Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNative Plants of the Northeast provides a foundation for the choice of native plants for different areas and climates—and a variety of sites in the garden—as well as for restoration of native plant habitats. This book is the most trustworthy single source for all who wish to cultivate native plants.Trade ReviewIt is a must-have for any gardener wishing to learn more about indigenous plants and interested in preserving the balance of native plants on their property. Bangor Daily News 20050305 In addition to the alphabetical categorical listing, appendices list plants grouped according to cultural requirements, giving you a jump start on planning a garden for your particular soil requirements. -- Suzanne Hively Cleveland Plain Dealer 20050317 This review would not be complete without a tribute to the incredible photographs the book contains. The clarity of tiny details is astonishing. -- Jean S. Wexler Vineyard Gazette 20050422 The color photographs (and there are lots of them) are by the author and very well done. -- Donna Clark Home Monthly 20050404 The descriptions include pithy recommendations on cultivation, especially with regard to appropriate habitats. HortIdeas 20050416 Provides an invaluable resource for using natives in the landscape and restoration projects. -- Viveka Neveln American Gardener 20050520 A good reference book and an enjoyable, knowledgeable read. -- Ann Milovsoroff Royal Botanical Gardens Newsletter 20050629 Essential for anyone interested in gardening with native plants as well as those who need horticultural information for habitat restoration. Plant Talk 20050411 [Leopold] recommends 425 species that are easily cultivated in gardens and are useful for restoring native habitats. -- John Lawrence Thompson Gale 20050713 This is a wonderful book that anyone interested in improving backyards, gardens, and other small stopover areas with native vegitation will want to have handy as an essential reference. International Hawkwatcher 20050613 My only problem with this book is that it serves a dual purpose, and I only have one copy. I want to keep it because of its scientific value, but I also want to give it to my youngest son... I guess that I will have to buy another copy. It will be money well spent. -- Douglas A. Wilcox Wetlands Journal 20050714 A great book! I was feeling quite frustrated until I found this new book from Timber Press. A quick read through will reveal many candidates for upcoming plantings. One could also use it as a casual field guide to identify plants and plant communities while hiking. -- V. Ehrlich St. John's Express 20050722 An encyclopedia of experience. -- Joel M. Lerner Washington Post 20050723 This book will interest readers who, regardless of their educational background, wish to learn about using native plants for gardening. -- D. A. Lovejoy Choice 20050710 A beautifully designed book with solid information on gardening. -- Cheryl B. Wilson Daily Hampshire Gazette 20060331 The text is easy to read, both regarding the printing and the writing. ... This is a very good, well written book and well worth the price. -- Jim Dronenburg Washington Gardener 20060501 An important resource for enthusiasts interested in gaining practical insight about gardening with native plants as well as those seeking to restore native plant habitats or enhance biodiversity. Library Journal 20071201 A welcome addition to my growing collection of books that list plants. ... Generously illustrated. ... Forthright, warts-and-all descriptions are common throughout. -- Elizabeth Licata Garden Rant 20080224

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn unprecedented photographic record of cat creativity that will intrigue cat lovers and art lovers alike.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis guidebook provides a starting point from which to explore the museum, the entries relate archaeological mysteries and behind-the-scenes glimpses to how the Museum's exhibits are created. Each of the 60 objects discussed are keyed to both a floor plan of the Museum and a map of the world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of more than 50 exquisitely crafted radio essays, these short but poetic gems celebrate unique aspects of life on Cape Cod, especially the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Entranced by the island’s riches, Robert Finch takes the reader on a journey through the seasons in many well-known and beloved essays—including Beach Ball, Sea Dawn, A Gratuity, The Fish That Wouldn’t Die, The Old Shell Game, and Fire and Music—that have the power to immediately connect the reader with the natural world of this region and that speak to the mysterious qualities of this peninsula that have drawn people to it for centuries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Voices of the Chesapeake Bay radio show has featured hundreds of people who live, work, and play on the Chesapeake Bay. Now host Michael Buckley brings us a fascinating collection of over 50 of these interviews in written form, providing the reader with glimpses into Chesapeake Bay life from a variety of diverse perspectives. Many people travel across the Chesapeak Bay Bridge and only see a big, flat body of water, but Voices of the Chesapeake Bay will help them see deeply into that water. These accounts open windows-each with a view of the Chesapeake-through which we see history, ecology, economy, and how they intertwine with the human soul.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPuppies in sunglasses.  Sleeping kittens.  A hedgehog in a teacup.   If the thought of animals in adorable situations makes you feel just a little bit happier, then Cute Emergency is the book for you.  Based on the popular Twitter feed, it is the antidote to all of life's little annoyances. Not even the coldest curmudgeon could stay frazzled when faced with the heart-melting animals and witty captions contained in these pages.  So fulfill your recommended daily allowance of cuteness and let furry creatures come to your rescue!

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new hardcover selection of the best writings of the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world. Selected and introduced by Andrea Wulf.Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His life was packed with adventure and discovery, whether he was climbing volcanoes in the Andes, racing through anthrax-infected Siberia, or publishing groundbreaking bestsellers. Ahead of his time, he recognized nature as an interdependent whole and he saw before anyone else that humankind was on a path to destroy it. His visits to the Americas led him to argue that the indigenous peoples possessed ancient cultures with sophisticated languages, architecture, and art, and his expedition to Cuba prompted him to denounce slavery as “the greatest evil ever to have afflicted humanity.” To Humboldt, the melody of his prose was as important as its empirical content, and this selection from his most famous works—including Cosmos, Views of Nature, and Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, among others—allows us the pleasure of reading his own accounts of his daring explorations. Humboldt’s writings profoundly influenced naturalists and poets including Darwin, Thoreau, Muir, Goethe, Wordsworth, and Whitman. The Selected Writings is not only a tribute to Humboldt’s important role in environmental history and science, but also to his ability to fashion powerfully poetic narratives out of scientific observations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEmbrace the self-assuredness that keeps cats purring!Take it from the cats! No one knows inner peace like a smug tabby who's knocked something breakable off a table they're not supposed to be sitting on. There's no crisis of confidence or lack of self-worth here. These house panthers know what they want and how to get it from doting and unsuspecting humans alike. And with more than 50 feline-inspired affirmations that are equal parts empowerment, Zen, and cattitude, you can follow in their confident pawprints. Brighten your mood and find your balance with mantras like:- I am a divine being.- Not every mess is mine to clean up.- I greet the morning with unbridled enthusiasm.Paired with playful illustrations that purrfectly capture the mischievous wit and self-possessed wisdom of cats, I Deserve All the Treats will leave you feeling calm, cool, and ready to take on (or over) the world!

Read more less

Book SynopsisTimely and unsettling essays from an important and beloved writer and conservationist In Erosion, Terry Tempest Williams''s fierce, spirited, and magnificent essays are a howl in the desert. She sizes up the continuing assaults on America''s public lands and the erosion of our commitment to the open space of democracy. She asks: How do we find the strength to not look away from all that is breaking our hearts?We know the elements of erosion: wind, water, and time. They have shaped the spectacular physical landscape of our nation. Here, Williams bravely and brilliantly explores the many forms of erosion we face: of democracy, science, compassion, and trust. She examines the dire cultural and environmental implications of the gutting of Bear Ears National Monumentsacred lands to Native Peoples of the American Southwest; of the undermining of the Endangered Species Act; of the relentless press by the fossil fuel industry that has led to a panorama in which

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collage of water stories from the Odyssey, reconstructed as a mesmeric and hallucinatory book-length poem by acclaimed poet Alice Oswald.Trade Review"A radical rereading and re-voicing of The Odyssey, an oceanic nameless lyric with undercurrents from The Oresteia and Philoctetes…Nobody is a sorrowing, timeless, up-to-the-minute, majestic, goose-fleshed meditation on what it is to be mortal." -- Rosanna Warren, author of So Forth"Electrifying…[Nobody] is mythical and realistic, ancient and modern…Oswald is at the top of her form here." -- Kate Kellaway - Observer"A paean to water, to the fluidity of language and the porousness between beings and stories…[T]he effects of reading Nobody linger in and around the mind long after the experience has passed." -- Maria Crawford - Financial Times"The rush of unexpected language is thrilling…It is a wonderfully skillful tarantella of syllables and images…Nobody is Oswald’s most formally freehand work, a fragmentary gathering of murmurings searching for the excitement of new meaning." -- Jeremy Noel-Todd - Sunday Times"[Oswald is] a revolutionary, an eco-poet whose ideas are alive with sensory experience. These seeming paradoxes create exceptional resonance, and the sense of an urgency that transcends poetry itself…Nobody is a kind of verse novel which refuses even the conventions of storytelling." -- Fiona Sampson - Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor fans of Wesley the Owl and The Soul of an Octopus, the story of a sick baby bird nursed back to health and into the wild by renowned writer/artist Julie Zickefoose.

Read more less

Book SynopsisYour evening walk will never be the same once you come to know the quiet giants that line the city's streets.Trade Review"Dr. Day... A sort of Julia Child of nature." (New York Times) "This little gem fills you in on everything finned, furred, feathered, or leafed, and how to find it, in all five boroughs." (House and Garden) "Leslie Day ('a child of Manhattan') reveals hidden depths of this urban behemoth... A wonderful guide to the green side of the Big Apple." (Guardian)"Table of ContentsForeword, by Amy FreitagAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Leafy Neighborhoods of the Five Boroughs2. Tree Terminology3. Illustrated Glossary4. TreesDeciduous ConifersBald CypressDawn RedwoodDeciduous Broadleaf TreesSimple, UnlobedCallery PearNorthern CatalpaSchubert ChokecherryKwanzan CherryCrabappleDowny ServiceberryEastern RedbudAmerican ElmChinese ElmJapanese ZelkovaFlowering DogwoodGinkgo BilobaHawthornEuropean HornbeamJapanese Tree LilacKatsuraAmerican LindenLittlelead LindenSilver LindenSaucer MagnoliaPurple Leaf PlumSimple, LobedLondon PlaneHedge MapleJapanese MapleNorway MapleRed MapleRilver MapleSugar MapleSycamore MapleWhite MulberryEastern White OakEnglish OakNorthern Red OakPin OakSawtooth OakSwamp White OakWillow OakSweetgumTuliptreeCompound, PinnateTree of HeavenGreen AshWhite AshBlack LocustHoney LocustGoldenrain TreeJapanese PagodatreeKentucky PagodatreeCompound, Chestnut5. Tree PeopleTree Care TipsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book Synopsisand Canada.Trade ReviewRichly illustrated with an outstanding assortment of full-color photographs... Written in a clear and conversational style... Whether you are just becoming interested in bats or are already a well-informed chiropteran reader, this text will be a fine addition to your caving library. -- Danny A. Brass Underground Movement If you are at all interested in bats, get a copy of this book. You will be glad you did! Book Bargains and Previews A well-written, interesting primer on bats that provides a broad overview of bat biology and conservation... The book is richly illustrated with an excellent assortment of full-color photographs. Written in a clear, conversational style, the volume is suitable for general readers interested in learning more about this fascinating and unique group of mammals. Choice Almost anyone who has an interest in bats will find the book useful. For the expert it's a quick but not overly detailed description of the biology, distribution, and appearance of the species in question and perfect for quick questions regarding life history or distribution. For novice bat biologists it should be a great introduction to the biology of bats; I can see it as an inexpensive text for an undergraduate class in bats. And for the general reader it's an easy way to start to plumb bat diversity, biology,and threats. Journal of Mammalogy A nice addition to home and library bookshelves everywhere. -- Micheal D. Baker Journal of Mammal Evolution I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an up-to-date introduction to bats and their biology, in the United States and Canada... an inexpensive and invaluable resource for teaching and outreach. -- Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell Bat Research News This comprehensive guide will be useful for all interested in Chiroptera. -- Evelyne Bremond-Hoslet MammaliaTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionClassificationBiologyEcholocationsBenefits of Insectivorous BatsForagingFeeding BehaviorNoninsectivorous BatsVampire BatsGuanoSummer HabitatSummer–Autumn SwarmingWinter Habitat and HibernationMigrationHoming AbilityReproduction and LongevityBats as FoodBat "Bombs"Mines and BridgesControlling "Nuisance" BatsAttracting BatsThreats to BatsRabiesHistoplasmosisBats and Wind PowerWhite-nose SyndromeConservationStatus of Bats in the United States and CanadaEndangered Species and SubspeciesResearch TechniquesInventoriesThermal ImagingNets and TrapsBat BandingRadiotelemetryAcoustic IdentificationAdditional TechniquesSpecies AccountsMexican Long-tongued Bat, Choeronycteris mexicanaMexican Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris nivalisLesser Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenaeCalifornia Leaf-nosed Bat, Macrotus californicusJamaican Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus jamaicensisPeter's Ghost-faced Bat, Mormoops megalophyllaFlorida Bonneted Bat, Eumops floridanusGreater Bonneted Bat, Eumops perotisUnderwood's Bonneted Bat, Eumops underwoodiPallas' Mastiff Bat, Molossus molossusPocketed Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops femorosaccusBig Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops macrotisBrazilian Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida brasiliensisBig Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscusWestern Red Bat, Lasiurus blossevilliiEastern Red Bat, Lasiurus borealisHoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereusSouthern Yellow Bat, Lasiurus egaNorthern Yellow Bat, Lasiurus intermediusSeminole Bat, Lasiurus seminolusWestern Yellow Bat, Lasiurus xanthinusEvening Bat, Nycticeius humeralisCanyon Bat, Parastrellus hesperusTri-colored Bat, Perimyotis subflavusRafinesque's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquiiTownsend's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus townsendiiSpotted Bat, Euderma maculatumAllen's Big-eared Bat, Idionycteris phyllotisPallid Bat, Antrozous pallidusSilver-haired Bat, Lasionycteris noctivagansSouthwestern Bat, Myotis auriculusSoutheastern Bat, Myotis austroripariusCalifornia Bat, Myotis californicusWestern Small-footed Bat, Myotis ciliolabrumLong-eared Bat, Myotis evotisGray Bat, Myotis grisescensKeen's Bat, Myotis keeniiEastern Small-footed Bat, Myotis leibiiLittle Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugusDark-nosed Small-footed Bat, Myotis melanorhinusArizona Bat, Myotis occultusNorthern Long-eared Bat, Myotis septentrionalisIndiana Bat, Myotis sodalisFringed Bat, Myotis thysanodesCave Bat, Myotis veliferLong-legged Bat, Myotis volansYuma Bat, Myotis yumanensisSpecies of Accidental OccurrenceHairy-legged Vampire Bat, Diphylla ecaudataBuffy Flower Bat, Erophylla sezekorniCuban Flower Bat, Phyllonycteris poeyiCuban Fig-eating Bat, Phyllops falcatusSummaryAppendix: Bats of the United States and Canada (Including Protection Status)Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisNature lovers, hunters, and anyone curious about deer will find this fact-filled book both fascinating and full of surprises.Trade ReviewWith vivid color photographs and an accessible and engaging question-and-answer format, this easy-to read book is the go-to resource on deer. Nature lovers, hunters, and anyone curious about deer will find this fact-filled book both fascinating and full of surprises. Southeastern Naturalist A nice book to read. -- Robert E. Hoopes Wildlife Activist This introductory work translates scientific studies/terminology into an easy-to-read format for lay readers to gain an understanding of the Cervidae family. Choice Hunters, nature lovers, and anyone curious abot deer will enjoy reading this book. -- Evelyne Bremond-Hoslet MammaliaTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing DeerWhat are deer?What is the difference between bucks, stags, and bulls?How many kinds of deer are there?How are musk deer different from "true" deer?What are the most common species of deer?What species of deer are most rare?Why are deer important?Where do deer live?What is the current classification of deer?What characterizes the major groups of deer?When did deer evolve?What is the oldest fossil deer?2. Form and FunctionWhat are the largest and smallest living deer?What is the metabolism of deer?What is the structure and function of deer teeth?Can deer see color?Can deer swim?How fast can deer run?How high can deer jump?What are antlers?What determines antler size in an individual?Why do deer have antlers?Do all male deer have antlers?Do female deer ever have antlers?Why do female caribou usually have antlers?How do antlers differ from horns?What is the yearly cycle of antlers?When and how do antlers grow?How fast can antlers grow?Do antlers of tropical deer differ from those of temperate species?How large and heavy can antlers get?How are antlers shed?Why shed antlers and regrow them every year?Why are relatively few shed antlers found on the ground?Are antlers always symmetrical?How do antler anomalies occur?How did antlers evolve?3. Deer Coat ColorsWhat are the functions of the coat in deer?What causes the different coat colors of deer?How are hair colors determined genetically?What about patterns of coat color?Are there age-related differences in coat color?Do coat colors change in different seasons?Is there geographic variation in coat color within a given species?4. Deer BehaviorAre deer social?Do deer fight?How smary are deer?Do deer play?Do deer talk?How do deer avoid predators?5. Deer EcologyDo deer sleep in the same place each night?Do deer migrate?Which geographic regions have the most species of deer?How do deer survive in the desert or during droughts?How do deer survive the winter?Do deer have enemies?Do deer get sick?Are deer good for the environment?6. Reproduction and DevelopmentHow do deer reproduce?When do deer mate and give birth?Do deer breed only one time per year?How many fawns do deer have?Are all deer fawns full siblings?Can the sex of a deer be determined visually?Do deer care for their young?How fast do deer grow?How can you tell the age of a deer?How long do deer live?7. Foods and FeedingWhat do deer eat?How do deer find food?Are any deer scavengers?How do deer digest their food?Do deer store food?8. Deer and HumansDo deer make good pets?Should people feed deer?Do deer feel pain?What should I do if I find an injured deer?What should I do if I find a fawn?What is the best way to observe deer?How