Mountain Biodiversity: A Global Assessment / Edition 1

by Christian Korner, Eva M. Spehn

Overview

This book is the result of the first global conference on mountain biodiversity, and is a contribution to the International Year of Mountains, 2002. The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment program is a Special Target Area Region project of DIVERSITAS (UNESCO and UNEP). Biological diversity is essential for the integrity of mountain ecosystems and this dependency is likely to increase as environmental (climate) and social conditions change. Steep terrain and climate, and severe land-use pressure cause mountain ecosystems to rank among the world's most endangered landscapes. The 28 chapters in this book represent research on the biological riches in all major mountain ranges of the world, and synthesize existing knowledge on mountain biodiversity - from diversity of bacteria, plants and animals to human diversity. The book is divided into five sections: an introduction providing an overview of the issues; plant and animal diversity; climate change and mountain biodiversity; land use and conservation; and a synthesis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781842140918
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/09/2002
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christian Korner, Eva M. Spehn

Table of Contents

Mountain biodiversity: its causes and function: an overview. Intraspecific genetic diversity in alpine plants. Causes and consequences of alpine vascular plant diversity in the Rocky Mountains. Biodiversity of the vascular timberline flora in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. Plant species richness and endemism of upper montane forests and timberline habitats in the Bolivian Andes. Biotope patterns, phytodiversity and forestline in the Andes, based on GIS and remote sensing data. Multi-scale patterns in plant species richness of European high mountain vegetation. Environmental determinants of vascular plant species richness in the Swiss alpine zone. Quantitative basic data on a geographical scheme of the florogenesis of the Central Asian high mountains and adjacent regions. Cold spots in the highest mountains of the world - diversity patterns and gradients in the flora of the Karakorum. Patterns of plant species diversity of the northeastern Tibetan plateau, Qinghai, China. Factors influencing the spatial restriction of vascular plant species in the alpine archipelago of Australia. Biodiversity of the subalpine forest/grassland ecotone of the Andringitra Massif, Madagascar. Diversity in primary succession: the chronosequence of a glacier foreland. Status and trends in diversity of alpine vertebrates in the northwestern United States. Potential effects of climate change on alpine and nival plants in the Alps. Variations in community structure and growth rates of high Andean plants with climatic fluctuations. A scenario for mammal and bird diversity in the Snowy Mountains in relation to climate change. Modeling and monitoring ecosystem responses to climate change in three North American mountain ranges. Scenarios of plant diversity in South African mountain ranges to climate change. Biodiversity in mountain medicinal plants and possible impacts of climatic change. Land use and biodiversity in upland pastures in Ethiopia. Balancing conservation of biodiversity and economic profit in the high Venezuelan Andes: Is fallow agriculture an alternative? Conserving mountain biodiversity in protected areas. How effective is protected area management in mountains? National action plans for mountain biodiversity conservation and research. A global assessment of mountain biodiversity synthesis.

Editorial Reviews

Contributors in geography, ecology, anthropology, alpine research, botany, and geology look at the extent of mountain biodiversity and reasons for it, climatic changes and mountain biodiversity, and land use and conservation. Specific subjects discussed include causes and consequences of alpine vascular plant diversity in the Rocky Mountains, patterns of plant species diversity in the northeastern Tibetan plateau in Qinghai, China, variations in community structure and growth rates of high-Andean plants with climatic fluctuations, and land use and biodiversity in upland pastures in Ethiopia. Material originated at a September 2000 international conference on mountain biodiversity, its function, and change, held in central Switzerland. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR