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This monograph is the first of its kind devoted entirely to the dragonfly nymphs of North America north of Mexico, the focus being accurate identification of the 330 species of Anisoptera that occur in the region. Nymphal external morphology is described and illustrated in detail, and all terms needed to navigate the dichotomous keys are defined. Species are tabulated with references that provide the most detailed, accurate descriptions for each; species that are inadequately described are so indicated. The key separating the seven families in the region contains several new characters. The families are then covered separately: Aeshnidae (13 genera), Gomphidae (17 genera), Petaluridae (2 genera), Cordulegastridae (2 genera), Macromiidae (2 genera), Corduliidae (7 genera), and Libellulidae (29 genera). Each family is further characterized, followed by a generic key. A drawing of the habitus and diagnostic details for each genus are provided, along with additional diagnostic remarks and notes on habitat and life cycle; for each genus, a map shows its geographic distribution in North America. Full-grown nymphs of all known species of each genus are keyed and diagnosed; characters that apply to earlier instars are noted. Morphological variation in character states was analyzed in order to assess the reliability of previously utilized characters and to discover new characters. Most of the characters used to distinguish all levels of taxa are illustrated; a total of 702 figures, comprising 1,800 original drawings, along with selected photographs where necessary for clarity, accompany the keys. Measurements of total length, head width, and other variables for each species are provided in tables. Difficulties with past keys and descriptions, including errors, omissions and other shortcomings, are addressed. The importance of nymph characters in helping solve generic and specific distinctions and their role in phylogenetic studies is emphasized. Methods for collecting, rearing, and preserving dragonfly nymphs and exuviae are presented. The final chapter discusses research opportunities on North American Anisoptera nymphs, including taxonomic needs, studies on structure and function, life history and microhabitat, water quality indices and conservation efforts. The habitus drawings of all genera are arranged according to family in five plates (Appendix I); although the book is intended as a lab manual, these plates conveniently allow for comparison based on nymph shape making field identification to genus possible in many cases. Appendix II contains a brief history of dragonfly nymph studies in North America. A glossary and an index to scientific names are included.

Endangered ecosystems. --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Nature conservation --- Entomology. --- Aquatic biology. --- Ecosystems. --- Freshwater & Marine Ecology. --- Hydrobiology --- Water biology --- Aquatic sciences --- Biology --- Insects --- Zoology --- Aquatic ecology . --- Aquatic biology --- Ecology --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Population biology

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This book focuses on the symbiotic microbiomes of invertebrates in coral reefs, especially sponges and corals. It provides in-depth and up-to-date reviews on the microbial structure and diversity, metabolism and function, symbiosis and coevolution, environment and adaption, and bioactive potentials. Meanwhile, the future perspectives will be discussed according to the existing problems and the development trend. This book will be of particular interest to the professionals in marine ecology, marine biotechnology, as well as medicinal chemists and molecular biologists. .

Endangered ecosystems. --- Ecosystems. --- Monitoring/Environmental Analysis. --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Nature conservation --- Environmental monitoring. --- Biomonitoring (Ecology) --- Ecological monitoring --- Environmental quality --- Monitoring, Environmental --- Applied ecology --- Environmental engineering --- Pollution --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Ecology --- Population biology --- Measurement --- Monitoring

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Biotic communities --- Ecosystem management --- Climatic changes --- Environmental aspects --- Forecasting. --- Ecosystems management --- Applied ecology --- Environmental management --- Nature conservation --- Biodiversity conservation --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Ecology --- Population biology --- Management

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Ecotourism is an important field of tourism that has bridged environmentally friendly practices and the tourism industry worldwide. Today, ecotourism has become an important revenue sector for stakeholders and communities. It has provided numerous solutions as a suitable tourism type, but has also caused environmental impacts. Recently, ecotourism has become important in developing countries offering a sustainable practice i.e. ecologically-friendly minimizing the impacts caused by other tourism practices. Education is a key aspect for ecotourism because it has provided a dialogue between communities, stakeholders, researchers, citizens and eco-tourists. Education has provided a framework for any ecotourism practice, because it encourages the basic know how and principles for a environmentally friendly practice. Education is a core aspect in ecotourism because it can provide the necessary momentum to encourage the common citizen to become aware of ecotourism practices and perform responsible ecotourism. This SpringerBrief focuses on the principles of ecotourism such as relevance of the field, origin, fundamental aspects, definitions, philosophy, implications in biodiversity conservation and environmental impacts. Special emphasis is also given to the interaction between ecotourism and education and it is supported by recent publications from the authors.

Environmental sciences. --- Urban Ecology. --- Endangered ecosystems. --- Conservation biology. --- Environment, general. --- Ecosystems. --- Conservation Biology/Ecology. --- Ecology --- Nature conservation --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Cities and towns --- Urban ecology --- Urban environment --- Social ecology --- Sociology, Urban --- Environmental science --- Science --- Environmental aspects --- Environment. --- Urban ecology (Biology). --- Ecology . --- Balance of nature --- Biology --- Bionomics --- Ecological processes --- Ecological science --- Ecological sciences --- Environment --- Environmental biology --- Oecology --- Environmental sciences --- Population biology --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- City ecology (Biology)

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This book focuses on modules and emergence with self-organization in the life sciences. As Aristotle observed so long ago, the whole is more than the sum of its parts. However, contemporary science is dominated by reductionist concepts and tends to neglect the non-reproducible features of complex systems, which emerge from the interaction of the smaller units they are composed of. The book is divided into three major parts; the essays in part A highlight the conceptual basis of emergence, linking it to the philosophy of science, systems biology and sustainability. This is subsequently exemplified in part B by applying the concept of emergence to various biological disciplines, such as genetics, developmental biology, neurobiology, plant physiology and ecology. New aspects of emergence come into play when biology meets the technical sciences, as revealed in a chapter on bionics. In turn, part C adopts a broader view, revealing how the organization of life follows a hierarchical order in terms of scalar dimensions, ranging from the molecular level to the entire biosphere. The idea that life is primarily and exclusively shaped by processes at the molecular level (and, in particular, by the information encoded in the genome) is refuted; rather, there is no hierarchy with respect to the level of causation in the cross-talk between the levels. In the last two chapters, the evolutionary trend toward ever-increasing complexity in living systems is interpreted in terms of the Gaia hypothesis sensu Lovelock: the entire biosphere is viewed as a functional unit (or ‘holobiont-like system’) organized to develop and sustain life on Earth.

Systems biology. --- Computational biology --- Bioinformatics --- Biological systems --- Molecular biology --- Biological models. --- Science --- Endangered ecosystems. --- Botany. --- Systems Biology. --- Philosophy of Science. --- Ecosystems. --- Plant Sciences. --- Philosophy. --- Botanical science --- Phytobiology --- Phytography --- Phytology --- Plant biology --- Plant science --- Biology --- Natural history --- Plants --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Nature conservation --- Normal science --- Philosophy of science --- Models, Biological --- Philosophy and science. --- Plant science. --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Ecology --- Population biology --- Science and philosophy --- Floristic botany