Oribatid mites, also called beetle or moss mites, include more than 10,000 named species representing 172 families worldwide. This book provides an identification key to the 96 families, 250 genera and the c.580 described species for Canada and Alaska, a fauna that encompasses more than 50% of Northern Hemisphere genera. It includes known data on the ecology of species, their distribution in the Holarctic region, and relevant literature. Oribatid mites are model arthropods in studies on development, morphology, ecology, physiology, and biomechanics. Growing recognition of the importance of soil systems for agriculture, reclamation, carbon storage and climate mitigation has spurred recent interest in the vast soil biodiversity that provide these ecosystem services. Yet the major barrier to exploring and understanding soil biodiversity is lack of comprehensive and functional taxonomic and ecological treatments of key biotic groups; groups such as the oribatid mites. Oribatid Mites is unparalleled in the comprehensive nature of the information provided. The authors, two leading global experts for this group, hope that readers will come to share their understanding of oribatid mites as part of the charismatic microfauna, the imagery in this book conveying their unique beauty.

Oribatid mites, also called beetle or moss mites, include more than 10,000 named species representing 172 families worldwide. This book provides an identification key to the 96 families, 250 genera and the c.580 described species for Canada and Alaska, a fauna that encompasses more than 50% of northern Hemisphere genera. It includes known data on the ecology of species, their distribution in the Holarctic region, and relevant literature. Oribatid mites are model arthropods in studies on development, morphology, ecology, physiology, and biomechanics. Growing recognition of the importance of soil systems for agriculture, reclamation, carbon storage and climate mitigation has spurred recent interest in the vast soil biodiversity that provide these ecosystem services. Yet the major barrier to exploring and understanding soil biodiversity is lack of comprehensive and functional taxonomic and ecological treatments of key biotic groups; groups such as the oribatid mites. Oribatid Mites is unparalleled in the comprehensive nature of the information provided. The authors, two leading global experts for this group, hope that readers will come to share their understanding of oribatid mites as part of the charismatic microfauna, the imagery in this book conveying their unique beauty.

Highlights the key role played by taxonomy in the conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant biodiversity.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, this book explores how new technologies are facilitating more effective collection and dissemination of taxonomic data.

The depletion of biodiversity is an alarming problem all over the country. The world conservation strategy suggests that the initial effort of biodiversity conservation should aim at establishment and maintenance of a network of protected area systems by making policy changes involving local people in the protected areas management and mobilising financial resources for their conservation and protection. The problem of biodiversity conservation has become a global issue. It is being realised that forests existing in a country is not a resource just for that country, but for the whole of the world. The Amazoian Rain Forests have been called the Lungs of the World as they serve to purity of the global atmosphere by release of oxygen and absorption of Pollutants. The rate of deforestation is several times higher in the developing countries than the developed countries, as the forests are being felled to generate funds and space for development. The total number of species in the world is estimated to be around 5 to 30 million but of which about 1.4 millions species have been described. The total number of plant species in India is estimated to be about 45,000 (15,000 flowering plants, 64 gymnosperms, 2843 bryopthes, 1042 pteriodophytes, 1940 lichans and 23,000 fungi). Nearly 4900 of those species are endemic to India out of which 1500 are highly threatened (MOEF, 1994). Contents Chapter 1: Plant biodiversity; Chapter 2: Phyto sociological region of india; Chapter 3: Phyto sociological region of the trans-himalaya; Chapter 4: Phyto sociological region of the west himalaya; Chapter 5: Phyto sociological region of the eastern himalaya; Chapter 6: Phyto sociological region of north-east india; Chapter 7: Phyto sociological region of the indian desert; Chapter 8: Phto sociological region of the semi-aridzone; Chapter 9: Phyto sociological region of the gangetic plains; Chapter 10: Phyto sociological region of the western ghats; Chapter 11: Phyto sociological region of the deccan peninsula; Chapter 12: Phyto sociological region of the indian coasts; Chapter 13: Phyto sociological regions of andaman and nicobar islands; Chapter 14: Phyto sociological region of the lakshadeep islands; Chapter 15: Aquatic and wetland vegetation; Chapter 16: Weed and aliens; Chapter 17: Taxonomy: A view; Chapter 18: Angiosperms; Chapter 19: Gymnosperms; Chapter 20: Pteriodophytes; Chapter 21: Bryophytes; Chapter 22: Algae; Chapter 23: Ecology and distribution of the marine forms; Chapter 24: Fungi; Chapter 25: Lichens; Chapter 26: Botanical regions of india and their floristic compositions; Chapter 27: Some alien flowering plants.

This book is divided into three thematic areas. The first covers a revision of the taxonomy of algae, based on the algae portal, as well as the general aspects of biology and the methodologies used in this branch of marine biology. The second subject area focuses on the use of algae in environmental assessment, with an intensive implementation in Western economies and some emerging economies. The third topic is the potential use of algae in various industries including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agricultural fertilizers, and the emerging biofuels industries.