Humanity's ecological footprint is expanding at an alarming page. With climate change, increases in human population and consumption levels, and other anthropogenic factors, nearly half the known species on Earth could soon be gone. The near collapse of entire ecosystems has already occurred. We are facing a huge sustainability issue. This Encyclopedia, in 3 volumes, proposes a global synthesis detailing the world's imperiled species and ecosystems. It documents rarity and endangerment, the major drivers of loss, areas of conservation importance, and implementation strategies to save and restore imperiled species and ecosystems. It is a first of its kind coverage of Earth's imperiled species and ecosystems in one comprehensive encyclopedia. Comprehensive - First of its kind coverage of Earth's imperiled species and ecosystems in one source, including recommendations for sustainability and conservation Global appeal - Includes global and regional applications with an emphasis on the integration of biology, geography, and land-use Reader-friendly - Top notch scientific articles written in easy-to-understand language and including strong visual graphics

Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene, Five Volume Set presents a currency-based, global synthesis cataloguing the impact of humanity’s global ecological footprint. Covering a multitude of aspects related to Climate Change, Biodiversity, Contaminants, Geological, Energy and Ethics, leading scientists provide foundational essays that enable researchers to define and scrutinize information, ideas, relationships, meanings and ideas within the Anthropocene concept. Questions widely debated among scientists, humanists, conservationists, politicians and others are included, providing discussion on when the Anthropocene began, what to call it, whether it should be considered an official geological epoch, whether it can be contained in time, and how it will affect future generations. Although the idea that humanity has driven the planet into a new geological epoch has been around since the dawn of the 20th century, the term ‘Anthropocene’ was only first used by ecologist Eugene Stoermer in the 1980s, and hence popularized in its current meaning by atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000. Presents comprehensive and systematic coverage of topics related to the Anthropocene, with a focus on the Geosciences and Environmental science Includes point-counterpoint articles debating key aspects of the Anthropocene, giving users an even-handed navigation of this complex area Provides historic, seminal papers and essays from leading scientists and philosophers who demonstrate changes in the Anthropocene concept over time

Encyclopedia of the World’s Biomes is a unique, five volume reference that provides a global synthesis of biomes, including the latest science. All of the book's chapters follow a common thematic order that spans biodiversity importance, principal anthropogenic stressors and trends, changing climatic conditions, and conservation strategies for maintaining biomes in an increasingly human-dominated world. This work is a one-stop shop that gives users access to up-to-date, informative articles that go deeper in content than any currently available publication. Offers students and researchers a one-stop shop for information currently only available in scattered or non-technical sources Authored and edited by top scientists in the field Concisely written to guide the reader though the topic Includes meaningful illustrations and suggests further reading for those needing more specific information

Dragonflies are among the most familiar and popular of all insects, deeply embedded in human cultural history. They are iconic and tell us much about the environments in which we and they live. Their conservation is an important part of biodiversity conservation. One modern dragonfly species is listed as extinct, with many others currently threatened. It is now essential to increase conservation efforts towards saving these threatened species, with strategies now available for doing this. Recovery of dragonfly populations goes hand in hand with improvements to both freshwater conditions and bank vegetation quality. In contrast, some other dragonfly species have benefitted greatly from human transformation of the landscape, with artificial ponds in particular, increasing the population levels of many species. In turn, climate change is seeing many geographical range shifts. Conservation of Dragonflies: Sentinels for Freshwater Conservation is for naturalists, citizen scientists, entomologists and conservation scientists, as well as practitioners and policy makers around the world.

Back from the Collapse is a clarion call for restoring one of North America's most underappreciated and overlooked ecosystems: the grasslands of the Great Plains. This region has been called America's Serengeti in recognition of its historically extraordinary abundance of wildlife. Since Euro-American colonization, however, populations of at least twenty-four species of Great Plains wildlife have collapsed--from pallid sturgeon and burrowing owls to all major mammals, including bison and grizzly bears. In response to this incalculable loss, Curtis H. Freese and other conservationists founded American Prairie, a nonprofit organization with the mission of supporting the region's native wildlife by establishing a 3.2-million-acre reserve on the plains of eastern Montana, one of the most intact and highest-priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the Great Plains. In Back from the Collapse Freese explores the evolutionary history of the region's ecosystem over millions of years, as it transitioned from subtropical forests to the edge of an ice sheet to today's prairies. He details the eventual species collapse and American Prairie's work to restore the habitat and wildlife, efforts described by National Geographic as "one of the most ambitious conservation projects in American history."

