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Arts, Ecologies, Transitions: Constructing a Common Vocabulary
by Makis Solomos Roberto Barbanti Isabelle Ginot Cécile SorinArts, Ecologies, Transitions provides in-depth insights into how aesthetic relations and current artistic practices are fundamentally ecological and intrinsically connected to the world. As art is created in a given historic temporality, it presents specific modalities of productive and sensory relations to the world. With contributions from 49 researchers, this book tracks evolutions in the arts that demonstrate an awareness of the environmental, economic, social, and political crises. It proposes interdisciplinary approaches to art that clarify the multiple relationships between art and ecology through an exploration of key concepts such as collapsonauts, degrowth, place, recycling, and walking art. All the artistic fields are addressed from the visual arts, theatre, dance, music and sound art, cinema, and photography – including those that are rarely represented in research such as digital creation or graphic design – to showcase the diversity of artistic practices in transition.Through original research this book presents ideas in an accessible format and will be of interest to students and researchers in the fields of environmental studies, ecology, geography, cultural studies, architecture, performance studies, visual arts, cinema, music, and literature studies.
Assessing Landscape Resilience: Biogeomorphic Interactions, Risk Perception, and Planning Evaluation of Forest Plantations in Patagonia, Chile
by Danny TrögerThis book examines the extent to which exotic pine plantations are a suitable strategy for maintaining the essential functions, structures, processes and identity of the Patagonian landscape over time. To this end, it integrates three empirical studies with inter- and transdisciplinary approaches under the theoretical framework of landscape resilience. The first study analyses the biogeomorphic interactions of different land uses and their relevance for soil conservation and landslide mitigation. The second study examines perceptions of natural hazards and focuses on networks of human and non-human actors that maintain landscape resilience. The results of these two studies are incorporated into the planning evaluation of land zoning and alternative strategies are developed, inspired by normative polycentric governance. It is concluded that Pinus plantations partially fulfil their ecological objectives of erosion control and landslide mitigation. However, their performance lags behind that of secondary forests with native species and they create new risks such as reduced biodiversity, increased risk of wildfires and conflicts with local identity. The book concludes with new research questions of trans-regional importance.
Assessment Framework for People-Centred Solutions to Carbon Neutrality: A Comprehensive List of Case Studies and Social Innovation Indicators at Urban Level (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Francesca Rizzo Sabrina Bresciani Francesco MuredduThis open access book presents a catalogue of over one thousand indicators which can be used by cities' public administrators to monitor and evaluate social innovation action plans to support people-centred, collaborative or co-designed solutions to lower carbon emissions. Indicators are clustered according to a framework of social innovation solutions for climate neutrality at city level, developed by merging top-down academic knowledge with bottom-up pragmatic case studies. There is currently limited guidance on how to embed social innovations in their cities’ action plans with the aim of reaching climate neutrality, and on how to assess the progress and impacts of such people-centred projects in cities. The book addresses this gap and is thus relevant for scholars in the field of policy-making and design, as well as cities’ transition teams, policymakers and consultants. Based on the work developed within the EU-funded project NetZeroCities, intervention logics are provided for each of the ten categories of action, with related indicators clustered by category and evaluation criteria (effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, replicability, and scalability). Guidelines to implement the framework support city administrators in defining steps they need to follow to apply the indicators to their local case, making social innovation a crucial lever for accelerating systemic transformation.
Asymptotic Expansions and Summability: Application to Partial Differential Equations (Lecture Notes in Mathematics #2351)
by Pascal RemyThis book provides a comprehensive exploration of the theory of summability of formal power series with analytic coefficients at the origin of Cn, aiming to apply it to formal solutions of partial differential equations (PDEs). It offers three characterizations of summability and discusses their applications to PDEs, which play a pivotal role in understanding physical, chemical, biological, and ecological phenomena. Determining exact solutions and analyzing properties such as dynamic and asymptotic behavior are major challenges in this field. The book compares various summability approaches and presents simple applications to PDEs, introducing theoretical tools such as Nagumo norms, Newton polygon, and combinatorial methods. Additionally, it presents moment PDEs, offering a broad class of functional equations including classical, fractional, and q-difference equations. With detailed examples and references, the book caters to readers familiar with the topics seeking proofs or deeper understanding, as well as newcomers looking for comprehensive tools to grasp the subject matter. Whether readers are seeking precise references or aiming to deepen their knowledge, this book provides the necessary tools to understand the complexities of summability theory and its applications to PDEs.