economically important are deer today?What are deer game farms and game ranches?How and where did deer farms begin?What parts of deer are used in traditional Asian medicine?9. Deer Problems (from a human viewpoint)Can deer be pests?How do I reduce deer damage?How many deer are hit by vehicles?Where are deer most often hit?What are ways to reduce deer-vehicle collisions?Do deer have diseases that are contagious?Can deer negatively affect forest regeneration and structure?How can exotic species of deer cause problems?Where have deer been introduced?Why introduce deer to different places?10. Human Problems (from a deer's viewpoint)Do people hunt and eat deer?Are any deer species endangered?What is so unusual about the endangered Père David's deer?What about other conservation efforts?Why are some species endangered while others reach pest proportions?How will deer be affected by global warming?11. Deer in Art and LiteratureWhat roles do deer play in art, religion, mythology, and popular culture?How have deer been incorporated into literature andpoetry?12. "Deerology"Who studies deer?What species are best known?What species are least known?How do scientists tell deer apart?Appendix A: Deer of the WorldAppendix B: Deer Conservation OrganizationsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the words of the author, Once you get to know them, you'll love them.Trade ReviewA good general introduction to the biology of ants. Birdbooker Report Choe's goal is to expose the fascinating miniature world of ants to curious minds... Highly recommended. Choice Enter the miniature world of ants and learn about their societies, from massacres and power plays to self-sacrifice and factory-like enterprises. Science News An enjoyable popular read from an author who combines expert scientific knowledge of ants with a real passion for these miniscule marvels. The text is amply illustrated with complementary and captivating illustrations and original photographs. It will be a welcome addition to the bookcase of naturalists of any age. -- J. Zd'arek European Journal of EntomologyTable of ContentsForeword, by Jane GoodallPrefaceIntroduction: My First Journey to the AntsPart I: The Economics of Ant Society1. Ants Mean Business: How the Futuristic Economics of Ants Maximizes Their Returns2. Economies of Scale and Rational BusinessManagement: From Joint Ventures to Multinational Enterprises3. A 50-Million-Year Tradition of Farming: The Massive Underground Mushroom Farms of the Leaf-cutter Ants4. Ant Ranchers: Masters of Dairy Farming Second Only to Mankind5. The World's First Bodyguards: Standing Watch for Room and Board6. The Charge of the Ant Brigade: The Terrifying March of the Army AntsPart II: The Culture of Ant Society7. Talking with the Ants: The Clever Designs of Ant Communication8. The Ants Come Home: Sense of Direction and Biological Clocks9. Ants at Work: Maids, Nannies, Laborers, Soldiers10. Con Artists of the Ant World: Parasites That Have Cracked the Ants' Secret Code11. Villains and Monsters of the Ant World: Predators and ParasitesPart III: The Politics of Ant Society12. No Children of Their Own: Females in the Service of an Amazon Queen13. Conflict in the Queendom: Divine Right of the Queen? Or the Will of the Masses?14. Political Conflict and International Alliances: Yesterday's Comrade, Today's Enemy15. The Foundation Myth of the Aztec Ant Queendom: The Queens' Battle for the Throne16. War and Slavery: From Full-Scale Slaughter to Bloodless WarfareEpilogue: To Know Them Is to Love Them

Read more less

Book SynopsisIts compact, portable design encourages naturalists, local residents, boaters, researchers, and the curious-minded alike to throw the guide in their pack and explore the botanical bounty of the Chesapeake Bay.Trade ReviewPlants of the Chesapeake Bay deserves shelf space in the library of every Chesapeake boater who would like to understand how our Bay's ecosystem works. -- John Page Williams Chesapeake Bay Magazine Plants of the Chesapeake Bay is a beautiful book covering a beautiful region. ChoiceTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1. Plant Communities of the Chesapeak BayChapter 2. Plants of Hyper Saline HabitatsChapter 3. Plnats of Maritime HabitatsChapter 4. Plants of Brackish HabitatsChapter 5. Plants of Freshwater HabitatsAppendixScientific Names, Authors, and Families of Plants of the Chesapeake BayIndex of Scientific NamesGeneral Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe broader social context in which scientists work is just as important to the project of naming, describing, classifying, and, ultimately, explaining life.Trade ReviewFor those with an interest in the history of natural history. -- Ian Paulsen, GrrlScientist Guardian A very readable account of the long-lived naturalist/entomologist Karl Jordan (1861-1959). Choice Any college-level natural history holding will find this enlightening. Midwest Book Review Karl Jordan's innovative methods of classifying insect species are highlighted in this biography of the early 20th century entomologist. Science News Ordering Life, by Kristin Johnson, is one part biography to three parts history and philosophy of science. 'Jordan serves as a useful guide', Johnson writes, 'not only to understanding how knowledge about biodiversity is obtained but how the answer to that question has changed over time and why'. -- Louise Fabiani Times Literary Supplement There are layers of richness in Johnson's book and readers will doubtless draw their own conclusions for Johnson's pleasong style leads the reader by means of historical narrtive rather than proselytization. -- Malcolm J. Scoble Biological Journal of the Linnean SocietyTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Joining the Naturalist Tradition"Beetles. Beautiful beetles"Becoming a ZoologistThe Cosmopolitan NaturalistsThe "nice berth": Curating a Zoological MuseumMobilizing the Naturalist Tradition2. Reforming EntomologyThe "strange mixture" of EntomologistsHow to Do EntomologyThe "making" of SpeciesA New Type of CollectionRetraining the Natural History Network3. Ordering Beetles, Butterflies, and Moths"The great desideratum"Revising the SwallowtailsMaking Systematics ScientificCrossing over to BiologyAmassing the Concreta4. Ordering NaturalistsMen of Two