Buch, Englisch, 352 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 731 g
Reihe: Biology of Habitats
Buch, Englisch, 352 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 731 g
Reihe: Biology of Habitats
ISBN: 978-0-19-921146-3
Verlag: Oxford University Press
Deserts are defined by their arid conditions; a consequence of this aridity is that most of the area occupied by desert is barren and monotonous, leading many people to regard it as wasteland. However, deserts are widespread and represent surprisingly biodiverse environments, although it is the relative simplicity of these ecosystems that makes them more tractable for study than more complex environments. In these resource-poor locations, natural selection is working at its most extreme and
provides some of the best-known examples of Darwinian selection.
The Biology of Deserts includes a wide range of ecological and evolutionary issues including morphological and physiological adaptations of desert plants and animals, species interactions, the importance of predation and parasitism, food webs, biodiversity and conservation. It features a balance of plant and animal (both invertebrate and vertebrate) examples, and also emphasizes topical applied issues such as desertification and invasive species. The book concludes by considering the
positive aspects of desert conservation.