Zoology and animal sciences Books

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant book [that] shows a way out of the destructive trap of Anthropocentric arrogance.' Vandana Shiva, from the Foreword 'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems.' Dr Denis Noble, University of Oxford ‘A welcoming yet fiercely challenging and provocative read shining a light on the way we look at the science of life.’ LoveReading What is life? This is arguably the fundamental question in all of science, and yet many scientists believe that life can be reduced to mechanistic factors, such as genes and information codes. But in a world as rich and complex as this one, can such an assertion really be true? Biocivilisations is a thrillingly original look at the mystery of life and a recognition of the complex civilisations of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants and animals that have preceded the human world by billions of years. Dr Predrag Slijepčević, senior lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Brunel University, reconsiders the limited scope and timeframe of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and shares how – from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals – the living world has long fostered ancient biocivilisations: how ants practice agriculture, how insects perform surgery, how trees conduct research, how slime moulds build networks as complex as our modern transportations systems and more. More than 99.99 percent of life on Earth has existed without humanity and life will continue without humans long into the future. Biocivilisations challenges us to reconsider the limited scope and time-window of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and to fundamentally reimagine what we call ‘life on Earth’ by posing a powerful question: Are we really the intelligent masters over nature we think we are? Trade Review'A prodigious synthesis and a great, ambitious and informative book dovetailing multiple fields in its effort – largely successful I think – to light a match – and then blow on the fires of the coming "Copernican biological revolution."' Dorion Sagan'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems. Civilisation did not just start with Homo sapiens. Life cannot be reduced to pure mechanism.' Dr Denis Noble, Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the Royal Society; 2022 Lomonosov Grand Gold Medal laureate'In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević tells stories about animals that create art, insects that do battlefield surgery, trees that perform scientific research, bacteria that create intelligent networks, and whole ecosystems that are organized with an efficiency that surpasses any human supply chain. Maybe you thought humans were the crown of creation. Maybe we humans have to learn humility and respect for the biosphere that birthed us. Maybe our future depends on it.' Josh Mitteldorf, PhD, coauthor of Cracking the Aging Code'Predrag Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life offers a powerful and welcome synthesis of what we ought by now to be happy to call Gaian science. It brings together crucial developments in biological systems thinking – such as symbiogenesis, epigenetics, biosemiotics, Gaia theory and autopoiesis – under a comprehensive vision founded on the cosmological longevity and cognitive acumen of the bacterial microcosm and its planetary offspring: multicellular life in all of its forms and alliances. Biocivilisations vigorously dismantles modern strains of scientific and cultural anthropocentrism and their current avatars peddling the futurist delusions of Singularity buffs and AI transhumanists. Slijepčević’s presentation of these crucial and heady matters is properly technical but consistently readable and deeply documented. His approach to science participates in a poetic spirit he perceives everywhere in a terrestrial biosphere that has risen for over four billion years to collective, eventually cross-kingdom consortia such as the ‘Wood Wide Web’ revealed by the new forest ecology. The environmental constructions of such biocivilisations long precede the human elaboration of its own technosphere. I highly recommend Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations for those who would like to get effectively up to speed on the most cogent contemporary challenges to the physicalist-mechanistic technoscientific mainstream.' Bruce Clarke, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor of Literature and Science, Texas Tech University, Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology‘Biocivilizations is an unusually thought-provoking and ambitious book. It challenges the reader to abandon several centuries of assumptions about how to describe the living world in purely physical and mechanistic terms, a world governed by an evolutionary process that places human beings at the apex.’ Dr. James A. Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View from the 21st Century'Sentience, cognition and intelligence are emerging as inherent faculties of all life which has evolved on the Earth. Most of these living systems are much older than humanity and obviously are well integrated to support life. In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević makes clear that the sentient life is essential for the habitability of our planet and that humans should step down from the so-called crown of evolution model in order to appreciate our true position within the complex network of life. Only then will our civilization improve its rather doomed prospects for survival.' Dr František Baluška, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Bonn"Constructed with care, [Slijepčević's] arguments integrate hundreds of examples from the natural world . . . The prose is solid, impassioned, and informed. . . . [and] by defying entrenched and arrogant assumptions about human superiority, the book shows that people have much to learn from creatures like ants and bacteria." Foreword Reviews"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and as fascinating as it is informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life" will have a very special appeal and relevance to readers with an interest in bacteriology, microbiology, evolution, nature and ecology." Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisWith a new afterword, Why You Are Here: A speech on the opening of the COP26 climate summitAs a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched natural world - but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day - the loss of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity. I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet contains my witness statement, and my vision for the future - the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right.We have the opportunity to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited.All we need is the will do so.

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Book SynopsisA recommended "bird-related book to give this season" by The Washington PostFrom our own backyards to the rim of the Arctic ice, countless birds have adapted to meet the challenges of the winter season. This is their remarkable story, told by award-winning birder and acclaimed writer Pete Dunne, accompanied by illustrations from renowned artist and birder David Sibley.Despite the seasonal life-sapping cold, birds have evolved strategies that meet winter?s vicissitudes head on, driven by the imperative to make it to spring and pass down their genes to the next generation. The drama of winter and the resilience and adaptability of birds witnessed in the harsher months of the calendar is both fascinating and astonishing.In The Courage of Birds, Pete Dunne?winner of the American Birding Association?s Roger Tory Peterson Award for lifetime achievement in promoting the cause of birding?chronicles the behavior of the birds of North America. He expertly explores widespread adaptations, such as feathers that protect against the cold, and unpacks the unique migration patterns and survival strategies of individual species. Dunne also addresses the impact of changing climatic conditions on avian longevity and recounts personal anecdotes that soar with a naturalist?s gimlet eye.Filled with unforgettable facts, wit, and moving observations on the natural world, Dunne?s book is for everyone; from the serious birder who tracks migration patterns, to the casual birder who logs daily reports on eBird, to the backyard observer who throws a handful of seed out for the Northern Cardinals and wonders how the birds magically appear in the garden when temperatures begin to fall.Praise for Pete Dunne?Dunne?s prose is lyrical, sensitive, and full of feeling.??Ted Floyd, editor, Birding ?Pete is arguably North America?s best and best-known birder?and he?s also a terrific writer.??Scott Shalaway, author and former syndicated nature columnistPraise for David Sibley?There are 47 million birdwatchers. But there is only one David Sibley. . . . He is a boon to both the birding world and the art world.??The National Audubon Society?[His] exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life.??Birdwatching

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Book SynopsisA behind-the-scenes tour through the world''s greatest natural history museums, revealing how their hidden secrets can help us in the fight against climate changeZoologist Jack Ashby spends his life working in Britain''s natural history museums, and in Nature''s Memory he guides us through a series of extraordinary collections, from marvellous mounted whale skeletons and impossibly tiny insect cabinets to buried treasures in vast museum storehouses.But look more closely at these displays: all is not as it seems. While most exhibits succeed in communicating feelings of wonder and awe - a vital function when less people than ever before have access to the outdoors - Ashby argues that the version of nature natural history museums present does not always reflect reality, with specimens revealing more about the biases of curators than they do about the species they represent. Likewise, the ways in which museums have traditionally told the story of their own

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Book SynopsisA fresh look at health, habits and longevity from internationally-bestselling author, Nicklas Brendborg - perfect for fans of Ultra-Processed People Highly readable DAILY MAILBrilliantly unpacks how modern life hijacks our ancient biology. DR JENNA MACCIOCHIAn informative and engaging read that will appeal to anyone with a bad habit - which must widen the net to everyone. IRISH INDEPENDENTIntriguing ... makes some shocking revelations. SUNDAY TIMES------IT''S NOT YOU. IT''S YOUR BIOLOGY.Modern society is plagued by health epidemics: obesity, record levels of loneliness, increasing mental health problems and various forms of addiction. From the outside, all these issues might seem unrelated. But a single phenomenon actually ties them all together: superstimuli.Superstimuli are exaggerated, unnatural versions of things we have evolved to want and need such as food, sex and social recognition. This hard wired evolutionary response is why we binge on fake ultra-processed food, lust after airbrushed people online, and struggle to stop scrolling on social media, even when it makes us feel bad. Our lack of control isn''t because we are weak. It''s because powerful companies spend billions creating superstimuli that manipulate our biology for profit, leaving us unhealthy and unhappy as a consequence. Super Stimulated shows how we can resist this hijacking of our natural instincts, recognise superstimulus traps, and take control of our bad habits to live longer, healthier lives.

