Showing papers on "Biodiversity published in 1985"

The Greenhouse Effect and Nature ReservesGlobal warming would diminish biological diversity by causing extinctions among reserve species

Abstract: Global warming would diminish biological diversity by causing extinctions among reserve species. Patterns of climatic change are discussed, including global patterns of surface temperature increase, as predicted by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and global changes in moisture patterns. The concept of biological reserves (essentially the same concept as biological refugia) is discussed, and the effect of climatic changes on reserves is discussed. The types of biological communities particularly at risk due to climatic changes are identified. 67 references, 3 figures.

Indigenous management of tropical forest ecosystems: the case of the Kayapó indians of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract: The Kayapo Indians of Brazil's Amazon Basin are described as effective managers of tropical forest, utilizing an extensive inventory of useful native plants that are concentrated by human activity in special forest areas (resource islands, forest fields, forest openings, tuber gardens, agricultural plots, old fields, and trailsides). Long-term transplanting and selection of plants suggest semi-domestication of many species. The overall management strategies of forest also includes many manipulated animal species (birds, fish, bees, mammals) utilized as food and game. Forest patches (apete) are created by Indians from campo/cerrado using planting zones made from termite and ant nests mixed with mulch: formation and development of these is briefly discussed, including the implications for new ideas concerning reforestation and campo management. Finally an integrative cognitive model is presented showing the relationships between variants of forest and savanna recognized by the Kayapo. Indigenous knowledge of subtle similarities between conceptually distinct ecological units in the model allows for the interchange of botanical material between microclimates to increase biological diversity in managed areas. It is suggested that indigenous knowledge is extremely important in developing new strategies for forest and campo/cerrado conservation, while improving productiveness of these ecological systems. Such knowledge is not only applicable for Amazonian Indians, but also has far-reaching implications for human populations throughout the humid tropics.

Ecological consequences of tidal management for the salt-marsh vegetation

Abstract: Presently a storm-surge barrier is under construction in the mouth of the Oosterschelde. After its completion tidal conditions in the estuary can be controlled. In order to indicate the limiting conditions for conceivable uses of the storm-surge barrier a number of the most prominent salt-marsh species were tested in their various life stages against immersion times of 2, 4 and 8 days.

Some synchorological aspects of basiphilous pine forests in Fennoscandia

Abstract: Basiphilous pine forests and related birch forests are herb- and grass-rich forests on calcareous substrate. These forests are complex communities with floristic/ecological elements from different vegetation types occurring in a subtle micromosaic. These elements are e.g. species from acidophilous conifer forests, thermophilous forest-rim communities, calcareous shallow-soil and steppe communities, eutrophic wet meadows and fens, and in northern Fennoscandia also species from alpine Dryas heaths. Four associations are recognized in Fennoscandia: Convallario-Pinetum, Melico-Piceetum pinetosum, Peucedano-Pinetum and Epipacto atrorubentis-Betuletum. The main association is the Convallario-Pinetum, a widespread community in Fennoscandia and Estonia with a considerable floristic variation between the different regions. Examples of the floristic variation along west-east profiles and south-north profiles in Fennoscandia are presented. The basiphilous pine forest complex can be divided into a number of ecological types along the moisture and nutritional gradients. A further subdivision into geographical types (races) is presented.

Floristic relationship between plant communities of corresponding habitats in southeast Greenland and alpine Scandinavia

Abstract: Barkman’s similarity coefficients have been calculated for twelve ecologically related communities of southeast Greenland (SEG) and alpine Scandinavia (SCA). Comparisons were made between corresponding saxicolous lichen communities, dwarf shrub communities, snow bed communities and herb and Salix shrub communities. The corresponding SEG and SCA communities of extreme habitats have the same faithful taxa or the same dominant taxa, relatively few or no area-differential (ArD) taxa and they are floristically strongly related. They should be classified in one single association; the geographical variation is expressed in terms of geographical races. Corresponding vegetation types of mesic habitats have low floristic similarity coefficients, many ArD taxa and the same dominant taxa, or different faithful taxa. The geographical variation should be expressed here on the association level.

Issues on the preservation of biological diversity.

Abstract: All life constitutes biology diversity It is shrinking however due to rapid population growth and human activities that degrade or destroy species habitat Yet biological diversity is crucial to humans A broad base of genetic material allows animal and plant specialists to cross current strains with other cultivated or wild strains This breeding imparts genes which resist disease or pests and allows the species to adapt to various conditions Genes in wild species may hold the answer to various problems Thus it is crucial that we increase our knowledge of existing species especially those in tropical forests where most species exist and the extinction rate is highest and take steps to protect them Economic and political institutions have not yet adjusted to our expansion of our ecological niche In the distant past they did not threaten the environment but they now foster environmental degradation Governments could begin cost sharing to tend to the common interest (eg species air and water) of nations This action could encourage them to take on other measures which would promote a sustainable ecological niche for humans Many nations already have conservation agencies and legislation to conserve natural resources In Europe rural zoning laws protect genetic diversity Various experts have devised an action plant to bring to the attention of decision makers and the public the need to conserve biological diversity and actions to actually conserve biological diversity The 1st action is a worldwide publicity campaign with a major world event or public demonstration The next action includes conservation strategy planning at the national regional and sectoral levels Action 3 includes creation of a worldwide network of protected areas with support from various UN agencies Development of human capacity for management and of international conservation law and policy comprise actions 4-5 The last action is establishing effective economic incentives which is perhaps the most difficult action to implement

Die Fagus-Sippen Europas und ihre geographisch-soziologische Korrelation zur Verbreitung der Assoziationen des Fagion s.l.

Abstract: Studies of the beeches and beech woods of eastern central Europe revealed, that in the postglacial period not only Fagus sylvatica (L.) emend, reimmigrated from the refugial territories in the SE — as has generally been accepted, but also the ‘transitional taxa’, which originated from hybrids with F. orientalis Lipsky. The NW area limit of these intermediate taxa must be revised. The presence in central Europe of these taxa — which form own Fagion alliances and associations in the SE (Fagus intermedia ssp. moesiaca and ssp. taurica) as well as the presence of other southeastern species in central European beach woods shows, that their postglacial development is parallel to, but different from other areas. The taxon Fagus intermedia (ssp. neglecta and ssp. transitus) became differential taxa of a central European region of the Fagion medioeuropaeum. Plant sociologists are therefore requested to make new and critical analyses of the beech woods in Europe, with special attention to the Fagus taxa, in order to establish in detail the geographical distribution and phytosociological significance of Fagus intermedia.