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This book provides insights into recent developments in the use of mulching in agroecosystems with emphasis on the major pros and cons. Increase in human population, climatic changes and agricultural intensification have put enormous pressure on soil and water resources. As a result, we are confronted with challenges to enhance nutrient and water use efficiencies and conserve soil organic matter without compromising crop yields and food security. Increasing the soil organic matter (SOM) via residue return increased nutrient availability and soil physical and biological properties. Management practices, such as straw mulching or incorporation, have significant effects on soil health. Straw addition also increases functionality related to carbon and N metabolism via increasing the microbes and thus greatly contributes to CO2 and N2O emissions. However, the co-use of organic and inorganic fertilizer reduces the N2O emission without compromising crop yield. Mulching has long been advocated to conserve soil moisture and increase the efficiency of macro- and micro-nutrients by improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. These effects of mulch are translated into better crop yields while improving soil health and quality in the long run. Therefore, the use of mulching techniques is on the rise in organic as well as conventional agriculture. The book is of great interest for researchers, academics, agriculture extensionists, soil and plant scientist, fertilizer industry, farmers, agro-industrial workers, farm managers, NGOs, and climate and civil society activists.

There is a growing need for appropriate management of aquatic plants in rivers and canals, lakes and reservoirs, and drainage channels and urban waterways. This management must be based on a sound knowledge of the ecology of freshwater plants, their distribution and the different forms of control available including chemical, physical, biological and biomanipulation. This series of papers from over 20 different countries was generated from the highly successful European Weed Research Society symposia on aquatic plant management, this being the ninth. The contributions provide a valuable insight into the complexities involved in managing aquatic systems, discuss state-of-the-art control techniques such as biomanipulation using fish and waterfowl and the use of straw, and deal with patterns of regrowth and recovery post-management. Careful consideration is given to the use of chemicals, a practice which has come under scrutiny in recent years. Underpinning the development of such control techniques is a growing body of knowledge relating to the biology and ecology of water plants, including growth responses under different trophic conditions, the impact of pollution, and aspects of photosynthesis. The authorship of the papers represents the collective wisdom of leading scientists and experts from fisheries agencies, river authorities, nature conservation agencies, the agrochemical industry and both governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Two major problems encountered as we approach a new century are the availability of resources for chemicals and energy, and environmental pollution. This book highlights the importance of biotransformation as a solution to these problems and considers traditionally separate areas as one interdependent discipline, in terms of the underlying mechanistic biochemistry and the research techniques employed. The provision of resources has largely centred around non-renewable materials, especially oil. Diminishing reserves of these, together with uncertainties of supply and cost have stimulated great interest in renewable resources. These are largely lignocellulosic materials (e.g. wood and straw) which are available through natural biomass turnover, farming and forestry and from wastes generated by industrial processes. An excellent example is that of kraft lignin, a by-product of pulp and paper production, amounting to 60 million tonnes per annum and which is largely wasted by burning or landfilling. This aromatic polymer has enormous potential as a feedstock to the chemical industry. Environmental pollution is no longer accepted as inevitable for a technological society. Over the past decade there has been a tremendous increase in awareness of the effects of pollution and public pressure has influenced both industry and government. However, to be realistic, it is not possible to replace all processes generating polluting wastes with clean alternatives. Instead, treatments of pollution, both at source and after an incident, are alternatives in many instances and a great deal of emphasis is currently being placed on these.

Phytoplankton, or algae, are the engines of the Earth. They form the base of the aquatic food web and, although microscopic, they produce 50% of the oxygen in the air. Many of our ideas of what makes these cells “tick” come from ideas developed decades ago. But, lakes and oceans are changing- and so, too are phytoplankton. Our understanding has to change accordingly. Nutrient pollution is a major problem worldwide, and climate is changing, altering temperature, CO2 and pH, as well as the physics that control water stratification. All of these factors control which species of phytoplankton may grow well at any particular time. While algae grow in all types of aquatic systems, not all algae are favorable for the production of fish and other food resources. The prevalence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) has increased. At the core of this effort is a drive to understand–and to convey to researchers, students and managers–what kinds of phytoplankton are likely to thrive as conditions change and why this matters. There has not yet been a synthetic summary that unravels the mysteries of phytoplankton in a modern world. This book aims to provide such a resource.

This book presents recent advances, challenges, and trends in modern microalgal biotechnology. It covers microalgae genetics, bioreactors, modeling, massive scale and industrial cultivation, and environmental, social, and economic aspects of microalgal biotechnology. The book also explores the emerging knowledge about high-value bioproducts from microalgae, e.g., biofuels, biosurfactants, bioremediation, bioplastics/biopolymers, pharmaceuticals, antioxidants (anti-aging), fatty acids, polysaccharides and proteins, feed and superfoods with microalgae. The chapters will be written by prominent professors and researchers from the six inhabited continents of the world, from academic to industrial sectors.

This book introduces the concept of a semi-closed ecosystem, which is necessary for the social implementation of plant production, such as agriculture, in harmony with the environment. While aiming at achieving a sustainable balance of human activities and environmental protection, this book focuses on the material cycle within each semi-closed system listed below. 1) Mangrove forests as semi-closed systems in coastal ecosystems 2) Environmental control in facility-based plant production systems as semi-closed systems 3) Control of the gaseous environment in the root zone as a semi-closed system 4) Controlled ecological life support system as a completely closed ecosystem in space 5) A sustainable balance of human activities and environmental conservation in urban ecosystems. Developing efficient food production with less environmental loads is an important issue. Plant production is vital to human health and welfare, especially in urban areas as semi-closed ecosystems. Producing food efficiently under consideration of environmental protection is necessary with material-cycling systems, especially in semi-closed ecosystems. Establishing a resource recycling production system with reduced waste emissions has also become important in agriculture. Plant production will play an important role not only in food production (Goal 2 in SDGs) but also in many other goals. This book explains how we must regard plant production as semi-closed ecosystems, reduce material and energy resource inputs, and recycle waste emissions generated during production and consumption processes to solve the various issues. Students and researchers studying Agricultural Environmental Engineering, Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Systems Design for Sustainable Society, Environmental Control in Agriculture, etc., will find this publication a helpful reference.