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Book SynopsisFrom John Bradshaw, one of the world''s leading experts on animal behaviour, and the author of the Sunday Times Bestseller, In Defence of Dogs, Cat Sense shows us the true, surprising nature of catsCats are the most popular pet in the world. They outnumber the dog, man''s ''best friend'', by three to one. Yet today, they face unprecedented challenges in their life with humans: from conservationists who cast them as a threat to wildlife; from other cats who they compete for territory with; and from good-intentioned owners and vets with misconceptions of what they require. Cats need not so much our sympathy, but our understanding. Cat Sense offers us for the first time a truly scientific, yet deeply affectionate, picture of one of humanity''s closest and most enigmatic companions.''A mind-altering book ... delightful'' - Lynne Truss, The Times ''Exceptionally thorough ... Bradshaw''s concern and love for cats shines through ... You could buy a dozen books by the many cat whisperers, cat gurus and cat therapists that exist in our feline-obsessed modern world, but their accumulated wisdom would probably not help you understand your cats as well as Cat Sense'' - Tom Cox, Observer''An entertaining book, written in a relaxed style'' - James McConnachie, Sunday Times''Witty, surprising writing ... There is his delight in detail, a talent for dismantling myths, but most importantly an ability to build a coherent and entertaining theory from an apparent contradiction that all cat-lovers will recognise: we seek to understand cats even though it is our lack of understanding that makes us love them'' - Herald John Bradshaw is a biologist who founded and directs the world-renowned Anthrozoology Institute, based at the University of Bristol. He has been studying the behaviour of domestic cats and their owners for over 25 years, and is the author of many scientific articles, research papers and reviews.Trade ReviewThoughtful, useful and utterly absorbing . . . What this book does is give us a better understanding of the way cats perceive the world; and so how we might better accommodate ourselves to them -- Nick Lezard, Paperback of the Week * Guardian *A mind-altering book ... What makes Bradshaw's book so valuable is his positive thinking. How can we make the cat less anxious? How can we help? -- Lynne Truss * The Times *Exceptionally thorough ... Bradshaw's concern and love for cats shines through ... You could buy a dozen books by the many cat whisperers, cat gurus and cat therapists that exist in our feline-obsessed modern world, but their accumulated wisdom would probably not help you understand your cats as well as Cat Sense -- Tom Cox * Observer *Bradshaw wants us to be better owners, and draws on the latest research - much of it is his own - into feline behaviour to show us how ... He offers admirably pragmatic solutions ... An entertaining book, written in a relaxed style -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *For any who may wonder what their feline companions are really thinking, Cat Sense, by John Bradshaw, provides the best answers that science can give * New York Times *A fascinating book every cat owner should read * Irish Times *Witty, surprising writing ... There is his delight in detail, a talent for dismantling myths, but most importantly an ability to build a coherent and entertaining theory from an apparent contradiction that all cat-lovers will recognise: we seek to understand cats even though it is our lack of understanding that makes us love them * Herald *

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Book SynopsisWe find ourselves in a time of great social upheaval. People are testing the boundaries of just about everything related to sex and gender. Biological sex, long thought to be a simple binary, is now being understood as a spectrum. Gender is being uncoupled from sex and expanded to an astounding range of diversity. The traditional categories of sexual attraction are being supplanted by more creative labels. Where is this shift coming from? The answer may surprise you. Diverse sexual behaviour is not a new development, or even a human one. It didn''t emerge from recent progressive culture, it''s the product of billions of years of experimentation throughout the animal kingdom.Evolutionary biologist Nathan H. Lents takes readers on a journey from silent crickets to lesbian albatrosses to bonobos who kiss, revealing what this incredible array of sexual diversity can teach us about our own. Amusing, enlightening and meticulously researched, Lents convincingly shows that diverse genders and sexuality have evolutionary functions far beyond procreation. The Sexual Evolution is a perspective-altering book that advocates understanding and demolishes biases held by even the most open-minded among us.

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Book SynopsisIn Dogs of the World, animal illustrator Lili Chin introduces more than six hundred breeds of dog from around the globe in a captivating canine gallery, from the English Springer Spaniel and Moroccan Aïdi to the Thai Ridgeback and the New Guinea Singing Dog as well as those dogs with no defined breed at all.You'll learn about different dog types and their working roles, such as herding, livestock guarding, scent detection, dog sports, and companionship; understand what terms like purebreed and landrace mean; trace the history of modern dogs through a vibrantly visual timeline; and pick up insights on breed health risks, personality traits, and how ancestry DNA tests work.Featuring adorable artwork alongside rigorous research vetted by dog history experts, behaviour professionals and veterinarians, Dogs of the World is a loving and accessible guide to the diversity of our canine companions.

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Book SynopsisThe RSPB's Book of the SeasonThe distinctive white-tailed sea eagle was driven to extinction in Britain more than 200 years ago, but this immense predator is making a return to our skies, thanks to Roy Dennis, an ornithologist, conservationist and arguably the driving force behind the UK's reintroduction agenda.Roy was instrumental in returning the Osprey, red kite and golden eagle to the British Isles, but the road to reintroduction isn't an easy one. In what will surely be the seminal book on British reintroductions, Roy details the painstaking process of returning the Goldeneye to Scotland, one duckling at a time, the die-hard determination needed to make a dazzling success of the red kite reintroduction and the leap of faith we will all need to make to accept sharing our forests and skies with large carnivores again. He also illustrates all that we have to gain by restoring our ecosystems to balance.Filled with a lifetime's worth of stories from the front lines of conservation, Reintroduction offers an eye-opening insight into the complexities of reintroducing extinct animals to Britain. It's also an intimate portrait of these apex predators and a reminder of why we need them.Trade Review‘Dennis is the most significant conservationist you’ve probably never heard of, and possessed of a radicalism that would startle the most outspoken young environmentalist … Dennis’s vision of how to halt the extinction crisis and restore lost habitats and species in Britain deserves attention because it is rooted in 60 years of pioneering conservation action … Like Dennis, the book is modest, deeply informative and profoundly hopeful, in that it shows a new generation how to bring back lost species’ Patrick Barkham, Guardian ‘Now 81, Dennis is possibly the UK’s most senior and influential conservationist you may never have heard of … Restoring the Wild covers Dennis’s career, which he built on the profound knowledge of ecology and species interaction. It is a book based on his diaries of 60 years, which reveal the sheer number of reports, town hall lectures, licences, risk assessments, acronyms, obstacles and setbacks before the excitement comes … exhilarating’ Kathleen Jamie, New Statesman ‘If you want to find out how to help wildlife survive, thrive, and expand their own horizons, Roy Dennis is the very man: according to the RSPB, no-one else has done more for nature conservation in Scotland in the last 100 years. Informed by sixty years of fieldwork, his new book is a comprehensive guide to how well – or poorly – we are placed to rewild our skies, woods and waterways’ David Robinson, Books from Scotland ‘Roy’s passion and love of wildlife is visible in every crevice of the book … a tantalising and inspiring read’ The Scottish Field ‘A wonderful book, steeped in knowledge and experience of nature and of the more practical ends of nature conservation … No one else could write this book from personal experience – it’s a treat … A joy to read, and gives plenty of information but also food for thought.’ Mark Avery ‘A leading figure in UK reintroductions, Roy explains the process and necessity of bringing back our extinct apex predators’ Nature’s Home

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBeautifully packaged and very authoritative * Country Walking *...like opening the drawers of a Victorian natural-history cabinet... beautifully photographed. Eye candy for nature lovers of all ages * BBC Wildlife *An absolute browser's delight * Bird Watching *Not since the first pre-dawn unwrapping of a Christmas Annual For Boys have I leafed through a new book with quite the wonder commanded by The Natural History Book. -- Michael Viney * Irish Times *A strikingly illustrated bible. * Country Life *Compiled by a team of experts, it is thorough, knowledgeable and authentic. * The Field *A spectacular and exceptionally well-illustrated guide to life. * How It Works *If anyone can provide a succinct potted reference book on any subject under the sun, DK can. * The Daily Express *It is the kind of book you will pore over for hours. * The Natural History Book *

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Book SynopsisFrom the world-famous expert on chimpanzees - the powerfully compelling sequel to the international bestseller IN THE SHADOW OF MAN: ''An instant animal classic'' TimeEquipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind''s closest living relatives. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe is a community where the principal residents are chimpanzees. Through Goodall''s eyes we watch as the younger chimpanzees vie for power, and how the leaders must deal with this challenge. We learn how one mother successfully rears her children, whilst another appears to doom her offspring to failure. All life is here - glorious births and heart-breaking deaths, moments of brutality, alongside the most tender displays of affection.In THROUGH A WINDOW, as Jane Goodall reveals the story of this intimately intertwined community, we are shown the parallelTrade ReviewI can't imagine a more vivid or unexpectedly moving introduction to chimpanzees in the wild than Jane Goodall's * NEW YORK TIMES *A humbling and exalting book ... Ranks with the great scientific achievements of the twentieth century * WASHINGTON POST *An absolutely smashing account ... Thrilling, affectionate, intelligent - a classic * KIRKUS *

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Book SynopsisSee the animal kingdom in all its glory, from jellyfish to polar bears, with up-close details of their unique features from head to toe. Filled with magnificent photographs that were specially commissioned for this book and cannot be seen anywhere else. Written in association with the Natural History Museum.This visual reference book starts with the question what is an animal? and takes you through the animal kingdom - mammals, reptiles, birds, and sea creatures. It uses a unique head to toe approach that showcases in spectacular detail special features such as the flight feathers of a parrot, the antenna of a moth, or the tentacles of coral.This visual encyclopedia is filled with clear and fascinating information on everything about the social lives of animals. Read exciting stories, like how animals communicate, defend their territories, and attract mates.Learn how evolution has helped wildlife to adapt to their unique environments, whether

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Book SynopsisIt takes a whole universe to make one small black birdThe bestselling author of Crow Country and writer of The Guardian''s Country Diary tells the story of all life on Earth through a single day spent in the company of swifts.''A jewel of a book'' Caroline Lucas MPSwifts are among the most extraordinary of all birds. Their migrations span continents and their twelve-week stopover, when they pause to breed in European rooftops, is the very definition of summer. They may nest in our homes but much about their lives passes over our heads. No birds are more wreathed in mystery. Captivated, Mark Cocker sets out to capture their essence.Over the course of one day in midsummer he devotes himself to his beloved black birds as they spiral overhead. Yet this is also a book about so much more. Swifts are a prism through which Cocker explores the profound interconnections of the whole biosphere.From the deep-sea thermal

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Book SynopsisEMPHASIZES CONCEPTS. Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, Third Edition, uses broad organizing concepts to provide a framework for understanding the science of animal behavior. In an engaging, question-driven style, Shawn E. Nordell and Thomas J. Valone offer readers a clear learning progression for understanding and evaluating empirical research examples.FOCUSES ON METHODOLOGY AND THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE. Featured studies illustrate each concept and emphasize the experimental designs and the hypothesis testing methods scientists use to address research questions. HIGHLIGHTS REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS. Concepts are related to real life to help students understand the broader significance of animal behavior research, including applications to human behavior and conservation.Trade Review<"I'd describe this book as an innovative and thoughtful treatment of animal behavior with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry to a level that is uncommon in most biology textbooks. Each experiment is described with enough detail that the students can really connect the science with the concept.>" -Bryan Arnold, Illinois CollegeGreat at leading students through the scientific process, from experimental design to data interpretation. All concepts are anchored to real examples from the literature." Damien I. Elis, University of California - BerkeleyIt's a completely different way of presenting material to students - makes them see "science in action: and thus the concepts come alive, rather than appear as dull facts to be memorized. It's very well-written and engaging - students with even the slightest interest in teh field will enjoy reading it! The focus on applications and current research is especially appealing and unique" Miles Engell, North Carolina State UniversityNordell & Valone's Animal Behavior highlights major concepts in teh field in an easy to follow, organized manner The details of contemporary research studies are used to emphasize the scientific process and to encourage students to make critical connections between empirical data and broader theoreticla concepts" Dr. Christy Wolovich, Florida Southern CollegeTable of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. The Science of Animal Behavior 1.1 Animals and their behavior are an integral part of human society Recognizing and defining behavior Measuring behavior in elephant ethograms 1.2 The scientific method is a formalized way of knowing about the natural world The importance of hypotheses The scientific method Negative results and directional hypotheses Correlation and causality Hypotheses and theories Social sciences and the natural sciences 1.3 Scientists study both the proximate mechanisms that generate behavior and the ultimate reasons why the behavior evolved Tinbergen's four questions Implications of Tinbergen's work 1.4 Researchers have examined animal behavior from a variety of perspectives over time Darwin and adaptation Early comparative psychology Comparative psychology in North America Behaviorism Classical ethology Interdisciplinary approaches 1.5 Anthropomorphic explanations of behavior assign human emotions to animals and can be difficult to test Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 1.1 Robin abundance and food availability Scientific Process 1.2 Robin abundance and predators Applying the Concepts 1.1 Human infant crying Applying the Concepts 1.2 What is behind the "guilty look" in dogs? Toolbox 1.1 Describing and summarizing data Toolbox 1.2 Interpreting graphical data Quantitative Reasoning 1.1 Nesting success and breeding habitats Chapter 2. Methods for Studying Animal Behavior 2.1 Animal behavior scientists generate and test hypotheses to answer research questions about behavior Hypothesis testing in wolf spiders Generating hypotheses Hypotheses and predictions from mathematical models 2.2 Researchers use observational, experimental, and comparative methods to study behavior The observational method The observational method and male mating tactics in bighorn sheep The experimental method The experimental method and jumping tadpoles The comparative method The comparative method and the evolution of burrowing behavior in mice 2.3 Animal behavior research requires ethical animal use How research can affect animals Sources of ethical standards The three Rs 2.4 Scientific knowledge is generated and communicated to the scientific community via peer-reviewed research Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 2.1 Jumping tadpoles Applying the Concepts 2.1 Project Seahorse Toolbox 2.1 Animal sampling techniques Toolbox 2.2 Scientific literacy Quantitative Reasoning 2.1 Sampling methods Chapter 3. Evolution and the Study of Animal Behavior 3.1 Evolution by natural selection favors behavioral adaptations that enhance fitness Measures of heritability Maternal defense behavior in mice Variation within a population Frequency-dependent selection Fitness and adaptation 3.2 Modes of natural selection describe population changes Directional selection in juvenile ornate tree lizards Disruptive selection in spadefoot toad tadpoles Stabilizing selection in juvenile convict cichlids Studying adaptation: the cost-benefit approach 3.3 Individual and group selection have been used to explain cooperation 3.4 Sexual selection is a form of natural selection that focuses on the reproductive fitness of individuals Sexual selection in widowbirds Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 3.1 Stabilizing selection on territory size in cichlids Applying the Concepts 3.1 Do lemmings commit suicide? Toolbox 3.1 Genetics primer Quantitative Reasoning 3.1 Presence and absence of predator cues Chapter 4. Behavioral Genetics 4.1 Behaviors vary in their heritability 4.2 Behavioral variation is associated with genetic variation Behavioral differences between wild-type and mutant-type fruit flies Major and minor genes Fire ant genotype and social organization Experimental manipulation of gene function: knockout studies Anxiety-related behavior and knockout of a hormone receptor in mice QTL mapping to identify genes associated with behavior QTL mapping for aphid feeding behavior 4.3 The environment influences behavior via gene expression Environmental effects on zebrafish aggression Social environment and gene expression in fruit flies Social environment and birdsong development Social environment and gene expression in birds Gene-environment interactions Rover and sitter foraging behavior in fruit flies 4.4 Genomic approaches correlate gene expression with behavioral phenotypes Scouting behavior in bees Genomics and alternative mating tactics in fish 4.5 Genes can limit behavioral flexibility Bold and shy personalities in streamside salamanders Aggressive personalities in funnel-web spiders Animal personalities model with fitness trade-offs Environmental effects on jumping spider personalities Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 4.1 Environmental effects on zebrafish aggression Scientific Process 4.2 Heritability of great tit exploratory behavior Scientific Process 4.3 Salamander personalities Applying the Concepts 4.1 Dog behavior heritability Toolbox 4.1 Molecular techniques Quantitative Reasoning 4.1 Female body size and sexual cannibalism Chapter 5. Sensory Systems and Behavior 5.1 Animals acquire environmental information from their sensory systems 5.2 Chemosensory systems detect chemicals that are perceived as tastes and odors Sweet and umami taste perception in rodents Cuttlefish physiological response to odors 5.3 Photoreception allows animals to detect light and perceive objects as images Color vision in monarch butterflies Ultraviolet plumage reflectance in birds Infrared detection in snakes 5.4 Mechanoreceptors detect vibrations that travel through air, water, or substrates Ultrasonic song detection in moths Long-distance communication in elephants Catfish track the wake of their prey Substrate-borne vibrations Antlions detect substrate-borne vibrations 5.5 Some animals can detect electric or magnetic fields Electroreception Sharks detect electric fields Magnetoreception 5.6 Predator and prey sensory systems co-evolve Insect tympanal organs: an evolved antipredator adaptation Predator-prey sensory system co-evolution in bats and moths Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 5.1 Antlion mechanoreception Applying the Concepts 5.1 How do mosquitoes find their victims? Quantitative Reasoning 5.1 Hummingbird hawkmoths and sugar preference Chapter 6. Communication 6.1 Communication occurs when a specialized signal from one individual influences the behavior of another Honeybees and the waggle dance Odor or the waggle dance in bees Auditory signals: alarm calls Titmouse alarm calls Information or influence? 6.2 The environment influences the evolution of signals Temperature affects ant chemical signals Habitat light environment affects fish visual signals Habitat structure affects bowerbird auditory signals 6.3 Signals often accurately indicate signaler phenotype and environmental conditions Signals as accurate indicators: theory Aposematic coloration in frogs Courtship signaling in spiders Aggressive display and male condition in fighting fish 6.4 Signals can be inaccurate indicators when the fitness interests of signaler and receiver differ Batesian mimicry and Enstaina salamanders Aggressive mimicry in fangblenny fish Intraspecific deception: false alarm calls Topi antelope false alarm calls Capuchin monkeys and inaccurate signals 6.5 Communication can involve extended phenotype signals Bowerbirds construct and decorate bowers Sticklebacks decorate their nests 6.6 Communication networks affect signaler and receiver behavior Squirrel eavesdropping Audience effects in fighting fish Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 6.1 Signaling in male wolf spiders Scientific Process 6.2 Fighting fish opercular display Applying the Concepts 6.1 Pheromones and pest control Applying the Concepts 6.2 Urban sounds affect signal production Applying the Concepts 6.3 Human luxury brands as costly signals Quantitative Reasoning 6.1 Sand hoods as extended phenotype signals Chapter 7. Learning, Neuroethology, and Cognition 7.1 Learning allows animals to adapt to their environment Improved foraging efficiency in salamanders Evolution of learning Fiddler crab habituation 7.2 Learning is associated with neurological changes Neurotransmitters and learning in chicks Dendritic spines and learning in mice Avian memory of stored food 7.3 Animals learn associations between stimuli and responses Classical conditioning Pavlovian conditioning for mating opportunities in Japanese quail Fish learn novel predators Operant conditioning Learning curves in macaques Trial-and-error learning in bees 7.4 Social interactions facilitate learning Learned anti-predator behaviors in prairie dogs Learning about food patches Social information use in sticklebacks Teaching Ptarmigan hens teach chicks their diet Tandem running in ants 7.5 Social learning can lead to the development of animal traditions and culture Foraging behavioral traditions in great tits 7.6 Animals vary in their cognitive abilities Tool use in capuchin monkeys Problem solving and insight learning Insight learning in keas Numerical competency in New Zealand robins Cognition and brain architecture in birds Brain size and cognition in guppies Cognitive performance and fitness in bowerbirds Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 7.1 Brain structure and food hoarding Scientific Process 7.2 Fish learn predators Applying the Concepts 7.1 Operation Migration and imprinting Applying the Concepts 7.2 Dog training Applying the Concepts 7.3 Human social learning about dangerous animals Quantitative Reasoning 7.1 Aggressiveness and learning ability Chapter 8. Foraging Behavior 8.1 Animals find food using a variety of sensory modalities Bees use multiple senses to enhance foraging efficiency Gray mouse lemurs use multiple senses to find food 8.2 Visual predators find cryptic prey more effectively by learning a search image Trout and search images 8.3 The optimal diet model predicts the food types an animal should include in its diet The diet model A graphical solution Diet choice in northwestern crows Ant foraging and the effect of nutrients 8.4 The optimal patch-use model predicts how long a forager should exploit a food patch The optimal patch-use model Patch use by ruddy ducks Optimal patch model with multiple costs Fruit bats foraging on heterogeneous patches Kangaroo rat foraging with variable predation costs Incomplete information and food patch estimation Bayesian foraging bumblebees 8.5 Some animals obtain food from the discoveries of others Spice finch producer-scrounger game Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 8.1 Prey detection by gray mouse lemurs Scientific Process 8.2 Cryptic prey reduces predator efficiency Scientific Process 8.3 Patch use by fruit bats Applying the Concepts 8.1 Human patch-leaving decisions Applying the Concepts 8.2 GUDs and conservation Toolbox 8.1 Mathematical solution to the optimal diet model Quantitative Reasoning 8.1 Foraging in different habitats Chapter 9. Antipredator Behavior 9.1 Animals reduce predation risk by avoiding detection Predator avoidance by cryptic coloration in crabs Predators and reduced activity in lizards Prey take evasive or aggressive action when detected Startle display in butterflies 9.2 Many behaviors represent adaptive trade-offs involving predation risk Increased vigilance decreases feeding time Vigilance and predation risk in elk Rich but risky Environmental conditions and predation risk in foraging redshanks Mating and refuge use in fiddler crabs Perceived predation risk affects reproductive behavior in sparrows 9.3 Living in groups can reduce predation risk The dilution effect and killifish The selfish herd and vigilance behavior Group size effect and the selfish herd hypothesis in doves 9.4 Some animals interact with predators to deter attack Predator harassment in ground squirrels Pursuit deterrence and alarm signal hypotheses Tail-flagging behavior in deer Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 9.1 Feeding trade-off in redshanks Scientific Process 9.2 Predator harassment by California ground squirrels Applying the Concepts 9.1 Human fear of predators Applying the Concepts 9.2 Mitigating crop damage by manipulating predation risk Quantitative Reasoning 9.1 Anti-predator vigilance in yellow-bellied marmots Chapter 10. Dispersal and Migration 10.1 Dispersal reduces resource competition and inbreeding Density-dependent dispersal in earthworms Food-related dispersal in water boatmen Inbreeding avoidance in great tits 10.2 Reproductive success and public information affect breeding dispersal behavior Reproductive success and breeding dispersal in dragonflies Public information and breeding dispersal in kittiwakes 10.3 Individuals migrate in response to changes in the environment Migration and changing resources Resource variation and migration in neotropical birds Heritability of migration behavior in Eurasian blackcaps A model of the evolution of migration Competition and migratory behavior of newts Maintenance of polymorphism in migratory behavior Alternative migratory behaviors in dippers 10.4 Environmental cues and compass systems are used for orientation when migrating Compass systems Antennae and the sun compass system in monarchs The magnetic compass in sea turtles Multimodal orientation 10.5 Bicoordinate navigation allows individuals to identify their location relative to a goal Bicoordinate navigation and magnetic maps in sea turtles Bicoordinate navigation in birds Homing migration in salmon Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 10.1 Breeding dispersal in dragonflies Scientific Process 10.2 The role of the antennae in the monarch butterfly sun compass Applying the Concepts 10.1 Bird migration and global climate change Applying the Concepts 10.2 Citizen scientists track fall migration flyways of monarch butterflies Applying the Concepts 10.3 Human magnetic orientation Toolbox 10.1 Emlen funnels Quantitative Reasoning 10.1 Dispersing cane toads Chapter 11. Habitat Selection, Territoriality, and Aggression 11.1 Resource availability and the presence of others can influence habitat selection The ideal free distribution model The ideal free distribution model and guppies The ideal free distribution model and pike Cuckoos assess habitat quality Conspecific attraction Conspecific attraction and Allee effects in grasshoppers Conspecific cueing in American redstarts 11.2 Individual condition and environmental factors affect territoriality Body condition and territoriality in damselflies Environmental factors and territory size in parrotfish 11.3 Hormones influence aggression Winner-challenge effect in the California mouse Challenge hypothesis and bystanders in fish Juvenile hormone and wasp aggression 11.4 Game theory models explain how the decisions of opponents and resource value affect fighting behavior The hawk-dove model Wrestling behavior in red-spotted newts Game theory assessment models Fiddler crab contests over burrows Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 11.1 Ideal free guppies Scientific Process 11.2 Conspecific attraction in grasshoppers Applying the Concepts 11.1 Conspecific attraction and conservation Applying the Concepts 11.2 Human aggression, testosterone, and sports Applying the Concepts 11.3 Reducing duration and intensity of piglet fights Toolbox 11.1 The hawk-dove model Quantitative Reasoning 11.1 Trout territoriality Chapter 12. Mating Behavior 12.1 Sexual selection favors characteristics that enhance reproductive success Why two sexes? Bateman's hypothesis and parental investment Weapon size and mating success in dung beetles Ornaments and mate choice in peafowl Male mate choice in pipefish The sensory bias hypothesis in guppies 12.2 Females select males to obtain direct material benefits Female choice and nuptial gifts in butterflies Female choice and territory quality in lizards 12.3 Female mate choice can evolve via indirect benefits to offspring Fisherian runaway and good genes Mate choice for good genes in tree frogs Good genes and the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis Mate choice fitness benefits in spiders 12.4 Sexual selection can also occur after mating Mate guarding in warblers Sperm competition in tree swallows Cryptic female choice Inbreeding avoidance via cryptic female choice in spiders 12.5 Mate choice by females favors alternative reproductive tactics in males The evolution of alternative reproductive tactics Conditional satellite males in tree frogs ESS and sunfish sneaker males 12.6 Mate choice is affected by the mating decisions of others Mate copying in guppies Mate copying in fruit flies The benefit of mate copying Nonindependent mate choice by male mosquitofish Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 12.1 Male mate choice in pipefish Scientific Process 12.2 Mate copying in fruit flies Applying the Concepts 12.1 Mate choice in conservation breeding programs Applying the Concepts 12.2 Human mate choice copying Quantitative Reasoning 12.1 Sneaking behavior in New Zealand giraffe weevils Chapter 13. Mating Systems 13.1 Sexual conflict and environmental conditions affect the evolution of mating systems The evolution of mating systems Mating systems in reed warblers 13.2 Biparental care favors the evolution of monogamy California mouse monogamy Monogamy and biparental care in poison frogs Monogamy without biparental care in snapping shrimp 13.3 Polygyny and polyandry evolve when one sex can defend multiple mates or the resources they seek Female defense polygyny in horses Resource defense polygyny in blackbirds Resource defense polygyny in carrion beetles Male dominance polygyny: the evolution of leks-hotspots or hotshots? Lekking behavior in the great snipe Peafowl leks Polyandry and sex-role reversal 13.4 The presence of social associations distinguishes polygynandry from promiscuity Polygynandry in European badgers Promiscuity and scramble competition in seaweed flies and red squirrels 13.5 Social and genetic mating systems differ when extra-pair mating occurs Extra-pair mating in juncos Marmot extra-pair mating Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 13.1 Biparental care and monogamy in poison frogs Scientific Process 13.2 Monogamy in snapping shrimp Applying the Concepts 13.1 Mating systems and conservation translocation programs Applying the Concepts 13.2 Human mating systems Toolbox 13.1 DNA fingerprinting Quantitative Reasoning 13.1 Mating success of male red-backed fairy-wrens Chapter 14. Parental Care 14.1 Parental care varies among species and reflects life history trade-offs Life history variation in fish 14.2 Sexual conflict is the basis for sex-biased parental care Female-biased parental care Paternity uncertainty and parental care in boobies The evolution of male-only care Paternity uncertainty and male-only care in sunfish Paternity assurance and male care in water bugs 14.3 Parental care involves fitness trade-offs between current and future reproduction Parent-offspring conflict theory Predation risk and parental care in songbirds Egg guarding and opportunity costs of parental care in frogs Current versus future reproduction in treehoppers Incubation of eider eggs as a trade-off Brood reduction and parent-offspring conflict Hatch asynchrony and brood reduction in blackbirds Brood reduction in fur seals 14.4 Brood parasitism reduces the cost of parental care and can result in a co-evolutionary arms race Conspecific brood parasitism in ducks Interspecific brood parasitism and co-evolution Acceptance or rejection of brown-headed cowbird eggs by hosts 14.5 Hormones regulate parental care Prolactin and maternal care in rats Prolactin and incubation in penguins Juvenile hormones and parental care in earwigs Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 14.1 Paternity certainty and parental care in bluegill sunfish Scientific Process 14.2 Parental care costs in eiders Scientific Process 14.3 Brood reduction in blackbirds Applying the Concepts 14.1 Human life history trade-off Applying the Concepts 14.2 Smallmouth bass defend their nest from exotic predators Applying the Concepts 14.3 Food supplementation reduces brood reduction in endangered eagles Quantitative Reasoning 14.1 Prey provisioning rates of American kestrals Chapter 15. Sociality 15.1 Sociality can evolve when the fitness advantages of close associations exceed the costs Reduced search times for food Foraging benefit: Information about distant food locations Antipredator benefit of sociality in birds Movement benefits: Efficient aerodynamics and hydrodynamics Hydrodynamics in schools of juvenile grey mullet Social heterosis in ants The costs of sociality Group size and food competition in red colobus and red-tailed guenons Sociality and disease transmission in guppies 15.2 Dominance hierarchies reduce the social costs of aggression Dominance hierarchies and crayfish Stable dominance hierarchies in baboons 15.3 Ecology and phylogeny influence the evolution of sociality Evolution of rodent sociality and habitat use Body size, diet, and habitat influence sociality in antelope 15.4 Hormones regulate social behavior Social approach behavior and neuropeptides in goldfish Mesotocin and pro-social behavior in finches Social behavior in seals Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 15.1 Mesotocin and sociality in zebra finches Applying the Concepts 15.1 Group aerodynamic advantages in cyclists Applying the Concepts 15.2 Group size of social species in captivity Quantitative Reasoning 15.1 Benefits of group foraging Chapter 16. Cooperative Behavior 16.1 Inclusive fitness theory explains the evolution of cooperation among related individuals Hamilton's rule Belding's ground squirrel alarm calls Altruism in turkeys 16.2 Individuals can discriminate kin from non-kin Kin discrimination Direct familiarization and kin discrimination in sticklebacks Indirect familiarization and kin discrimination in cockroaches 16.3 Cooperative behavior among unrelated individuals involves byproduct mutualisms or reciprocity Direct reciprocity The prisoner's dilemma Tit-for-tat strategy Food sharing in vampire bats Allogrooming in Japanese macaques Tit-for-tat in red-winged blackbirds The snowdrift game Migrating bald ibis and the snowdrift game Indirect reciprocity Reputations and cleaner fish Reputation formation in great apes 16.4 Kinship and ecological constraints favor cooperative reproduction The evolution of cooperative breeding in vertebrates Cooperative breeding in meerkats Cooperative reproduction in long-tailed tits Helping behavior in Seychelles warblers Social queuing in clownfish Invertebrate castes The evolution of sterile castes Haplodiploidy hypothesis Kin selection and ecological constraint hypothesis Eusociality in sweat bees Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 16.1 Reputation formation in great apes Applying the Concepts 16.1 Human altruism and reputations Quantitative Reasoning 16.1 Food sharing in killer whales Glossary Bibliography Answers to Selected Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions Answers to Scientific Process Box "Evaluate" Questions Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the similarities and differences between two species, bonobos and chimpanzees, based on the three decades the author has spent studying them in the wild, and shows how the contrasting nature of these two species is also reflected in human nature. The most important differences between bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest relatives, are the social mechanisms of coexistence in group life. Chimpanzees are known as a fairly despotic species in which the males exclusively dominate over the females, and maintain a rigid hierarchy. Chimpanzees have developed social intelligence to survive severe competition among males: by upholding the hierarchy of dominance, they can usually preserve peaceful relations among group members. In contrast, female bonobos have the same or even a higher social status than males. By evolving pseudo-estrus during their non-reproductive period, females have succeeded in moderating inter-male sexual competition, and in initiating mate selection. Although they are non-related in male-philopatric society, they usually aggregate in a group, enjoy priority access to food, determine which male is the alpha male, and generally maintain much more peaceful social relations compared to chimpanzees. Lastly, by identifying key mechanisms of social coexistence in these two species, the author also seeks to find solutions or “hope” for the peaceful coexistence of human beings."Takeshi Furuichi is one of very few scientists in the world familiar with both chimpanzees and bonobos. In lively prose, reflecting personal experience with apes in the rain forest, he compares our two closest relatives and explains the striking differences between the male- dominated and territorial chimpanzees and the female-centered gentle bonobos."Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug - Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves (Norton, 2019) Table of Contents

