Antarctic ecosystems: an extreme environment in a changing world

Since its discovery Antarctica has held a deep fascination for biologists. Extreme environmental conditions, seasonality and isolation have lead to some ofthe most striking examples of natural selection and adaptation on Earth. Paradoxically, some of these adaptations may pose constraints on the ability of the Antarctic biota to respond to climate change. Parts of Antarctica are showing some of the largest changes in temperature and other environmental conditions in the world. In this volume, published in association with the Royal Society,leading polar scientists present a synthesis of the latest research on the biological systems in Antarctica, covering organisms from microbes to vertebrate higher predators. This book comes at a time when new technologies and approaches allow the implications of climate change and other direct human impacts on Antarctica to be viewed at a range of scales; across entire regions, whole ecosystems and down to the level of species and variation within their genomes.Chapters address both Antarctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the scientific and management challenges of the future are explored. ÍNDICE: Contributors Introduction: Antarctic ecology in a changing world Andrew Clarke, Nadine M. Johnston, Eugene J. Murphy 150°E) Stephen Nicol and Ben Raymond Chapter 9. The dynamic mosaic: Disturbance and development of Antarctic benthic communities David K.A. Barnes and Kathleen E. Conlan Chapter 10. Southern Ocean deep benthic biodiversity Angelika Brandt, Claude De Broyer, B.Ebbe, Kari E. Ellingsen, Andrew J. Gooday, D. Janussen, Stephanie Kaiser, Katrin Linse, M. Schueller, Michael R. A. Thomson, Paul A. Tyler and A. VanreuselChapter 11. Environmental forcing and Southern Ocean marine predator populations: effects of climate change and variability Phil N. Trathan, Jaume Forcada and Eugene J. Murphy Part III: Molecular adaptations and evolution Chapter 12.Molecular ecophysiology of Antarctic notothenioid fishes C.-H. Christina Cheng and H. William Detrich III Chapter 13. Mechanisms defining thermal limits and adaptation in marine ectotherms: an integrative view Hans O. Pörtner, Lloyd S. Peck and George N. Somero Chapter 14. Evolution and biodiversity of Antarctic organisms; a molecular perspective Alex D. Rogers Part IV: Conservation andmanagement aspects Chapter 15. Biogeography and regional classifications of Antarctica Peter Convey, David K. A. Barnes, Huw J. Griffiths, Susie M. Grant, Katrin Linse and David N. Thomas Chapter 16. Conservation and Management of Antarctic Ecosystems Susie M. Grant, Peter Convey, Kevin A. Hughes, Richard A. Phillips and Phil N. Trathan Index

• ISBN: 978-1-4051-9840-0
• Editorial: Wiley-Blackwell
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 756
• Fecha Publicación: 04/11/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés