Essential Atlas of Ecology

by Parramon's Editorial Team; Tola, Jose; Infiesta, Eva; Parramon Ediciones Editorial Team

• ISBN13: 9780764130946
• ISBN10: 0764130943
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-30
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

One of two brand-new titles in Barron’sEssential Atlasseries for Spring 2005, this book combines text with full-color photos and art on every page to examine the planet Earth as the habitat for all known life forms. Following a general introduction, theEssential Atlas of Ecologypresents a series of generously illustrated two-page spreads, each focusing on a separate ecological topic. Among them are: The biosphere: water, light, and energy; the atmosphere and the Earth’s climates; the ecological pyramid; the oceans and coastal regions; rivers and lakes; contamination of our ecosystems; organic methods in agriculture; smog and other urban contamination problems; deforestation; the shrinking ozone layer; recycling products for ecological stability; and many other topics related to ecological problems and their solutions.

Table of Contents

Introduction	6	(4)
Basic Physical Features of the Ecosystem	10	(14)
The Biosphere: Water, Light, and Energy	10	(2)
The Biosphere	10	(1)
The Hydrosphere	10	(1)
Living Beings	11	(1)
Energy Flow	11	(1)
Atmosphere, Soil, and Climate	12	(2)
The Earth's Atmosphere	12	(1)
Soil	13	(1)
Climate	13	(1)
The Cycles of Matter	14	(4)
The Elements That Make Up Living Beings	14	(1)
Chemical Life Cycles	15	(1)
The Carbon Cycle	15	(1)
The Nitrogen Cycle	16	(1)
The Phosphorus Cycle	17	(1)
The Water Cycle	17	(1)
The Ecosystem and Production	18	(2)
Biomass	18	(1)
Calculating the Biomass of the Forest	18	(1)
Productivity in Ecosystems	19	(1)
Use and Exploitation of the Ecosystem	20	(2)
Mature Ecosystems	20	(1)
Young Ecosystems	20	(1)
Trophic Level	21	(1)
Producers	21	(1)
The Ecological Pyramid	22	(2)
Ecological Niche	22	(1)
Trophic Chains and Networks on Land	22	(1)
Trophic Relationships in the Ocean	23	(1)
The Trophic or Ecological Pyramid	23	(1)
Living Beings in the Ecosystem	24	(6)
Competition and Predation	24	(2)
Competing for Food	24	(1)
Competition for Space	24	(1)
Predators	25	(1)
The Predator--Prey Relationship	25	(1)
Population and Its Changes	26	(2)
The Inhabitants of the Planet	26	(1)
Population Census	26	(1)
Population Changes	27	(1)
Migrations	27	(1)
The Richness of Ecosystems	28	(2)
Climax	28	(1)
Biological Diversity	29	(1)
The Great Biomes of the Planet	30	(12)
Seas and Coasts	30	(2)
The Marine Environment	30	(1)
The Regions of the Sea	30	(1)
Coasts	31	(1)
Sea Animals and Plants	31	(1)
Rivers and Lakes	32	(2)
Rivers	32	(1)
The Parts of a River and Its Inhabitants	32	(1)
Lakes	33	(1)
Lakes: Their Zones and Inhabitants	33	(1)
Forests and Jungles	34	(2)
Taiga	34	(1)
The Temperate Forest	34	(1)
The Mediterranean Forest	34	(1)
The Amazon Rain Forest	35	(1)
Mangrove Swamps	35	(1)
The Great Grassy Plains	36	(2)
The African Savanna	36	(1)
The South American Prairies and Pampas	36	(1)
The Eurasian Steppes	37	(1)
The North American Plains	37	(1)
Arid Environments	38	(2)
Hot Deserts	38	(1)
Cold Deserts	38	(1)
Tundra	39	(1)
The Polar Regions	39	(1)
Mountains and Highlands	40	(2)
Mountains	40	(1)
The Distribution of Vegetation	40	(1)
Tablelands and High Plains	41	(1)
Practical Ecology	42	(52)
Sources of Pollution	42	(2)
Nondegradable and Disagreeable	42	(1)
Toxins	42	(1)
Contamination Through Nutrients	43	(1)