This volume brings together theoretical, experiential, and creative perspectives on the phenomenon of urban foraging. In a rapidly urbanising world, foraging is (re)raining popularity as a way to connect with nature and cope with uncertainty. Authors from various disciplines and geographies make sense of what this means for humanity. Urban foraging represents a multifaceted movement that provides people with avenues for sustenance, socialising, and spirituality. Motivations and implications of urban foraging vary across the socioeconomic spectrum, as do barriers and enablers. Urban foraging can help people adapt to change, and build resilience to shocks, but its spontaneous and unregulated nature makes it attractive to many. Recognising and promoting sustainable urban foraging therefore is a delicate balancing act. This collection discusses the philosophical and practical considerations towards this aim. The book is of interest to researchers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and creatives, inviting readers to envisage scenarios that are desirable and achievable. It is of special interest to those working in urban and landscape planning, social-ecological systems, non-government organisations, municipal and development corporations, and the environment.

The edited book serves as a reference on indicators of environmental pollution and how to sustainably ascertain the effects of different pollutants on life forms. It addresses an improved technology for monitoring contaminants, especially in the Global South and beyond, where the level of technology available for sustainable management of environmental quality is limited. Biomonitoring ecosystems'health by using organisms to gather quantitative data on environmental quality is one of the most straightforward and affordable ways to check environmental quality. Since organisms may function as environmental sensors, their use in the direct measurement of environmental quality in the process of biomonitoring studies implicates the health status of various ecosystems. In this regard, microorganisms, higher and lower plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate animals are beneficial since they can detect pollution levels and pollutants in the environment. This book is of interest and useful to toxicologists, water, soil, and air quality experts, practitioners, trainees, and trainers, biological sciences scientists, academicians, researchers, students (especially undergraduates and postgraduates), libraries, and other public knowledge repositories interested in novel and advanced practices in sustainable biomonitoring of environmental pollutants.

This thought-provoking book takes readers on a captivating journey through the realms of green urbanism, urban regeneration, and urban design, development, and preservation, providing an exploration of innovative approaches to creating sustainable and thriving cities of the future.Discussing the pressing challenges of urban environments, this book offers practical insights for architects, urban planners, researchers, and sustainability enthusiasts. It introduces cutting-edge strategies for sustainable urban mobility, energy-efficient designs, and nature-based solutions implementation while showcasing case studies and comprehensive analyses that shed light on the complexities of urban regeneration. Moreover, this volume uncovers the importance of preserving cultural heritage and its role in shaping vibrant communities. With its informative and engaging narrative, this book equips readers with valuable knowledge to make a positive impact on their urban surroundings. It deepens their understanding of urban challenges and illuminates ways they can contribute to transforming our cities toward a more sustainable and vibrant future.

Relying upon extensive global and multidisciplinary research, this book analyzes the perils of market-driven scenarios and peeps into the possibilities responsible for the failure of traditional approaches. It helps in identifying the goals and approaches amenable to sustainable development reflecting upon an ecologically and inclusively sustainable global future. It enriches knowledge base of all research scholars and professionals as well as paves the way for bravely facing the challenges to the sustainability. The book also sheds light on the current and future trends in the domain of sustainability in terms of scenarios, strategies to be adopted, anticipated transitions in climate, and evolution and adoption of best sustainable practices for the common good.Academicians and researchers and professionals from across universities, research, governmental, and private organizations have made their invaluable contributions. The perspectives contributed are drawn from Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. They cover a spectrum of topics, covering the philosophy underlying sustainable development, organizations, ethics, belief systems, cultures, use of resources, energy, models, cost-benefit analysis, international trade, financial aid, forestry, wildlife, land rights, fisheries, and more. Irrespective of the reader's interest on sustainable development, this book embodies meaningful and productive intent and content. The chapters present well-known topics but with different perspectives, suggesting ways to enhance the present practices and proposing new avenues in furthering the work. The book is intended to cover a wide range of audiences, catering to the needs of a diverse readership. The value of this book is quantified in terms of new concepts and terminology it generates and works as a reference source.

This volume includes a selection of papers derived from the IX Conference of the Pampas region of Argentina, held virtually in 2021 in Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and organized by the National University of Mar del Plata. Located in the southern cone of South America, the Pampas are vast plain grasslands that range across central Argentina and are one of the largest prairies of the world. The early traces of humans date back to ca. 12,200 14C years BP. From the Late Pleistocene up to the Spanish Conquest in the sixteenth century, hunter-gatherer groups occupied the Pampas. Archaeological research in the region has been focused on fascinating topics such as the early peopling, the mobility circuits in the past, the interaction between indigenous and colonial societies, and the perception of this complex past by the modern Pampean society, mainly integrated by European immigrants and indigenous descendants. This book gathers these themes and includes a selection of a conference of one of the keynote speakers and 18 papers that represent diverse topics on the current Pampean research. The book is structured in two main axes: 1) prehispanic studies using different lines of evidence; 2) historical archaeology and cultural heritage.

This open access book provides a unique overview of geographical, historical, political and environmental issues facing the French overseas territory New Caledonia, also called “Kanaky” by the indigenous Kanak people, who outnumber citizens of European and other origin. New Caledonia has seen a long and complex struggle for decolonization, but is still on the United Nations'list of “Non-Self Governing territories” and there is little sign of change following three referendums on independence and extensive negotiations with France. The archipelago possesses around a quarter of the world's nickel deposits, giving it additional strategic importance when demand for the mineral is strong. The islands have unique biodiversity, and Caledonian coastal lagoons have been listed as UNESCO world heritage sites since 2008. The book offers detailed insights into the environmental and human geographies of the archipelago, with a focus on the linksbetween environmental protection and extensive mining operations, between political independence struggles and continued wellbeing and economic development, and the differing visions for the future of the islands. This multidisciplinary volume, one of the few to appear in English, appeals to researchers, students and policy makers across the environmental, social and political sciences.

This textbook is focused on fundamentals of environment and ecology for undergraduate and graduate students. This is first of its kind book dealing with physical environment, ecosystems, biological diversity, environmental pollution, and environment-influenced natural resource ecology and management. This will cater to the needs of the students, examinees, trainees, and teachers. It consists of 23 chapters spread over 5 sections i.e., ecosystem analysis, natural resources, biodiversity, environmental disruptions, and environmental management. The textbook is well aligned with the syllabus of all central and state universities and offers the latest insights as well to the students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses of ecology and environmental sciences. Every chapter provides summary/points to remember and exercises. Each exercise includes 20 multiple-choice questions, 10 short-answer questions, and 5 long-answer questions. The textbook is a comprehensive coverage for basic and advanced courses in ecology and environmental sciences. Each topic is supported by illustrations, tables, and information boxes etc.