At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans
by Tessa Hill Eric SimonsThe world’s oceans are changing at a drastic pace. Beneath the waves and along the coasts, climate change and environmental degradation have spurred the most radical transformations in human history. In response, the people who know the ocean most intimately are taking action for the sake of our shared future. Community scientists track species in California tidepools. Researchers dive into the waters around Sydney to replant kelp forests. Scientists and First Nations communities collaborate to restore clam gardens in the Pacific Northwest.In At Every Depth, the oceanographer Tessa Hill and the science journalist Eric Simons profile these and other efforts to understand and protect marine environments, taking readers to habitats from shallow tidepools to the deep sea. They delve into the many human connections to the ocean—how people live with and make their living from the waters—journeying to places as far-flung as coral reefs, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the Arctic and Antarctic poles. At Every Depth shares the stories of people from all walks of life, including scientists, coastal community members, Indigenous people, shellfish farmers, and fisheries workers. It brings together varied viewpoints, showing how scientists’ research and local and Indigenous knowledge can complement each other to inform a more sustainable future. Poignantly written and grounded in science, this book offers a narrative perspective on the changing oceans, letting us see how our relationships to the oceans are changing too.
At Risk of Deprivation: The Multidimensional Well-Being Impacts of Climate Migration and Immobility in Peru (Studien zur Migrations- und Integrationspolitik)
by Jonas BergmannThis open access book examines how and why various forms of climate (im)mobilities can impact people's objective and subjective well-being. Worsening climate impacts are forcing subsistence farmers worldwide to decide between staying or leaving their homes. This mixed methods study analyzes cases of climate-related migration, displacement, relocation, and immobility in Peru's coastal, highland, and rainforest regions. The results reveal that numerous farmers experienced profound and often negative well-being impacts, regardless of whether they stayed or migrated. The higher the structural constraints, such as weak governance, and the more damaging the climate impacts were, the higher the risk of well-being declines. Additionally, the affected individuals often had limited agency and ability to mitigate losses. These findings challenge the notion of "migration as adaptation" and emphasize the importance of safeguarding the human rights and security of those affected while addressing loss and damage. Without significant investments in such efforts, climate impacts could sharply diminish the well-being of numerous subsistence farmers worldwide—irrespective of whether they stay or migrate.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation: An Explanation of Earth’s Climate Patterns
by Robert V. Rohli Anthony J. Vega Keith G. HendersonThis book provides a one-stop shop for coastal and marine scientists to understand processes that generate atmospheric circulation as integrated with terrestrial and oceanic circulation processes to create an Earth-ocean-atmosphere climate system. It uses the process approach in the first half of the book to set the stage for understanding circulation systems and then for explaining the circulation processes themselves, with the second half of the book dedicated to showing how these processes play themselves out across the Earth's terrestrial and marine surface. The processes explained in the first half of the book assume no prior knowledge of meteorology or oceanography. The regional section includes the major continents or subcontinents, along with their surrounding ocean environs. It begins with the area with which many/most readers are likely most familiar —the USA and Canada. From there, the tour of the world continues, beginning with the places that have atmospheric and oceanic circulation features that are most similar to the USA and Canada, all in the Northern Hemisphere—Europe, Southwestern Asia, and then East Asia. From there, the discussion builds on principles illustrated in the first half of the book and demonstrated in the beginning of the regional section of the book, while also adding concepts and principles of importance in the tropical and subtropical latitudes, by describing circulation features of South and Southeast Asia. This discussion carries forward naturally for a discussion of Africa, which experiences similar features of subtropical and tropical latitudes. From there, previous material can be applied and built upon further in the discussion of Latin America and the Caribbean. Australia and Oceania are the next area covered, followed by the polar latitudes. The book concludes with a brief review of the major atmospheric and oceanic circulation features around the world and with a reminder of the cascading primary and secondary impacts of the climate system. The book is intended to fill a niche as both a textbook and a reference source for non-atmospheric specialists. Its purpose is to help coastal, environmental, engineering, and planning professionals to get “up to speed” regarding atmospheric and oceanic circulations and their impacts around the world. This would allow more effective communication with climate modelers, atmospheric and marine environmental consultants, and media. Our book-writing experience allows us to implement “best practices” based on cognitive theory to facilitate learning in the geosciences.