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Book SynopsisWhen a driver dies during a glamourous classic car event at her family's estate, Dr Nell Ward is in a race against time to uncover the truth and prevent the killer from making a speedy getaway...Back in her natural habitat, Dr Nell Ward heads to a woodland pond to survey local newt populations. She's shocked to discover a car submerged in the water - with the driver dead behind the wheel.Nell recognises the dead man as professional racing driver, and tabloid love rat, Jack Rafferty, whose performance on (and off) Finchmere's racetrack had earned him enemies.Suspecting this isn't the tragic accident it appears DI James Clark calls upon Nell and her ecological skills to help find the murderer. But she soon finds that more lurks under the surface than she could ever have imagined. Despite the danger, Nell is determined to dredge up the truth from the murky depths of this case, before it's too late...A completely gripping and page-turning cosy mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and Robert Thorogood.Readers love A Mischief of Rats:'A real roller coaster of a read with plenty of red herrings' Reader review, 5 stars'Fantastic cosy crime book I love everything about this book. Can't wait for the next in the series... Had me on the edge of my seat' Reader review, 5 stars'The action is non-stop... Colourful cast of characters, a compelling plot... a wholly immersive one sit read' Reader review, 5 stars'Plenty of suspects and twists... The author cleverly uses Nell's science and ecological background to help piece together what happened... A new favourite series' Reader review, 5 stars

