Modelling community structure in freshwater ecosystems
"The book presents approaches and methodologies for predicting the structure and diversity of key aquatic communities (namely diatoms, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish), under natural conditions and under man-made disturbance. Such an approach will make it possible to: 1) set up procedures for robust and sensitive ecosystem evaluation, based on the prediction of the excepted community structure; 2) model community structure in disturbed ecosystems, taking into account all the relevant ecological variables; 3) test ecosystem sensitivity to natural and anthropic disturbance; and 4) explore specific actions to be taken for the restoration of ecosystem integrity."--Jacket.
Governance as a trialogue
Focusing specifically on water, this book talks about the core elements of governance, and analyses the linkages between key variables in an effort to increase our understanding of what makes governance good. It is useful for any professional tasked with the responsibility of implementing Integrated Environmental and Water Resource Management.
Global optimization ; Vol. 85 : Scientific and engineering case studies
Optimization models based on a nonlinear systems description often possess multiple local optima. The objective of global optimization (GO) is to find the best possible solution of multiextremal problems. Global Optimization: Selected Case Studies illustrates the applicability of GO modeling techniques and solution strategies to real-world problems.The contributed chapters cover a broad range of applications from agroecosystem management, assembly line design, bioinformatics, biophysics, black box systems optimization, cellular mobile network design, chemical process optimization, chemical product design, composite structure design, computational modeling of atomic and molecular structures, controller design for induction motors, electrical engineering design, feeding strategies in animal husbandry, the inverse position problem in kinematics, laser design, learning in neural nets, mechanical engineering design, numerical solution of equations, radiotherapy planning, robot design, and satellite data analysis. The solution strategies discussed encompass a range of practically viable methods, including both theoretically rigorous and heuristic approaches.
Ecological Effects of Water-Level Fluctuations in Lakes
It presents selected papers on the ecological effects of WLF in lakes, resulting from a workshop at the University of Konstanz in winter 2005. Issues addressed here include the extent of WLF, and analyses of their effects on different groups of biota from microorganisms to vertebrates. Applied issues include recommendations for the hydrological management of regulated lakes to reduce negative impacts, and a conceptual framework is delivered by an extension of the floodpulse concept for lakes. Current impacts on water use, including increasing demands on drinking and irrigation water, hydropower etc., and climate change effects on WLF make this book an essential resource for aquatic ecologists, engineers, and decision-makers dealing with the management of lake ecosystems and their catchments.
Conservation Biology : Foundations, Concepts, Applications
Fred Van Dyke’s new textbook, Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications, 2nd Edition represents a major new text for anyone interested in conservation. Drawing on his experience as a conservation biologist, college teacher, and successful textbook author, Van Dyke’s organizational clarity and readable style make this book an invaluable resource for students in conservation around the globe.Presenting key information and well-selected examples, this student-friendly volume carefully integrates the science of conservation biology with its implications for ethics, law, policy and economics. In addition to rigorous examination of the scientific theory supporting conservation biology and its applications, this unique book includes a number of features which set it apart from others. These include its chapters on aquatic conservation, landscape ecology, and ecosystem management, and its direct explanation and invitation to students on how to enter the work of conservation as a professional and personal vocation.
Linking Restoration and Ecological Succession
Recognizes the critical roles of disturbance ecology, landscape ecology, ecological assembly, invasion biology, ecosystem health, and historical ecology in habitat restoration and argues that restoration within a successional context will best utilize the lessons from each of these disciplines.