Australia and China Perspectives on Urban Regeneration and Rural Revitalization (Routledge Research in Planning and Urban Design)
by Bing Chen Raffaele PerniceThis edited volume reviews important contemporary issues through relevant case studies and research in China and Australia, such as the challenges posed by climate change, the development of eco-urban design, research on sustainable habitats and the relationship between ecology, green architecture and city regeneration, as well as, in general, the future of the city in the new millennium.The authors represent a broad selection of international experts, young scholars and established academics who discuss themes related to urban–rural destruction and economic and spatial regeneration techniques, the sustainable reconversion of natural landscapes and eco-urban design in the context of the current evolution of architectural and urbanism practice. The book aims to explain the conditions in which the contemporary debate about urban regeneration and rural revitalisation has developed in Australia and China, presented by different theoretical and methodological perspectives. It also provides a multifaceted and critical analysis of relevant case studies and urban experiences in Australia and China, focusing on environmental disruption, resized urban interventions and the need for more efficient and sustainable forms of regeneration and urban renewal practice in urban–rural contexts.This book will be an invaluable resource for architects, planners, architectural and urban historians, geographers, and scholars interested in modern Australian and Chinese architecture and urbanism.
BRICS Countries: Challenges and Opportunities
by Faizal Bux Yiping Li Hirok Chaudhuri Otto Corrêa Rotunno Filho Natalia GusevaThis book provides a detailed study and assessment of water resources management andpollution control in different BRICS countries. The regions involved areBrazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This book gives importantinsight into how future sustainability depends on the development of effectivewater governance mechanisms at the level of countries. According to theregional characteristics from different aspects it cuts into the waterenvironment problems and studies in different ways, which is multifaceted andtargeted. Using case studies that include environmentally integrated basinexperiments (eibex) of Brazil, groundwater overflow zone of India, semi-aridriver basin of South Africa and so on, this volume provides criticalinformation for researchers and policymakers.
BRST Symmetry and de Rham Cohomology
by Soon-Tae HongThis book provides an advanced introduction to extended theories of quantum field theory and algebraic topology, including Hamiltonian quantization associated with some geometrical constraints, symplectic embedding and Hamilton-Jacobi quantization and Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) symmetry, as well as de Rham cohomology. This extended new edition offers a multifaced insight into phenomenology of particles such as baryons and photons, in terms of extended objects. In particular, in the second edition, the baryons are described in hypersphere soliton model, and the photon properties are additionally included in stringy photon model and in Dirac type relativistic quantum mechanics for a photon.It offers a critical overview of the research in this area and unifies the existing literatures, employing a consistent notation. Although the results presented apply in principle to all alternative quantization schemes, special emphasis is placed on the BRST quantization and its de Rham cohomology group which contribute to a deep understanding of constrained physical theories. The book describes how solitons and other models subject to constraints include rigorous treatments of the geometrical constraints which affect the predictions themselves. The book is intended for use by any graduate-level student with quantum field and relativity theories, and it also serves as a useful reference for those working in the field. An extensive bibliography guides the reader toward the source literature on particular topics.
