Books in Agricultural science

Light Transducing Membranes

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
David Deamer
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 3 5 5 3

Light Transducing Membranes: Structure, Function, and Evolution covers the proceedings of a joint United States-Australia conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 1977. Organized into four parts encompassing 19 chapters, the book focuses on structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of light energy transduction by membranes. The first part of the book explores the problems of how membrane-related biomolecules could have evolved prior to the origin of life, how amphiphiles might have become organized in lipid bilayer structures, and what mechanisms may have been available for light energy transduction. The mechanisms by which ions, lipids, and proteins interact in membrane systems are described in the next part of the book. Some chapters in the third part of the book cover the analysis of several bacterial membranes as reconstituted, light transducing systems, providing a new tool for investigating basic mechanisms. Relevant aspects of mitochondrial energy transduction are also covered. Finally, the last part presents mechanism analysis by which intact bacteria and chloroplasts interact with light energy, which represent the end product of several billion of years of evolution. Biological evolutionists, biologists, researchers, teachers, and students who are interested in various aspects of light transducing membranes will greatly benefit from this book.

Variable plants and herbivores in natural and managed systems

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
Robert Denno
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 2 8 7 8

Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems examines individual, population, species, and community responses of herbivores to plant variation, with emphasis on insects, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It is divided into five parts encompassing 18 chapters that discuss variability as a mechanism of defense used by plants against their parasites and the effects of variability on herbivores at several different levels of complexity. After a brief discussion on plant-herbivore interactions, the first part of this book considers sources of within-plant variation and effects on the distribution and abundance of herbivores. Part II examines interplant variation, the co-evolutionary problems it poses for herbivores, and the ecological and evolutionary responses of these animals. It discusses the effects of host-plant variability on the fitness of sedentary herbivorous insects. Part III discusses the role of host variability in the evolution of feeding specialization, genetic differentiation, and race formation. The importance of host variation to the organization of herbivore communities and the manipulation of host-plant variability for the management of herbivore pest populations are presented in the remaining parts. This book will be helpful to agriculturists, silviculturists, biologists, and researchers who wish to expand their knowledge in dynamics of plant-herbivore relationships.

Animal Population Ecology

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
J Dempster
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 6 0 8 4 1

Animal Population Ecology focuses on the interaction between the various factors that affect an animal population. Population ecology is the study of the factors that determine the abundance of species and is concerned with the identification and mode of action of those environmental factors that cause fluctuations in population size and of those which determine the extent of these fluctuations. Organized into 11 chapters, the book initially examines some of the basic ideas about animal populations and defines many of the terms used by population ecologists. Then, it describes the action of the most important factors affecting population size. The interaction between these factors is demonstrated in chapters 8 and 9, wherein the results from studies of a few selected species are presented in detail. Finally, chapters 10 and 11 cover the development of generalized theories of population dynamics and their application to practical problems. With a strong focus on intensive study of animal populations in the field, rather than elaborate theories, the book will be helpful to population ecologists, animal researchers, teachers, and students.

Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition V2

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
C.H. Dickinson
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 4 3 3 9

Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition, Volume II is organized into two parts. The first part focuses on the organisms involved in plant litter decomposition, particularly, their structure and function. The second part deals with the environmental conditions under which breakdown occurs over the whole global surface. This volume separately considers terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. Furthermore, it describes two anthropocentric aspects: agriculture, with an emphasis on the importance of the saprophytic activity of plant pathogenic fungi, and the increasingly important composting of urban waste. This book will be invaluable to science students and instructors, as well as to biologists, botanists, marine ecologists.

The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
James G. Dickson
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 2 3 5 8

The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems is a publication of the proceedings of The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems symposium, held on July 13 and 14, 1978 at Nacogdoches, Texas. The proceedings discuss the ecology of insectivorous birds and acknowledge their roles in forest ecosystems. The book begins with an introduction to and history of insectivorous birds and their roles in forest ecosystems. It then discusses the sampling methods for bird and insect populations, bird foraging strategies, and ecology of insectivorous bird species and communities. This book will be helpful to forest managers in managing insectivorous birds. It is also especially valuable in formulating biological control strategies for use in forests.

The Fine Structure of Algal Cells

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
John D. Dodge
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 8 2 3 7

The Fine Structure of Algal Cells is a hybrid between a review and a comprehensive descriptive work on fine structure of algae. Such fine structural data are important for any consideration of the classification of algae and for attempting to analyze their phylogenetic relationships. ”Fine-structure” has provided many vital keys to the understanding of the interrelationships and phylogeny of the algae. Notably, the trend in algal fine structure work is toward use of electron microscopy to try to understand the functions of cells and organelles under both normal and experimental conditions. This book brings together information which has been gathered by electron microscopists. It considers 13 classes of algae: Chlorophyceae, Haptophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Chloromonadophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Rhodophyceae, and Chrysophyceae. It covers the main structural features of the various classes and the organelles present in typical cells. The book also describes the algal cell covering, flagella, pyrenoid, eyespot, nucleus, and ejectile organelles,as well as membranes, envelope, and stroma of algal chloroplasts. Lastly, it also explains the algal cell division. This book will help students visualize and compare algal structure, and at the same time provide enough references so that research workers can enter the literature to find out more precise details from the original sources.

