Agrobiodiversity: Characterization, Utilization and Management
Edited by D Wood, Agrobiodiversity International, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, UK; J M Lennι, Agrobiodiversity International, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, UK
Pub Date: June 1999
Hardback
464 pages
Readership
Ecologists, biologists, agricultural scientists.
Main Description
Global attention to biodiversity has expanded in the past decade. Agricultural biodiversity is the most important part of biodiversity for human survival, yet has been neglected as a topic. This book provides a broad review of current thinking on agrobiodiversity - what it is, how it is conserved, and how it can be better utilized in sustainable farming. It brings together contributions from a wide geographical and disciplinary background. Emphasis is placed on functional interactions between components of agrobiodiversity in a range of farming systems, illustrated by many case studies. The book relates the evolution of agrobiodiversity and its successful management to the broader environment and to the growing need to conserve biodiversity in productive agricultural systems. It is essential reading for ecologists, biologists and agricultural scientists.
Main Contents
• Why agrobiodiversity? D Wood and J M Lennι
• The origins of agrobiodiversity in agriculture D Wood and J M Lennι
• The nature and role of crop biodiversity S Cox, India and D Wood
• Biodiversity in domesticated animals D Steane, FAO Regional Office, Thailand
• The regulation and functional significance of soil biodiversity in agroecosystems D A Wardle, Landcare Research, New Zealand, K E Giller, Wye College, UK and G M Barker, Landcare Research, New Zealand
• Pathogen biodiversity: its nature, characterization and consequences D J Allen, Higher Quantock, UK, J M Lennι and J M Waller, CABI Bioscience UK Centre, UK
• Insect biodiversity in agroecosystems: function, value and optimization J LaSalle, CABI Bioscience UK Centre, UK
• Determinants of agrobiodiversity in the agricultural landscape P J Edwards, Geobotanisches Institute ETH, Switzerland, J Kollmann, Geobotanisches Institute ETH and D Wood
• Traditional management of agrobiodiversity H D Thurston, Cornell University, USA, J Salick, Ohio University, USA, M E Smith, Cornell University, USA, P Trutmann, Institut fur Agrarwirschaft, Switzerland, J -L Pham, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines and R McDowell, North Carolina State University, USA
• Does plant breeding lead to a loss of genetic diversity? J R Witcombe, University of Wales, UK
• The effects of pest management on biodiversity in agroecosystems A Polaszek, CABI Bioscience, UK, C Riches, Natural Resources Institute, UK and J M Lennι
• The effects of alternative tillage systems on biodiversity in agroecosystems P J Edwards, Geobotanisches Institut ETH, Switzerland, C Abivardi, Geobotanisches Institute ETH, and W Richner, Institute of Plant Sciences, Switzerland
• Seed management systems and effects on diversity M Wright, VSO Field Officer, Belize and M Turner, ICARDA, Syria
• Conservation of agrobiodiversity J Engels, IPGRI, Italy and D Wood
• A conceptual framework for valuing on-farm genetic resources M Smale, CIMMYT, Mexico and M R Bellon, CIMMYT, Mexico
• Regulatory issues D Gisselquist, The World Bank, USA
• Agrobiodiversity and natural biodiversity: some parallels D Wood and J M Lennι
• Optimizing biodiversity for productive agriculture D Wood and J M Lennι