The Australian wildfires of 2019–20 (Black Summer) were devastating and unprecedented. These megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares, mostly of forests in southern and eastern Australia. Many of the fires were uncontrollable. These megafires affected many of Australia’s most important conservation areas and severely impacted threatened species and ecological communities. They were a consequence of climate change – and offered a glimpse of how this is likely to continue to affect our future. Australia’s Megafires includes contributions by more than 200 researchers and managers with direct involvement in the management and conservation of the biodiversity affected by the Black Summer wildfires. It provides a comprehensive review of the impacts of these fires on all components of biodiversity, and on Indigenous cultural values. These fires also triggered an extraordinary and highly collaborative response by governments, NGOs, Indigenous groups, scientists, landholders and others, seeking to recover the fire-affected species and environments – to restore Country. This book documents that response. It draws lessons that should be heeded to sustain that recovery and to be better prepared for the inevitable future comparable catastrophes. Such lessons are of global relevance, for wildfires increasingly threaten biodiversity and livelihoods across the globe.

This research level text documents the latest advances in odonate biology and relates these to a broader ecological and evolutionary research agenda. Despite being one of the smallest insect orders, dragonflies offer a number of advantages for both laboratory and field studies. In fact, they continue to make a crucial contribution to the advancement of our broader understanding of insect ecology and evolution. This new edition provides a critical summary of the major advances in these fields. The editors have carefully assembled a fresh set of contributions from a diverse geographic mix of both junior and senior researchers in dragonfly biology to offer new perspectives and paradigms as well as additional, unpublished data. These include theoretical and applied chapters (including those addressing conservation and monitoring) as well as a balance of emerging (e.g. molecular evolution) and established research topics, providing suggestions for future study in each case. This accessible text is not about dragonflies per se but is an essential source of knowledge that describes how different sets of evolutionary and ecological principles and ideas have been tested on a particular taxon. Dragonflies and Damselflies is suitable for graduate students and researchers in entomology, evolutionary biology, population and behavioural ecology, community ecology, and conservation biology. It will be of particular interest and use to those working on insects and an indispensable reference text for odonate biologists.

