Dynamic Aquaria: Building Living Ecosystems

by Walter H. Adey, Karen Loveland

Overview

In its third edition, this praised book demonstrates how the living systems modeling of aquatic ecosystems for ecological, biological and physiological research, and ecosystem restoration can produce answers to very complex ecological questions. Dynamic Aquaria further offers an understanding developed in 25 years of living ecosystem modeling and discusses how this knowledge has produced methods of efficiently solving many environmental problems. Public education through this methodology is the additional key to the broader ecosystem understanding necessary to allow human society to pass through the next evolutionary bottleneck of our species. Living systems modeling as a wide spectrum educational tool can provide a primary vehicle for that essential step. This third editon covers the many technological and biological developments in the eight plus years since the second edition, providing updated technological advice and describing many new example aquarium environments. - Includes 16 page color insert with 57 color plates and 25% new photographs - Offers 300 figures and 75 tables - New chapter on Biogeography - Over 50% new research in various chapters - Significant updates in chapters include: - The understanding of coral reef function especially the relationship between photosynthesis and calcification - The use of living system models to solve problems of biogeography and the geographic dispersal and interaction of species populations - The development of new techniques for global scale restoration of water and atmosphere - The development of new techniques for closed system, sustainable aquaculture

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780080469102
Publisher:	Elsevier Science & Technology Books
Publication date:	08/29/2011
Series:	Dynamic Aquaria Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	528
File size:	46 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Walter Adey received his B.S. in Geophysics from MIT, performed graduate studies at MIT and Harvard in Paleontology and Biology, and obtained his Ph.D. in Marine Botany and Geology from the University of Michigan. Since 1977, he has been the Director of the Marine Systems Laboratory at the Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Adey is an associate editor for Restoration Ecology and The Journal of Ecological Engineering. He has authored numerous publications, and has developed several exhibits and operational mesocosm systems.Karen Loveland is a multi-international award-winning documentary film maker who has produced and directed films for the Smithsonian Institution for over 30 years. In her present position as Deputy Director for Smithsonian Productions, she assists in the management and programming for Smithsonian media activities as well as overseas production and co-production using a wide variety of electronic technologies and formats. She founded the Smithsonians Motion Picture Unit in 1969. She has been the recipient of more than 70 prestigious national and international awards and honors.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Part I: Physical Environment2. The Envelope: Physical Parameters and Energy State3. Substrate: The Active Role of Rock, Mud, and Sand4. Water Composition: Management of Salinity, Hardness, and Evaporation5. The Input of Solar Energy: Lighting Requirements6. The Input of Organic Energy: Particulates and Feeding Part II : Biochemical Environment7. Metabolism: Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Biological Loading8. Organisms and Gas Exchange: Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, pH, and Alkalinity9. The Primary Nutrients—Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Silica: Limitation and Eutrophication10. Biomineralization and Calcification: A Key to Biosphere and Ecosystem Function11. Control of the Biochemical Environment: Filters, Bacteria, and the Algal Turf Scrubber Part III: Biological Structure12. Community Structure: Biodiversity in Model Ecosystems13. Trophic Structure: Ecosystems and the Dynamics of Food Chains14. Primary Producers: Plants That Grow on the Bottom15. Herbivores: Predators of Plants and Omnivores, Predators of Plants and Animals16. Carnivores: Predators of Animals17. Plankton and Planktivores: Floating Plants and Animals and Their Predators18. Detritus and Detritivores: The Dynamics of Muddy Bottoms19. Symbionts and Other Feeders Part IV: Ecological Systems in Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Aquaria20. Models of Coral Reef Ecosystems21. A Subarctic/Boreal Microcosm: Test of a Biogeographic Model22. Estuaries: Ecosystem Modeling and Restoration: Where Fresh and Salt Waters Interact23. Freshwater Ecosystem Models Part V: The Environment and Ecological Engineering24. Organisms and Natural Products: Commercial Ecosystem Culture25. Large Scale Water Quality Management with Solar Energy Capture Part VI: Summary26. Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Macrocosms: Building and Restoring Ecosystems: A Synthesis

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From the Publisher

A beautiful demonstration how the understanding derived from living ecosystems modeling leads to solutions to significant environmental problems