INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES Invasive Alien Species: Observations and Issues from Around the World Volume 1: Issues and Invasions in Africa Invasive alien species are spreading into new ecosystems each year. The impacts caused by these invaders can be swift and devastating. The topic of invasive alien species is large, complex, and globally significant at various scales, exacerbated by the globalization of world economies and increased trade and commerce that has overcome natural barriers to species movement. Invasive alien species threaten global food supplies, water quality and availability, and energy production and delivery. With the added risks associated with global climate change, the global homogenization of plants, animals, and microbes is a major factor in the decline in ecosystem health and ecosystem services worldwide. To counter this trend, there is a critical need to unify governments, cultures, and programs to improve cross-boundary coordination to effectively address the wide range of invasive alien species threats to the environment, economies, and to plant and animal health; particularly human health. This 4-volume work is the first to compile a set of useful material for key topics, to provide a better understanding of the overall global threat of invasive alien species and the diverse array of problems faced around the world, and assemble material that includes potential replicable solutions to overcome these threats. The books also highlight the threat posed by invasive alien species in terms of a global ‘call to action’. Since invasive species know no boundaries, it is our hope that by compiling material from different scientific and social perspectives around the world, and sharing knowledge and examples of a diverse array of associated topics, we can advance global awareness and improve unified national responses to the threat posed by invasive alien species.

This book offers the first comprehensive review of parasitic Crustacea, which are among the most successful and diverse parasites. Starting with an introductory chapter, followed by an historic overview and topic-specific chapters, each presenting a different aspect of parasitic crustacean biology, it enables readers to gain a better understanding of how these parasites function and allows direct comparisons between the different parasitic crustacean groups. The authors also discuss, in depth, the adaptations and interactions that have made parasitic Crustacea as successful as they are today, covering topics ranging from the history of their discovery, their biodiversity, phylogeny, evolution and life strategies to their role as vectors, or hosts of other organisms, and their significance in ecological processes. Consisting of ten chapters from leading international experts in the field, this volume offers a one-stop resource for all researchers, lecturers, students and practitioners.

The existing literature on limnology and fisheries of Indian reservoirs has been reviewed by covering more than 100 reservoirs located in various parts of the country. An assessment of environment-mediated production functions of reservoirs has been attempted. Since the ecosystem processes in reservoirs belonging to different geo-climatic regions exhibit wide variations depending on meteorological, morphometric and hydro-edaphic features of the impoundments, an effort has been made to gauge the influence of these abiotic variables on the production dynamics. Authentic information on water areas under different categories of reservoirs has been collected and interpreted in respect of all the Indian States. An attempt has also been made to resolve the anomalies pertaining to classification and nomenclature to the extent possible. Various fisheries management norms followed in the reservoirs of the country including the selection of species for stocking, stocking rate and introduction of exotic species have been reviewed. Indian reservoirs have been stocked with the Indo-Gangetic carps for many decades and the impact of this stocking has been assessed in terms of fish production and the indigenous faunistic diversity.

This book is a detailed risk assessment and biological synopsis of the bigheaded carps of the genus Hypophthalmichthys, which includes the bighead, silver, and largescale silver carps. It summarizes the scientific literature describing their biology, ecology, uses, ecological effects, and risks to the environment. -- Publisher's description.

Many fish species, like salmon and sturgeon, undertake extended migrations as part of their basic behavior, and other fish and invertebrates also undertake short-term or small-scale migrations at certain phases of their life cycles. Activities such as dam construction for water supply and power generation, channelization for navigation and flood control, land drainage and wetland reclamation for agricultural and urban use all have profound impact on the aquatic ecosystem and thus on natural fish populations. Fish passes are often the only way to make it possible for aquatic fauna to pass obstacles that block their up-river journey. Based on knowledge and experience from mainly Europe and North America, this book describes the various types of fish passes, with special emphasis to "close-to-nature" solutions.