managed. It is necessary to re-assess and understand rain-fed farming systems around the world and to find ways to improve the selection, design and operation of such systems for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. The components of the system must operate together efficiently; yet many of the relationships and interactions are not clearly understood. Appreciation of these matters and how they are affected by external influences or inputs are important for decision making and for achieving desirable outcomes for the farm as a whole. This book analyses common rain-fed farming systems and defines the principles and practices important to their effective functioning and management.

Rangeland Systems

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319467093
Total Pages : 661 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (194 download)

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Book Synopsis Rangeland Systems by : David D. Briske

Download or read book Rangeland Systems written by David D. Briske and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-04-12 with total page 661 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is open access under a CC BY-NC 2.5 license. This book provides an unprecedented synthesis of the current status of scientific and management knowledge regarding global rangelands and the major challenges that confront them. It has been organized around three major themes. The first summarizes the conceptual advances that have occurred in the rangeland profession. The second addresses the implications of these conceptual advances to management and policy. The third assesses several major challenges confronting global rangelands in the 21st century. This book will compliment applied range management textbooks by describing the conceptual foundation on which the rangeland profession is based. It has been written to be accessible to a broad audience, including ecosystem managers, educators, students and policy makers. The content is founded on the collective experience, knowledge and commitment of 80 authors who have worked in rangelands throughout the world. Their collective contributions indicate that a more comprehensive framework is necessary to address the complex challenges confronting global rangelands. Rangelands represent adaptive social-ecological systems, in which societal values, organizations and capacities are of equal importance to, and interact with, those of ecological processes. A more comprehensive framework for rangeland systems may enable management agencies, and educational, research and policy making organizations to more effectively assess complex problems and develop appropriate solutions.

Terrestrial Cryptogams of Pinyon-juniper Woodlands in the Southwestern United States

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 44 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (319 download)

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Book Synopsis Terrestrial Cryptogams of Pinyon-juniper Woodlands in the Southwestern United States by : Juanita A. R. Ladyman

Download or read book Terrestrial Cryptogams of Pinyon-juniper Woodlands in the Southwestern United States written by Juanita A. R. Ladyman and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Ecology of Desert Systems

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Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0081026552
Total Pages : 473 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (81 download)

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Book Synopsis Ecology of Desert Systems by : Walter G. Whitford

Download or read book Ecology of Desert Systems written by Walter G. Whitford and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-08-20 with total page 473 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Plant Desiccation Tolerance

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642191061
Total Pages : 386 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (421 download)

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Book Synopsis Plant Desiccation Tolerance by : Ulrich Lüttge

Download or read book Plant Desiccation Tolerance written by Ulrich Lüttge and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-06-15 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Desiccation tolerance was essential when plants first began to conquer land, roughly 400 million years ago. While most desiccation-tolerant plants belong to basal phylogenetic taxa, this capacity has also evolved among some vascular plant species. In this volume renowned experts treat plant desiccation tolerance at the organismic as well as at the cellular level. The diversity of ecophysiological adaptations and acclimations of cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, mosses, and lichens is addressed in several chapters. The particular problems of vascular plants during dehydration/rehydration cycles resulting not only from their hydraulic architectures, but also from severe secondary stresses associated with the desiccated state are discussed. Based on the treatment of desiccation tolerance at the organismic level, a second section of the book is devoted to the cell biological level. It delineates the general concepts of functional genomics, epigenetics, genetics, molecular biology and the sensing and signalling networks of systems biology involved in dehydration/rehydration cycles. This book provides an invaluable compilation of current knowledge, which is a prerequisite for a better understanding of plant desiccation tolerance in natural as well as agro- and forest ecosystems where water is one of the most essential resources.

Guidelines for Soil Description

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Publisher : Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN 13 : 9789251055212
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (552 download)

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Book Synopsis Guidelines for Soil Description by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Guidelines for Soil Description written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2006 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soils are affected by human activities, such as industrial, municipal and agriculture, that often result in soil degradation and loss. In order to prevent soil degradation and to rehabilitate the potentials of degraded soils, reliable soil data are the most important prerequisites for the design of appropriate land-use systems and soil management practices as well as for a better understanding of the environment. The availability of reliable information on soil morphology and other characteristics obtained through examination and description of the soil in the field is essential, and the use of a common language is of prime importance. These guidelines, based on the latest internationally accepted systems and classifications, provide a complete procedure for soil description and for collecting field data. To help beginners, some explanatory notes are included as well as keys based on simple test and observations.--Publisher's description.

