This ia a synopsis and review of the major rivers of the world.

This book deals with the ecology of rivers and streams in the Oriental Region, and describes the composition of their unique fauna - especially the diverse array of animals which live on and among the bottom sediments. Dichotomous keys are provided as an aid to the identification of these animals, and the book is illustrated by over 100 pages of line drawings and maps. Special emphasis is given to the impact of human activities on streams and rivers, and the book concludes with a discussion of conservation and management options for these endangered habitats.

The book, consists of 31 chapters, will be useful to scientists working in the field of entomology. Chapters 1-10 present comprehensive review of concept and implementation and future need of pest management, impact of climate on pest population, insect invasion, pollinators, pesticide use, bar coding as tool to understand diversity and pesticide formulation and safety to environment. The next 5 chapters present comprehensive information on host plant resistance, soil solarization, neem and behaviour modify chemicals as component of pest management. Chapters 16-26 present the management strategies on crops like sugarcane, rice, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, vegetables crops and stored grain pests and strategies for management of mites which are emerging pests of agricultural crops. In the last 5 chapters presents the strategies for transmission of technology and its impact and the role of electronic media on dissemination of technology. The book contains comprehensive information in recent trends in various aspects of pest management complied by scientist working in specialized areas of pest management. The book will be useful to students, teachers, researchers and policy planners associated with pest management.

Wetlands form a unique ecosystem which is one of the richest among all the ecosystems from biodiversity point of view. The role of wetlands is enormous in enrichment of natural beauty, maintenance of environmental quality, control of floods, recharging of ground water level, livelihood support for the destitute community and so on. This book draws the expertise, in-depth knowledge and experiences of the scholars and stakeholders representing various disciplines to throw light on the significant issues of preservation, development and sustainable economic growth through inland freshwater wetlands. The book contains Twenty-Eight papers focusing on livelihood issues of the wetland dependent people and the effects on various related problems. It also provides a database on physical and chemical changes of the wetlands, land use/land cover changes in the fringe areas, impact on wetland’s productivity, biodiversity conservation and the livelihood support system for the people living in their surroundings. Therefore, this book will be useful for academicians, researchers, development authorities, NGOs, policy makers, planners and all the people concerned to preserve, protect and develop the wetlands for enhancing the environmental quality and socio-economic welfare of the society.

Mollusc species currently constitute a major threat to sustainable agriculture. This threat is associated with cultivation of new crops, intensification of agricultural production systems and the spread through human trade and travel of species adapted to these modified environments. In some crops their significance is only now becoming apparent with the decline in the importance of other pest groups which can be effectively controlled. The book focuses on: toxicology of chemicals; deployment of molluscicides in baits; specific crop situations worldwide; current pest status of mollusc species and progress towards development of solutions.

'Brilliant, Fantastic and Significant' - Dr George McGavin Ants are seemingly everywhere, and this familiarity has led to some contemptuous and less than helpful stereotypes. In this compelling insight into the natural and cultural history of ants, Richard Jones helps to unravel some of the myths and misunderstanding surrounding their remarkable behaviours. Ant aggregations in large (often mind-bogglingly huge) nests are a complex mix of genetics, chemistry, geography and higher social interaction. Their forage trails – usually to aphid colonies but occasionally into the larder – are maintained by a wondrous alchemy of molecular scents and markers. Their social colony structure confused natural philosophers of old and still taxes the modern biologist today. Beginning the book with a straightforward look at ant morphology, Jones then explores the ant species found in the British Isles and parts of nearby mainland Europe, their foraging, nesting, navigating and battle instincts, how ants interact with the landscape, their evolution, and their place in our understanding of how life on earth works. Alongside this, he explores the complex relationship between humans and ants, and how ants went from being the subject of fables and moral storytelling to become popular research tools. Drawing on up-to-date science and featuring striking colour photographs throughout, this book presents a convincing case for why ants are worth our greater recognition and respect.

Mountains cover a quarter of the Earth’s land surface and a quarter of the global population lives in or adjacent to these areas. The global importance of mountains is recognized particularly because they provide critical resources, such as water, food and wood; contain high levels of biological and cultural diversity; and are often places for tourism and recreation and/or of sacred significance. This major revision of Larry Price’s book Mountains and Man (1981) is both timely and highly appropriate. The past three decades have been a period of remarkable progress in our understanding of mountains from an academic point of view. Of even greater importance is that society at large now realizes that mountains and the people who reside in them are not isolated from the mainstream of world affairs, but are vital if we are to achieve an environmentally sustainable future. Mountain Geography is a comprehensive resource that gives readers an in-depth understanding of the geographical processes occurring in the world’s mountains and the overall impact of these regions on culture and society as a whole. The volume begins with an introduction to how mountains are defined, followed by a comprehensive treatment of their physical geography: origins, climatology, snow and ice, landforms and geomorphic processes, soils, vegetation, and wildlife. The concluding chapters provide an introduction to the human geography of mountains: attitudes toward mountains, people living in mountain regions and their livelihoods and interactions within dynamic environments, the diverse types of mountain agriculture, and the challenges of sustainable mountain development.