ClassesOrganizing EntomologistsThe End of Tring's Heyday"Science knows no country"A "nation of Entomologists"5. A Descent into DisorderTelling "which way the wind blows"The Balance of Europe Is UpsetThe StandstillRecovering Friends, Committees, and Congresses I"The requirements for a thorough investigation"Taxonomy in a Changed WorldThe Rise of Applied EntomologyThe Rise of Applied EntomologyVarious Utopias I: The Ithaca CongressVarious Utopias II: The International Entomological InstituteA Lad's Last Marble7. The Ruin of War and the Synthesis of BiologyThe Edges of EmpireWhere Subspecies Meet"The end of Tring as we have known and cherished it""Provided Europe does not get quite mad""Without the collection I am hopeless"8. Naturalists in a New LandscapeRecovering Friends, Committees, and Congresses IIThe Quest to "clear up the chaos" in Weevils and FleasAvoiding the Snake in the GrassGlorified Office BoysLate for a KnighthoodConclusionAcknowledgments

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnyone who owns a gecko, has seen them in the wild, or has wondered about them will appreciate this gem of a book.Trade ReviewThis book is recommended if you are considering getting a gecko for a pet or if you just want to know more about the ecology and behavior of the 1,400 or so living species of these peculiar lizards. -- Whit Gibbons Aiken Standard [This book] successfully broadens our outlook and appreciation of these fascinating creatures. -- Aliza Gecko Time Anyone who owns a gecko, has seen them in the wild, or has wondered about them will appreciate this gem of a book. Northeastern Naturalist All you ever wanted to know about geckos is here in a nice, readable format. -- Robert E. Hoopes Wildlife Activist Geckos may very well be the most recognizable lizards, and their diversity is astounding across their near-global distribution. Geckos: The Animal Answer Guide therefore provides a general audience with a much-needed encyclopedia where they can get an answer to nearly any question they may have about gecko biology. There is no authority better suited than Aaron Bauer to compile a gecko book at any academic level, and he does a shining example here of making his astounding knowledge of geckos accessible to general readers. -- Matthew K. Fujita Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing GeckosWhat are geckos?Where does the name "gecko" come from?Why are geckos important?Why should people care about geckos?Where do geckos live?What is the difference between geckos and other lizards?How many kinds of geckos are there?What is the current classification of geckos?What characterizes the major groups of geckos?When did geckos evolve?What is the oldest fossil gecko?Where have fossil geckos been found?What did extinct geckos look like?2. Form and FunctionWhat are the largest and smallest living geckos?When are geckos active?Do geckos sleep?Why do geckos have big eyes?Can geckos see color?Do geckos have eyelids?Why do geckos lick their eyes?What are the bulges on the necks of some geckos?Are some geckos limbless?How do geckos climb?How fast can geckos run?Can geckos run upside down?What are flying geckos?How strong is a gecko's grip?Can geckos hang on when they are dead?Can geckos swim?Can all geckos lose and regrow their tails?Why do geckos shed their skin?At what temperatures are geckos most active?3. Gecko ColorsWhat colors are geckos?What causes the different skin colors of geckos?What color are a gecko's eyes?Is there a reason for specific patterns on a gecko's skin?Are male and female geckos colored differently?Do a gecko's colors change as it grows?Can geckos change color?Is there much geographic variation in a single gecko species?4. Gecko BehaviorAre geckos social?Do geckos fight?Do geckos bite?How smart are geckos?Do geckos play?How do geckos communicate?How do geckos make noise?Do geckos have good hearing?How do geckos avoid or escape predators5. Gecko EcologyWhere do geckos sleep?Which geographic regions have the most species of geckos?Do geckos burrow?How do geckos survive in the desert?How do geckos survive the winter?Do geckos bask?What animals eat geckos?Do geckos get sick?How can you tell that a gecko is sick?6. Reproduction and DevelopmentHow do geckos reproduce?How can you tell the sex of a gecko?Do all geckos lay eggs?How long do gecko eggs take to hatch?Where do geckos lay their eggs?Why do geckos lay hard-shelled eggs?Do geckos only lay eggs once a year?How many babies do geckos have?How is the sex of a baby gecko determined?Are some gecko species all female?Do geckos care for their young?How fast do geckos grow?How long do geckos live?7. Foods and FeedingWhat do geckos eat?How many teeth do geckos have?Do geckos chew their food?Why do geckos' eyes sink in when they bite?How do geckos find food?Can geckos taste?Are any geckos cannibals?Can geckos store energy from food?Do geckos drink?8. Geckos and HumansDo geckos make good pets?How do you take care of a pet gecko?Are geckos venomous?Do geckos feel pain?How can I see geckos in the wild?Do people eat geckos?Are parts of geckos used as medicine?Can gecko-style adhesion be useful to humans?9. Gecko Problems (from a human viewpoint)Are geckos pests?Do geckos have diseases and are they contagious?How do I keep geckos away from my house?10. Human Problems (from a gecko's viewpoint)Are any geckos endangered?What is the rarest gecko?Have any geckos become extinct because of humans?Are geckos protected by law?Will geckos be affected by global warming?What are the greatest threats to geckos?11. Geckos in Stories and LiteratureWhat roles do geckos play in religion and mythology?What roles do geckos play in native cultures?What roles do geckos play in popular culture?What roles have geckos played in poetry and other literature?12. "Geckology"Who studies geckos?Which species are best known?Which species are least known?How do scientists tell geckos apart?Appendix A: Geckos of the WorldAppendix B: Organizations and Publications Devoted (in Part) to the Study of GeckosBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you want to see snow geese and trumpeter swans pausing in their northward migration each March, or the mating jubileeof polychaete worms during the new moon in May, A Year across Maryland offers valuable advice for the