Environmental Science/Climate Change & Mitigation

Biodiversity Hotspots of the World

Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caribbean Islands
Editors: T. Pullaiah, PhD
Chinthapalli Bhaskar Rao, PhD

Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caribbean Islands

In Production
Pub Date: Forthcoming May 2027
Hardback Price: $220 USD | £170 UK
Hard ISBN: 9781779648136
E-Book ISBN: 978-1-77964-814-3
Pages: Est 355 pp w index
Binding Type: Hardback / ebook
Series: Biodiversity Hotspots of the World
Notes: 1 color and 45 b/w illustrations

The Caribbean Basin—comprising 16 sovereign states and 18 associated states —is recognised as one of the world’s most remarkable biodiversity hotspots. Renowned for its exceptional levels of endemism and species richness, the region hosts an extraordinary variety of life across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This book, Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caribbean Islands, a new volume in the Biodiversity Hotspots of the World series, offers a comprehensive scholarly exploration of this unique and fragile region.

This volume brings together leading researchers to examine the geological history, geographic structure, and climatic forces that shape Caribbean ecosystems. It presents detailed accounts of the diversity of organisms ranging from microorganisms and lichens to fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and planktonic communities that sustain marine food webs. Through carefully documented studies, the chapters highlight the ecological complexity and scientific significance of the Caribbean’s biological wealth.

Alongside documenting biodiversity, the book also addresses the mounting pressures faced by the region. Anthropogenic activities—including habitat fragmentation, deforestation, pollution, climate change, wildlife exploitation, and expanding tourism infrastructure—pose serious threats to many species and ecosystems. By emphasizing both biological richness and conservation challenges, the volume underscores the urgency of preserving these irreplaceable natural resources.

Serving as an authoritative reference, Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caribbean Islands provides valuable insights for researchers, conservation biologists, ecologists, environmental scientists, and policymakers. As part of a global effort to document and protect the planet’s most biologically significant regions, this book contributes to a deeper understanding of Caribbean biodiversity and the strategies required to safeguard it for future generations.

CONTENTS:
Preface

1. Geology, Geography, and Climate of the Caribbean: An Overview
Thera Edwards

2. Diversity of Pathogenic Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes in the Caribbean Region
Augustus Thomas, Marisa Khan, Sunshine De Caires, Rachael Bally, and Duraisamy Saravanakumar

3. Lichen Diversity of the Caribbean Hotspot
Lakhnarayan Kumar Bhagarathi, and Phillip N. B. DaSilva

4. Fish and Fishable Species Diversity of the Caribbean: A Collection of Records
Robyn Young, Mona Webber, and Dale Webber

5. Amphibian Diversity of the Caribbean Hotspot
Lakhnarayan Kumar Bhagarathi and Phillip N. B. Da Silva

6. Lesser Antillean Reptiles
Roger Stephen Thorpe

7. Mammal Diversity of the Caribbean Hotspot
Lakhnarayan Kumar Bhagarathi, Phillip N. B. Da Silva, and Rafael Borroto-Páez

8. Phytoplankton Diversity of the Caribbean
Dale Webber, Robyn Young, Hugh Small, and Mona Webber

9. Zooplankton Diversity of the Insular Caribbean
Mona Webber, Robyn Young, Gale Persad, and Dale Webber

Index


About the Authors / Editors:
Editors: T. Pullaiah, PhD
Former Professor, Department of Botany at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India

T. Pullaiah, PhD, is a former Professor at the Department of Botany at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India, where he has taught for more than 35 years. He has held several positions at the university, including Dean, Faculty of Biosciences, Head of the Department of Botany, Head of the Department of Biotechnology, and Member of Academic Senate. He was President of Indian Botanical Society (2014), President of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (2013), and Fellow of Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences. He has been awarded with various prestigious awards for his work. Under his guidance 54 students obtained their doctoral degrees. He has authored 65 books, edited 45 books, and published over 340 research papers. His books include Mangroves: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Conservation (Springer), Ethnobotany of India (5 volumes, Apple Academic Press), Global Biodiversity (4 volumes, Apple Academic Press), Monograph on Brachystelma and Ceropegia in India (CRC Press), Apomixis in Angiosperms (CRC Press), Invasive Alien Species (4 volume, Wiley), Advances in Cell and Molecular Diagnostics (Elsevier), Camptothecin and Camptothecin Producing Plants (Elsevier), Paclitaxel (Elsevier), Red Sanders: Silviculture and Conservation (Springer), and more. Dr. Pullaiah was also a member of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He received his PhD from Andhra University, India, attended Moscow State University, Russia, and worked as Postdoctoral Fellow during 1976–1978.

Chinthapalli Bhaskar Rao, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Chinthapalli Bhaskar Rao, PhD, is a distinguished Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. An accomplished academic and researcher, he brings a wealth of expertise in molecular plant physiology, plant biochemistry, and biotechnology to his editorial role. Dr. Rao’s academic journey is marked by significant achievements. He earned his master’s, MPhil, and PhD in Plant Sciences from the University of Hyderabad, India, and further honed his research skills as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. His research, extensively published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Experimental Botany and Photosynthetica, has garnered over 180 citations. His seminal work focuses on the temperature regulation of the key photosynthetic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in C4 plants. With a prolific publication record that includes numerous research articles, book chapters, and review papers, Dr. Rao possesses a deep understanding of the scholarly publishing process demonstrated through his roles with several international journals, including the American Journal of Life Sciences and the International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Life Sciences. He is also an active peer reviewer for prominent journals. His editorial acumen is underpinned by decades of hands-on research, postgraduate supervision, and a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, making him a skilled and respected editor in the biological sciences.




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