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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.

  • The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs

    • 1st Edition
    • Cyrus McKell
    • English
    The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs brings together the wide range of information about shrubs from many disciplines and world locations. The book is organized into seven parts. Part I describes the major shrublands found on each of the vegetated continents. It provides an overview of the dominant shrubland types as well as the associated features of soil and climate that influence the geographic distribution of major shrub species. Part II discusses environmental influences and plant responses. Part III considers the range of genetic diversity for important traits and how these may vary in different habitats. Part IV discusses the effects of stress on physiological processes of shrubs, and the kinds of strategies shrubs employ to meet physiological stress. Part V offers evidence to support the claim that the many virtues of shrubs provide a basis for sustaining shrub use for livestock fodder, wildlife habitat, reclamation and erosion control, fuel, and naturalized landscaping. Part VI outlines methods for collecting and processing seeds from natural stands or from superior genotypes planted in seed production orchards. Part VII describes cultural adaptation to shrub use in a livestock-dominated primitive culture, followed by a detailed economic analysis of establishing shrub plantations to improve livestock production.

  • Social Insects V1

    • 1st Edition
    • Henry Hermani
    • English
    Social Insects, Volume I is a part of a four-volume discourse and collection of research on insect sociobiology. This volume covers the “modern theory” with certain concepts of insect sociality, particularly through genetic, behavioral, and evolutionary pathways. This book consists of eight chapters, which mostly deal with the sociality of insects and other aspects. The first chapter provides an introduction to the subject of insect sociality. Topics in this chapter include definition of sociality, types of social insects, and insect sociobiology. The next chapter focuses on the origin and evolution of insect sociality and discusses the theories of origin of sociality. The following chapters discuss the aspects of social insects in terms of antiquity and territoriality. Caste differentiation and division of labor is also emphasized, as well as the genetics of sociality. The last two chapters deal with the larvae of the social hymenoptera and the social and evolutionary significance of social insect symbionts. This volume is a good reference for students and teachers in the study of entomology, zoology, and biology.

  • Seed Biology

    Importance, Development, and Germination
    • 1st Edition
    • T.T. Kozlowski
    • English
    Seed Biology, Volume I: Importance, Development, and Germination is a part of a three-volume treatise, which aims to bring together a large body of important information on seed biology. Organized into six chapters, this book begins with a discussion on the importance and characteristics of seeds. Separate chapters follow that discuss the development of gymnosperm and angiosperm seeds, as well as the anatomical mechanisms of seed dispersal. Other chapters focus on the morphogenetic events involved in the germination and the scientific basis for the concept of physiological predetermination or seedling vigor, including the potential application of this concept in agriculture, forestry, and management of natural resources. This work will be useful to various groups of research biologists and teachers, including plant anatomists, pathologists, and physiologists as well as agronomists, biochemists, ecologists, entomologists, foresters, and horticulturists.

  • Sexual Interactions in Eukaryotic Microbes

    • 1st Edition
    • Danton O'Day
    • English
    Sexual Interactions in Eukaryotic Microbes provides a comprehensive discussion of the sexual processes of eukaryotic microorganisms. The book is organized into three parts. Part I presents an overview of intercellular communication, covering the modes of cellular communication and the benefit of using eukaryotic microbes for studying cell communication. Part II on pheromonal interactions includes studies on the role of sex pheromones in organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Allomyces, Volvox, and Neurospora crassa. Part III on cell surface interactions presents studies such as sexual interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; sexual interactions of the cell surface in Paramecium; and the genetics and cellular biology of sexual development in Ustilago violacea. This book will be of value on a multitude of levels: from a general reference text to a source of research ideas. It will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers in a large number of disciplines, but will be particularly useful to cell biologists, microbiologists, protozoologists, and mycologists interested in the study of cellular communication.

  • Social Insects V2

    • 1st Edition
    • Henry Hermani
    • English
    Social Insects, Volume II is essentially a continuation and review of topics covered in Volume I. The main focus of this volume is on the systematic of eusocial hymenoptera and the closely associated realms of presocial insects and social non-insectan arthropods. Consisting of five major chapters, this volume starts with the chapter on the enemies and defense mechanisms of termites. Several mechanisms are discussed in this chapter, such as defense by the nest, workers, and soldiers. Chapter 3 focuses on presocial insects and a comparison of parental care without nests and based on nests. Chapter 4 discusses the sociality of Arachnida and emphasizes the patterns and evolution of sociality in Arachnida, particularly spiders. Two chapters discuss the social hymenoptera, including its defensive mechanisms and its systematics. This volume will be of great help to students and professionals in the field of entomology, biology, and zoology.