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Book SynopsisWith over 6,000 entries, A Dictionary of Zoology is a detailed and authoritative guide to all areas of the field. It offers full taxonomic coverage of arthropods, other invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. It also includes terms from the areas of ecology, animal behaviour, evolution, earth history, zoogeography, genetics, and physiology. All entries have been fully revised and updated, making this the most up-to-date reference guide of its kind. There are around 400 entries new to this edition covering areas that include taxonomic groups, prefixes, and widely used descriptive terms. These include articles on micronucleus, stoma, platy-, proto-, and terrestrial.The dictionary is enriched through its useful web links, accessible via the companion website, as well as diagrams and detailed appendices. This fifth edition also includes a new Common Names appendix and three new illustrations.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition a fine compendium of unquestionable use ... Make sure you have an Allaby handy * Nature *Table of ContentsPreface A to Z entries Endangered animals Endangered animals 2012 The universal genetic code Geologic time-scale SI units Supplementary units Derived SI units Multiples used with SI units Extant animal phyla Taxonomic classification Common names

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Book SynopsisWhen the wedding of her oldest friend ends with a shocking murder, Dr Nell Ward is once again caught up in a web of subterfuge, secrets and lies... Dr Nell Ward is delighted when her childhood friend Percy announces she's engaged to handsome businessman Hawke McAnstruther - and rashly offers to host the wedding at Finchmere, her family's estate. But she hadn't anticipated Percy's parents' fiery disapproval of the groom. The ceremony is barely over before Hawke's shady personal and professional life starts to unravel, and tension ripples through the assembled guests. When the wedding night ends with a shocking death, Nell, best-friend Rav and DI James Clarke all find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery worthy of Agatha Christie. Surviving a terrifying threat to her own life, Nell has to face up to the truth. Not just about murder at Finchmere, but about where her heart truly lies... The second book in the Nell Ward cosy crime series - perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Fiona Leitch, Faith Martin and The Appeal. Praise for A Cast of Falcons'With a credible and colourful cast of characters, a compelling plot and a solid narrative this is, once again, a wholly immersive one-sit read.' - NetGalley reviewer'A great, easy and enjoyable read! Highly recommended.' - NetGalley reviewer'The plot is riveting and keeps you guessing right till the end!' - NetGalley reviewer'Lovely well-rounded characters and a great setting. Definitely recommended.' - NetGalley reviewer

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Book SynopsisA classic Gerald Durrell title reissued by Penguin to celebrate the centenary of his birth'Gerald Durrell was magic' SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGHMenagerie Manor chronicles the early, sunlit days of Gerald Durrell's dream to create a sanctuary for animals, realized Les Augrès Manor in Trinity, Jersey. Here we encounter Leo the lion, who enjoys roaring solidly through the night; N'Pongo the gorilla who thinks nothing of boarding a small plane to be part of a BBC documentary; and Claudius the South American tapir, an escape art of Houdini-like cunning. Republished to celebrate the centenary of Durrell's birth, this book is a testament to the enduring importance of conservation in a changing world, and the profound connection between the human and animal kingdoms. 'This book is a certain joy' NEW STATESMAN'Animals come close to being Durrell's best friends. . . . He writes about them with style, verve, and humour' TIME

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Book SynopsisThis book investigates whether we could and should learn to live with species like lynx, wolves and bears again in Britain and Ireland. We travel back in time, across the world and into the future to explore this contested topic.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2018 Royal Society Investment Science Book Prize'Endlessly fascinating.' - Bill Bryson 'Eye-opening, informative and very funny!' - Chris Packham'Well-informed and downright funny' - Richard DawkinsHistory is full of strange animal stories invented by the brightest and most influential, from Aristotle to Disney. But when it comes to understanding animals, we’ve got a long way to go. Whether we’re watching a viral video of romping baby pandas or looking at a picture of penguins ‘holding hands’, we often project our own values – innocence, abstinence, hard work – onto animals. So you’ve probably never considered that moose get drunk and that penguins are notorious cheats. In The Unexpected Truth About Animals Zoologist Lucy unravels many such myths – that eels are born from sand, that swallows hibernate under water, and that bears gave birth to formless lumps that are licked into shape by their mothers – to show that the stories we create reveal as much about us as they do about the animals. Astonishing, illuminating and laugh-out-loud funny.Trade ReviewA bloody fabulous read. Thoroughly recommend. -- Sue Perkins (Twitter)A riot of facts....Cooke scores a series of goals with style and panache. * The Times *Beautifully written, meticulously researched, with the science often couched in outrageous asides, this is a splendid read. In fact, I cannot remember when I last enjoyed a non-fiction work so much. * Daily Express *Best science pick.Sigmund Freud's first paper involved the dissection of eels in an attempt to locate their testes. To his frustration, Freud failed to find any. The eel's life cycle remains slippery, notes natural-history broadcaster Lucy Cooke in her deeply researched, sassily written history of "the biggest misconceptions, mistakes and myths we've concocted about the animal kingdom", spread by figures from Aristotle to Walt Disney. Other chapters spotlight the sloth, vulture, hippopotamus, panda, chimpanzee and others, and dismantle anthropocentric clichés with scientific, global evidence. * Nature *Lucy Cooke's The Unexpected Truth About Animals was a joy from beginning to end. Who could resist a writer who argues that penguins have been pulling the wool over our eyes for years, and that, far from being cute and gregarious, they are actually pathologically unpleasant necrophiliacs? * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAs relevant and influential today as when it was first published, this classic exposition of evolutionary thought, widely hailed for its stylistic brilliance and deep scientific insights, stimulated whole new areas of research. This extended edition includes a new epilogue from the author and two key chapters from The Extended Phenotype.Trade ReviewFrom the moment of its publication 40 years ago, it has been a sparkling best-seller and a scientific game-changer. * Matt Ridley, Nature *Review from previous edition The sort of popular science writing that makes the reader feel like a genius. * New York Times *This book should be read, can be read, by almost everyone. It describes with great skill a new face of the theory of evolution. W.D. Hamilton, ScienceLearned, witty and very well written...Exhilaratingly good. Peter Medawar in The SpectatorThe exciting theories and their wide implications are explaned with clarity, wit and enthusiasm. Peter Parker, Sunday TimesDawkins demonstrates that complex, theoretical or mathematical ideas can be expressed rigorously, in plain English. The book remains an excellent way for those who have not been trained in evolution to understand modern arguments. Trends in Ecology and EvolutionA splendid example of how difficult scientific ideas can be explained by someone who understands them and is willing to take the trouble. The New Yorkerthe reader will come away with a clear understanding of kin selection, evolutionary stable strategies, and similar staples of the literature on evolutionary theories of animal behaviour. This is a considerable achievement.' Times Higher Education SupplementBuy this book, read it and recommend it to your students...There is still nothing else quite like it. Not only are the new chapters and endnotes worthy additions to the original, but the 1976 text comes up as fresh as a primrose and, in its way, nearly as perfect. * Animal Behaviour *What is so refreshing about Dawkins is that he has confidence in the scientific method, in the testing of beliefs to destruction, no matter how cherished they may be. * Benjamin Woolley, The Listener *'Scientists give every appearance of being addicts, and science is their vice. That is one reason why progress in science is so rapid. I for one have benefited a great deal from Dawkins's addiction.' David L. Hull, Nature'It's a classic that's still relevant today.' * Daily Express *Dawkins's first book, The Selfish Gene, was a smash hit... Best of all, Dawkins laid out this biology - some of it truly subtle - in stunningly lucid prose. (It is, in my view, the best work of popular science ever written.) * H. Allen Orr, New York Review of Books *The Selfish Gene is a classic. * Robin McKie, The Observer *A genuine cultural landmark of our time. * The Independent *Review from previous edition The sort of popular science writing that makes the reader feel like a genius. * New York Times *A splendid edition with a new introduction as well as (importantly) the introductions to the previous editions. * Jonathan Cowie, Concatenation *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION TO 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION; PREFACE TO 1989 2ND EDITION; FOREWORD TO 1976 1ST EDITION; PREFACE TO 1976 1ST EDITION; EPILOGUE TO 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION; ENDNOTES; REVIEWS FROM EARLIER EDITIONS; UPDATED BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX AND KEY TO BIBLIOGRAPHY; EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS; THE EXTENDED PHENOTYPE OPENER; REFERENCES