spontaneous adventurer and the serious planner alike.Trade ReviewWhether you want to see Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans pausing in their northward migration each March, or the mating 'jubilee' of polychaete worms during the new moon in May, A Year across Maryland offers valuable advice for the spontaneous adventurer and the serious planner alike. Northeastern NaturalistTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionJanuaryWeek 1: Winter Songbirds, Evergreen PlantsTrip of the Week: Deep Creek Lake areaWeek 2: Unusual Birds, Reindeer Moss, Gray SquirrelsTrip of the Week: The National AquariumWeek 3: Cranefly Orchids, Roadside Hawks, Coldest WeekTrip of the Week: Smithsonian Natural History MuseumWeek 4: Bald Eagles, Liverworts, "January Thaw"?Trip of the Week: Polar Bear Plunge, Sandy Point State ParkNotes from the Field: English Ivy and American RobinsFebruaryWeek 1: Prickly Pear Cactus, Miocene FossilsTrip of the Week: Flag Ponds Nature ParkWeek 2: Red-winged Blackbirds, Long-tailed SalamandersTrip of the Week: Caves of the Shenandoah ValleyWeek 3: Great Blue Herons, Yellow PerchTrip of the Week: Cross-country skiing, New Germany State ParkWeek 4: Skunk Cabbages, Maple SapTrip of the Week: Oregon Ridge Nature Center and ParkNotes from the Field: A Gathering of GeeseMarchWeek 1: Bluebirds, WaterfowlTrip of the Week: Middle Creek Wildlife Management AreaWeek 2: Wood Frogs, Mourning Cloak ButterfliesTrip of the Week: Woodcock walksWeek 3: Red Maples, Weeds, OspreyTrip of the Week: Fort Smallwood hawk watchWeek 4: Hepatica, Spring PeepersTrip of the Week: National Cherry Blossom FestivalNotes from the Field: Timberdoodles!AprilWeek 1: Wildflowers, BloodrootTrip of the Week: Wildflowers at your local parkWeek 2: American Toads, Migrant Birds, Spring BeautiesTrip of the Week: Great Falls of the Potomac and the C&O Canal towpathWeek 3: Rockfish (Striped Bass), Lesser Celandine, American Robins, Virginia BluebellsTrip of the Week: Susquehanna State ParkWeek 4: Canopy Closure, Lyre-leaved Rock Cress, Morel Mushrooms, Redbuds and DogwoodsTrip of the Week: The National ArboretumNotes from the Field: The Wildflowers of AprilMayWeek 1: Azaleas, Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids, Prothonotary Warblers, Large-flowered TrilliumTrip of the Week: Thompson Wildlife Management AreaWeek 2: Black Locusts, Fantail Darters, May Worm Jubilee,Warbler MigrationTrip of the Week: Birding for neotropical migrantsWeek 3: Blackpoll Warblers, Multiflora Rose, Carpenter FrogsTrip of the Week: The Pine BarrensWeek 4: Diamondback Terrapins, Mountain Laurel, Shorebirds and Horseshoe CrabsTrip of the Week: Delaware Bay shorebirds and horseshoe crabsNotes from the Field: Phalaropes, Polyandry, and ProfligacyJuneWeek 1: Strawberries, Sweetbay Magnolias, Day Lilies, FawnsTrip of the Week: Shenandoah National ParkWeek 2: Gypsy Moths, Mulberries, Periodical CicadasTrip of the Week: Trap Pond State Park and Trussum PondWeek 3: Mockingbirds, Sea Nettles, Self-heal, RhododendronsTrip of the Week: Swallow Falls State Park and Cranesville BogWeek 4: Enchanter's Nightshade, Blueberries, Fireflies,Brown PelicansTrip of the Week: Chesapeake Bay islandsNotes from the Field: A Journey down a Swampy RiverJulyWeek 1: Least Terns, Annual Cicadas, Queen Anne's LaceTrip of the Week: Gettysburg National Military ParkWeek 2: Early Birds of Autumn, Lyme Disease, WildflowersTrip of the Week: Hemlock GorgeWeek 3: Cicada Killer Wasps, Black-eyed Susans, Hottest DaysTrip of the Week: Harpers Ferry for history and tubingWeek 4: Manatees, Showy FlowersTrip of the Week: Ohiopyle State ParkNotes from the Field: Cownose Rays and the ChesapeakeEcosystemAugustWeek 1: Asiatic Dayflower, Canada Geese, ShorebirdMigration, Red SpruceTrip of the Week: Dolly Sods WildernessWeek 2: Goldfinches, Bluefish, Herons, American LotusTrip of the Week: Gunpowder Falls State ParkWeek 3: Flowering Grasses, May Apple and Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Stinging NettlesTrip of the Week: Potomac River float trip; Dam Number Four Cave, C&O CanalWeek 4: Japanese Knotweed, Ragweed, Ghost CrabsTrip of the Week: Assateague Island National SeashoreNotes from the Field: The Turtles of MidsummerSeptemberWeek 1: Pawpaws, Nighthawks and BatsTrip of the Week: Rock Creek ParkWeek 2: Grasses, Neotropical SongbirdsTrip of the Week: Cape MayWeek 3: Broad-winged Hawk, Monarch Butterfly Migration,Tickseed SunflowerTrip of the Week: Jug Bay area, Patuxent RiverWeek 4: Chimney Swifts, Chestnut Oak AcornsTrip of the Week: South Fork of Shenandoah River for canoeing and canoe campingNotes from the Field: A Cold Green FireOctoberWeek 1: Fringed Gentian, Sharp-shinned Hawk MigrationTrip of the Week: Hawk MountainWeek 2: Stink Bugs, Canada Geese, Pokeweed FruitsTrip of the Week: Great Allegheny Passage by train and bicycleWeek 3: Wild Fruits, Prime Fall Color (Western Maryland),Cottony SeedsTrip of the Week: Old Rag Hike, Shenandoah National ParkWeek 4: Brook Trout, Prime Fall Color (Central Maryland)Trip of the Week: Appalachian Trail hikeNotes from the Field: Autumn RiverNovemberWeek 1: Witch Hazel, Water Clarity, Bald CypressTrip of the Week: Pocomoke River for canoeing and campingWeek 2: Whitetail Deer, Prime Fall Color (Eastern Shore),Norway MaplesTrip of the Week: The Waterfowl FestivalWeek 3: Ducks, Blue CrabsTrip of the Week: Bombay Hook National Wildlife RefugeWeek 4: Osage Oranges, Whitetail DeerTrip of the Week: Chincoteague National Wildlife RefugeNotes from the Field: Life and Death at the MarshDecemberWeek 1: Tundra Swans, Beefsteak PlantTrip of the Week: Bald eagles at Conowingo DamWeek 2: Asiatic Bittersweet, Christmas FernTrip of the Week: Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeWeek 3: Mistletoe, Club MossesTrip of the Week: United States Botanic GardenWeek 4: Winter Solstice, Saw-whet OwlsTrip of the Week: Christmas Bird CountNotes from the Field: VulturesAppendix of Common and Scientific NamesSelected BibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you hope to travel to the Southern Hemisphere or simply want to learn more about wildlife, Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide deserves a spot on your bookshelf.Trade ReviewThe writing is crisp and often witty and entertaining. These characteristics