Exotic Species	43	(1)
Field Ecology	44	(4)
Some Indispensable Tools	44	(1)
Experimentation	45	(1)
Plant Respiration	45	(1)
Making an Herbarium	46	(1)
Indirect Traces	46	(1)
Oceanographic Vessels	47	(1)
Why Is Mathematics Important in Ecology?	47	(1)
Ecological Agriculture	48	(2)
Pesticides	48	(1)
Bioaccumulation of Toxins	48	(1)
Biological Agriculture	49	(1)
Bees, the Fruitgrower's Ally	49	(1)
Transportation	50	(2)
Transportation in Large Cities	50	(1)
Public Transportation	50	(1)
Airplanes and Ships	51	(1)
A Day With No Automobiles	51	(1)
Freshwater Pollution	52	(2)
How Rivers Become Polluted	52	(1)
Eutrophication	52	(1)
A Question of Volume	53	(1)
Salinization	53	(1)
The Pollution of Seas and Oceans	54	(4)
The Last Link in Pollution	54	(1)
Invisible Pollution	55	(1)
Tanker Traffic	55	(1)
Tourism	56	(1)
Nuclear Tests	57	(1)
The Importance of Currents	57	(1)
Purifying and Managing Water	58	(2)
The Water Cycle in Society	58	(1)
Types of Water Purifiers	59	(1)
Water Scarcity	59	(1)
Air Pollution	60	(2)
A Fluid Medium	60	(1)
Acid Rain	60	(1)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	61	(1)
Emissions and Forest Regeneration	62	(2)
International Cooperation	62	(1)
Natural Gas: A Less Polluting Fuel	62	(1)
Deforestation and the Atmosphere	63	(1)
The Evolution of the European Forests	63	(1)
Other Types of Pollution	64	(2)
Nuclear Pollution	64	(1)
Noise Pollution	64	(1)
Heat and Electrical Pollution	65	(1)
The Greenhouse Effect and Ozone	66	(2)
What Is the Greenhouse Effect?	66	(1)
An Increase in the Earth's Temperature	66	(1)
The Hole in the Ozone Layer	67	(1)
Ozone	67	(1)
Alternative Energy Sources	68	(4)
Eolic Energy	69	(1)
Solar Energy	69	(1)
Biodiesel	70	(1)
Biomass	70	(1)
Electrical Energy	71	(1)
Recycling Is Saving	72	(2)
What Is Recycling?	72	(1)
Recycling at Home	73	(1)
Choices Before Recycling	73	(1)
Desertification and Soil Management	74	(2)
Soil	74	(1)
Erosion	75	(1)
Soil Management	75	(1)
Overfishing and Ocean Management	76	(2)
Overfishing	76	(1)
The Distribution of the Ocean's Riches	77	(1)
Biodiversity and the Extinction of Species	78	(2)
The Richness of Life	78	(1)
The Importance of Genetic Resources	78	(1)
Natural Extinction	79	(1)
Artificial Extinction	79	(1)
The Development of Humanity	80	(2)
The Conquest of the Planet	80	(1)
Overpopulation	81	(1)
Some Solutions to Overpopulation	81	(1)
Food for Humans	82	(2)
From Nomadic Hunter to Farmer	82	(1)
Agriculture and Livestock	82	(2)
Ecological Behavior	84	(2)
Water Usage	84	(1)
Household Trash	84	(1)
How to Enjoy Nature Properly	85	(1)
Traffic	85	(1)
The Good Consumer	85	(1)
The Planet and the New Technologies	86	(2)
Communication	86	(1)
Genetic Engineering: Good or Bad?	86	(1)
Cloning	87	(1)
Marine Cultures	87	(1)
Protected Areas	88	(4)
The National Park of the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)	88	(1)
Manu National Park (Peru)	88	(1)
Wood Buffalo National Park (Canada)	89	(1)
Bialowieza National Park (Poland/Belorussia)	89	(1)
Donana National Park and Reserve (Spain)	89	(1)
Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal)	90	(1)
Virunga National Park (Rwanda)	90	(1)
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)	90	(1)
Sundabarns National Park (India/Bangladesh)	91	(1)
Ujung Kulon National Park (Indonesia)	91	(1)
Te Wahipounamu Parks (New Zealand)	91	(1)
The Ecology Movement	92	(2)
Greenpeace	92	(1)
Defending Seals and Whales	92	(1)
Antarctica	93	(1)
Politics and Ecologists	93	(1)
Alphabetical Subject Index	94