  • The Biology of Nematocysts

    • 1st Edition
    • Howard Lenhoff
    • English
    The Biology of Nematocysts is derived from a symposium dedicated to the exclusive discussion on the biology of nematocysts and cnidocytes. This book is basically a collection of the submitted reviews of contributors and research proceedings presented at the symposium. An introduction on the recognition and discovery of both cnidarians and nematocyst aptly begins the discussion in the book. The first chapter serves as an advanced reading that helps readers be familiarized with the terms used in the entire volume. The following chapters are subdivided into six parts, including topics on the ultrastructure, development, control and morphodynamics of discharge, biochemistry, and natural history. The multidisciplinary approach of the main themes is intended to fully understand the unique qualities of the intracellular structure of nematocyst. This volume will be of great benefit to students and researchers in biological science, cell biology, zoology, microbiology, and general physiology.

  • The Conservation of Insects and Their Habitats

    • 1st Edition
    • N.M. Collins
    • English
    The Conservation of Insects and their Habitats is a compilation of papers presented in the 15th Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society of London held at the Department of Physics Lecture Theatre Imperial College, London, on September 14-15, 1989. The papers cover topics on the diversity of entomological habitats and ecologicalroles around the world, and highlight the value of insects to humanity. Some practical proposals for conservation, especially in tropical forests and on islands, where their diversity is greatest, are also given. This book will add to the continuing force for the conservation and protection of biological diversity of the Earth.

  • The Development Of Dictyostelium Discoideum

    • 1st Edition
    • William Loomis
    • English
    The Development of Dictyostelium discoideum consists of 11 chapters representing the 11 major aspects at which continuous progress are made in the study of Dictyostelium discoideum. This book begins with the discovery, classification, ecology, and development of Dictyostelium discoideum. It then outlines the advances in genetic manipulation and mutant isolation of the organism. Much of the advances in cell biology have been related to a better understanding of the composition and function of the cell membrane. Hence, analyses of Dictyostelium plasma membranes are collated. This reference material also describes the role of chemoattractants in organizing cell movements and the intracellular events triggered by occupancy of chemoreceptors. It also explains the understanding of the macromolecular components of the chemosensory system of Dictyostelium discoideum. It further discusses the cell motility, cell adhesion, morphogenetic signaling, cytodifferentiation, and gene expression in the species. Finally, the phenomenon of cell-type specification and regulation in this organism is addressed. This book will be valuable for those already familiar with the general outlines of Dictyostelium biology.

  • Cell Biology of Physarum and Didymium V2

    Differentiation, Metabolism, and Methodology
    • 1st Edition
    • Henery Aldrich
    • English
    Cell Biology of Physarum and Didymium, Volume II: Differentiation, Metabolism, and Methodology summarizes important experimental research using Physarum and Didymium for developmental and cellular studies. This book is organized into three parts, encompassing 28 chapters that cover the differentiation, metabolism, and experimental techniques for cellular studies. After presenting an introduction to some aspects of developmental biology, this volume describes the ultrastructure and physiology of sporulation, spore germination, encystment, excystment, spherulation, and spherule germination. This is followed by a discussion on regulatory events leading to morphogenesis and on biochemical, physiological, and structural data on the amoeboid stage. The second part focuses on metabolic aspects. This includes metabolic characteristics of myxomycetes; the formation of nucleotides in Physarum by de novo synthesis and from nucleic acid degradation products; and radiation and radiomimetic agents on myxomycete species. Considerable chapters in the concluding part are devoted to procedures and protocol for isolation of cell components from Physarum and Didymium species. This volume also evaluates some techniques, including electron microscopy, time-lapse microcinematography, phase-contrast microscopy, Feulgen staining, and culture methods. The concluding chapters examine the preparation, isolation, and characterization of ribonucleic acid, histone, plasmodial polysaccharides, myosin, actins, and fragmin. The book will serve as a frequent, single reference source to brief cell biologists on the primary research on Physarum and Didymium. It will also be a good source for graduate students in cell biology and perhaps in other graduate courses.

  • Developmental Regulation

    Aspects of Cell Differentiation
    • 1st Edition
    • Stuart Coward
    • English
    Developmental Regulation: Aspects of Cell Differentiation draws together some studies which are directed toward the orderly changes in cell phenotypes that are understood to be developmental in nature. Organized into nine chapters, the book begins with a concise overview of the studies on molecular synthesis during early development. It then addresses the developmental regulation in cotton seed embryogenesis and germination; relation of hormonal regulation to the possible control of RNA and protein biosynthesis; transitions in differentiation by the cellular slime molds; and interrelationships of genes, enzymes, structures, and phenotypes in morphogenesis. It also explains the colony differentiation in green algae; cytology of developing vertebrate skeletal muscle; some comparative aspects of cardiac and skeletal myogenesis; and differentiation of cartilage in the limb.

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