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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Conceptual Breakthroughs in Evolutionary Ecology

    • 1st Edition
    • November 18, 2019
    • Laurence Mueller
    • English
    Although biologists recognize evolutionary ecology by name, many only have a limited understanding of its conceptual roots and historical development. Conceptual Breakthroughs in Evolutionary Ecology fills that knowledge gap in a thought-provoking and readable format. Written by a world-renowned evolutionary ecologist, this book embodies a unique blend of expertise in combining theory and experiment, population genetics and ecology. Following an easily-accessible structure, this book encapsulates and chronologizes the history behind evolutionary ecology. It also focuses on the integration of age-structure and density-dependent selection into an understanding of life-history evolution.
  • A Physicochemical Theory of Tip Growth

    • 1st Edition
    • November 15, 2019
    • Pierre Pelce
    • English
    A Physicochemical Theory of Tip Growth presents the latest information on experimental observations on living organisms, including unicellular algae, hyphae and neurons. These theories are analogous to the ones developed for the growth of nonliving matter, as already exposed by the author in the book.
  • Milk Proteins

    From Expression to Food
    • 3rd Edition
    • November 15, 2019
    • Mike Boland + 1 more
    • English
    Milk Proteins: From Expression to Food, Third Edition contains contributions from internationally recognized authors from academia and industry. Professionals, academics and graduate students working in any of the dairy-related industries or disciplines will continue to find this updated information valuable to their work. Using a unique "field-to-table" approach, this third edition provides comprehensive coverage of new developments and insights into the entire dairy food chain – from the source, to the nutritional aspects affecting the customer. Containing three new chapters, this new edition continues to present a comprehensive overview of the biology, processing, chemistry, and nutrition of milk proteins and features the latest science and developments. Valuable application-based information is made available through the exploration of the use of milk proteins from industry viewpoints.
  • The Craft Brewing Handbook

    A Practical Guide to Running a Successful Craft Brewery
    • 1st Edition
    • November 12, 2019
    • Chris Smart
    • English
    The Craft Brewing Handbook: A Practical Guide to Running a Successful Craft Brewery covers the practical and technical aspects required to set up and grow a successful craft brewing business. With coverage of equipment options, raw material choice, the brewing process, recipe development and beer styles, packaging, quality assurance and quality control, sensory evaluation, common faults in beer, basic analyses, and strategies to minimize utilities, such as water and energy, this book is a one-stop shop for the aspiring brewer. The craft brewing sector has grown significantly around the world over the past decade. Many new breweries are technically naïve and have a thirst for knowledge. This book not only covers how to maximize the chances of getting production right the first time, it also deals with the inevitable problems that arise and what to do about them.
  • The Role of Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Food Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • November 11, 2019
    • Leonard Rusinamhodzi
    • English
    The Role of Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Food Systems reveals, in simple terms, the operational definition, concepts and applications of ecosystem services with a focus on sustainable food systems. The book presents case studies on both geographical and production system-wide considerations. Initial chapters discuss concepts, methodologies and the tools needed to understand ecosystem services in the broader food system. Middle and later chapters present different perspectives from case studies of ecosystem services derived from some of the key sustainable food production systems used by farmers, along with discussions on the challenges of deriving full benefits and how they can be overcome. Researchers, students, scientists, development practitioners and policymakers will welcome this reference as they continue their work related to sustainable food systems.
  • Plant Systematics

    • 3rd Edition
    • November 10, 2019
    • Michael G. Simpson
    • English
    Plant Systematics, Third Edition, has made substantial contributions to plant systematics courses at the upper-undergraduate and first year graduate level, with the first edition winning The New York Botanical Garden's Henry Allan Gleason Award for outstanding recent publication in plant taxonomy, plant ecology or plant geography. This third edition continues to provide the basis for teaching an introduction to the morphology, evolution and classification of land plants. A foundation of the approach, methods, research goals, evidence and terminology of plant systematics are presented, along with the most recent knowledge of evolutionary relationships of plants and practical information vital to the field. In this new edition, the author includes greatly expanded treatments on families of flowering plants, as well as tropical trees (all with full-color plates), and an updated explanation of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference algorithms. Chapters on morphology and plant nomenclature have also been enhanced with new material.
  • The Laboratory Rat

    • 3rd Edition
    • November 10, 2019
    • Mark A. Suckow + 3 more
    • English
    The third edition of The Laboratory Rat features updated information on a variety of topics, including rats as research models for basic and translational research in areas such as genomics, alcoholism, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, neuroscience, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, regenerative medicine, and infectious disease. New information related to the husbandry and veterinary care of rats is provided including topics related to nutrition, reproduction, anesthesia and surgery, infectious and noninfectious disease, and the care of surgical and other fragile models. It is a premier source of information on the laboratory rat, this book will be of interest to veterinary and medical students, senior graduate students, postdocs and researchers who utilize animals in biomedical research.
  • Insect Collection and Identification

    Techniques for the Field and Laboratory
    • 2nd Edition
    • November 9, 2019
    • Timothy J. Gibb + 1 more
    • English
    Insect Collection and Identification: Techniques for the Field and Laboratory, Second Edition, is the definitive text on all aspects required for collecting and properly preparing specimens for identification. This book provides detailed taxonomic keys to insects and related arthropods, giving recent classification changes to various insect taxa, along with updated preservation materials and techniques for molecular and genomic studies. It includes methods of rearing, storing and shipping specimens, along with a supporting glossary. New sections provide suggestions on how insects and other arthropods can be used within, and outside, the formal classroom and examine currently accepted procedures for collecting insects at crime scenes. This book is a necessary reference for entomology professionals and researchers who seek the most updated taxonomy and techniques for collection and preservation. It will serve as a valuable resource for entomology students and professionals who need illustrative and detailed information for easy arthropod identification.
  • Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables

    Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control
    • 1st Edition
    • November 8, 2019
    • Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui
    • English
    Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control covers conventional and emerging technologies in one single source to help industry professionals maintain and enhance nutritional and sensorial quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from a quality and safety perspective. The book provides available literature on different approaches used in fresh-cut processing to ensure safety and quality. It discusses techniques with the aim of preserving quality and safety in sometimes unpredictable environments. Sanitizers, antioxidants, texturizers, natural additives, fortificants, probiotics, edible coatings, active and intelligent packaging are all presented. Both advantages and potential consequences are included to ensure microbial safety, shelf-life stability and preservation of organoleptic and nutritional quality. Industry researchers, professionals and students will all find this resource essential to understand the feasibility and operability of these techniques in modern-day processing to make informed choices.
  • Plant Factory

    An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production
    • 2nd Edition
    • November 3, 2019
    • Toyoki Kozai + 2 more
    • English
    Plant Factory: An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production, Second Edition presents a comprehensive look at the implementation of plant factory (PF) practices to yield food crops for both improved food security and environmental sustainability. Edited and authored by leading experts in PF and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), the book is divided into five sections, including an Overview and the Concept of Closed Plant Production Systems (CPPS), the Basics of Physics and Physiology – Environments and Their Effects, System Design, Construction, Cultivation and Management and Plant Factories in Operation. In addition to new coverage on the rapid advancement of LED technology and its application in indoor vertical farming, other revisions to the new edition include updated information on the status of business R&D and selected commercial PFALs (plant factory with artificial lighting). Additional updates include those focused on micro and mini-PFALs for improving the quality of life in urban areas, the physics and physiology of light, the impact of PFAL on the medicinal components of plants, and the system design, construction, cultivation and management issues related to transplant production within closed systems, photoautotrophic micro-propagation and education, training and intensive business forums on PFs.