The Architecture and Biology of Soils

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Publisher : CABI
ISBN 13 : 1845935322
Total Pages : 254 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (459 download)

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Book Synopsis The Architecture and Biology of Soils by : Karl Ritz

Download or read book The Architecture and Biology of Soils written by Karl Ritz and published by CABI. This book was released on 2011 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil is a fundamental and critical component of terrestrial ecosystems, but one that is often overlooked. It is an extremely complex environment, both in terms of its physical structure and in that it supports levels of biodiversity far greater than those found above ground in any ecosystem. Bringing together existing knowledge across many areas of soil biology and physics, this book develops the concept of soil architecture and explores key characteristics of the remarkable `inner space' of the soil. The authors consider how such structure develops through time and the consequences this has for life underground. They also explore the interactions between the biological and physical components of the soil and how they relate to its many functions, in order to demonstrate the key role of soil architecture in underpinning ecosystem dynamics. The diverse but richly interrelated perspectives offered in this book make it an essential resource for researchers and students in soil and environmental sciences, terrestrial ecology, plant sciences and microbiology.

Riparian Areas

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309082951
Total Pages : 449 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Riparian Areas by : National Research Council

Download or read book Riparian Areas written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-10-10 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that wetlands be protected from degradation because of their important ecological functions including maintenance of high water quality and provision of fish and wildlife habitat. However, this protection generally does not encompass riparian areasâ€"the lands bordering rivers and lakesâ€"even though they often provide the same functions as wetlands. Growing recognition of the similarities in wetland and riparian area functioning and the differences in their legal protection led the NRC in 1999 to undertake a study of riparian areas, which has culminated in Riparian Areas: Functioning and Strategies for Management. The report is intended to heighten awareness of riparian areas commensurate with their ecological and societal values. The primary conclusion is that, because riparian areas perform a disproportionate number of biological and physical functions on a unit area basis, restoration of riparian functions along America's waterbodies should be a national goal.

Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology

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Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0128193115
Total Pages : 420 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (281 download)

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Book Synopsis Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology by : Prashant Kumar Singh

Download or read book Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology written by Prashant Kumar Singh and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-03-04 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology presents the novel, practical, and theoretical aspects of cyanobacteria, providing a better understanding of basic and advanced biotechnological application in the field of sustainable agriculture. Chapters have been designed to deal with the different aspects of cyanobacteria including their role in the evolution of life, cyanobacterial diversity and classification, isolation, and characterization of cyanobacteria through biochemical and molecular approaches, phylogeny and biogeography of cyanobacteria, symbiosis, Cyanobacterial photosynthesis, morphological and physiological adaptation to abiotic stresses, stress-tolerant cyanobacterium, biological nitrogen fixation. Other topics include circadian rhythms, genetics and molecular biology of abiotic stress responses, application of cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial mats in wastewater treatments, use as a source of novel stress-responsive genes for development of stress tolerance and as a source of biofuels, industrial application, as biofertilizer, cyanobacterial blooms, use in Nano-technology and nanomedicines as well as potential applications. This book will be important for academics and researchers working in cyanobacteria, cyanobacterial environmental biology, cyanobacterial agriculture and cyanobacterial molecular biologists. Summarizes the various aspects of cyanobacterial research, from primary nitrogen fixation, to advanced nano-technology applications Addresses both practical and theoretical aspects of the cyanobacterial application Includes coverage of biochemical and molecular approaches for the identification, use and management of cyanobacteria

Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths

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Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0444635424
Total Pages : 1000 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (446 download)

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Book Synopsis Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths by : Georges Stoops

Download or read book Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths written by Georges Stoops and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2018-09-17 with total page 1000 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths, Second Edition, provides researchers and students with a tool for interpreting features observed in soil thin sections and through submicroscopic studies. After an introduction and general overview, micromorphological aspects of regoliths (e.g., saprolites, transported materials) are highlighted, followed by a systematic and coherent discussion of the micromorphological expression of various pedogenic processes. The book is written by an international team of experts in the field, using a uniform set of concepts and terminology, making it a valuable interdisciplinary reference work. The following topics are treated: freeze-thaw features, redoximorphic features, calcareous and gypsiferous formations, textural features, spodic and oxic horizons, volcanic materials, organic matter, surface horizons, laterites, surface crusts, salt minerals, biogenic and pedogenic siliceous materials, other authigenic silicates, phosphates, sulphidic and sulphuric materials, and features related to faunal activity. The last chapters address anthropogenic features,archaeological materials and palaeosoils. Updates the first exhaustive publication on interpretation of micromorphological features, with some new chapters and with a larger number of additional references Covers related topics, making micromorphology more attractive and accessible for geomorphologists, archaeologists and quaternary geologists Includes thematic treatment of a range of soil micromorphology fields and broadens its applications Features input from a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring thorough coverage of topics related to soil science, archaeology and geomorphology