This groundbreaking book brings together Native American and Indigenous scholars, wildlife managers, legal experts, and conservationists from dozens of tribes to share their wildlife stewardship philosophies, histories, principles, and practices. Tribes have jurisdiction over some of the healthiest wild areas in North America, collectively managing over 56 million acres of land. This is no accident: in addition to a deep reverence for the land and a strong history of environmental stewardship, Native peoples implement some of the best fish and wildlife preservation and management practices on the continent. Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands is the first comprehensive resource dedicated to the voices and expertise of Native scholars and wildlife professionals. In its pages, nearly one hundred Native and non-native wildlife conservationists, managers, and their collaborators share lessons to guide wildlife professionals in how best to incorporate native methods and how to work effectively with tribal stakeholders. The authors cover topics that include: • Guidelines for conducting research on tribal lands • Traditional ecological knowledge-based management models • The cultural and ecological importance of key species • Legal battles for treaty rights, management authority, and funding • First foods and food sovereignty • Fisheries and migratory bird management • Tribal perspectives on the Endangered Species Act • A history of modern fish and wildlife management on tribal lands The content of this book is not limited to the invaluable reports of research findings, explications of methodologies, and case studies. Capturing oral histories and spiritual knowledge through interviews with tribal leaders and the work of Native artists and writers honors the holistic awareness of the land offered to readers of this unique volume. Ultimately, the contributors to Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands demonstrate how tribal practices are pivotal guideposts for those seeking to protect and harness our natural resources in ways that can help reverse grievous biodiversity losses and ensure the health of our environment for future generations. Contributors: Scott Aikin, Steven Albert, John Antonio, Dale Becker, Bethany Berger, Kimberly Blaeser, Arthur Blazer, Michael Blumm, Michael Brydge, Ashley Carlisle, Frank Cerno Jr., Sally Carufel Williams, Guy Charlton, Samuel Chischilly, Bob Christensen, Gerald Cobell, Cody Desautel, Lauren Divine, Douglas W. Dompier, Ramona Emerson, Kari Eneas, James Fall, Julian J. Fischer, James R. Floyd, James Gensaw Sr., Michael I. Goldstein, Kim Gottschalk, Shaun Grassel, E. Richard Hart, Dylan R. Hedden-Nicely, Caleb Hickman, Serra J. Hoagland, Kraig Holmes, Nathan Jim, R. Roy Johnson, Jovon Jojola, Tamra Jones, Emily Sylvan Kim, Winona LaDuke, Stacy Leeds, Crystal Leonetti, Aaron P. Lestenkof, Chip Livingston, Lorraine Marquez Eiler, Eric Mellink, Paul I. Melovidov, Lara Mengak, Gary Paul Nabhan, Liliana Naves, Vern Northrup, nila northSun, Raymond E. Paddock III, Lizzy Pennock, Nicole Marie Pete, Aaron Poe, Georgiana Pongyesva, Ken Poynter, Mathis Quintana, Seafha Ramos, Janisse Ray, Vanessa L. Ray-Hodge, Amadeo Rea, Mitzi Reed, Marcie Rendon, Sarah F. Rinkevich, Bruce Robson, Andrea Rogers, Thomas C. Rothe, David E. Safine, Patty Schwalenberg, Kyle Secakuku, John Sewall, Todd Sformo, Richard T. Sherman, Ron Skates, Arthur M. Soukkala, Lawrence Stevens, Juliana Suzukawa, Julie Thorstenson, Gloria Tom, Christopher Tran, Craig van der Heiden, John Wheeler, Jessica Wiarda, Tiana Williams-Claussen.

Water Matters: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals presents a compilation of water scenarios and their relationship to multiple facets of life, as water forms a nexus with food security and energy resources, thereby forming one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable development. The thematic topics focus on studies of achieving individual sustainable development goals, primarily on safe and sustainable drinking water availability, the role of water in sanitation, transboundary water, and water in the ecosystem. Each chapter presents a case study to enable a holistic review of the topic and provide insight for further research. Water Matters: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals integrates the knowledge on global-scale water reviews to local-scale case-studies, ideal for hydrologists, hydrogeologists and water managers in environmental and Earth sciences. - Provides interdisciplinary content that bridges the knowledge from water availability to sustainability through reviews of current technologies for clean water and water security - Includes global and regional reviews and case studies, building a bridge between broad reviews of water related issues by domain experts as well as detailed case studies - Identifies pathways for transforming water knowledge to achieve sustainable development goals to policy and governance of water, food, and energy security and sustainability

Biological Invasions and Global Insect Decline offers the most updated knowledge on how invasive alien species affect insect diversity worldwide. The book provides ongoing research and the most relevant information, covering the main aspects of the impact of biological invasions as well as future insights on mitigation and consequences. It discusses how the introduction of all kinds of organisms, from bacteria and plants to vertebrates, affect current declines in insect diversity. The latter portion of the book delves into existent and future monitoring and management programs, including citizen science and regenerative ecology as socio-ecological solutions to combat these threats. Written and edited by international experts on invasion ecology and insect conservation, this book explores the role of global change and the introduction of invasive species in altering the structure of habitats and how this induces a global insect decline. This will be a valuable resource for entomologists, invasion biologists and other researchers in biodiversity conservation, as well as practitioners and stakeholders concerned about problematic invasive alien species and insect population decline. - Offers a concise vision of one of the main causes of insect extinctions in the Anthropocene - Discusses community ecology, insect conservation, species interactions, restoration ecology - Led by a team of editors whose expertise includes invasive alien species, invasion ecology, insect species diversity, and species conservation