BookSatish Chandra Garkoti, Skip J. Van Bloem, Peter Z. Fulé, Rajeev L. Semwal, editors.
Summary: The book brings together research topics having a broad focus on human and climate change impacts on the terrestrial ecosystems in the tropics in general and more specifically from the most significant and vulnerable Himalayan ecosystem. A total of 16 contributions included in the book cover a diverse range of global change themes such as the impacts of changing temperature and precipitation on soil ecosystems, forest degradation, extent and impacts of invasive species, plant responses to pollution, climate change impacts on biodiversity and tree phenology, environmental changes associated with land use, importance of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation, timberline ecosystems, and role of integrated landscape modeling for sustainable management of natural resources. The book is a collective endeavour of an international multidisciplinary group of scientists focused on improving our understanding of the impacts of global change on the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems and addressing the challenges of their future sustainable management. We hope that the book will help researchers working in the areas of ecology and environmental science to update their knowledge. We also expect that natural resource managers and policy planners will find explanations for some of their observations and hypotheses on multiple global change factors impacting tropical ecosystems and especially Himalayan ecosystems.
Contents:
Intro; Preface; Contents;
1: Introduction; References;
2: Influence of Changing Patterns of Precipitation and Temperature on Tropical Soil Ecosystem; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Soil and Its Importance; 2.3 Effect of Temperature and Precipitation on Soil Processes; 2.3.1 Nutrient Cycling; 2.3.2 Decomposition and Mineralization; 2.3.3 Soil CO2 Flux; 2.3.4 Microbial Biomass; 2.4 Effect of Temperature and Precipitation on Soil Properties; 2.4.1 Soil Carbon; 2.4.2 Soil Nitrogen; 2.5 Conclusion; References;
3: Nature and Extent of Forest Degradation in Central Himalayas; 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Extent of Forest Degradation in the Himalayas; 3.2.1 Forest Biomass, Carbon Sequestration, and Other Ecosystem Functions; 3.2.2 Fine Roots and Mycorrhizae; 3.2.3 Grazing Trails; 3.2.4 Impact of Degradation on Seed and Seed Germination; 3.3 Structural and Physiological Changes in Individual Trees Due to the Chronic Disturbances of Stands; 3.3.1 Parasite Infestation in Degraded Oak Forests; 3.4 Impact of Ban on Tree Cutting on Forest Degradation and Species Composition; 3.5 Recovery of Degraded Oak Forest Ecosystem; 3.6 Comparison with Forests Affected by Shifting Cultivation 3.7 Interventions to Check Forest Degradation; 3.8 Conclusion; References;
4: Management of Invasive Alien Plants in Nepal: Current Practices and Future Prospects; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Overview of Invasive Plants in Nepal; 4.2.1 Diversity and Distribution; 4.2.2 Impacts; 4.3 Management; 4.3.1 Current Management Practices; 4.3.1.1 Cultural Methods; 4.3.1.2 Physical Methods; 4.3.1.3 Chemical Methods; 4.3.1.4 Biological Methods; 4.3.2 Policy Responses; 4.3.2.1 National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); 4.3.2.2 National Biodiversity Strategy 4.3.2.3 Invasive Species in Legal Documents; 4.3.2.4 National Strategy for Management of Invasive Alien Species; 4.3.3 Future Prospects for Management; 4.3.3.1 Opportunity for Eradication and Prevention; 4.3.3.2 Integrating Management of Invasive Plant Species in Community Forestry; 4.3.3.3 Management of IAPs in Protected Areas; 4.3.3.4 Risk Assessment; 4.3.3.5 Education and Research; 4.3.3.6 Biological Control Program; 4.3.3.7 Regional Collaboration; 4.4 Conclusion; References;
5: Invasive Species and Their Impact on Tropical Forests of Central India: A Review; 5.1 Introduction 5.2 A Brief Profile of Central India; 5.3 Plant Invasion; 5.3.1 Introduction Pathways; 5.3.2 Traits of Invasive Species; 5.3.3 Influential Factors and Successful Ecesis; 5.4 Invasive Species: Why Are They a Concern?; 5.5 Studies from Central India; 5.6 Diversity of Alien Invasive Taxa of Central India; 5.6.1 Family-Wise Distribution of Invasive Taxa; 5.6.2 Nativity of Invasive Taxa; 5.6.3 Life Forms of Invasive Taxa; 5.7 An Outline of the Most Common Top Ten Noxious Invaders of Central India; 5.7.1 Lantana camara L.; 5.7.2 Parthenium hysterophorus L.; 5.7.3 Ageratum conyzoides L.