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Book SynopsisIn Sentient, Jackie Higgins assembles a menagerie of zoological creatures – from land, air, sea and all four corners of the globe – to understand what it means to be human.'Spellbinding . . . More than any other book, [Sentient] has made me think differently about the world this year.' – Financial Times Best Books of the YearThe peacock mantis shrimp can throw a punch that can fracture aquarium walls.The great grey owl can hear many decibels lower than the human ear.The star-nosed mole’s miraculous nose allows it to catch worms in as little as 120 milliseconds.In Sentient we also meet the four-eyed spookfish and its dark vision, the vampire bat and its remarkable powers of touch, as well as the common octopus, the Goliath catfish and the duck-billed platypus. Each zoological marvel illustrates the surprising sensory powers that lie within us and enables us to engage with the world in ways we never knew possible.'Lyrical and lucid . . . Higgins makes popular science accessible.' – ObserverTrade ReviewThe first rule of popular science is to reveal the wonder and mystery of the world. For that reason, Sentient, written by photographer and wildlife film-maker Jackie Higgins, is my personal pick of the year -- Simon Ings * New Scientist Best Books of the Year *Spellbinding . . . More than any other book, [Sentient] has made me think differently about the world this year. -- Alec Russell * Financial Times Best Books of the Year *Higgins makes popular science accessible. -- Saskia Baron * Observer *Jackie Higgins’s eye-opening account of the often bizarre or superhuman sensory systems of other animals, from Hades-dwellers to Arctic owls. -- Steven Poole * Telegraph Best New Science Books *Gripping . . . Thanks to Higgins' flair for storytelling, Sentient successfully informs us about our own senses by exploring those of animals. -- Barbara J. King * TLS *[An] epic account of how the senses make sense . . . Higgins’s argument, although colourful, is rigorous and focused. She leads us to adopt an entirely unfamiliar way of thinking about the senses. -- Simon Ings * The Times *Jackie Higgins’s lyrical, literate style will charm you while her book stuns your imagination with strange, other-worldly truths. -- Richard DawkinsSentient is a tour de force of popular science, leading the reader on a whistle-stop tour of the natural world, to show the fascinating parallels between animal and human senses. -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and authorJackie Higgins puts a mirror up to the natural world so we can sense ourselves through our animal relatives. I love this book because it reminds me of our wildness. -- Craig Foster, filmmaker and subject of the Oscar-winning documentary, My Octopus TeacherExtraordinarily rich in detail; there is a miracle on every page. -- Scott Weidensaul, author of A World on the WingHiggins delivers a series of delicious lessons in what it is to be sensate, and shows how our own brains can emulate the miraculous feat of the animals with whom we share this fragile planet. -- Philip Hoare, Samuel Johnson Prize-winning author of Leviathan and Albert and the WhaleI loved Sentient, it's filled with the wonder of knowing and the infinite surprises of nature. -- Stephen Rutt, author of The Seafarers and Wintering Educational, ground-breaking and meticulously well-researched. * Reaction Life Book Digest *Brimming with fascinating, frequently delightful and occasionally freaky trivia this is an entertaining, gentle and easily digestible read with some important and intriguing ideas at its core. * Louder Than War *

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Book SynopsisA BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' 'Fascinating ... you'll never look at a Hello Kitty or a Pokémon the same way again' Mail on Sunday Why are some things cute, and others not? What happens to our brains when we see something cute? And how did cuteness go global, from Hello Kitty to Disney characters? Cuteness is an area where culture and biology get tangled up. Seeing a cute animal triggers some of the most powerful psychological instincts we have - the ones that elicit our care and protection - but there is a deeper story behind the broad appeal of Japanese cats and saccharine greetings cards. Joshua Paul Dale, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of cuteness studies, explains how the cute aesthetic spread around the globe, from pop brands to Lolita fashion, kids' cartoons and the unstoppable rise of Hello Kitty. Irresistible delves into the surprisingly ancient origins of Japan's kawaii culture, and uncovers the cross-cultural pollination of the globalised world. Understanding the psychology of cuteness can help answer some of the biggest questions in evolutionary history and the mysterious origins of animal domestication. This is the fascinating cultural history of cuteness, and a revealing look at how our most powerful psychological impulses have remade global style and culture.Trade ReviewA layer cake of cultural history and developmental biology ... peculiarly charming ... with such a wealth of examples to consider, cute studies has only just begun. There's plenty more to see, and plenty to wave a glow stick at * Daily Telegraph *The global 'cute quake' [is] a seismic fusion of consumerism and sentimentality ... as Dale shows in Irresistible, the trend has been building inexorably for centuries -- Miranda France * Times Literary Supplement *Fascinating ... you'll never look at a Hello Kitty or a Pokémon the same way again * Mail on Sunday *[A] fascinating exploration of what it means to be cute, and why we love cute things -- Charlotte Runcie * Sunday Telegraph *Dale makes a strong case for his subject to be taken seriously ... one can only admire the breadth and range of his cute examples -- Ian Sansom * Spectator *Dale, a cheerful and able raconteur, has written a cracking story, straddling history, art and complex developmental science * New Scientist *Our fascination with cuteness is more than just a quirk of human psychology; it's fundamental to explaining what made us human in the first place .... an absolute treasure trove of unconventional and unexpected insight -- Justin Gregg, author * If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal *Compelling ... the scope of Dale's research is impressive as the reader is provided with a full-fledged cultural analysis of what it means to be kawaii ... [Dale] takes us on a number of such global detours, but always circles back to analyse the spread and meaning of kawaii in Japan * All About Japan *An unprecedented and occasionally startling roadmap of social, psychological, and even biological reasons why humans find things cute, from babies and kittens to Hello Kitty, from anime to Disney. Deeply researched and engagingly written, Irresistible is more than its title implies - it's essential -- Matt AltIn this landmark work of cute studies, Joshua Paul Dale deftly combines comprehensive overview and eye-opening analysis to pinpoint the developments of cuteness across Japanese and Western cultures ... Irresistible is a significant and entertaining exploration of a ubiquitous but often-overlooked aesthetic -- Isabel GalleymoreRecognising cuteness is a spontaneous, natural act - a knee-jerk omg moment - but within that reaction is a universe of feels: what we want from others, what we find worth protecting, and how we reach out for connection. Irresistible is scholarship that does not feel at all like homework, and Dale deftly unpacks the long and broad history of the feeling of kawaii with deep respect, rigour, and a sense of fun. It's a book you'll absolutely want to squeeze -- Connie WangIn this accessible, enjoyable book, Joshua Dale takes readers on a tour of the aesthetics and cultural uses of Japanese kawaii and related forms of cuteness, traversing historical times and national boundaries. Dale shows what we can learn about our societies and ourselves when take cuteness seriously -- Alisa Freedman, author * Tokyo in Transit *An irresistible read for a wide audience ... with a gift of story-telling and a firm grasp of scientific as well as historical and contemporary artistic sources, both in the West and Japan, Joshua Dale offers us (with good humour) reason to take seriously the cute to understand our contemporary world and its meaning for our humanity -- Prof. Gary Cross, Pennsylvania State University

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Book SynopsisWith spectacular large-format images complemented by scientifically grounded, yet easy-to-read, explanatory texts, Georg Glaeser and Werner Nachtigall take you on an exciting journey through the fascinating world of macrostructures – small structures in nature that fulfill specific functions. This book will pique your curiosity about a secret world known only to a few by presenting an impressive range of evolutionary mechanisms, from shrimps’ “tail flips” to the adhesive pads of gecko setae and the implementation of biological structures in the field of bionics. The book can be read in any fashion you please – the cross-references make it easy to jump across the sections, which are largely self-contained and discuss various highlights of the evolutionary process. Table of ContentsShape, Movement, Lever­.- Sticking, Filtering, Drilling.- Gripping, Stretching, Folding.- Signalling, Swimming, Flying, Exploding.- Storage, Constructions, Building Materials.- Packaging, Primordia, Unfolding Mechanisms.- Brave New World.