Mammalian Olfaction, Reproductive Processes, and Behavior

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
Richard Doty
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 4 5 0 5

Mammalian Olfaction, Reproductive Processes, and Behavior presents the conceptual, methodological, and empirical advances in the study of the complex interactions between nasal chemoreception, sexual behavior, and endocrine function in mammals. It focuses on the orders Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Primates. The book describes techniques for producing anosmia in laboratory animals and the usefulness of the popular pheromone concept in describing chemosensory influences on mammalian behavior and endocrinology. It also reviews studies examining reproductive endocrine-olfactory interactions in humans. Moreover, the book discusses the anatomy, physiology, and development of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems. This book is invaluable to anatomists, endocrinologists, mammalogists, physiologists, psychologists, and zoologists not only as a source book, but as a textbook on chemosensation as well.

Mitochondria in Higher Plants

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
Roland Douce
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 5 0 5 2

Mitochondria in Higher Plants: Structure, Function, and Biogenesis is a collection and interpretation of information on plant mitochondria. It explains not only the basic enzymology of ATP synthesis coupled to electron transport that seems to constitute the major activity of the mitochondria, but also many other aspects that make plant mitochondria rather more diverse than their animal counterparts. Organized into five chapters, this book begins with the morphological and cytological observations on mitochondria, and proceeding through membrane and matrix functions to participation in metabolism and biogenesis. Each section presents the unique properties of plant mitochondria within the framework of general mitochondrial structure and function. This book is intended not only for research workers and students interested in the enzymology of plant mitochondria respiration, but also for graduate and undergraduate students in the field of plant biochemistry, cell physiology, and molecular biology. It will be useful as a starting point for those students wishing to pursue special studies in this field.

Bacillus Subtilis

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
David Dubnau
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 2 5 2 5

The Molecular Biology of the Bacilli, Volume I: Bacillus subtilis focuses on areas of research traditionally investigated in Bacillus subtilis, as well as topics in which outstanding progress has been made. It discusses the sporulation, defective bacteriophage, and transformation of Bacillus subtilis. Organized into 11 chapters, the book begins with the genetic map of Bacillus subtilis, followed by DNA replication and RNA polymerase of the said species. The book then describes the translational apparatus of Bacillus subtilis. It also explains the genetic transformation in Bacillus subtilis; the sporulation genes; the regulatory mechanisms in the development of lytic bacteriophages in this species; the temperate Bacillus subtilis phages; the specialized transduction in Bacillus subtilis; and molecular cloning in this organism. Lastly, the book considers the most economically important areas of the microbiological industry employing bacilli, including the production of enzymes, nucleosides, riboflavin, and preparations pathogenic to insects. This book will be useful to scientists who are concerned with the use of Bacillus subtilis as a tool for the study of molecular biology and to those who wish to increase the medical, veterinary, and industrial usefulness of this and related organisms.

Toxins in Plant Disease

1st Edition
December 2, 2012
R Durbin
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 7 0 4 0

Toxins in Plant Disease presents a comprehensive coverage of plant disease toxins, both those for which there are reasonable evidence and those with fewer credentials. This book is primarily concerned with the mechanism wherein substances that interfere with metabolism or that alter the normal structure of protoplasm are produced and released (category 1); this includes the traditional toxins, which are usually of low molecular weight. It also describes category 2 mechanism, wherein substances that interfere with normal control of growth and development are produced and released; these microorganisms are classified as growth-affecting compounds. Moreover, this text addresses some high-molecular-weigh... compounds that contribute to vascular dysfunction. It further talks about the production, isolation, assay, genetics of production, mechanism of action, structure-activity relationship, metabolism, and applications of these toxins. This publication will provide a rational basis for future investigations and contribute to the eventual understanding of the role that toxins play in disease causation.

Related subjects

Agribusiness

Agricultural biotechnology

Agricultural chemistry

Agricultural climatology and meteorology

Agricultural computer and electronic systems

Agricultural development

Agricultural economics and policy

Agricultural engineering and technology

Agricultural legislation

Agriculture and environment

Agriculture general

Agronomy and crop science

Crop breeding and genetics

Crop diseases and phytopathology

Crop ecology

Crop genetics resources and evolution

Crop microbiology

Crop nutrients and nutrition

Crop pests and pest control

Crop physiology and biochemistry

Crop protection

Crop soil and water interaction

Crops and cropping systems

Energy in agriculture

Farm management

Farm mechanisation

Field crops

Horticulture

Industrial crops

Information technology in agriculture

Irrigation and drainage

Postharvest biology and technology

Precision agriculture

Processing of agricultural products

Range and pasture grasslands

Seed physiology production and technology

Temperate crops

Terramechanics

Tropical crops

Weeds and weed control

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health