This volume comprehensively covers soil microbial processes that regulate the flux of greenhouse gasses (GHG) from agricultural soils, in an effort to address how GHG regulating microbes can be used to mitigate harmful climate change impacts on agriculture. The chapters define the linkages among soil microbial functioning, crop responses, ecosystem functioning, and GHG cycling processes. The book is framed through three major theme, including source and sink of GHG, microbial processes regulating GHG, and agricultural strategies and technologies to mitigate GHG emissions. The chapters highlight the fundamentals of soil microbial diversity and interactions with climate changing factors, soil carbon dynamics in response to different agricultural practices, conservation agriculture strategies to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture, and climate change mitigation through organic and climate-smart farming. The book is intended for policy makers, students, and researchers of environmental science, agriculture, soil science, and soil microbiology.

The high-resolution palynological study of the varved sediments of Lake Montcortès has provided a unique record of the regional vegetation shifts over the last 3000 years and of the natural and anthropogenic drivers of ecological change, unparalleled in the Mediterranean. This book shows in detail how the terrestrial ecosystems of Montcortès have responded to climatic events such as the Medieval Climate Anomaly or the Little Ice Age, as well as to varying intensities of anthropogenic pressure from the Bronze Age to the present. The knowledge gained from this palaeoecological study is useful not only for understanding how the modern landscapes of the Pyrenees were shaped, but also for conserving biodiversity and ecosystems in the face of future environmental changes related to ongoing global change. The book is aimed at researchers, university teachers and advanced graduate students in a wide range of disciplines including ecology, palaeoecology, environmental science, biodiversity, geography, sedimentology, archaeology, anthropology, and biodiversity conservation.

This proposed book aims to present an analysis of several crisis issues induced by global climate changes and implications at the micro-level, particularly from the perspective of ground-based study. Climate crisis leads to several socio-ecological issues which need to discuss with some empirical case studies from the contextual global evidences. Climatic crisis generates several social responses which are associated with mitigating issues in addition to sustainable development goals. Under these circumstances, several loopholes interlinked with climatic crisis need to expose in the present-day context. This book argues that it is important to understand the issues from multiple dimensions. It identifies some important dimensions to discuss in the process. Themes we purpose to cover are: several field-based studies are included for which micro-level field-based data would incorporate to understand current crisis induced by climate change, thus exposing the vulnerabilities of the communities which would be incorporated in different chapters with adequate representation of qualitative methods, modelling-based geospatial approach. Therefore, some secondary data-based studies have also been included to provide a broader picture. Additionally, this book aims to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues mainly from the lenses of Geography, Economics, and Sociology as well as Environmental Studies too. Given the focus of this study, it is believed that an approach that harmonizes the cognitive domain from different discipline is appropriated. A combination of chapters using qualitative as well as quantitative methods also made this book exclusive from others. We believe that this edited book surely contributes the knowledge domain with some relevant chapters'discussion in the contemporary time and leads to reduce the gap of knowledge.

This book focuses solely on the issues of agricultural productivity analysis with advanced modeling approaches bringing solutions to food-insecure regions of the world, especially in south and southeast Asia and in Africa. Advanced modeling tools and their use in regional planning provide an outstanding opportunity to help face the challenges of climate change. The sudden effect of flash floods, drought, salinity, and sea water rises causing saltwater intrusions and its impact on agricultural production are some of the disastrous results of climate change. In this edited volume, information on climate-induced impacts for flooding, flash floods, and drought impact on agricultural crops is provided to address possible solutions for food security in south Asia, southeast Asia, and some regions of Africa. Leading-edge research methodology is presented as it relates to remote sensing applications for regional science and allied fields. In regional policy planning, agriculture andforestry play key roles in food security along with environmental conservation and depend on geo-spatial variability. Satellite remote sensing and geographical information systems have an immense potential to encompass all these factors and to catalogue the regional variability of climate change and climate economics. In the satellite remote sensing domain, advanced modeling tools, deep learning applications, and cloud-based earth engines significantly increase the flexibility of decision making and its application for regional perspectives. The result can increase agricultural and forest productivity and ensure its resilience and sustainability. The book's chapters introduce modeling techniques such as machine learning and fuzzy expert system using satellite remote sensing datasets based on cloud application. These methods assist regional planners to increase crop production, land use, and detection of changes in land cover in order to better understand their vulnerability toclimate-related disaster. Furthermore, remote sensing and in-depth GIS analysis are integrated with machine learning to address natural uncertainties such as flash floods, droughts, and cyclones so that emergency responses for agricultural production management can be adopted more effectively.

This book brings out a comprehensive collection of information on the structural proteins of fish in both marine and fresh water system. The main focus of this book is to address all relevant aspects of structural proteins of fish and its commercial significance. Fish is a rich and cheap source of protein, and the collagen and myofibrillar proteins, play a key role in food and pharmaceutical industries. Marine-based collagen due to its unique properties have fewer risks of transmitting diseases. These have low molecular weight, are biocompatible, lack religious constraints, and involves cost-effective extraction process. Therefore, it finds wide biomedical applications. The details of its extraction, isolation and characterization, supported with photographs and flow-charts are provided. This book also discusses the different peptides and derivatives of proteins that may have beneficial health significance and other commercial importance. Further, the application of bioinformatics and artificial intelligence in understanding the protein structure in-silico are also discussed in detail. This book is of interest and useful to students, academician, researchers and industrialists/ entrepreneurs, and is a valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers/ students.

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are a very diverse group of photosynthetic microorganisms with many applications. Some of them are related to the accumulation of molecules involved in specific metabolic pathways such as pigments, fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, etc. Also, there are uses of the biomass related to the exploitation of physiological necessities such as the absorption of essential nutrients (the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, the capture of CO2 from the fixation of nitrogen, etc.). Nevertheless, the evaluation in financial and life-cycle aspects is necessary to ensure the industrial application of the processes. The objective of the book is to analyze innovative applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria to develop environmental-friendly processes for removal of pollutants, wastewater treatment, production of high-value products or bioenergy, and finally evaluate the feasibility of the processes both ineconomic and sustainability aspects.

The Victorians: A Botanical Perspective, Volume 1 offers a unique re-evaluation of the Victorian Age and presents a new historiography based on plants. It examines the use of gutta-percha in the development of electrical measurements; provides a detailed history of cocoa and the forced labor in the São Tomé and Príncipe Islands; explores the beauty, imagination, and order of William and May Morris'flowers; uncovers the world of Charles Darwin and the Victorian Botany Culture; highlights the crucial role of the Wardian Case in the global transport of plants; reveals the connection between Mid-Victorian Botany and Microscopy; offers glimpses of the colonial collections at the 1862 London Exhibition; explains how botany was connected with the development of photography; evokes the desire for a return to Nature and a simple life; and, finally, takes us on a journey through the history of violets.