make it appealing to professional ornithologists as well as enthusiastic children-it would be great bedtime reading for any penguin lover... Highly recommended. Choice In an easy-reading question-and-answer format, Kooyman and Lynch pack a huge amount of information into this volume, which covers a wide array of topics... As a penguin biologist, I was surprised how much I learned reading Penguins that I had not already known. For penguin enthusiasts, Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide is a must read that will, thanks to Lynch's spectacular photographs, be thoroughly thumbed through by the whole family. Likewise, this book should be required reading for those doing penguin outreach or informal education. -- Heather J. Lynch Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing Penguins2. Form and Function3. Penguin Colors4. Penguin Behavior5. Penguin Ecology6. Reproduction and Development7. Food and Feeding8. Penguins and Humans9. Penguin Problems (from a human viewpoint)10. Human Problems (from a penguin's viewpoint)11. Penguins in Stories and Literature12. Penguinology"Appendix A: Penguins of the WorldAppendix B: Penguin Research and Conservation OrganizationsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you hope to travel to the Southern Hemisphere or simply want to learn more about wildlife, Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide deserves a spot on your bookshelf.Trade ReviewThe writing is crisp and often witty and entertaining. These characteristics make it appealing to professional ornithologists as well as enthusiastic children-it would be great bedtime reading for any penguin lover... Highly recommended. Choice In an easy-reading question-and-answer format, Kooyman and Lynch pack a huge amount of information into this volume, which covers a wide array of topics... As a penguin biologist, I was surprised how much I learned reading Penguins that I had not already known. For penguin enthusiasts, Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide is a must read that will, thanks to Lynch's spectacular photographs, be thoroughly thumbed through by the whole family. Likewise, this book should be required reading for those doing penguin outreach or informal education. -- Heather J. Lynch Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing Penguins2. Form and Function3. Penguin Colors4. Penguin Behavior5. Penguin Ecology6. Reproduction and Development7. Food and Feeding8. Penguins and Humans9. Penguin Problems (from a human viewpoint)10. Human Problems (from a penguin's viewpoint)11. Penguins in Stories and Literature12. Penguinology"Appendix A: Penguins of the WorldAppendix B: Penguin Research and Conservation OrganizationsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether your fascination with sharks stems from fear or curiosity, your knowledge of these animals will improve immensely when you consult this book.Trade ReviewWhether you fear sharks or just have a curiosity about them, Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide will home school you about these fascinating creatures that have been around for millions of years... Get a copy, you'll be glad you did. -- Skip Clement Fly Life Magazine.com Why do sharks attack people? How often do attacks really occur? Must we really contemplate a visit to the beach with terror? Such questions come to mind as shark season approaches. Fortunately, the answer to these and many other shark questions can be found in Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide. -- Whit Gibbons Tuscaloosa News I most highly encourage that all interested not only purchase and read Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide themselves but that additional consideration be given to presenting a copy as a gift to anyone with an interest in sharks... Ignorance and error are indeed a darkness of the mind for which the easiest correction is the introduction of light. To that end, this book veritably glows. -- John E. Riutta The Well-read Naturalist Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide is captivating without being too light, and includes all shark facts. The result is a lovely survey recommended for any interested in sharks. -- James A Cox The Midwest Book Review Johns Hopkins University Press has produced many fantastic 'animal answer guide' books on a wide range of animals, including geckos, turtles, and porcupines. Now comes Sharks -- and it may be the best of the bunch... [The] books is witty and clear, and should inspire a wide audience, young and old and laypersons and professionals... This is exactly the kind of book this reviewer would love to give to a child interested in studying sharks or marine biology. Choice Underpinning a well-written and accurate book, what makes Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide so enjoyable was the palpable enthusiasm exhibited by both authors... Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide is written with a contagious passion that will undoubtedly inspire the public of our generation to learn about, protect, and conserve these magnificent denizens of the deep. -- J. Marcus Drymon Bulletin of Marine ScienceTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing Sharks, Skates, Rays, and Chimaeras2. Form and Function of Sharks3. Shark Colors4. Shark Behavior5. Shark Ecology6. Reproduction and Development7. Foods and Feeding8. Sharks and Humans9. Shark Problems (from a human's viewpoint)10. Human Problems (from a shark's viewpoint)11. Sharks in Stories, Media, and Literature12. "Sharkology"Appendix A: Sharks, Skates, Rays, and Chimaeras of the WorldAppendix B: Organizations That Promote the Study and Conservation of SharksAppendix C: Websites That Provide Useful and Accurate Information on SharksBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA must have for those with an interest in the marine fishes of the West Coast. Birdbooker Report This book will soon become your go-to identification guide, and is compact and durable enough with water resistant pages to throw in your dive bag, fishing tackle box, or field sampling gear. Together with Kells's previous book on fishes from Maine to Texas, you will be prepared to identify almost any coastal species you come across in the continental United States. Copeia