Biodiversity And Biogeographic Patterns In Asia Pacific Region I Statistical Methods And Case Studies

This brief book is dedicated to the quantitative analyses and systematic discussion of spatial biodiversity and biogeographic patterns in the Asia‐pacific region comprised of China, India and adjacent countries. The book is split into two sections. The first section presents readers with detailed statistical methods to conduct spatial macro‐biodiversity and biogeography analyses. Step-by-step instructions on how to perform these statistical methods by using the statistical program R are also provided. In the second part, different quantitative case studies are presented covering several topics, including phylogenetics, spatial statistics, multivariate statistics and ecological genomics. Each case study concludes with a detailed interpretation of the quantitative results and how these results are relevant to local and regional ecological processes. This reference is suitable for academics interested in biostatistics biodiversity and ecological studies specific to the Asia Pacific region and China.

Conservation biology has gradually become one of the mainstream fields in contemporary science. The importance of biodiversity conservation is apparently straightforward to understand: because of global urbanisation, industrialisation and climate change, people become more knowledgeable about the harmony between human beings, society and nature. Biodiversity science is a leading multidisciplinary science in the 21st century. In Asia, there are two BRIC countries: India and China. Both are giant and developing countries. The population sizes of both countries rank in the top two across the nations of the whole world. In comparison with developed countries, biodiversity surveying in most Asian countries seems not so comprehensive. New species are continually discovered and reported across the region, and the mega-biodiversity and original forests throughout the region provide invaluable resources for ecologists to explore biodiversity patterns and test relevant ecological theories. This book thus conveys valuable information for researchers interested in the biodiversity conservation issues of the countries across the Asia-Pacific region. In the book, the author applies contemporary statistical methods and numerical techniques to study the biodiversity and biogeography patterns of different taxonomic groups over the region. These case studies are up-to-date and reflect the latest advances in the field of biodiversity science and conservation in the region.

Biological diversity is important for ecosystem function and services, which in turn is essential for human well-being. Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, international efforts have been made to achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss. The loss continues, however. The Asia-Pacific region includes both developing countries with high biodiversity and developed countries with sophisticated data collection and analyses, but only limited information about the status quo of biodiversity in this region has been available. Many Asia-Pacific countries have rapidly grown their economies and social infrastructures, causing a loss of biodiversity and requiring an urgent mandate to achieve a balance between development and conservation in the region. In December 2009, scientists successfully organized the Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Observation Network in the region, to establish a network for research and monitoring of ecosystems and biodiversity and to build a cooperative framework. The present volume is the first collection of information on biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific and represents a quantum step forward in science that optimizes the synergy between development and biodiversity conservation.

The flora and fauna of Southeast Asia are exceptionally diverse. The region includes several terrestrial biodiversity hotspots and is the principal global hotspot for marine diversity, but it also faces the most intense challenges of the current global biodiversity crisis. Providing reviews, syntheses and results of the latest research into Southeast Asian earth and organismal history, this book investigates the history, present and future of the fauna and flora of this bio- and geodiverse region. Leading authorities in the field explore key topics including palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, biogeography, population genetics and conservation biology, illustrating research approaches and themes with spatially, taxonomically and methodologically focused case studies. The volume also presents methodological advances in population genetics and historical biogeography. Exploring the fascinating environmental and biotic histories of Southeast Asia, this is an ideal resource for graduate students and researchers as well as environmental NGOs.

In an increasingly crowded world, reconciling environmental “conservation” with the “sustainable use” of natural resources is a great challenge. Nature conservation has traditionally focused on protecting iconic and important areas of biodiversity from human exploitation through the establishment of National Parks and World Heritage Areas. However, while this is essential, a narrow focus on protected area conservation risks overlooking local needs in areas where people and natural systems must coexist. Combining scholarly research with stories from real people in the field, this book addresses some key questions for the sustainable use of natural environments, including What should be conserved and who decides? Are tradeoffs between conservation and development necessary? and How are those those elusive “win-win” solutions unearthed?

Recent advances in the use of permanent plots for monitorin forest biodiversity in the Old World. The theoretical framework behind plot-based monitoring and a description of how plot-based results have been put to a variety of uses, such as defining the number of trees to be sampled in smaller plots, monitoring climatic change, ground-truthing satellite imagery to map paterns and developing new analytical techniques for assessing patterns of diversity. A final section outlines some of the monitoring programmes and networks currently in place in Europe.