BookBilquees Gul [and 4 more], editors.
Summary: The functioning of important ecosystems, including high productivity seagrass beds, coral reefs, macro-algal reefs, mangroves, salt-marshes, needs to be balanced, and, in many cases, adverse trends need to be reversed, repaired, and offset. One of many solutions that is needed to achieve the below SDGs is the utilization of saline water and soil for the research, conservation and development of halophyte ecosystems. The scientific documentation--initiated and supported by UNESCO-- provides information, data, conclusions, recommendations, answers and inspiration to two main questions: - How to use of the vast volume of saline waters, areas of saline soils, and the halophytes, without competing against agricultural lands, in support of food-security, clean-energy, jobs and economic growth? - What halophyte-biodiversity aspects need to be considered for ecosystem development, nature restoration and climate action? It is time to apply some of the innovations demonstrated in the previous volumes in the Tasks for Vegetation Science book series, to turn from experiments to long-term pilot studies. This is necessary in order to obtain solid scientific data for large-scale applications. Studying halophyte and sabkha ecosystems will contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Zero Hunger, Clean Water, Clean Energy, Climate Action, Economic Growth, Sustainable Communities and Biodiversity on land and below water. This book is the sixth and final volume in the Tasks for Vegetation Science book series, and it concludes the most comprehensive scientific documentation dealing with hypersaline ecosystems of the world.
Contents:
Intro; Foreword; Preface; Obituary for Prof. Ajmal Khan; Acknowledgments; Disclaimer; Contents; Contributors; Introduction;
1: Halophyte Research, Conservation and Development: The Role of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Asia-Pacific; Background Information; Halophytes; UNESCO Biosphere Reserves; The UN Sustainable Development Goals; Halophyte Research, Conservation and Development in BRs Assist Achieving the UN SDGs; What Are the Halophyte-Specific Roles of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves?;
2: Evidence for the Role of Salinity and Alkalinity in Plant Diversification in Australia; Introduction
4: Comparative Seed Germination Ecology of Sabkha and Playa Halophytes of PakistanIntroduction; Material and Methods; Seed Collection and Study Site; Seed Germination Experiments; Seed Recovery Experiments; Results; Seed Germination Responses; Seed Recovery Responses; Discussion; Seed Germination Responses Under Nonsaline Conditions; Seed Germination Responses Under Saline Conditions; Recovery of Germination from Salinity; Recovery of Germination from Dark; Conclusions; References;
5: Plants of Sabkha Ecosystems of the Arabian Peninsula; Introduction; Sabkhas of the Arabian Peninsula; Climate Distribution and Biogeography of the Halophytic Flora of the Arabian PeninsulaTerrestral Sabkha Vegetation and Plant Communities; Saudi Arabia; Yemen; Oman; United Arab Emirates; Bahrain; Qatar; Kuwait; Intertidal Vegetation; Mangroves; Salt Marshes; Sub-tidal Vegetation; Seagrasses; Seed Dispersal and Germination Strategies in Halophytes; Dispersal and Seed Bank; Salinity and Tolerance During Germination; Fast Germination of Halophytes; Halophytes in Bioremediation; Conservation of Sabkha Ecosystems; Appendix: Halophytes of the Arabian Peninsula. Accepted Names in Bold; Synonyms in Italics Geographical Context of Soil Salinity and AlkalinityHummock and Tussock Grasslands; Acacia Woodlands and Shrublands; Mallee Eucalypt Woodlands; Other Vegetation Formations; References;
3: Aspects of the Abu Dhabi Sabkha; Introduction; Barrier Island Complex; Lagoon Developments and Rates of Infill; Sea Level Changes and Current Sea Level Rise; Coastal Sabkha Enlargement; Abu Dhabi Formation; Aeolian Sediments; Oolite Formation; Evaporite Distribution; Holocene Dolomite; Magnesium-Silicate Clays; Holocene Hardgrounds; Tepee Structures; Conservation; Conclusions; References