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[ . . ITEM . . ]
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| Autor :
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CADIMA, M.Mirtha |
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| Título :
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ALGAS DE BOLIVIA |
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| U.Topografica :
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579.8 C121a |
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| Fecha Pub. :
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2005 |
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| Tipo Impresion :
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Impreso |
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| Nro. Paginas : |
892 p. |
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| Idioma : |
Español |
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| Indice Tematico : |
Ver Indice Tematico... |
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| Resumen: |
TITULO: ALGAS DE BOLIVIA
AUTOR. CADIMA Mirtha, et al
INTRODUCCION
Tlie study ol' algae from Bolivia goes at least us far hack as 1839 when Mont ay nc described new algal species from material gathered during the voyage of Aldde d'Orbigny to South America. Fifteen years later, Ehrenberg in his famous < Mikrogeologie " presented lists and diagrams of algae f( >und in samples from Lake Titicaca and Arica. Subsequent years brought many more re known investigators to Lake Tit idea and other interesting Bolivian aquatic-ecosystems, especially in the Altiplano region. Notable among them are J. Tcmpere and H. Peragallo, J, Frenguelli, 'I'. Tutin, and It. Patrick. Interest in Bolivian algae remained foreign even during the 1980s and early 1990's when French scientists working for ORSTOM produced tremendous amounts of information on the algae from many high mountain and tropical areas of Hoiivia. Since the gross majority of this information was presented in European meetings and was published in international journals of restricted circulation, little repercussion and benefit were observed within Bolivia's frontiers, which coupled with a notorious lack of interest by native scholars left Bolivian phycology well behind other branches of biological research. Two of the most adverse consequences of this historical development are that very little is known about the diversity of algae in regions other than those considered typical of Bolivia (i.e., the Altiplano. when in fact more than half of the country is tropical and subtropical) and that algae have been neglected as prime tools in water quality studies.
A notable exception to the rule has been the work of M, Cadimu and collaborators, who during the last two decades or so have devoted attention to algal communities (especially the phytoplankton) mainly in lentk systems from throughout the country. Cadima's research yielded many scientific papers, but the present volume is the first hwk published exclusively on Bolivian algae. This contribution is an important first step to fill a void in the study of a group of organisms whose importance is well-recognized throughout the world. Algae, as primary producers, are the support of every ecosystem in which they flourish and their photosynthetic activity surpasses that of all the planet s tropical rainforests
combined. The worldwide diversity crisis, especially that in third-world countries, makes an account of algae a priority. Cadi ma and collaborators have taken a fresh approach to the study ol the phytoplankton community by adapting Braun-IJlanquct's phytosociology system. Such an approach puts in evidence several interesting points regarding the distribution of planktic algae and sheds light onto one of the most debated topics in m i crt mrga n i s ma 1 bi ogeogra ph y : cosmo po I ita ni sm . m fact, the authors show that the Bolivian changing relief" harl^ors many species tliat are locally distributed, making a compelling case for further studies of endemism.
The present volume is indeed a valuable contribution to the study of the phytoplankton, one of the prefemud tools for the evaluation of water quality, which is increasingly Incoming a serious economic and social issue in many regions oi Bolivia. The door opened by Caclima and collaborators will allow for the exploration of other algal communities (such as the periphyton), which may he even more diverse, and hence, more useful in studies ol ecosystem health. Many more endeavors of this nature are needed in a country leading efforts in the conservation and protection of natural lands, but where aquatic ecology has been greatly disregarded as a potential source of genetic and economic wealth.
Patrick Center for Environmental Research
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
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| Descriptores: |
< ALGAS > < salinidad > |
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