Ballast Water Treatment and Exchange for Ships (Synthesis Lectures on Ocean Systems Engineering)
by Alexander Olsen Pamela Rossi CiampoliniThe inadvertent transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in the ballast water of ships has been determined to have caused a significant adverse impact to many of the world's coastal regions. The international maritime community, under the auspices of the IMO has developed several documents, including the “International Conventions for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004”, (Ballast Water Management Convention), which are aimed at preventing the introduction of unwanted aquatic organisms and pathogens through the discharge of ballast water and sediments. The Ballast Water Management Convention applies to vessels registered in a country which is party to the Convention and to those vessels registered in other countries when operating in the waters of a country which is party to the Convention. As a means to prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the risk to the environment, human health, property and resources arising from the transferof harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of vessel's ballast water and sediment, as well as to avoid unwanted side-effects from that control, the Convention requires vessels to conduct a ballast water exchange or be fitted with an approved ballast water management system. It is noted that several studies have shown that the effectiveness of ballast water exchange varies and is dependent on the vessel type (design), exchange method (sequential, flow-through and dilution methods), ballasting system configuration, exchange location, weather conditions and vessel's trading pattern. For these reasons (and others), it has been determined that ballast water exchange does not provide adequate protective measures to prevent damage from organisms and pathogens carried in a vessel's ballast, even though exchange was considered to be acceptable as an interim solution.This book includes updates for the clarification of Survey requirements and adds the definition of biological commissioning, testing as well as requirements for Class approved Service Providers to conduct biological commissioning testing. Moreover, this book includes updates due to the adoption of the requirements from IACS UR M74, Rev. 2 and UR F45 and is applicable for existing ships, where an application for approval for the plans of BWMS is made on or after 1 July 2022; or for new ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2022.
Banking Reforms in Africa: Implications for Economic Welfare and Poverty Reduction (Routledge International Studies in Money and Banking)
by Agnes Olatokunbo MartinsThis book comprehensively explores the intricate relationship between banking reforms, economic well-being, and poverty reduction across the African continent. Delving into the historical roots of banking reforms, it examines the resilience of banking sectors in key African countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, MENA, and beyond.The findings suggest that much attention should be paid to the design of banking systems and how banks are regulated. This focus on banks differs from many discussions on the topic, which tend to be more concerned with other policy areas such as economic policy, international trade policy, and aid. The book’s extensive and contemporary overview of banking reforms enables a comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks, supervision practices, and government interventions. It evaluates theoretical frameworks linking banking reforms to bank stability and resilience, drawing on financial intermediation, resource allocation, systemic risk, and financial development concepts. It empirically tests the causal relationships between the Basel II/III capital reforms, bank sector resilience, economic growth, and poverty reduction and identifies and analyses the channels and mechanisms through which banking reforms affect economic welfare and poverty reduction in Africa, such as credit availability, financial efficiency, financial innovation, and financial access.The book offers an insightful exploration into a brighter economic future on the African continent. The findings presented herein offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners striving to enhance financial stability, foster economic growth, and alleviate poverty in Africa.
Basalts and Phase Diagrams: An Introduction to the Quantitative Use of Phase Diagrams in Igneous Petrology
by Stearns A. MorseIn this newly revised and expanded edition the reader finds both an introduction to igneous petrology and an exposition of the quantitative use of phase diagrams in understanding the origin and crystallization history of basic magmas. The book provides a step-by- step analysis of crystallization and melting in a limited number of geologically significant phase diagrams. The limiting processes of fractional and equilibrium melting and fractional and equilibrium crystallization are rigorously examined. Examples of the use of phase diagrams are drawn from the literature of layered intrusions, redox equilibria in iron-bearing systems, and the high pressure equilibria of melting in the mantle.
