Categoriearchief: EN

Aristotle and ecology

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M. D. Usher | 2023

“When zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) coined the word ecology in 1866 he defined it as “the relation of the animal to its organic and inorganic environment.” But did he coin it?

Aristotle, arguably the world’s first zoologist, gave a tantalizing preview of the idea in Parts of Animals, written around 350 BCE.

Aristotle urges us to study animals closely for what they reveal about the larger world around us, including ourselves, for, as he puts it, “Nature does nothing in vain,” and “in all of Nature there is something wonderful.” His insistence that scientific investigation should always be concerned with systemic wholes is particularly inspired”

Bibliography

Usher, M. (2023, October 12). Aristotle and ecology. Princeton University Press. https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/whales-likely-impacted-by-great-pacific-garbage-patch/

The Mind of a Bee

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Lars Chittka | 2022

Most of us know the hive mind—the power of bees as a fantastic collective. But do we know how uniquely intelligent bees are as individuals?

In The Mind of a Bee, scientist and author Lars Chittka draws from decades of research, including his pioneering work, to argue that bees have remarkable cognitive abilities. He shows they are profoundly smart, have distinct personalities, can recognise flowers and human faces, exhibit basic emotions, count, use simple tools, solve problems, and learn by observing others. They may even possess consciousness.

Taking readers deep into the sensory world of bees, Chittka illustrates how bee brains are unparalleled in the animal kingdom for the sophistication packed into their tiny nervous systems. He looks at their innate behaviours and how their evolution as foragers may have contributed to their keen spatial memory. Chittka also examines the psychological differences between bees and humans, as well as the ethical dilemmas that arise in conservation and laboratory settings because bees feel and think. Throughout, he touches on the fascinating history behind studying bee behaviour.

Exploring an insect whose sensory experiences rival those of humans, The Mind of a Bee reveals the singular abilities of some of the world’s most incredible creatures.

Bibliography

Chittka, L. (2022) The Mind of a Bee. Princeton, USA: Princeton University Press.

The lost generation of ancient trees

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Zij, die in welke vorm dan ook verantwoordelijkheid dragen binnen het openbaar bestuur, doen er per definitie wijs aan naar buiten te kijken. Weten hoe de stad en haar samenleving functioneren is een groot goed. Kennis en inzicht leiden immers vaak tot betere besluiten en meer gerichte en effectieve acties. Zij dragen daarmee bij aan de weg naar goed bestuur. Het verbinden van de leefwereld buiten en de systeemwereld (van instituties, wetten en regels) binnen is hierbij noodzakelijk geworden.

Dit artikel gaat hierover. Het gaat niet over het publieke domein van de stad, maar over die van het bos. Het biedt een heldere kijk in het denken over en handelen ten behoeve van weerstand en biodiversiteit van bosecosystemen. Het licht een tipje op van de sluier van systeemdenken. Het artikel verhaalt uit de wereld van bosecologie en silvologie op een bijzonder toegankelijke wijze.

Stichting Civitas Naturalis bevordert holistisch en integraal denken en handelen en heeft dit artikel geselecteerd (met dank aan Dr. Paul Romeijn), omdat het lezenswaardig is vanuit het perspectief van zowel natuurbeheer, als dat van stadsontwikkeling en -beheer in de meest brede zin. Katherine Latham neemt je mee naar de diepere lagen van het bos. De verbindingen met stad, samenleving en openbaar bestuur zijn eenvoudig te leggen.

“Inside some of our most magnificent trees, miniature worlds are at risk of extinction. The race is on to accelerate trees’ ageing process, so these intricate communities aren’t lost forever. At around 1,100 years old … the Big Belly Oak is the oldest tree in Savernake Forest in south-west England. A tiny sapling at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Big Belly Oak has lived through the War of the Roses, the Black Death, the English Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and two world wars… While an ancient tree like this is impressive at a distance, take a look inside and you will see something even more intriguing.”

Habitats of the World

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A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists

Iain Campbell, Ken Behrens, Charley Hesse, and Phil Chaon | Princeton University Press

Accurately identifying and understanding habitats in detail is essential to any birder, naturalist, outdoor enthusiast, or ecologist who wants to get the most out of their experiences in the field. Habitats of the World is the first field guide to the world’s major land habitats—189.

Using the format of a natural history field guide, this compact, accessible, and comprehensive book features concise identification descriptions. It is richly illustrated—including more than 650 colour photographs of habitats and their wildlife, 150 distribution maps, 200 diagrams, and 150 silhouettes depicting each habitat alongside a human figure, providing an immediate grasp of its look and scale.

Each major habitat has an illustrated “climate box” that allows easy habitat comparisons. Thirty other illustrated boxes clearly explain complex phenomena affecting habitats—from plate tectonics and mountain formation to fire regimes and climate change. Requiring no scientific background, Habitats of the World offers quick and reliable information for anyone who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them, whether in their own backyard or while travelling anywhere in the world.

  • Covers 189 of the world’s major land habitats.
  • It provides all the information you need to quickly and accurately identify and understand habitats worldwide.
  • This book features concise text, more than 650 colour photographs of habitats and their wildlife, an up-to-date distribution map for each habitat, and hundreds of helpful diagrams and illustrations.

Bibliography

Campbell, I., Behrens, K., Hesse, C., & Chaon, P. (2023). Habitats of the World: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists. Princeton University Press.