Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity and Environmental Change in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of South Ecuador

• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Other Authors: Bendix, Jr̲g. (Editor), Beck, Erwin. (Editor), Brũning, Achim. (Editor), Makeschin, Franz. (Editor), Mosandl, Reinhard. (Editor), Scheu, Stefan. (Editor), Wilcke, Wolfgang. (Editor)
• Format: Electronic
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : Imprint: Springer, 2013.
• Series: Ecological Studies, Analysis and Synthesis, 221
• Subjects: Life sciences.; Regional planning.; Endangered ecosystems.; Conservation biology.; Climatic changes.; Environmental management.; Sustainable development.; Life Sciences.; Ecosystems.; Sustainable Development.; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning.; Climate Change.; Environmental Management.; Conservation Biology/Ecology.
• Online Access: https://ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38137-9

An interdisciplinary research unit consisting of 30 teams in the natural, economic and social sciences analyzed biodiversity and ecosystem services of a mountain rainforest ecosystem in the hotspot of the tropical Andes, with special reference to past, current and future environmental changes. The g...

Table of Contents:

• The Study Area
• Environmental Changes Affecting the Andes of Ecuador
• The Challenges of Sustainable Development in the Podocarpus-El Cn̤dor Biosphere Reserve
• The Concept of Ecosystem Services and its Application in the Research Unit RU 816
• Landscape History, Vegetation History and Past Human Impacts
• Past Dynamics of Speciation in Andean
• Mountain Rainforests
• Diversity in Soil Fungi and Invertebrates
• Plant Diversity and its Relevance for the Provision of Ecosystem Services
• Supporting, Regulating and Provisioning Hydrological Services
• The Carbon Balance of Tropical Mountain Forests Along an Altitudinal Transect
• Current Regulating and Supporting Services: Nutrient Cycles
• Natural Landslides which Impact Current Regulating Services: Environmental Preconditions and Modelling
• Conservation, Management of Natural Forests and Reforestation of Pastures to Retain and Restore Current Provisioning Services
• Mycorrhiza Networks Promote Biodiversity and Stabilize the Tropical Mountain Rain Forest Ecosystem <U+0013> Perspectives for Understanding Complex Communities
• Current Provisioning Services: Pasture Development and Use, Weeds (Bracken) and Management
• Current Provisioning Ecosystem Services for the Local Population: Landscape Transformation, Land Use, and Plant Use
• Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Payments are Key Factors in Mitigating Tropical Forest Loss
• Climate Change Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
• Global Climate Change Impacts on Local Climate and Hydrology
• Impacts of Local Land-Use Change on Climate and Hydrology
• Current and Future Variations of Nutrient Depositions and Influences on Tree Growth
• Nutrient Additions Affecting Matter Turnover in Forest and Pasture Ecosystems
• Effects of Nutrient Addition on the Productivity of Montane Forests and Implications for the Carbon Cycle
• Climate Change and its Impact on Current and Future Vegetation Dynamics and Carbon Cycling
• Sustainable Use of Tropical Forests: A Plea for a Landscape View
• Future Provisioning Services: Repasturisation of Abandoned Pastures, Problems and Pasture Management
• Towards a Sustainable Land Use Portfolio
• Knowledge Transfer for Conservation and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources <U+0013> a Case Study from Southern Ecuador
• The Role of Biodiversity Research for the Local Scientific Community.