Bauphysik-Kalender 2024: Schwerpunkte: Klimagerechtes Bauen; Brandschutz (Bauphysik-Kalender-eBundle (Ernst & Sohn))
by Nabil A. FouadDer Bauphysik-Kalender 2024 gibt Praxishinweise für die klimagerechte Planung von Gebäuden, aber auch von urbanen Räumen. Diese sind durch die hohen Verdichtungen und Versiegelungen besonders anfällig gegenüber der Klimaveränderung mit häufigeren Extremwetterereignissen. Aber sie sind gestaltbare Orte, an denen durch eine interdisziplinäre und zukunftsorientierte Planung eine weitere Verschärfung des Klimawandels gebremst und die Resilienz von Mensch, Flora und Fauna gegenüber seinen Folgen gestärkt werden kann. Das Buch bietet aktuelles Wissen um bauphysikalische Prozesse zu verstehen, Potenziale von Konstruktionen gezielt auszuschöpfen und die Gebäudetechnik und Automatisierung funktional zu halten. Außerdem werden Tools und Nachweisverfahren getestet und kommentiert, mit deren Hilfe Bilanzen über die Umweltwirkungen von Gebäuden bzw. Bewertungen der Klimaanpassung von Gebäuden ermittelt werden können. Der zweite diesjährige Schwerpunkt Brandschutz widmet sich der Holzbauweise sowie der Untersuchung von Brandeinwirkungen durch E-Fahrzeuge und kraftstoffbetriebene Fahrzeuge in Parkgaragen. Der Bauphysik-Kalender 2024 bietet eine solide Arbeitsgrundlage und ein verlässliches aktuelles Nachschlagewerk für die Planung in Neubau und Bestand, alle Kapitel bewegen sich nahe an der Ingenieurpraxis. Das Buch enthält Planungshinweise, Konzepte und Praxisbeispiele.
Bavarität: Krisenbewältigung im baukulturellen Raum
by Mark KammerbauerDas Buch befasst sich mit der Architektur, dem Städtebau und der Stadtplanung im Freistaat Bayern aus interdisziplinärer, urbanistischer Sicht. Damit verbundene baukulturelle Partizipation kann zur Bewältigung von Krisen beitragen, wenn sowohl Akteure der Planung und Gestaltung als auch der Nutzung berücksichtigt werden. Ziel des Buches ist, den gebauten Raum Bayerns zu lesen und zu verstehen, ihn einer Kritik zu unterziehen, dabei die Erfolge nicht auszublenden, um Lösungen zu präsentieren und um schließlich Raum für die Reflexion und das Imaginieren zu "bauen". Wenn Menschen die gebaute Umwelt lesen und verstehen, dann informiert das auch ihr Handeln, insbesondere, wenn sie partizipativ an Planungs- und Gestaltungsprozessen für die Errichtung des gebauten Raums beteiligt sind. Um diese Phänomene ihrem Kontext entsprechend zu fassen und zu deuten, schlägt das Buch den Begriff der Bavarität vor. Im Fall des Freistaats Bayern und seines ländlich-städtischen Kontinuums als Ergebnis historischer baulich-räumlicher Entwicklung, durch Tradition und Moderne konturiert, stellt Bavarität eine sozio-kulturelle Leistung dar, deren Ergebnis in der Partizipation aller Beteiligten gründet und nicht endet.
Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide
by Jeff MillerLearn about the wildlife of the Bay Area from a lifelong protector of endangered species, and enjoy the wild ride.Jeff Miller's quirky guide to the coolest animal neighbors in the Bay Area will have you gawking at elk, whooping with cranes, and crowning yourself a crossing guard for newts before you know it. Join Jeff on a local safari to meet more than sixty species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, and discover the fascinating and sometimes bizarre mating, feeding, and athletic antics of our most charismatic animals.Portraits by Obi Kaufmann, the renowned conservationist artist who created The California Field Atlas, bring each animal to vivid life alongside fun facts, comical photos, and maps to help you scope out the best spots to find your furred, feathered, slimy, and slithery friends. Imbued with the author’s deep compassion for the well-being of our local fauna, Bay Area Wildlife reveals why each of these creatures matters, as well as the threats that loom over our region's incredible biodiversity.
