Human Impact on the Natural Environment - Past, Present, and Future

Informationen zum Autor Professor Andrew Goudie, Director of the China Centre of the University of Oxford, was formerly head of the School of Geography and the Environment, and Master of St Cross College. He has also been President of the International Association of Geomorphologists. Klappentext The seventh edition of this classic student text explores the multitude of impacts that humans have had over time upon vegetation, animals, soils, water, landforms and the atmosphere. It also looks into the future and considers the ways in which climate changes and modifications in land cover may change the environment in coming decades. Extensively re-written, it contains many new statistical tables, figures, and references. It is essential reading for undergraduates in geography and environmental science, and for those who want a thorough, wide-ranging and balanced overview of the impacts of humans upon natural processes and systems from the Stone Age to the Anthropocene and who wish to understand the major environmental issues that concern the human race at the present time.Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/goudiehumanimpact. "As a resource for teachers, students or researchers in need of an assessment of human interactions with the planet, this is unbeatable; some would say essential." ( F rontiers of biogeography , 5 February 2013) Zusammenfassung The seventh edition of this classic student text explores the multitude of impacts that humans have had over time upon vegetation! animals! soils! water! landforms and the atmosphere. It also looks into the future and considers the ways in which climate changes and modifications in land cover may change the environment in coming decades. Inhaltsverzeichnis PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION xiABOUT THE COMPANION WEBSITE xiiPART I: THE PAST AND PRESENT 11 INTRODUCTION 3Chapter Overview 3The development of ideas 3The development of human population and stages of cultural development 7Hunting and gathering 11Humans as cultivators, keepers and metal workers 13Modern industrial and urban civilizations 20Points for review 25Guide to reading 252 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON VEGETATION 26Chapter Overview 26Introduction 26The use of fire 27Fires: natural and anthropogenic 29Some consequences of fire suppression 30Some effects of fire on vegetation 32The role of grazing 32Deforestation 34Secondary rain forest 42The human role in the creation and maintenance of savanna 43The spread of desert vegetation on desert margins 46The maquis of the mediterranean lands 51The prairies and other mid-latitude and high-altitude grasslands 51Post-glacial vegetational change in Britain and Europe 53Lowland heaths 55Introduction, invasion and explosion 56Air pollution and its effects on plants 61Forest decline 63Miscellaneous causes of plant decline 65The change in genetic and species diversity 66Conclusion: threats to plant life 67Points for review 68Guide to reading 693 HUMAN INFLUENCE ON ANIMALS 70Chapter Overview 70Domestication of animals 71Dispersal and invasions of animals 71Human influence on the expansion of animal populations 76Causes of animal contractions and decline: pollution 80Habitat change and animal decline 83Other causes of animal decline 86Animal extinctions in prehistoric times 90Modern-day extinctions 94Points for review 101Guide to reading 1024 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE SOIL 103Chapter Overview 103Introduction 103Salinity: natural sources 104Human agency and increased salinity 105Irrigation salinity 105Dryland salinity 107Urban salinity 108Interbasin water transfers 108Coastal zone salinity 109Consequences of salinity 110Reclamation of salt-affected lands 113Lateritization 113Accelerated podzolization and acidification 114Some anthrosols resulting from agriculture and urbanization 115Soil ...

Product details

• Authors: Andrew Goudie, Andrew S Goudie, Andrew S. Goudie
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 17.05.2013
• EAN: 9781118576571
• ISBN: 978-1-118-57657-1
• No. of pages: 422
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Structural and environmental engineering