This edited book covers the impact of stone mining activities on soil, water, air, agriculture, vegetation, and policy aspects. It provides information on rehabilitation and restoration measures for stone mine spoil areas and other associated adverse impacts on human health caused by mining activities. Additionally, the book covers information related to the impact of stone mining on the socio-economic conditions of mining area inhabitants and appropriate government policies and support to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-15.3 (SDG-15.3) for degraded stone mine spoil sites toward Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The dumping of stone mine waste has many negative implications for the environment, soil, and natural resources. Although stone mining is the main source of livelihood for millions of people around the world and plays a crucial role in the economic development of many countries, it was estimated that nearly 4 million people die every year, especially in developing countries, due to environmental pollution from quarrying, sandblasting, and the emission of toxic gases. Mining leads to land degradation by the stacking of mine waste, loss of fertile topsoil and vegetation covers, abstraction and deterioration of the natural drainage system, deforestation, groundwater depletion, loss of plant and aquatic biodiversity, and public health issues. The book covers information about all aspects of dimensional stone mining activity and is a useful read for researchers, planners, capacity builders, scientists, and policymakers for achieving SDG 15.3. It would also be helpful for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental science disciplines.

This book presents the latest findings in medical entomology in Japan and neighboring Asian countries. It provides an overview of the current issues of medically important arthropods in this region and also refers to the issues that are likely to become more serious in the near future. It helps us understand that addressing the arthropod issues is not enough in limited regions, but requires a coordinated response throughout these regions. Global warming and globalization are affecting both vector and vector-borne diseases, causing rapid changes in their distribution and ecology. From the perspective of global pest control, the book focuses not only on domestic pests in Japan but also on pests in neighboring Asian countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc., which are geographically and economically close to Japan. Japan has experience of eradicating malaria and lymphatic filariasis, drastically reducing the number of cases of Japanese encephalitis patients, and succeeded in controlling flies in the metropolis of Tokyo. The know-how learned and created from these past successes should provide valuable information for other parts of Asia that are still struggling with pest infestation today. With the growing interest in these issues worldwide, this book provides essential information in medical entomology for researchers, including students and early career researchers. By integrating the latest findings in medical entomology with past successes and experiences in the field, the book is also a valuable reference for many professionals planning sustainable pest control.

This book presents technoeconomic challenges, recent trends, and developments toward sustainable algal biofuels and biorefinery. The exponential increase in population and thus the demand for energy, the ever-rising threats to climate change with conventional fossil fuels consumption, fluctuations in fossil fuels price and geopolitical instability have made each and every country of the world to think over its energy independence and security by increasing its own domestic energy production and reducing dependence on scarce fossil fuels. The global need to shift towards a sustainable source of energy has led to the discovery of third and fourth generation biofuels, in which microalgae and their genetically modified strains have been exploited. However, these simple photosynthetic organisms are difficult to select and cultivate for the production of biodiesel. Genetic engineering has opened provisions for the introduction of desired traits to such useful strains. There are also scopes for designing of novel photobioreactors (PBRs) having strain-specific physicochemical parameters, adequate CO2 and nutrient supply, and so on. The role of microalgae in CO2 sequestration from the environment is well known fact. Wastewater treatment plants can be used a raceway pond for the microalgal biomass production, and thus, obtained biomass can be used for biofuels and biochemical production. Mathematical modelling can be used to understand the complex phenomena inside the photobioreactor, which can be a great help to overcome the limitations related to design and scale up of PBRs. Flow hydrodynamics in PBRs has significant effect on the microalgae growth. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used to study operating and geometry factors in PBRs that influence the flow dynamics, such as the inlet gas flow rate, mixing, mass transfer, reactor geometry. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) particularly artificial neural network model (ANN model), statistical and evolutionary learning-based techniques are some innovative approaches in manipulating and optimizing productivity and costs in algal biofuel production. This book is aimed to bring several aspects of algal biorefinery and microalgal biofuel production, challenges, and future perspective of microalgal biofuel production at a single place.

This book provides an in-depth exploration of microbial biodiversity and its crucial role in diverse biotechnological and industrial sectors. It covers topics such as the integration of molecular approaches for identifying industrially significant strains, omics roles in the production of bioproducts, and modern genetic engineering techniques. It discusses biostatistical investigations and the impact of microbial biotechnology on healthcare and emerging contaminants. It highlights the significance of food microbiology, fermentation, and the latest technologies in improving human health. Additionally, the book delves into emerging trends in oligosaccharide production, biobased approaches for a sustainable future, and the importance of microbial biomolecules and secondary metabolites. It also explores the identification and production of industrially significant biocatalysts/enzymes, the valorization of agro-industrial waste using microorganisms for green energy generation, and the development of bioreactor systems for the biobased economy. The book covers advancements in solid-gaseous biofuels production, impact assessment of synthetic microfiber pollution, sustainable management strategies for waste management, and the impact of emerging technologies in medical microbiology. The book also discusses the development of healthcare products using nano-biotechnological advancements, the impact of novel remediation technology, and the utilization of microbial products in biomaterial development. It further explores microbial regulatory systems, gene expression studies, and the significance of mutations in microbial technology. This book serves as a great reference for researchers, environmentalists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, and graduate, post-graduate students, and doctoral students working on microbial biotechnology and industrial microbiology.

This updated and expanded second edition summarizes advances in agroforestry research and practice and proposes alternatives to increase the effectiveness of agroforestry systems. It offers an important contribution to help solve the most pressing development and environmental challenges in this sector today. The contributing authors present views from the academic, the practitioner and the development areas. Chapters offer alternatives and suggestions for facing challenges in agroforestry adoption, profitability, and in the implementation of integrated landscape management approaches.With new chapters and substantial revisions made in many others, the scope was broadened both geographically and thematically. Students, Scientists and practitioners will therefore gain more insights from Africa and Asia, as well as the Americas.

This book aims to provide evidence of the impact of climate change and urbanization on cities'urban environments thus on human health and wellbeing; and principles and methods for the improvement of the resilience of a city to extreme weather and long-term climatic changes through case studies. The book will have three themes of 1) Understanding the adverse environmental impact on human health and wellbeing; 2) analysis of adaptation and mitigation measures through modeling technologies; 3) providing best practice examples of the implementation of the proposed measures. The book will present the liveable cities including factors affecting liveability; ecological and biophilic city; economic values; health and well-being and opportunities for people. Physical and social health will be an important issue in the context of resilient cities. The widespread concerns will be addressed including physical and mental health; wellbeing in terms of building use;building surroundings and Biophilia; location in the context of sustainability and work-life balance; and spatial scale and community.