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Book SynopsisWhat is your dog really thinking?How do dogs see the world about them?How do they hear, learn and relate to their owners?Why do they suffer from stress and anxiety, and how can we help them cope?The Dog''s Mind is the answer to all your questions on how the canine mind works. Engaging, entertaining and essential, this book is not only the key text of many dog behaviour diploma and degree courses, but also a joyful and insightful read for any dog owner. Combining almost 50 years of practical experience as a veterinarian with an extensive understanding of the relevant research, Dr Bruce Fogle has written the definitive book for anyone who wants to understand their dog.

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Book SynopsisThis Students' Dictionary of Zoo and Aquarium Studies contains over 5,000 terms (illustrated by 88 figures) used in zoos, aquariums, safari parks, birds of prey centres, petting zoos, animal rescue centres and other facilities that make up the 'zoo industry'. It covers a wide range of topics including animal behaviour, animal husbandry, animal welfare, ecology, law, taxonomy, classification, nutrition, parasitology, physiology, reproduction, experimental design, statistics, veterinary science, disease, visitor studies, water management, wildlife conservation and zoo design and architecture. It should be of great interest to those studying zoo biology, animal management, veterinary science and related subjects along with zookeepers and aquarists in the early stages of their careers.Dr Paul Rees has a long-standing interest in animals and in zoos. He has taught a wide range of subjects including ecology, animal behaviour, zoo biology, and wildlife and zoo law. While lecturing at the University of Salford he created the first undergraduate programme in Wildlife Conservation and Zoo Biology in the United Kingdom and over a period of some 20 years was an external examiner for BSc and MSc programmes in zoo biology and wildlife conservation at the Universities of Edinburgh, Chester, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Gloucestershire and Nottingham Trent University. Dr Rees has published research on the large mammal fauna of Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, the ecology and behaviour of elephants and cheetahs living in zoos, and the laws concerning wildlife reintroductions and the regulation of zoos.

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Book Synopsis***A Waterstones Best Books of 2022 pick***A New Scientist Book of the YearShortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing 'Fascinating... There is something wondrous in Milman's revelation of our fragile dependency on insect life as well as its beauty and strangeness.' Guardian'Gripping and especially unnerving.' David Wallace-WellsWhen is the last time you were stung by a wasp? Or were followed by a cloud of midges? Or saw a butterfly? All these normal occurrences are becoming much rarer. A groundswell of research suggests insect numbers are in serious decline all over the world - in some places by over 90%.The Insect Crisis explores this hidden emergency, arguing that its consequences could even rival climate change. We rely on insect pollination for the bulk of our agriculture, they are a prime food source for birds and fish, and they are a key strut holding up life on Earth, especially our own. In a compelling and entertaining investigation spanning the globe, Milman speaks to the scientists and entomologists studying this catastrophe and asks why these extraordinary creatures are disappearing. Part warning, part celebration of the incredible variety of insects, this book highlights why we need to wake up to this impending environmental disaster.Trade ReviewA gripping and especially unnerving book: what happens when the bugs go? As Milman deftly illustrates, in the face of die-offs too widespread to closely track, we are rushing headlong into a precarious and uncertain future. * David Wallace-Wells, bestselling author of The Uninhabitable Earth *This beautifully written book captures the wonders of insects alongside sharing insights about the ways in which passionate and dedicated entomologists around the world gather the information to unravel the complex patterns of change in insect populations. This is both a story of insects and the inspiring people who tirelessly study and conserve them. * Professor Helen Roy, President of the Royal Entomological Society *Fascinating... If its visions are sometimes mournful, there is also something wondrous in Milman's revelation of our fragile dependency on insect life as well as its beauty and strangeness. * Guardian *Carefully researched and highly readable... [Milman's] book takes an unflinching look at the alarming decline in insect numbers and what this means for both biodiversity and humanity. * The Sunday Business Post *Gripping, sobering and important. * The New York Times *Table of Contents1: An Intricate Dance 2: Winners and Losers 3: "Zero Insect Days" 4: The Peak of the Pesticide 5: In the Teeth of the Climate Emergency 6: The Labor of Honeybees 7: A Monarch's Journey 8: The Inaction Plan 9: A Human Emergency

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Book SynopsisVeterinarians, vet techs, dog breeders, trainers, and show judges will greatly benefit from this canine anatomy coloring atlas. Essential anatomic and physiologic concepts are explained and diseases common to each region are discussed. The 195 black and white line drawings allow readers to color the drawings of the anatomical structures: a 'do it yourself' format that maximizes comprehension and retention.Table of ContentsContentsHow to Use this Coloring AtlasSurface of the BodyPlate 1 Regions of the Dog’s BodyPlate 2 Directional TermsPlate 3 Body PlanesPlate 4 Anatomy of Canine SkinPlate 5 Functions of Canine SkinPlate 6 Types of Hair CoatsOrgans of Movement: Bones, Joints, and MusclesPlate 7 Skeleton of the DogPlate 8 Vertebral ColumnPlate 9 Ribs and SternumPlate 10 Anatomy of a Long BonePlate 11 Bone DevelopmentPlate 12 Bones of the Shoulder, Arm, and ForearmPlate 13 Carpal, Metacarpal, and Digital BonesPlate 14 Structure of JointsPlate 15 Joints of the ForelimbPlate 16 FasciaPlate 17 Superficial Muscles of the DogPlate 18 Deeper MusclesPlate 19 Deeper Shoulder and Arm MusclesPlate 20 Forearm and Forefoot MusclesPlate 21 Forelimb NervesPlate 22 Forelimb Blood VesselsPlate 23 The Dog’s Feet (Paws)Plate 24 Types of Feet (Paws)Plate 25 Bones of the PelvisPlate 26 Bones of the Thigh and LegPlate 27 Bones of the TarsusPlate 28 Joints of the HindlimbPlate 29 Hip JointPlate 30 Stifle JointPlate 31 Hindlimb Muscles – Lateral ViewsPlate 32 Hindlimb Muscles – Medial ViewsPlate 33 Hindlimb NervesPlate 34 Hindlimb Blood VesselsPlate 35 Back and Neck MusclesPlate 36 TailsPlate 37 Forelimb ConformationPlate 38 Hindlimb ConformationThe Dog’s HeadPlate 39 The Skull and Associated BonesPlate 40 Cavities and Openings in the SkullPlate 41 Types of SkullsPlate 42 The Eye and Accessory Ocular StructuresPlate 43 The Dog’s NosePlate 44 The Dog’s EarPlate 45 External Ear TypesPlate 46 Lateral Structures of the HeadPlate 47 Ventral Structures of the HeadDigestive SystemPlate 48 The Dog’s TeethPlate 49 Dental Variations in DogsPlate 50 Salivary GlandsPlate 51 Oral Cavity, Tongue, Pharynx, and EsophagusPlate 52 Contents of the Abdominal CavityPlate 53 Stomach and Small IntestinePlate 54 Liver and PancreasPlate 55 Large Intestine, Anus, and Anal SacsBody Cavities and Serous MembranesPlate 56 Body Cavities and Serous MembranesPlate 57 In Place Positions of Internal OrgansCardiovascular SystemPlate 58 Major Circulatory PatternsPlate 59 The Canine HeartPlate 60 Vessels and Related Organs in the Thoracic CavityPlate 61 Vessels of the Abdominal CavityPlate 62 Superficial Vessels of the Head and NeckPlate 63 The Dog’s Pulse. Venipuncture SitesImmune SystemPlate 64 Bone Marrow, Thymus, and SpleenPlate 65 Lymph Nodes and Lymph VesselsPlate 66 TonsilsRespiratory SystemPlate 67 Nasal Cavity and NasopharynxPlate 68 LarynxPlate 69 Trachea and LungsUrinary SystemPlate 70 Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, and UrethraFemale Reproductive SystemPlate 71 Vulva and VaginaPlate 72 Uterus, Uterine Tubes, and OvariesPlate 73 Fetal Membranes. The PlacentaPlate 74 ParturitionPlate 75 Canine Mammary GlandsMale Reproductive SystemPlate 76 Genital Organs of the DogPlate 77 Prostate Gland. PenisPlate 78 Descent of the Canine TestesNervous SystemPlate 79 The Dog’s BrainPlate 80 Cranial NervesPlate 81 Spinal Cord and Spinal NervesPlate 82 Autonomic Nervous SystemPlate 83 Meninges and Cerebrospinal FluidEndocrine SystemPlate 84 Locations of Major Endocrine OrgansIndex

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Book SynopsisEvery year millions of puppies enter homes, carrying their new family’s expectation of a wonderful relationship. Sadly, many are rehomed or lose their lives as the result of behaviours which their owners find difficult to live with. Helping a puppy to grow into a resilient dog, capable of coping with the challenges of daily living, whilst retaining a good quality of life and exhibiting behaviours acceptable within society, is not an easy task. 'Life Skills for Puppies' aims to simplify puppy education by presenting the skills that are required to achieve these goals within the context of everyday life. By enabling owners to incorporate teaching into each interaction they enjoy with their puppy, it not only becomes easier for them, but also enables the puppy to practice appropriate behaviour choices within day-to-day situations. By teaching skills such as self-control, respect for rules, and clear communication, owners can spend less time directing their dog, and more time enjoying their relationship with him, as he takes more control for his own good behaviour. Beautiful, specially-taken photographs illustrate the points made, and each chapter includes a worksheet to help owners chart their puppy's progress.

