Biodiversity of Angola : Science and Conservation: a Modern Synthesis.

Intro -- Dedication -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Contributors -- Part I: Introduction: Setting the Scene -- Chapter 1: Angolan Biodiversity: Towards a Modern Synthesis -- Background and Context -- Approach and Purpose of This Synthesis -- Biodiversity Surveys: Historical Synopsis -- Research Collaboration in the Twenty-First Century -- Chapter Outlines -- References -- Chapter 2: Angola in Outline: Physiography, Climate and Patterns of Biodiversity -- Introduction -- Location and Extent -- Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution -- Rivers and Hydrology -- Geology and Soils -- Climate and Weather -- Climate Change -- Biogeography, Biomes and Ecoregions -- Overview -- Early Studies -- Statistical Regionalisation -- Biomes and Ecoregions -- The Biological Importance of the Angolan Escarpment -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 3: Marine Biodiversity of Angola: Biogeography and Conservation -- Physical and Oceanographic Context -- Biodiversity and Biogeography -- Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Hotspots, Threats and the Need for Protection -- References -- Chapter 4: The Fossil Record of Biodiversity in Angola Through Time: A Paleontological Perspective -- Studies of Paleobiodiversity -- A Brief Geological History and Context of Angola -- The Precambrian - The First Fossils -- The Triassic - Inner Basins -- Plants and Invertebrates -- Vertebrates -- The Early Cretaceous - The Opening of South Atlantic -- Plants, Protists and Invertebrates -- Vertebrates -- The Late Cretaceous - Marine Reptiles Flourish -- Protists and Invertebrates -- Vertebrates -- The Paleogene - Mammals Take Over -- Protista and Invertebrates -- Vertebrates -- The Neogene - The Founding of Modern Biodiversity -- Protists and Invertebrates -- Vertebrates -- The Quaternary - The Dominance of Humans -- Invertebrates -- Vertebrates.

Final Remarks on the Fossil Record and Paleobiodiversity -- References -- Part II: Flora, Vegetation and Landscape Change -- Chapter 5: The Flora of Angola: Collectors, Richness and Endemism -- History of Botanical Exploration in Angola -- Floristic Diversity and Endemism -- Biogeography, Regional Centres of Endemism and Vegetation -- Recent Botanical Survey Initiatives -- Future Botanical Work -- Appendix -- References -- Chapter 6: Vegetation Survey, Classification and Mapping in Angola -- Introduction -- Historical Exploration of Vegetation Patterns in Angola -- Integration of the Vegetation Map of Angola Within Continental Scale Maps -- Regional and Local Studies on Vegetation Composition -- Modern Approaches to Vegetation Mapping and Classification -- Outlook: A Call for a New Vegetation Survey of Angola -- References -- Chapter 7: Suffrutex Dominated Ecosystems in Angola -- Introduction -- Exploration of Geoxylic Grasslands -- Suffrutex Flora and Endemism -- Environmental Conditions of Suffrutex-Grasslands Through the Year -- Knowledge Gaps on the Evolution of the Geoxylic Suffrutices and the Formation of Suffrutex-Grasslands -- Conservation Value and Conservation Challenges -- Outlook -- References -- Chapter 8: Landscape Changes in Angola -- Introduction -- Major Changes -- Woodland and Forest Loss -- Soil Loss (Bulk and Nutrients) -- Water Flows and Quality -- Contamination -- Drivers of Landscape Change -- Population Growth and Natural Resource Exploitation -- Food Production -- Grassland and Woodland Fires -- Areas of Major and Widespread Landscape Change -- Future Needs for Research and Documentation -- References -- Part III: Invertebrate Diversity: Environmental Indicators -- Chapter 9: The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Angola: An Updated Synthesis -- Introduction -- History of Odonata Research in Angola -- Origin of Recent Data.

Odonata Species Recorded in Angola -- Composition -- Endemism -- Potential for Discovery -- Conservation -- Appendices -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2 -- References -- Chapter 10: The Butterflies and Skippers (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Angola: An Updated Checklist -- Introduction -- History of Research on the Papilionoidea of Angola -- Sources Consulted for the Checklist -- Taxa Excluded from the Checklist -- A Revised Checklist of the Papilionoidea of Angola -- Composition, Diversity and Endemism -- Conservation -- Potential Future Discoveries and Research -- Appendix -- References -- Part IV: Vertebrates: Distribution and Diversity -- Chapter 11: The Freshwater Fishes of Angola -- Historical Review -- Freshwater Drainages and Ecoregions of Angola -- Cabinda -- Lower Congo -- Cuanza and Atlantic Coastal Rivers -- Cunene -- Cassai and Southern Congo Rivers -- Zambezian-Cuando-Cubango Headwaters and Floodplains -- Cuvelai -- Biogeography -- Conservation -- Appendices -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2 -- Appendix 3 -- References -- Chapter 12: The Amphibians of Angola: Early Studies and the Current State of Knowledge -- Introduction -- Early Beginnings -- Recent History and Increase of Information -- International and National Resources -- The Current State of Knowledge on Angolan Amphibians -- Checklist of Angolan Amphibians -- Records That Require Confirmation -- Species Likely to Occur in Angola But Not Yet Recorded -- Caecilians (Gymnophiona) -- Frogs and Toads (Anura) -- Arthroleptidae -- Breviciptidae -- Bufonidae -- Hemisotidae -- Hyperoliidae -- Phrynobatrachidae -- Pipidae -- Ptychadenidae -- Pyxicephalidae -- Rhacophoridae -- Hidden Among the Unknown - Angolan Tadpoles -- Comments on Selected Groups -- Species Complexes and Species with Unclear Boundaries -- Species Synonymised with No Clear Justification -- Species with Questionable Distributions.