Almond and peach species have global importance as food crops as well as use in landscaping including restoration and reforestation. Because currently available breeding germplasm has a very narrow genetic base, genetic improvement programs are turning to wild germplasm as sources of improved quality, productivity and resistance traits. This germplasm is also enabling the dramatic modification of traditional cropping systems as with the transfer of self-fruitfulness from related wild almond and peach species to normally self-sterile cultivated almond. While presence of an extensive wild almond and related germplasm has been documented in the literature over the past century, most information remains dispersed and often not generally accessible owing to its publication in treatises and journals of limited distribution. This monograph brings together a comprehensive characterization of almond and its related species including the cultivated and wild peaches. Because it represents the only comprehensive source of information on almond, peach and their wild relatives, it represents a basic reference text of interest to researchers in both the basic and applied plant and ecological sciences.

Fruit and Nut Crops: A Treasure Trove of Diversity and ResilienceDive into the fascinating world of fruit and nut crops in this comprehensive volume. Explore their origins, evolution, and global journey, from wild ancestors to diverse cultivars nourishing us today. Uncover their crucial role in food security, providing vital nutrients and supporting livelihoods.This book champions urgent conservation efforts in the face of threats like habitat loss and climate change. It delves into both ex situ and in situ strategies, emphasizing the importance of preserving genetic diversity for the future. Learn about domestication processes and the development of gene pools adapted to specific environments.Discover the economic and social benefits of utilizing fruit and nut genetic resources, from breeding programs that empower communities to innovative techniques for enhancing yields and quality. This invaluable resource equips researchers, breeders, and policymakerswith the knowledge to safeguard and advance this critical agricultural sector

This book focuses on the traditional ecological knowledge in addressing the current climate crisis in the Indian Himalayas. Local or indigenous people in the Himalayas, through their low-carbon producing lifestyles, contribute very little to the climate crisis. However, at the same time, they bear the brunt of this crisis way more than many others. It is important to learn about their traditional ways of life and the knowledge that they hold regarding ecology and environment. Traditional ecological knowledge and associated belief systems are given increasing attention across the globe in recent times toward addressing some of the grave environmental concerns. Climate change is one such concern. The rising consideration of concepts such as ethnoecology and ethnobotany signifies the scientific, socio-cultural and economic potential of the traditional ecological knowledge systems. It is indisputable that these knowledge systems have the ability to provide important insights towards tackling many present-day environmental distresses including several climate change challenges. In this book, the authors concentrate on such traditional ecological knowledge systems in the Indian Himalayan region and try to figure out their significance in relation to the modern science. Overall, the authors attempt to write a book where the relevance of traditional ecological knowledge systems could be addressed and communicated to a larger audience—both academic scientific and non-academic.

This book is a reference material on how to sustainably manage water crises. The causes and effects of water crises under different regions in the Global South are explored in this book. Approaches for the sustainable management of water crises are also highlighted in the book, especially in the Global South, where the level of technologies available for sustainable management of water are limited. Water crisis is a global problem but with disproportionate higher consequences in the lobal South. About 25% of the global population resides in water-stressed countries, and about 10% of the world population lives in areas with high water vulnerability. Furthermore, many millions of people across the globe lack access to potable water supplies. As such, many people could be displaced by water crises or scarcity shortly. The effects of the water crisis on the environment include increased salinity, nutrient pollution, the loss of floodplains, the drying ofriverbeds, the loss of habitat, wetlands disappearing, and ecosystem loss. On the human level, it could lead to disease outbreaks, drought, famine, and death. This may have more severe effects in countries in the Global South as compared to nations in the Global North. This is because the water cycle is very intense in Asia and Africa, which are important areas in the Global South. This book is of interest and useful to aquatic toxicologists, water quality experts, practitioners, trainees, and trainers, environmentalists, biological sciences scientists, academics, researchers, students (especially undergraduates and postgraduates), libraries, and other public knowledge repositories interested in novel and advanced practices in sustainable water management.

This book comprehensively examines the complex relationship between forests and climate change from a biological perspective. It explores the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions, changing rainfall patterns, droughts, and cold spells, on individual trees and forest ecosystems. It considers how climate change affects forest structure, function, composition, and biodiversity, and the adaptive strategies forests employ to cope with changing conditions. The book focuses on understanding the adaptive capacity of forests and explores different mechanisms at stand and ecosystem levels that enable forests to respond to changing climatic conditions. It discusses how forests acclimate and adapt to new climates by modulating growth rates, morphology, phenology, physiology, biochemistry, and species composition. The role of genetic diversity and evolutionary processes in shaping forest resilience and adaptation is also explored. The book also explores potential mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change. Besides, this book discusses the ecological principles and the involvement of local communities in conservation and restoration efforts as alternative strategies to enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems against climate change. The book provides practical recommendations for policy makers, forest managers, and conservation practitioners to develop effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in forest landscapes. This book serves as a valuable resource and a guide for researchers, students, and professionals in various fields to protect and sustainably manage vital ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate.

'Urban Climate Change Adaptation'is a timely and informative book that delves into the complex challenges posed by climate change and explores the pathways to achieving environmental sustainability. The book begins by examining the scientific consensus on climate change, detailing the causes and consequences of rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns, and the resulting impacts on ecosystems and human societies. Readers are further introduced to a range of innovative and nature-based solutions that promote environmental sustainability. These solutions encompass a diverse array of approaches, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, conservation of biodiversity, and the restoration of ecosystems. The book serves as an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of complex issues on climate change and the pursuit of environmental sustainability. It also offers practical solutions for individuals, communities, and policymakers.

This book highlights clean energy transition via sustainable utilization of biomass resources, viz. forestry, agriculture, agroforestry, grassland, and seaweeds to climate change mitigation. Bioresources have tremendous potential to mitigate global warming. Also, biomass is expected to play a multifunctional role including food production, source of energy and fodder, biodiversity conservation, and yield of goods and services to the society. It brings together perspectives of various communities involved in the research and regulation of bioenergy deployment in the context of climate change mitigation. The book presents the way forward to policy makers and stakeholders involved with bioenergy development. This development may be directive challenges in the transport sector where options such as hydrogen and electric vehicles relying on hydro, wind, and solar PV will require decades to become established on a substantial scale. Furthermore, meeting ambitious climate change targets will also require environment-friendly fuels in air and marine transport where no alternative to biofuels is currently available. The process design-via-onion model for sustainable utilization of biomass resources is also one of the most important subjects of the book. This book includes state-of-the-art approaches on bottlenecks and circular economy analysis for biomass energy use to reduce climate change and sustainability frameworks to guide bioenergy development.