Bayesian Nonparametric Statistics: École d’Été de Probabilités de Saint-Flour LI - 2023 (Lecture Notes in Mathematics #2358)
by Ismaël CastilloThis up-to-date overview of Bayesian nonparametric statistics provides both an introduction to the field and coverage of recent research topics, including deep neural networks, high-dimensional models and multiple testing, Bernstein-von Mises theorems and variational Bayes approximations, many of which have previously only been accessible through research articles. Although Bayesian posterior distributions are widely applied in astrophysics, inverse problems, genomics, machine learning and elsewhere, their theory is still only partially understood, especially in complex settings such as nonparametric or semiparametric models. Here, the available theory on the frequentist analysis of posterior distributions is outlined in terms of convergence rates, limiting shape results and uncertainty quantification. Based on lecture notes for a course given at the St-Flour summer school in 2023, the book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in statistics and probability.
Bayesian Spatial Modelling with Conjugate Prior Models
by Henning Omre Torstein M. Fjeldstad Ole Bernhard ForbergThis book offers a comprehensive overview of statistical methodology for modelling and evaluating spatial variables useful in a variety of applications. These spatial variables fall into three categories: continuous, like terrain elevation; events, like tree locations; and mosaics, like medical images. Definitions and discussions of random field models are included for each of these three previously mentioned spatial variable types. Moreover, the readers will have access to algorithms suitable for applying this methodology in practical problem solving, and the computational efficiency of these algorithms are discussed. The presentation is made in a consistent predictive Bayesian framework, which allows separate modelling of the observation acquisition procedure, as a likelihood model, and of the spatial variable characteristics, as a prior spatial model. The likelihood and prior models uniquely define the posterior spatial model, which provides the basis for spatial simulations, spatial predictions with associated precisions, and model parameter inference. The emphasis is on Bayesian spatial modelling with conjugate pairs of likelihood and prior models that are analytically tractable and hence suitable for data abundant spatial studies. Alternative methods frequently used in spatial statistics are presented using a unified notation. The book is suitable as a textbook for a ‘Spatial Statistics’ course at the MSc or PhD level, as it also includes algorithm descriptions, project texts, and exercises.
Bayou Dilemma: Louisiana in Crisis and Change (America's Third Coast Series)
by Samuel C. HydeContributions by Janet Allured, Craig E. Colten, Marcus S. Cox, Pearson Cross, John Bel Edwards, Adam Fairclough, Keith M. Finley, Samuel C. Hyde Jr., John A. Lopez, and Robert Mann In the fall of 2022, a diverse group of scholars including scientists, historians, political scientists, geographers, and journalists, along with Governor John Bel Edwards, gathered to present views on the challenges that define life in Louisiana. Born out of the symposium, Bayou Dilemma: Louisiana in Crisis and Change is an unprecedented compilation that examines the social, political, environmental, and economic hurdles pervasive to the Gulf South and especially the Bayou State. The essays collected in the volume illuminate pressing problems confronting Louisiana and its surrounding environs, as well as some of the least known and most frequently misunderstood issues that have affected the state in the past. Topics include the problems of flood control, unequal treatment for African Americans and women, political corruption, endemic violence, and partisan applications of justice, as well as the crisis of coastal erosion, the dilemma of special interests shaping legislation, and the corresponding drain of talent from the state to regions offering improved opportunities. The anthology is a provocative and essential guide that reveals how such trials emerged, how they were overcome or managed, and how they continue to shape the Gulf South’s regional identity. Concentrating on the future well-being of the state and its occupants, the volume suggests fresh pathways for addressing these lingering concerns.