This new guide to Pacific coast fishes from Johns Hopkins University Press would be a great addition to any Oregon Master Naturalist's library. Oregon Master Naturalist Program A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes by Kells, Rocha, and Allen is a wonderful field guide that would be a welcome addition to any dive bag or tackle box... I cannot recommend this book enough to anglers, divers, hobby naturalists, and students alike. It is a musthave for anyone who wants to quickly and accurately identify a Pacific Coast fish on the go. Environmental Biology of FishesTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceAbout This BookArea and Species CoveredNames and Sequence of SpeciesOrganization and PresentationIntroductionDiversity and ClassicationAdaptations to Life in WaterIdentifying FishesConservationFamiliesSpeciesGlossaryRare Fishes Also in the AreaSelect Bibliography and Additional ResourcesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisBased on a century of accumulated data and fifteen years of intensive study, The Mammals of Luzon Island delivers a message that will appeal equally to scientists, conservationists, and ecologically minded travelers.Trade Review... a very much anticipated work indeed for naturalists interested in [island biogeography]. The Well-Read Naturalist A must have for those with an interest in the mammals of the region. The Birdbooker Report This well written book will help to raise attention to the threatened mammals of Luzon and species conservation on Luzon and the Philippines as a hotspot for mammal biodiversity. Suiform Soundings The Mammals of Luzon: Biogeography and Natural History of a Philippine Fauna, is the most comprehensive book about Philippine mammals ever written. It is a highly accessible story of scientific inquiry and discovery Acta Chiropterologica The book is so important that students of Biology, particularly those studying natural history, should read this book. Libraries in universities should have a copy of this book for their students Dumaguete Metropost ... I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is an insightful, thorough and fascinating text based upon a lifetime of thought and hard-won data. The text is engagingly written throughout, the volume wonderfully produced and illustrated, and overall well worth the cover price. It could be set as a discussion text for students, used to generate examples for lectures, or simply read for pleasure alone. Frontiers of BiogeographyTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I. The Biogeography of Diversity1. The Mammals of Luzon, 1895– 20122. Climate and Habitats3. Discovering Diversity4. Geological History and Fossil Mammals5. Producing Diversity6. Habitat Disturbance and Invasive Species7. Conservation of Luzon's Mammalian Diversity8. SynthesisPart II. Natural History of Luzon Mammals9. Large Mammals10. A Guide to the Small Mammals1: Order Soricomorpha2: Old Endemics3: Old Endemics4: New Endemic Rodents5: Non-Native Rodents11. A Guide to the Bats1: Introduction to Bats2: Family Pteropodidae3: Family Emballonuridae4: Family Megadermatidae5: Family Hipposideridae6: Family Rhinolophidae7: Family Vespertilionidae8: Family MolossidaeGlossaryLiterature CitedIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis inspiring book of landscape photography from National Geographic captures the beauty of nature in all its breathtaking variations. Trade Review"One [image] more stunning than the next." --The Boston Globe"The book as a whole is like a meditation tool — pick it up, open to any page, and just simply enjoy." --Mother Nature Network"Founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers Cristina Mittermeier has been given access to National Geographic’s archive to select images depicting the awe-inspiring and beautiful forms of nature. The spectacular selection includes images by Paul Nicklen, Art Wolfe and Hans Strand, and are complemented by quotes from recognised figures connected to the natural world, including Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Divided into four chapters loosely linked to the four seasons, Mittermeier’s poetic text at the beginning of each section promotes preservation of our planet and its precious resources – an ethos aligned with her own life mission." --Outdoor Photography

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntricate and soothing, this elegant coloring book for adults invites creative people of all ages to dive into the colorful and complex world of animals, using the power of their own imaginations. With 50 intricate black and white illustrations, printed on perforated pages that will render them collectible, users will color and embellish the detailed wings of a dragonfly, and the intricate patterns of zebras. Armed with artist's tools, they will explore the majesty of the world's wild animals. Fans of National Geographic and newcomers to the coloring world alike will welcome this creative and relaxing journey into our natural world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCapitalizing on this year's mega-trend in publishing, this stylish coloring book geared to adults features dazzling National Geographic-branded content: oceans.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo snakes and salamanders fascinate you or make you squeamish? Have you ever listened closely to the birds chirping in your neighborhood? Can you identify the flowers growing in Philadelphia's urban parks? (Moreover, are the mushrooms safe to eat?) Exploring Philly Nature is amateur naturalist, urban herper,* and Grid contributor Bernard Brown's handy guide to experiencing the flora and fauna in Philly.This compact illustrated volume contains 52 activities from birding, (squirrel) fishing, and basement bug-hunting to joining a frog call survey and visiting a mussel hatchery. Brown encourages kids (as well as their parents) to connect with the natural world close to home. Each entry contains information on where and when to participate, what you will need (even if it is only patience), and tips on clubs and organizations to contact for access. The city and its environs contain a multitude of species from the lichen that grows on gravestones or trees to nocturnal animals like opossums,

Read more less