This book encompasses all aspects and perspectives of crop and climate science. It aims to serve as the authoritative resource for undergraduate students seeking answers and insights into the field of crop science and agro meteorology. The book covers a wide range of topics, starting from the foundational principles of crops and extending to various meteorological phenomena. It is built upon the latest research in crop science and agro-meteorology, providing clear and concise explanations without unnecessary filler content. The transitions between topics are smooth and coherent, ensuring optimal comprehension. The initial chapters focus on the fundamental principles of crop science, while the later sections delve into the concepts and practices of agro-meteorology. This book is specifically designed for advanced undergraduate students and beyond studying crops, meteorology, horticulture, forestry, fisheries, and related fields. Special care has been taken by authors to match the content with current scenario and advancement in the field of agriculture sciences.

This book has combined information on the most recent agricultural practices and breeding methods for ornamental crops. The applications and benefits of hydroponics systems over traditional soil culture growing systems are also discussed. The role of current breeding tactics, such as gene editing tools like CRISPR Cas9, in the development of ornamental crop traits has been debated. The specifics of omics approaches to combat biotic and abiotic stresses in ornamental plants using modern breeding have been thoroughly studied. The critical significance of epigenetic control in ornamental plant development is also highlighted. This book discusses the importance of microbes in sustainable floriculture. Domestication and culture of wild ornamentals have also been considered. This book compiles an in-depth understanding of globally leading cultivated ornamentals and the most important cultivated ornamentals in India. Also, the important domains, i.e., pests and diseases and management in ornamentals and the economic services of ornamental cultivation are discussed. The most recent advances in urban floriculture and the future of smart horticulture have been examined. Nanotechnology uses in ornamental horticulture have been exclusively discussed. This book is a ready reckoner of the advances made in the field of ornamental horticulture for the scientists, graduate students, research scholars, breeders, farmers, and market managers of public and private sectors. This book will establish potential links between inter-disciplinary topics of research, such as aspects of floriculture, plant biotechnology, microbiology, and nanotechnology. This book series will take research in floriculture to a new frontier. This book serves as an excellent guide to formulating public-private collaborative research for future innovation in the floriculture frontiers.

This book reviews the most recent research on soil, vegetation, and ecosystems within forestry landscapes under the pressures of climate change. It also explores the interplay between climate change, forest ecology, and human interventions. Covering a diverse array of topics such as carbon sequestration, wildfire impacts, soil biogeochemistry, and methane emissions, the book incorporates scientific research and management strategies to provide a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities for forest management amidst climate change. In this book, readers will find the most up-to-date afforestation and forest management techniques for controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in the forestry system. The readers of this book will gain a new perspective on forests by learning about new forestry techniques, forest vegetation change, natural and artificial disturbances, soil greenhouse gases, and soil chemistry, all while emphasizing the critical relationship between Environmental Chemistry and Forestry. Focusing on the practices of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) Projects, the book offers insights into practical approaches and solutions for addressing climate change within forest ecosystems and provides evidence-based recommendations for sustainable forest management and adaptation strategies. This unique volume, which includes contributions from respected scholars, emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change in forest ecosystems. It also aims to raise awareness among forestry researchers, officials, and policymakers about the growing importance of forest ecosystems as a result of global climate change.

This book focuses on the various applications of microorganisms for sustainable environment and the reduction of hazardous pollutants released in various forms, including xenobiotics, e-waste, pesticides, insecticides, plastic, heavy metals, paper waste, medical waste, textile dyes, and their impact on environmental and human health. The book involves a series of research reports that explain the application of microbes used to solve real-life issues raised due to changes happening in environment, including pollution, by covering applications, including the use of bacteria, fungi, microalgae and biofilm in the detection and degradation of crude oil, pesticides, dyes, e-waste, heavy metals and other pollutants. It also focuses on integrative strategies in the application of microbial nanomaterials for remediation of pollutant. This material will help environmental scientists and microbiologists to learn about existing environmental problems and suggest novel ways to control or contain their effects by employing various treatment approaches.

This book focuses on the applications of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) in the form of bioinoculants to enhance the crop productivity and resilience against pathogens. Chapters explain the latest findings on development of the bioinoculants utilizing the modern technologies and agri-wastes. It also provides the latest information on methods of improving quality and efficiency of bioformulations and utilization of advanced biotechnological tools for developing precision products. PGPMs play important roles in survival and health of the plant. These useful microorganisms provide plants with nutrients, protect them from pathogens and help in combating abiotic stresses. It is important that these mutualistic interactions between plant and soil microbes are well understood so as to develop reliable products in the form of biostimulants, biopesticides and manage biotic and abiotic stresses in crops. Apart from enhancing crop productivity, plant-microbe interactions can also perform activities such as reclamation of degraded lands, degradation of pollutants and remediation of saline or marginal lands. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, plant scientists and microbiologists. Also, the book serves as an additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, microbiology, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences.

Meliponini, the stingless bees of the tropics, process and store honey, pollen and plant resins to maintain their colonies. The chemical components of their nests are bioactive and believed to be therapeutic for a long list of maladies. However, only recently are tests and analyses being done with molecular and modern laboratory techniques, such as high throughput EDX, HPIC, HPLC, GC, NMR, PCR, and ultrastructural SEM; coupled with diverse detectors such as DAD, RI, MS, SCD.This two-volume book is about the cerumen –plant resins mixed with stingless bee wax– and propolis, which fortify the colony in ways that are beginning to be understood. It includes reviews and new research on diverse topics involving the chemistry and bioactivity of plant resins, cerumen, propolis, besides bee and microbe behavior and ecology. These analytic studies are presented along with stingless bee biodiversity, palynology, cultural knowledge, bee foraging behavior, resin flower evolution, ecology, and evolution of nest microbe mutualisms, social immunity, human health, the decisive role of microbiology investigation in moving forward, natural history of stingless bee colonies and nests, marketing, and bibliometrics for plant resin use by bees, propolis, and the Starmerella yeast.