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating account of animal migration and the stunning new science that reveals their infinite, untapped knowledge.“A loving ode to science itself, told with wit and wonder."—Thor Hanson, author of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic SquidWhat do animals know that we don’t? How do elephants detect tsunamis before they happen? How do birds predict hurricanes? In The Internet of Animals, renowned scientist Martin Wikelski convincingly argues that animals possess a unique “sixth sense” that humans are only beginning to grasp …All we need to do is give animals a voice and our perception of the world could change forever. That’s what author Martin Wikelski and his team of scientists believe, and this book shares their story for the first time. As they tag animals around the world with minuscule tracking devices, they link their movements to The International Space Station, which taps

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER I wanted to know what they were experiencing, and why to us they feel so compelling, and so close. This time I allowed myself to ask them the question that for a scientist was forbidden fruit: Who are you? Weaving decades of field observations with exciting new discoveries about the brain, Carl Safina's landmark book offers an intimate view of animal behavior to challenge the fixed boundary between humans and animals. Travelling to the threatened landscape of Kenya to witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then on to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy, the book finally plunges into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest. Beyond Words brings forth powerful and illuminating insight into the unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger, and love. The similarity between human and nonhuman consciousness, self-awareness and empathy calls us to re-evaluate how we interact with animals. Wise, passionate, and eye-opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity's place in the world.Trade ReviewDr. Safina is a terrific writer, with a contagious enthusiasm ... draws out haunting resonances between animal lives and our own ... Captivating * New York Times *At once moving and surprising, Beyond Words asks us to reexamine our relationship to other species-and to ourselves -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of * The Sixth Extinction *This book breathes love of and respect for animals and is rich with observations and extraordinary travel experiences. It is a delightful and enlightening account of both how we relate to them and how they relate to each other -- Frans de WaalCombines lambent writing with dazzling facts, while also illuminating our knowledge of significant and engaging subjects ... Exemplary * Washington Post *Wise, passionate, and eye-opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity's place in the world * Psychology Today *Safina's engaging writing takes readers along on his journey ... The result is a meandering, entertaining tour of the animal kingdom, with pit stops for both amusing anecdotes and the latest scientific studies of animal behavior ... entertaining and informative * Slate *Brilliant ... makes intimate these wild animals in vivid family portraits ... Safina is a font of research, his wonder contagious * Elle *Safina offers a rich and often heart-touching account of his journeys with scientists exploring the minds and emotions of elephants, wolves, and dolphins. His compassion and empathy for animals shines throughout, and he uses both to illuminate the booming field of animal cognition. A beautifully written, accessible, and compelling read -- Virginia Morrell, author of * Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel *

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Book SynopsisThe authorised biography of the great naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell, who died aged seventy in January 1995 in Jersey, where he founded the zoo he'd dreamed of as a small boy and pioneered the captive breeding of animals for conservation.Gerald Durrell was a world-famous naturalist and popular author who wrote, in all, some thirty-seven immensely readable yarns, including the bestselling My Family and Other Animals'. His other books include Birds, Beasts and Relatives', The Bafut Beagles' and A Zoo in My Luggage'.Above all, he paved the way in print for the popular presentation of the natural world on television and presented twelve series himself the early ones, of his own expeditions. Sir David Attenborough has said: He was responsible for changing people's attitudes to zoology and changing their agenda. He showed them small animals could be as interesting as apes and elephantsHe was a pioneer with a marvellous sense of humour.'His brother was the famous writer Lawren

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Book SynopsisMartin Stevens explores the extraordinary variety of senses in the animal kingdom, and discusses the cutting-edge science that is shedding light on these secret worlds. Our senses of vision, smell, taste, hearing, and touch are essential for us to respond to threats, communicate and interact with the world around us. This is true for all animals - their sensory systems are key to survival, and without them animals would be completely helpless. However, the sensory systems of other animals work very differently from ours. For example, many animals from spiders to birds can detect and respond to ultraviolet light, to which we are blind. Other animals, including many insects, rodents, and bats can hear high-frequency ultrasonic sounds well beyond our own hearing range. Many other species have sensory systems that we lack completely, such as the magnetic sense of birds, turtles, and other animals, or the electric sense of many fish. These differences in sensory ability have a major bearing on the ways that animals behave and live in different environments, and also affect their evolution and ecology.In this book, Martin Stevens explores the remarkable sensory systems that exist in nature, and what they are used for. Discussing how different animal senses work, he also considers how they evolve, how they are shaped by the environment in which an animal lives, and the pioneering science that has uncovered how animals use their senses. Throughout, he celebrates the remarkable diversity of life, and shows how the study of sensory systems has shed light on some of the most important issues in animal behaviour, physiology, and evolution. He also describes evidence of the disruptive effects of human activities on the way other animals navigate the world.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisAs the study of cephalopod behaviour continues to fascinate biologists, this second edition reviews data from more than five hundred papers published since the original 1996 volume. Extensively illustrated, it discusses the causation, function, development and evolution of cephalopod behaviour, inviting students to explore the subject further.Trade Review'A treasure trove of information on the cognitively most advanced invertebrates on earth. This new edition is the update every marine biologist and diver has been waiting for. The last few decades have given us many new findings and insights, which are all covered here. This overview of the cephalopods by two of the world's foremost experts, ranges from their phylogeny, sensory systems and physiology to behaviour, communication and ecology. It is highly readable and beautifully illustrated to boot.' Frans de Waal, author of Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?'Written by two of the leaders in cephalopod research, this book is even better than the first edition. It is a 'must have' not just for scientists but for everyone who is interested in these amazing animals.' Nicola S. Clayton, FRS, University of Cambridge and Scientist in Residence, Rambert'People find cephalopods fascinating, and rightly so as this book demonstrates. It provides a masterly synthesis of cephalopod natural history, written by two scientists who have helped to shape the field. The book is filled with stunning photographs, often taken by the authors. It will be a tremendous boon to cephalopod biologists, as well as to other scientists interested in cephalopods. It provides handy tables summarizing behaviour across species within the Cephalopoda (e.g. mating styles). This book updates the first edition, detailing recent changes in fast moving areas such as phylogeny. The authors discuss a range of current hypotheses about cephalopods (e.g. the role of ink in anti-predator behaviour) in an even-handed manner. Although this book is written with a scientific audience in mind, cephalopods admirers of all types will find this work engaging.' Shelley Adamo, Dalhousie University, Canada'Cephalopods are undoubtedly among the most fascinating group of animals on the planet, varying enormously in appearance, behaviour, and ecology. Hanlon and Messenger do a wonderful job of illustrating how cephalopods thrive in a diverse range of habitats, how they communicate and avoid predators, how they reproduce, and their remarkable skills, ranging from colour change to cognition. The book is a wonderful tribute to these animals - indeed, how can one fail to be excited by a unique group of animals that range from less than 10mm to over 5m, can change colour in an instant, produce flashes of their own light, and solve complex problems? This clear and enlightening book is not only for those fascinated by cephalopods, but for any student and scientist interested in how animals behave, adapt, and diversity. The book beautifully, and in detail, outlines what we can learn from studying one remarkable group of animals for understanding ecology and evolution, and how animals cope with a variety of habitats to survive and reproduce.' Martin Stevens, University of Exeter'The book is a joy to read and, while academic and fact packed in nature, it is quite a page turner if you are interested in marine biology …' Amanda Hardy, The BiologistTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Senses, effectors and the brain; 3. Body patterning and colour change; 4. Feeding and foraging; 5. Defence; 6. Reproductive behaviour; 7. Communication; 8. The development of behaviour, learning and cognition; 9. Ecological aspects of behaviour; 10. Nautilus; 11. Synthesis: brains, behaviour and the future.

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Book SynopsisACCOMPANIES THE LANDMARK SERIES NARRATED BY DAVID ATTENBOROUGHFind a world of wonder beyond the ice. 'Looking down at our planet from space it may come as a surprise how much of it is blanketed in snow and ice. These vast frozen wildernesses cover more than a fifth of the earth ... From the highest peaks to snow-bound deserts to alien worlds deep beneath the ice, they are home to an astonishing array of animals found nowhere else on earth.'David Attenborough, from the series.Frozen Planet II celebrates the surprisingly diverse worlds of ice - a world that is disappearing before our very eyes. Previously undiscovered stories, from chameleons giving birth on the frosty slopes of Mount Kenya to endangered Amur leopards in the Russian forest and killer whales hunting Weddell seals on ice floes in the Antarctic, shed new light on the beauty and the peril of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Behind-the-scenes insights explore the unique challenges of filming in these frozen worlds, where camera crew and wildlife alike brave the extreme conditions.With over 250 stunning full-colour photographs, Frozen Planet II reveals the wonders of the fastest-changing part of our planet, as we may never see them again.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""The world is full of liars, a fact brilliantly depicted in Lixing Sun’s slender but important book about cheating and deception among animals and plants, as well as that hairless bipedal species that is the biggest deceiver of them all. . . . A tour de force of evolutionary biology. . . . Fascinating."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"The accessible prose offers an eye-opening take on lying in the natural world and how evolutionary pressures to deceive impact human behavior. The smart parallels between humans and animals make for an insightful outing." * Publishers Weekly *"[An] intriguing introduction to the domain of dishonesty."---Tony Miksanek, Booklist"Buckle up for a riveting journey into the wide world of deception."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"Lixing Sun treats this topic with both a serious scientific demeanour and a welcome injection of wry humour."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"Fascinating"---Patricia MacDuff, British Naturalists Association News Bulletin"The author has managed the seemingly impossible by making quite complex theories and rules both enjoyable to read about and relatively easy to understand."---Terry Freedman, Teachwire"Through various enlightening and entertaining examples . . . Sun (Central Washington Univ.) educates readers about the biological underpinnings of deceiving—by exploiting cognitive loopholes—and lying—by altering truthful information in communication—for which demonstrating the cheater's intention is neither easy nor necessary in nonhuman species."---J-B. Leca, Choice

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Book SynopsisA look at the range of close relationships between humans and wild and domesticated animals in the Himalayas.

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