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This book provides in-depth information on Caatinga's geographical boundaries and ecological systems, including plants, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. It also discusses the major threats to the region's socio-ecological systems and includes chapters on climate change and fast and large-scale land-use changes, as well as slow and small-scale changes, also known as chronic human disturbances. Subsequent chapters address sustainable agriculture, conservation systems, and sustainable development. Lastly, the book proposes 10 major actions that could enable the transformation of Caatinga into a place where people and nature can thrive together.
Part I Introduction1. The Caatinga: understanding the challengesPart II Biodiversity2. Diversity and evolution of the flowering plants of the Caatinga Domain3. Ants of the Caatinga: diversity, biogeography and functional responses to anthropogenic disturbance and climate change4. Diversity, distribution and conservation of the Caatinga fishes: advances and challenges5. Ecology, biogeography and conservation of amphibians of the Caatinga6. Species composition, biogeography and conservation of the Caatinga Lizards7. The avifauna of the Caatinga: biogeography, ecology, and conservation8. Mammals of the Caatinga: diversity, ecology, biogeography and conservation9. Plant-animal interactions in the Caatinga: overview and perspectivesPart III Ecosystem Services10. Water as capital and its uses in the Caatinga11. People and natural resources in the Caatinga12. Cultural Services in the CaatingaPart IV Threats13. Human impacts on the Caatinga14. The socioecology of the Caatinga: understanding how natural resource use shapes an ecosystem15. Future climate change in the CaatingaPart V Solutions16. Sustainable agricultural uses in the Caatinga17. Conservation opportunities in the Caatinga18. Sustainable development in the CaatingaPart VI Conclusions19. The future of the Caatinga
Jose Maria Cardoso da Silva has a BSc. from Universidade Federal do Para, MSc. from Universidade de Brasilia and a PhD from the University of Copenhagen. He is currently Professor of the Department of Geography at the University of Miami. He has more than 15 years managing conservation programs and developing research on sustainable development around the world. Dr. Silva has published more than 100 papers and book chapters. He received several awards for his scientific accomplishments.
Inara R. Leal has the BSc from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina and a PhD from Universidade Estadual de Campinas. She is Adjunct Professor at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Her research is focused on how anthropogenic disturbances influence plant-animal interactions in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest. Dr. Leal has published more than a 100 papers and book chapters, and 6 books.
Marcelo Tabarelli has a BSc in Agronomic Engineering from Universidade Federal de Santa Maria and a PhD from Universidade de Sao Paulo. Currently, he is Associate Professor at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco with research activities devoted to plant ecology and conservation, particularly tropical forests. Dr. Tabarelli has published over 100 papers and dozens of book chapters.
"I consider this book an excellent example of how scientists worldwide can mobilize their efforts to propose sound solutions for one of the biggest challenges of modern times, i.e., how to protect the world's natural ecosystems while improving human well-being. I am sure this book will inspire more research and conservation action in the region and perhaps encourage other groups of scientists to produce similar syntheses about their regions."
– Russell Mittermeier, Ph.D. Executive Vice-Chair, Conservation International