The book elaborates on microplastics as a global concern, prompting the need for comprehensive understanding and effective management. It thoroughly explores the various aspects of microplastics, addressing their detection, separation, and contamination in diverse ecosystems. The introductory chapter highlights the global risks associated with microplastics while presenting the challenges and opportunities in tackling this issue. It focuses on the detection techniques employed to identify microplastics, providing insights into the analytical methods and technologies utilized in their characterization. It delves into the separation techniques used to extract microplastics from complex environmental matrices, aiding in their accurate quantification and analysis. The subsequent chapters examine the presence and impact of microplastics in specific ecosystems, including aquatic and terrestrial. It investigates the prevalence of microplastics in water bodies and their detrimental effects on aquatic organisms and elucidates their distribution, transport, and ecological implications on land-dwelling organisms. The book further explores microplastics'occurrence in foods, cosmetics, and air pollution and associated health hazards. It delves into the lesser-known aspects of microplastics influence on nitrogen cycling and nitrous oxide emissions, offering valuable insights into their impact on biogeochemical processes. It discusses microplastics environmental risks and hazards, covering the ecological, biodiversity, and ecosystem-level impacts caused by these persistent pollutants. The concluding chapters focus on sustainable management strategies for mitigating and controlling microplastics proliferation and associated risks. This book provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach for understanding and addressing the challenges posed by microplastics. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, environmentalists, and anyone concerned about the impact of microplastics on planet. This book aims to foster sustainable management practices and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment by unraveling microplastics complexities.

The plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) is a remarkable rodent of the Neotropic given several peculiar aspects of its biology, some of them quite unique among rodents or even among mammals. This book gathers specialists studying plains vizcachas from very different approaches, including paleontology, systematics, morphology, physiology, development and conservation. It is divided in two Parts, 1) Evolutionary History, and 2) Morphology, Development and Physiology. It will surely be a required reading for any researcher working with caviomorph rodents, mastozoology of the Neotropics or internal anatomy and physiology of mammals.

This textbook provides an opportunity for undergraduate students studying the environment to work on addressing real-world environmental problems and practice the disciplinary and professional skills necessary to tackle complex issues. Each of the 12 units that comprise the heart of this workbook-style text focus on a specific environmental challenge directly or indirectly tied to climate change. Students are guided through activities that require them to review relevant environmental content knowledge, practice an array of learning outcome-based skills, evaluate potential solutions, and advocate for action. An important feature of the book is its problem-based approach, using climate change as a common lens through which to view an array of current environmental challenges. Showing students how they might apply their core knowledge and disciplinary skills to identify possible solutions demonstrates the utility of science to inform decision making and builds student competency in learning outcomes common across environmental academic programs. Designed to provide problem-area options to match student interests (from sea turtle conservation to climate migrants to urban heat islands), instructors can choose among units to best engage students, or work through units sequentially to scaffold instruction while building student capacity. Each unit contains activities that focus on: (1) Discovery, where students are guided through exploration to build their knowledge of the issue and prepare a formal Problem Statement;(2) Analysis, where students dig into relevant data and begin to evaluate potential solutions; and(3) Solutions, where students practice their problem solving, decision making and environmental communication skills. Environmental Problem Solving in an Age of Climate Change underscores the pervasive nature of climate change as a commonfactor in all environmental issues. The book demonstrates how sustainable solutions require the efforts of many people working on smaller, more tangible issues to tackle the grand challenge that climate change presents.

Fungi are associated with a wide variety of other organisms. Ecologist Peter Price has said, “mutualism facilitates adaptive radiation,” and many biologists attribute Earth's great fungal diversity to such associations. The 3rd edition of The Mycota, Vol. 9: Fungal Associations, has been revised to provide entirely new coverage of fungi and associated organisms in fourteen informative discussions that take advantage of today's large public databases and modern molecular and data analysis methods. The editors have a keen interest in fungal associations in their own research, and their perspectives from different generations have resulted in an interesting treatment of the subject. Fungal Associations includes updates of classic topics, but also introduces less frequently discussed associations and broader reflections on the nature of fungi and their associates. The volume begins with a look at more than abillion years of fungal evolution and associations through the lens of immunology. Can fungi involved in obligate symbioses be cultivated apart from the host? Genomes help to answer the question. The ultimate intimacy between fungi and certain unrelated organisms has resulted in DNA exchange that can be traced in extant genomes. Fungi and bacteria use volatile compounds to lure participants into interactions. Some viruses modify the phenotype of their fungal hosts and affect host fitness. Details of interactions between classical examples of fungus—plant symbioses (lichens, several types of mycorrhizae, and toxic endophytes) benefit from advanced microscopic and molecular techniques.Discussions of fungi associated with insects (entomopathogens, a Drosophila model to study entomopathogens), nematode-trappingfungi and their prey, and a group of termite-associated fungi that produce secondary metabolites with potential uses as pharmaceuticals, complete the volume. Fungal Associations is a well-illustrated, thought-provoking resource for specialists and generalists, including researchers, lecturers, and students interested in ecology, evolution, microbiology, and mycology. The volume would be an excellent text for a seminar course for advanced undergraduate or graduate students.

Aquaculture is expanding along with the increase in demand for animal protein and hence significantly contributes to food security and socioeconomic livelihood. This book gathers current principles of aquaculture that are applied and practiced globally. It covers crucial topics including site selection, breeding and husbandry techniques, nutrition, health management, biosecurity, and sustainability. Furthermore, aquaculture's impact on food production and the economic values generated by the industry are also explored. While emphasizing the significance of environmental sustainability, this book encourages practices that minimize negative impacts on the ecosystem and preserve the health of our oceans. As a collection of reviews on the current practices in aquaculture, this book is a resource for individuals working in or interested in the industry. It also serves as a reference and guideline for students, researchers, and aquaculture operators.

This book aims to enhance understanding of the foundational principles and ethical considerations of citizen engagement in environmental conservation through an examination of successful cases of shared environmental governance in the Americas. It seeks to inform policymaking on strategies for fostering behavioral change and advancing towards co-management of national public resources and the commons. These cases are analyzed through a geographical lens to provide a framework for reimagining eco-citizenship grounded in bioregionalism. This perspective diverges from the notion of eco-citizenship as a universal culture, advocating instead for its integration within the collective habitats of citizen groups. Readers will gain insights into fostering reconciliation between nature and humanity by empowering diverse stakeholders to lead Blue/Green/Bee conservation initiatives. Emphasizing community learning, environmental awareness, and citizen participation, the book enriches decision-making processes and promotes environmental justice for all living organisms. The selected case studies from Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States highlight pioneering innovations in Blue/Green/Bee policy planning across urban, periurban, and rural settings. These initiatives propose empathetic and respectful approaches to nurturing our natural surroundings, including methods for co-management, networked urban gardening, wild native bee conservation, water source protection, community-based water management, river revitalization, and metropolitan green space stewardship. This book will be invaluable to students, urban and rural planners, researchers, academics, networking professionals, policymakers, international development practitioners, environmental organization personnel, and enthusiasts of the natural world alike.