Bayou Harvest: Subsistence Practice in Coastal Louisiana (America's Third Coast Series)
by Helen A. Regis Shana WaltonTo inhabitants of the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana, food is much more than nourishment. The acts of gathering, preparing, and sharing food are ways to raise children, bond with friends, and build community. In Bayou Harvest: Subsistence Practice in Coastal Louisiana, Helen A. Regis and Shana Walton examine how coastal residents deploy self-reliance and care for each other through harvesting and sharing food. Pulling from four years of fieldwork and study, Walton and Regis explore harvesting, hunting, and foraging by Native Americans, Cajuns, and other Bayou residents. This engagement with Indigenous thinkers and their neighbors yields a multifaceted view of subsistence in Louisiana. Readers will learn about coastal residents’ love for the land and water, their deep connections to place, and how they identify with their food and game heritage. The book also delves into their worries about the future, particularly storms, pollution, and land loss in the coastal region. Using a set of narratives that documents the everyday food practices of these communities, the authors conclude that subsistence is not so much a specific task like peeling shrimp or harvesting sassafras, but is fundamentally about what these activities mean to the people of the coast. Drawn together with immersive writing, this book explores a way of life that is vibrant, built on deep historical roots, and profoundly threatened by the Gulf’s shrinking coast.
Beaches, Bays, and Barrens: A Natural History of the Jersey Shore
by Eric G. BolenThe Jersey Shore attracts millions of visitors each year, drawn to its sandy beaches. Yet New Jersey’s coastline contains a richer array of biodiverse habitats than most tourists realize, from seagrass meadows to salt marshes to cranberry bogs. Beaches, Bays, and Barrens introduces readers to the natural wonders of the Jersey Shore, revealing its unique ecology and fascinating history. The journey begins with the contributions and discoveries of early naturalists who visited the region and an overview of endangered species and natural history, followed by chapters that explore different facets of the shore’s environments. These start with sandy beaches and dunes and culminate in the engaging Pine Barrens, the vital watershed for much of the state’s varied coastline. Along the way, readers will also learn about whaling, decoy carvers, an extinct duck, and the cultivation of wild blueberries. Including over seventy color photographs, the book also features twenty-three infoboxes that go deep into areas of ecological or historical interest, such as the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge or the Jaws-like shark attacks of 1916. From Cape May to Sandy Hook, biologist Eric G. Bolen takes you on a guided tour of the Jersey Shore’s rich ecological heritage.
Beautiful Rocks and How to Find Them: A Modern Rockhound's Guide
by Alison Jean ColeNew to rockhounding or ready to ramp up your skills? This contemporary guide to rock collecting goes beyond the "where and how" to include info on environmental impact, land stewardship, and building a truly meaningful collection.Do you love rocks and gems? Are you a geology enthusiast? This informative guidebook by professional lapidary artist and outdoor recreation guide Alison Jean Cole shows you that beautiful rocks can be found anywhere. You’ll be expertly guided through the practice of rockhounding (looking for rocks) while learning how to be gentle on the earth.Unlike traditional rock guides, which take readers to well-trodden locations in each state, this book can be used anywhere in the United States or Canada. You'll be guided through the process of becoming an adept rockhound, including:How to read geologic maps and way-findHow to consider the ethics of rock collectingDeveloping your personal tastes in rocks and building a collectionPacked with information and fifty-eight accompanying full-color photos, Beautiful Rocks and How to Find Them is perfect for seasoned collectors and beginner rockhounds alike. It also makes a wonderful gift or self-purchase for nature lovers and rock, mineral, and fossil enthusiasts who love looking for and identifying cool rocks in the wild but could use some expertise and guidance.
Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life
by Ferris JabrA vivid account of a major shift in how we understand Earth, from an exceptionally talented new voice. Earth is not simply an inanimate planet on which life evolved, but rather a planet that came to life.&“Glorious . . . full of achingly beautiful passages, mind-bending conceptual twists, and wonderful characters. Jabr reveals how Earth has been profoundly, miraculously shaped by life.&”—Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author of An Immense WorldFINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE • FINALIST FOR THE OREGON BOOK AWARD • AN AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Smithsonian, Chicago Public Library, Booklist, Scientific American, NatureA BEST BOOK OF THE SUMMER: The Atlantic and NPR&’s Science FridayOne of humanity&’s oldest beliefs is that our world is alive. Though once ridiculed by some scientists, the idea of Earth as a vast interconnected living system has gained acceptance in recent decades. We, and all living things, are more than inhabitants of Earth—we are Earth, an outgrowth of its structure and an engine of its evolution. Life and its environment have coevolved for billions of years, transforming a lump of orbiting rock into a cosmic oasis—a planet that breathes, metabolizes, and regulates its climate.Acclaimed science writer Ferris Jabr reveals a radical new vision of Earth where lush forests spew water, pollen, and bacteria to summon rain; giant animals engineer the very landscapes they roam; microbes chew rock to shape continents; and microscopic plankton, some as glittering as carved jewels, remake the air and sea.Humans are one of the most extreme examples of life transforming Earth. Through fossil fuel consumption, agriculture, and pollution, we have altered more layers of the planet in less time than any other species, pushing Earth into a crisis. But we are also uniquely able to understand and protect the planet&’s wondrous ecology and self-stabilizing processes. Jabr introduces us to a diverse cast of fascinating people who have devoted themselves to this vital work.Becoming Earth is an exhilarating journey through the hidden workings of our planetary symphony—its players, its instruments, and the music of life that emerges—and an invitation to reexamine our place in it. How well we play our part will determine what kind of Earth our descendants inherit for millennia to come.
Becoming a Farmer in Contemporary Japan (Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies)
by Niccolò LolliniBased on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in an agricultural cooperative running a training programme for aspiring farmers, this book explores the possibilities of agrarian and land-based modes of livelihood in contemporary Japan. The book is organised around the four key hurdles faced by new agricultural entrants: the acquisition of land and housing, farming know-how, capital, and market outlets. New farmers look with fresh eyes at agricultural issues, and their experiences provide a vantage point over the institutions shaping rural and agricultural life. The book documents the mounting problem of land and house abandonment in regional Japan, the role of agriculture in the revitalisation of rural communities, and the transformation of Japan’s agrifood system. To avoid reinforcing Japan’s exceptionalism, agricultural policy, farming practices, and fresh food distribution are analysed from a comparative perspective, shedding new light on processes of agrarian change in developed market economies. Providing an in-depth insight into pro-rural migration in the face of Japan’s shrinking regions and its declining agricultural sector, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of Japanese society, agrarian policy, and rural sociology.
Beekeeping in the End Times
by Larisa JašarevićEvery hundred years, as the story goes, two angels wonder out loud whether the bees are still swarming. For as long as the bees are swarming, the angels are reassured, the world holds together. Still, the tale suggests, the angels live in anxious anticipation of the End. Local beekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina retell the old tale with growing unease, as their honeybees weather the ground effects of climate change.Beekeeping in the End Times relates extreme weather events and quieter disasters that have been altering honey ecologies across Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2014. While world-wide endangerment of pollinators, and bees in particular, has been the subject of much global concern, effects of climate change on the indispensable honeybees,remain understudied. Drawing on a five-year long study, the book suggests that local apiarists' field observations resonate with many climate biologists' concerns and speculations about the future of plant-bee relations on the warming planet. Local practice also adds to the record complex and puzzling trends that make honey scarce in otherwise lush, biodiverse landscapes.To Bosnian Muslims, honeybees are more than pollinators. They are inspired beings whose honey is another form of divinely revelation. To appreciate the meaning of honeybees and to grasp the dire ecological catastrophe underway, Jašarević reads contemporary environmental writings and Sufi texts, she listens to the seasoned beekeepers and collects local wisdom tales. From start to finish, Jašarević pores over key Islamic texts, the Quran and the Hadith, and their popular retellings. The Islamic end-times lore, the book proposes, holds surprising lessons on how to live and strive in the 'not yet,' stalling the apocalypse.