The book “Biodiversity of Wetlands and Forests: A Nature Trail” focuses on biodiversity of wetlands and forests with special emphasis on field observations of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals recorded by the author in various geographical provinces of Gujarat, India. It highlights the need of biodiversity conservation, causes and concerns, exploitation of biodiversity, habitat destruction, interaction of man and technology with biodiversity, policy framework for biodiversity conservation, and wilderness and forests. Moreover, it summarizes a review on birds with special emphasis on geographical and ecological distribution of avifauna of north-western India, birds in ancient times with myths and motifs, an integral association of trees and birds, birds migration, magnetic orientation of birds, and mythological beliefs about birds. The present book covers exhaustive information on wetlands for tourism, important wetlands of national importance, wise use, characteristics and prime importance of wetlands as enduring habitats, and threats to viable wetlands. It emphasizes significant wetlands as abode for avifauna, wetlands as bird habitats, significant factors for survival of wetland birds, importance of wetlands for birds’ population, influence of wetlands on waterfowl population, wetland loss and decline of bird diversity, threats to avian habitats, and conservation and management strategies for potential avian ecosystems and legal policy framework for sustainability of waterbirds. The book is written in articulate manner citing notable sightings of some unique floral and faunal elements in the forested pockets. It encompasses archetypal records of plants, animals and birds along with their distinctive occurrence, feeding patterns, conservation, and management of threatened biodiversity, and many more. It describes some remarkable, noteworthy and astonishing sightings of species inhabiting in potential niches, habitats and ecosystems of Western India. Here, the author has shared his incidental as well as subsisting experiences in amazing habitats amidst the nature trails of forested patches and thickets. This book will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of naturalists in the field. This book is a blend of two previously published books by the same author (Hiren B. Soni, Ph.D.) viz. ‘Biodiversity, Birds and Wetlands’, and ‘Biodiversity and Birds: A Field Journey’. This book is published to be handy and helpful to every reader and amateur of the world. Author believes that it would surely be a ready-reference for every researcher as well as nature lover in each and every corner of the world.

The book “Ecological and Environmental Science: A Research Perspective” is a compilation of authors' original research papers, scientific articles, review articles, popular articles, general articles, and short notes on forest ecology, wetland ecology, plant ecology, bird ecology, and animal ecology. The book is a perfect amalgamation of burgeoning and thrust topics spanning biodiversity, and conservation and management of floral and faunal elements including ecology and biodiversity of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic macrophytes, mangroves, terrestrial plants, animals (butterflies, reptiles, mammals) and birds. It covers ecological and environmental factors affecting abiotic and biotic components prevailed in forest, desert, grassland and wetland habitats and ecosystems. The present book highlights field studies and laboratory investigations carried out by the authors during their research journey of 22 years (1998-2020). It discusses phenology, ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal and aesthetic values of plants, resource use patterns by local inhabitants, socio-cultural aspects, livelihood dependency, rare and endangered plants, animals and birds, anthropogenic pressures, conservation and management strategies of endemic, exotic, and invasive species, and so on. The book covers unique and promising research topics e.g. hydrochemistry, geochemistry, biomonitoring of heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial plants, metal remediation, environmental modeling, environmental archaeology, environmental bioindicators, environmental forensics, etc. The authors believes that this book is a perfect blend of their research work on two integral branches of biology i.e. ecology and environmental science, which will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of laymen and scientific community world over especially in the field of ecology and biodiversity of plants, animals, and birds, associated with physical, chemical, biological, ecological and environmental factors. The present book would certainly be useful and handy as a ready-reference material for students, academicians, researchers, scientists, ecological and environmental consultants, restoration specialists, practitioners, conservationists, and biodiversity managers at regional, national and global platform.

The book “Ecology and Environment: A Research Paradigm” is a compilation of author’s original research papers, scientific articles, review articles, popular articles, general articles, and short notes on forest ecology, wetland ecology, plant ecology, bird ecology, and animal ecology. The book is a perfect amalgamation of burgeoning and thrust topics spanning biodiversity, and conservation and management of floral and faunal elements including ecology and biodiversity of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic macrophytes, mangroves, terrestrial plants, animals (butterflies, reptiles, and mammals) and birds. It covers ecological and environmental factors affecting abiotic and biotic components prevailed in forest, desert, grassland and wetland habitats and ecosystems. The present book highlights field studies and laboratory investigations carried out by the author during his research journey of 25 years (1998-2023). It discusses phenology, ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal and aesthetic values of plants, resource use patterns by local inhabitants, socio-cultural aspects, livelihood dependency, rare and endangered plants, animals and birds, anthropogenic pressures, conservation and management strategies of endemic, exotic, and invasive species, and so on. The book covers unique and promising research topics e.g. hydrochemistry, geochemistry, biomonitoring of heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial plants, metal remediation, environmental modeling, environmental archaeology, environmental bioindicators, environmental forensics, etc. The author believes that this book is a perfect blend of his research work on two integral branches of biology i.e. ecology and environment, which will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of scientific community of the world, especially in the field of ecology and biodiversity of plants, animals, and birds, associated with physical, chemical, biological, ecological and environmental factors. The present book would certainly be useful and handy as a ready-reference material for students, academicians, researchers, scientists, ecological and environmental consultants, restoration specialists, practitioners, conservationists, and biodiversity managers at regional, national and global platform.

The book “Floral Diversity of Kachchh Arid Ecosystem: A Unique Insight into Xeric Plants” focuses on biodiversity, ecology and taxonomy of plant diversity of altitudinal hill gradient environment viz. Kachchh Arid Ecosystem, Western Gujarat, India, with special emphasis on checklist of some rare, endangered and threatened plants. It encompasses the in-depth information on occurrence and distribution of general vegetation, species richness, frequency, density, abundance, commonness, and rarity of important and significant plant species exist in the region. The core theme of this book is floristic study and altitudinal diversity of hilly plants with special reference to species distribution, population dynamics, and community structure in addition to ethnobotany, ethnomedicine and phytosociology. The book embodies the vast and enormous information about ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal community of hilly habitats of Kachchh. This book also highlights the phytosociological aspects of grass species along with historical account, population structure, dominance, and dynamics. It summarizes the unique records of some noteworthy plants in relation to status, distribution, age structure, threats faced, etc. Besides, the book is a good repository of field records of some native and endemic plants used by locales as medications or panacea for curing incorrigible ailments. The special feature of this book is field monitoring, assessment and evaluation of native plants using grass-root techniques for survival, sustenance, revival, restoration, and rejuvenation of dwindling plant species of environmental, ecological, and economic importance of arid hill ecosystem.

This is an updated version of the best selling first edition, Ecological Census Techniques, with updating, some new chapters and authors. Almost all ecological and conservation work involves carrying out a census or survey. This practically focussed book describes how to plan a census, the practical details and shows with worked examples how to analyse the results. The first three chapters describe planning, sampling and the basic theory necessary for carrying out a census. In the subsequent chapters international experts describe the appropriate methods for counting plants, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. As many censuses also relate the results to environmental variability, there is a chapter explaining the main methods. Finally, there is a list of the most common mistakes encountered when carrying out a census.