This book provides a comprehensive view for plant microbe interactions towards stress management and microbiome-assisted approaches in sustainable agriculture. It is divided into four major sections. The book gives insights into the increasing threat of abiotic and biotic stresses and the accompanying challenges to modern agriculture. Through different chapters, the book shows how various microorganisms could ameliorate abiotic and biotic stress, and contribute towards food sustainability and restore ecosystem functioning. It provides a deep understanding of soil microbiome and its interaction with plants, to enhance food security. It further talks about metagenomic approaches for methodological tool for studying the soil microbiome. Separate sections on stress, talk at length about the various abiotic and biotic stresses that plants are faced it. The book culminates with an exciting section on microbiome-assisted approaches for combating stress. It talks about the different microbiomes such as rhizosphere, soil, phyllosphere and endophytic microbiome. The book would be beneficial to students, researchers and course instructors in microbiology, botany, plant pathology and agriculture.

The book offers a transdisciplinary eco-systemic framework for analysis of ecosystems. It uses eight dimensions (economic-social-political-environmen-tal) and 40 factors to diagnose degenerating ecosystems and to synthesize regenerative ecosystems amid growing uncertainty, and inequality in the Anthropocene. Chapter 1 broadly defines the `all interacting evolving systems science'(AIESS) approach in terms of its eco-systemic and transdisciplinary action research methodology. Chapter 2 provides a detailed explanation of the AIESS approach through the four concepts of interconnectedness, interdependence, interactions, and intent to diagnose degeneration and synthesize regenerative systems. Part 1 of the book discusses the issues and approaches to Regenerativeness. Part 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate cases of regenerative systems in different ecosystems viz. natural, rural-indigenous, urban, and industrial ecosystems.Not only the researchers and scholarsin systems science, systems dynamics, systems design, and sustainable transition strategies but also the policy makers, corporate leaders, and development experts will greatly benefit from this book.1.Presents a ground breaking explanation of the science of change in the Anthropocene and in epochs prior to it through its all interacting evolving systems science framework. 2. Provides a unique transdisciplinary eco-systemic framework as a methodology to diagnose the complex degenerating ecosystems and to synthesize regenerative ecosystems in different geographies of the world. 3. Through various cases from different ecosystems viz., natural ecosystems, rural-indigenous ecosystems, urban ecosystems, and industrial ecosystems, the book presents the challenges as well as the steps and processes to synthesize regenerative ecosystems.

This book is part of the 4-volumes collection of Atlas of Chinese Macrofungal Resources. This atlas documented 1819 species (or varieties) in 509 genera of macrofungi known from China, which are, according to their morphological characteristics, practically divided into 10 groups, including 196 larger ascomycetes, 21 jelly fungi, 47 coral fungi, 637 polyporoid, hydnaceous and lephoroid fungi, 11 cantharelloid fungi, 653 agarics, 130 boletes, 75 gasteroid fungi, 16 larger pathogenic fungi on crops, and 33 larger myxomycetes. All species are evidenced with vouchers and photographs. About 370 of the listed species (occupying 1/5 of the totals pieces) have their type localities in China, among which over 260 species (accounting for 1/7 of the species) were firstly discovered and published by the present authors. Some of the species are endemic to China and East Asia. Introduction to all species are accompanied with color photographs showing their macro-morphology and (or) habitat. The macroscopic and microscopic diagnostic characters ecological habits, economic importance (edibility, medicinal availability or toxicity) and geographical distribution in China of all species are described in brief and easy-to-understand style. In the guide, the characteristics and using method of the book, related mycological vocabulary, common taxonomic techniques and positions of the fungal genera in modern taxonomic system are briefly introduced. The knowledge of this book should be interesting to mycologists, mycology fans and mushroom lovers, as well as researchers, teachers and students studying on edible fungi, plant pathology, healthcare and biomedicine sciences, bioresources and biodiversity, ecology and other related disciplines. It is an ideal reference for those who are interested in the Chinese macrofungi and larger slime molds. In this first volume, it covers Macrofungal Ascomycetes, Jelly Fungi and Coral Fungi.

This book collates a wide spectrum of topics relevant to contemporary research achievement in sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources and conservation of plant genetic diversity within the framework of different crop systems. It introduces the status of crop genetic diversity and provides prospects for conservation of crop genetic diversity for sustainable agriculture. Plant genetic diversity is crucial for food security and agro-ecosystem maintenance paving ways to achieve sustainable agriculture development. This necessitates, consciously and judiciously, the conservation of all existing plant genetic resources for sustainable use in a variety of applications for human welfare. The wild and traditional landraces have generated an increased interest as a repertoire of valuable traits for breeding and improvement of cultivated germplasm. Internationally, concerted actions and policies toward for the conservation and management of plant genetic diversity are mounting, fromthe organization levels to national policies as deemed appropriate for the sustainable development goals. This needs an understanding of genetic diversity of different crops, ecological drivers and the structural changes within genetic diversity due to climate change. It is also equally important to evolve knowledge on what, how and where to conserve the existing plant genetic resources for present and future use. Assessment of the genetic diversity presents in a wild and traditional agro-ecosystem is another step towards effective utilization. In the past few years, advanced breeding tools have been developed which have offered great promise for efficient modification of targeted traits. This book consolidates current knowledge in the above core areas of plant genetic diversity and conservation. It is an essential reference for professionals, researchers, policy makers and commercial entrepreneurs concerned with plant genetic diversity and breeding to achieve enhanced agricultural productivity and sustainability of food resources to ensure food security. The book is also invaluable for graduate students involved in agriculture research.

Marine plankton, despite their tiny size, are crucial for the functioning of marine food webs. It is not just about one organism eating another; when this happens, it helps release the nutrients accumulated within living matter, making them available again for microalgae. Plankton are present in freshwater and in all the seas and oceans on the planet. Moreover, they are responsible for supporting life on Earth and has provided us (on geological timescales) with a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe. In just a small spoonful of seawater, we can find around fifty million viruses, five million bacteria, hundreds of thousands of small unicellular flagellates, thousands of microscopic algae, five heterotrophic ciliates or dinoflagellates, and, with some luck, a small crustacean like copepods. This book aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the general public, offering a captivating exploration of the fascinating world of marine plankton. Through engaging narratives and visually compelling illustrations, readers will gain insights into the importance of plankton in marine ecosystems, their diverse forms, and the crucial role they play in maintaining our planet's health.