Recent Discoveries and Ongoing Studies -- Biogeography -- Endemism -- Directions for Future Research in Angola -- Appendix 1 -- References -- Chapter 13: The Reptiles of Angola: History, Diversity, Endemism and Hotspots -- Introduction -- History: Early Research on Angolan Reptiles -- Bringing Knowledge of Angolan Reptiles into the Modern Era -- Checklist of Angolan Reptiles -- How Many Species? -- Recent Discoveries -- Overview of Reptile Diversity -- Chelonians -- Crocodilians -- Squamates -- Species Recorded from Angola but Poorly Known -- Species Likely to Occur in Angola but Currently Unconfirmed -- Lizards -- Snakes -- Endemism in Angolan Reptiles -- Reptile Hotspots -- Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism -- Angolan Escarpment -- Northern Congo Forests -- Future Directions for Reptile Research in Angola -- The Continued Need for Further Field Surveys and Taxonomic Studies -- Field Surveys of Potential Biodiversity 'Hotspots' -- Biogeography of Angolan Reptiles -- Appendices -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2 -- Appendix 3 -- References -- Chapter 14: The Avifauna of Angola: Richness, Endemism and Rarity -- Early Ornithological History -- Recent History and the Exponential Increase in Information on Birds -- The Richness of the Angolan Avifauna -- Endemism in the Angolan Avifauna -- Commonness and Rarity -- Anomalies in Bird Distribution Ranges and Recent Findings -- Ecotourism in Angola: Birding -- Where to from Here? Future Directions for Ornithological Research in Angola -- Appendix 14.1 Publications Post 1975 Not Cited in the Text -- References -- Chapter 15: The Mammals of Angola -- Introduction -- History of Mammal Collecting in Angola -- The Mammal Fauna -- Afrosoricida (Otter-shrews, Golden Moles) -- Carnivora (Carnivores) -- Family Canidae -- Family Felidae -- Family Herpestidae -- Family Hyaenidae -- Family Mustelidae -- Family Nandiniidae.

Family Otariidae -- Family Viverridae -- Cetartiodactyla (Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer, Bovids) -- Family Bovidae -- Tribe Aepycerotini -- Tribe Alcelaphini -- Tribe Antilopini -- Tribe Bovini -- Tribe Cephalophini -- Tribe Hippotragini -- Tribe Madoquini -- Tribe Oreotragini -- Tribe Ourebiini -- Tribe Raphicerini -- Tribe Reduncini -- Tribe Tragelaphini -- Family Giraffidae -- Family Hippopotamidae -- Family Suidae -- Family Tragulidae -- Chiroptera (Bats) -- Family Emballonuridae -- Family Hipposideridae -- Family Miniopteridae -- Family Molossidae -- Family Nycteridae -- Family Pteropodidae -- Family Rhinolophidae -- Family Vespertilionidae -- Erinaceopmorpha (Hedgehogs) -- Hyracoidea (Hyraxes) -- Lagomorpha (Hares) -- Macroscelidea (Sengis) -- Perissodactyla (Rhinoceros, Zebras) -- Family Equidae -- Family Rhinocerotidae -- Pholidota (Pangolins) -- Primates (Monkeys, Apes, Pottos, Galagos) -- Family Cercopithecidae -- Family Galagidae -- Family Hominidae -- Family Lorisidae -- Proboscidae (Elephants) -- Rodentia (Mole Rats, Mice, Dormice, Rats, Voles, Squirrels) -- Family Anomaluridae -- Family Bathyergidae -- Family Gliridae -- Family Hystricidae -- Family Muridae -- Family Nesomyidae -- Family Pedetidae -- Family Petromuridae -- Family Sciuridae -- Family Thryonomyidae -- Sirenia (African Manatee) -- Soricomorpha (Shrews) -- Tubulidentata (Aardvark) -- Zoogeographic Outline -- Conservation -- Appendix -- References -- Chapter 16: The Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins) of Angola -- Introduction -- Methods -- Study Area -- Data -- Species Identification -- History of Cetacean Research in Angola -- Angola's Whaling Era -- Opportunistic Sightings and Specimen Records -- Targeted At-Sea Cetacean Surveys -- Cetacean Species Recorded in Angola -- Baleen Whales -- Sperm Whales -- Beaked Whales -- Delphinids -- Endemism.

Cetacean Biodiversity and the Marine Environment.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2023. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.