Ecosystem and Species Adaptations in the Andean-Amazonian Region : Traditional Land-Use Systems in Peru

This book focuses on ecosystems and species adaptations in the unique Peruvian Andean-Amazonian region. The presence of the Andes as the backbone is the cause of the huge ecosystem diversity and biodiversity of species that characterize the Andean-Amazonian ecosystems. The complex orography of Peru as results of the Andes presence in its tropical setting favors the occurrence of local climatic features that provide diverse environmental conditions for multiple, unique plant and animal species, many of them endemic to the Andes. The book will introduce the reader to the climatic history and geography of the Peruvian Andes and the Peruvian Natural Areas Protection system focusing on the Manu and Northwest biosphere reserves given their relevant ecological importance as well as the relationship between them and the local population. Important global topics like urbanization, deglaciation and global warming will be analyzed and discussed due to their impact in the Andes-Amazon ecosystems.Finally, the traditional land-use systems, agrobiodiversity and agrodiversity in Peru are present and linked with the climate change adaptations. Preface Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures List of Tables About the Author Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Ecology Applied on the Neotropic Ecosystems 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Ecology as a Science 1.2.1 Approaches of Ecology 1.2.2 What Does Ecology Study? 1.3 Ecosystem 1.3.1 Components of an Ecosystem 1.3.2 Processes Within an Ecosystem 1.4 Community 1.5 Population 1.6 Ecosystems and Species Adaptations References Chapter 2: Natural Resources and Sustainable Development in Peru 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Mineral Resources 2.2.1 Mining in the Environmental History of the Republic of Peru 2.2.2 Environmental Liabilities 2.2.3 Scientific Theories About the Extraction of Resources 2.3 Soil Resources: Agriculture 2.3.1 Soil 2.3.2 Agriculture 2.4 Biodiversity Resources: Forests 2.4.1 The Forest in Peruvian History 2.4.2 The Forests and Biodiversity Management 2.4.3 Forests and Climate Change: Forest Fires 2.5 Sustainable Development and Natural Resources 2.5.1 Sustainable Development Objectives 2.6 Summary References Chapter 3: Classification of the Peruvian Ecosystems 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Diversity 3.2.1 Intermediate Disturbance Theory 3.2.2 The Theory of Island Geography 3.2.3 Growth Strategies 3.2.4 Evolutionary Process 3.3 Landscape References Chapter 4: Peruvian Ecosystems Geography 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Peruvian Ecosystems Geography 4.3 Agriculture 4.4 Cattle Herding 4.5 Climate Change References Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Endemism of the Andes 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Biodiversity Conservation 5.2.1 Endemic Species 5.2.2 Fragile Habitat 5.2.3 Islands 5.2.4 Ecological Niche 5.2.5 Evolution and Extinction 5.2.6 Natural Selection 5.3 The Andes and the Huancabamba Depression 5.4 Biodiversity Conservation Management 5.5 Causes of Biodiversity Decline 5.5.1 Green Revolution References Chapter 6: Ecological Communities, Populations, and Metapopulations 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Ecological Community 6.2.1 Delimiting and Defining the Community 6.2.2 Community Characteristics 6.2.3 Association 6.2.4 Species Diversity of a Community 6.2.5 Equity Within a Community 6.2.6 Metacommunity 6.3 Population 6.3.1 Characteristics of a Population 6.3.2 Population Dynamics 6.3.3 Population Growth Models 6.4 Metapopulation 6.5 Diversity Gradients References Chapter 7: Succession and Change of the Ecosystems 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Ecological Succession Process 7.3 Types of Succession 7.4 Factors Leading to Climax 7.5 Types of Succession According to Productivity References Chapter 8: Biodiversity of the Amazonia Basin 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Biodiversity 8.2.1 Biodiversity Conservation 8.2.2 Ecosystem Conservation 8.3 Amazonic Basin Diversity 8.3.1 Geology and Climate 8.3.2 Landscape 8.3.3 Amazon Rivers and Diversity 8.3.4 Species Diversity 8.3.5 Plant Diversity 8.4 Plant Adaptations in the Tropical Rainforest 8.5 Forms of Growth in the Andean-Amazon Region 8.6 History of the Use of Biodiversity from the Perspective of Cultural Ecology in the Andean Amazonian Area References Chapter 9: Peruvian Protected Natural Areas 9.1 Introduction 9.2 History of NPAs Creation in Peru 9.3 NPAs Definition and Categories 9.4 Natural Areas in Peru 9.5 Species Conservation Management 9.5.1 Ecological Corridor Applied to the Protected Natural Areas in Peru 9.5.2 Landscape Conservation Management References Chapter 10: The Paramo Ecosystems 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The Ecosystem 10.3 Origin of Diversity 10.4 Vegetation and Growth Forms 10.5 Fauna 10.6 The Paramo’s Soil 10.7 Grazing 10.8 Anthropic Ecosystem 10.9 Sustainable Development 10.9.1 Results of Research on the Paramos 10.9.2 The Locality of Frías 10.9.2.1 Locality of the Samanga and San Juan de Cachiaco Community 10.9.2.2 The Segundo and Cajas Locality 10.9.2.3 Comparative Botany of the Studied Spaces 10.10 Sustainable Development of the Study Spaces 10.11 Pending Research References Chapter 11: The Humboldt National Forest 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The Ecosystem 11.3 The Alexander von Humboldt Settlement and the Forest 11.4 Socio-environmental Conflicts 11.5 Sustainable Development References Chapter 12: The Northwest Biosphere Reserve 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Ecosystems 12.3 Population That Inhabits the Reserve 12.3.1 National Park 12.3.2 Tumbes Mangroves National Sanctuary 12.4 The El Niño Phenomenon References Chapter 13: Urban Ecosystems and Sustainable Development 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Urban Ecosystem 13.3 Green Infrastructure 13.4 Sustainable Development and Circular Economies in Cities 13.4.1 Air 13.4.2 Water 13.4.3 Ground 13.4.4 Recycling 13.5 Cultural Integration 13.6 Cities and Climate Change References Chapter 14: Climate Change 14.1 Introduction: Current State of Climate Change in Peru 14.2 Projection of Effects Caused by Climate Change 14.3 Consequences of Climate Change for Peru 14.3.1 Negative Consequences of Climate Change for Peru 14.3.2 Positive Consequences of Climate Change 14.4 Options for Reducing the Effects of Climate Change 14.4.1 Bioculturality 14.4.2 Landscape References Chapter 15: Traditional Land-Use Systems and Agrobiodiversity in Peru 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Plant Adaptation 15.2.1 Morphology 15.2.2 Physiology 15.3 Agrobiodiversity and the Use of Resources 15.3.1 Coast 15.3.2 Mountains 15.3.3 Tropical Forest 15.4 Alteration of the Ecosystem 15.4.1 Agriculture 15.4.2 Cattle Farming 15.5 Agroecology References Index