Diversity of Ecosystems

Mahamane Ali

• Publisher: IntechOpen
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN:
  9789535105725
• eBook ISBN:
  9789535152897
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biology
• Index: Biological Sciences

The ecosystems present a great diversity worldwide and use various functionalities according to ecologic regions. In this new context of variability and climatic changes, these ecosystems undergo notable modifications amplified by domestic uses of which it was subjected to. Indeed the ecosystems render diverse services to humanity from their composition and structure but the tolerable levels are unknown. The preservation of these ecosystemic services needs a clear understanding of their complexity. The role of research is not only to characterise the ecosystems but also to clearly define the tolerable usage levels. Their characterisation proves to be important not only for the local populations that use it but also for the conservation of biodiversity. Hence, the measurement, management and protection of ecosystems need innovative and diverse methods. For all these reasons, the aim of this book is to bring out a general view on the function of ecosystems, modelling, sampling strategies, invading species, the response of organisms to modifications, the carbon dynamics, the mathematical models and theories that can be applied in diverse conditions.

Table of contents

• Diversity of Ecosystems
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1 Macrofaunistic Diversity in Vallisneria americana Michx. in a Tropical Wetland, Southern Gulf of Mexico
• Chapter 2 Impacts of Carbon Dioxide Gas Leaks from Geological Storage Sites on Soil Ecology and Above-Ground Vegetation
• Chapter 3 How to Keep Deep-Sea Animals
• Chapter 4 An Introduced Polychaete in South America – Ecologic Affinities of Manayunkia speciosa (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) and the Oligochaetes of Uruguay River, Argentina
• Chapter 5 Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health Using the Potential Non Point Pollution Index (PNPI) Tool
• Chapter 6 Long Term Changes in Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Pelagic Agonidae, Ammodytidae, Liparidae, Cottidae, Myctophidae and Stichaeidae in the Barents Sea
• Chapter 7 Rangelands in Arid Ecosystem
• Chapter 8 Desertification-Climate Change Interactions – Mexico's Battle Against Desertification
• Chapter 9 Envisioning Ecosystems – Biodiversity, Infirmity and Affectivity
• Chapter 10 Ecological Research of Arctic Restricted Exchange Environments (Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea, Russian Arctic)
• Chapter 11 Two Species and Three Species Ecological Modeling – Homotopy Analysis
• Chapter 12 Stable Isotope Research in Southern African Birds
• Chapter 13 The Impact of Shelterbelts on Mulch Decomposition and Colonization by Fauna in Adjacent Fields
• Chapter 14 New Technologies for Ecosystem Analysis Planning and Management
• Chapter 15 Extreme Climatic Events as Drivers of Ecosystem Change
• Chapter 16 Primary Producers of the Barents Sea
• Chapter 17 Protecting Ecosystems from Underground Invasions – Seed Bank Dynamics in a Semi-Arid Shrub-Steppe
• Chapter 18 Changes to Marine Trophic Networks Caused by Fishing
• Chapter 19 Diversity and Dynamics of Plant Communities in Niger River Valley (W Regional Park)
• Chapter 20 Ecological Flexibility of the Top Predator in an Island Ecosystem – Food Habit of the Iriomote Cat