Zoology and animal sciences Books

Book SynopsisAnimal Eyes provides a comparative account of all known types of eye in the animal kingdom, outlining their structure and function with an emphasis on the nature of the optical systems and the physical principles involved in image formation. A universal theme throughout the book is the evolution and taxonomic distribution of each type of eye, and the roles of different eye types in the behaviour and ecology of the animals that possess them. In comparing the specific capabilities of eyes, it considers the factors that lead to good resolution of detail and the ability to function under a wide range of light conditions. This new edition is fully updated throughout, incorporating more than a decade of new discoveries and research.Trade ReviewAnimal Eyes is written in a vivid and clear style which will be understandable to both physicists and biologists. I highly recommend it to anyone, including amateurs, students and experienced researchers. * Optics & Photonics News *... fascinating and useful. * Pat Morris, Zoological Journal *Table of Contents1. The origin of vision ; 2. Light and vision ; 3. What makes a good eye? ; 4. Aquatic eyes: the evolution of the lens ; 5. Lens eyes on land ; 6. Mirrors in animals ; 7. Apposition compound eyes ; 8. Superposition eyes ; 9. Movements of the eyes

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Book SynopsisRecognizing the significant advances made in the field of animal genetics in the ten years since the first edition of Genetics of the Dog, this new edition of the successful 2001 book provides a comprehensive update on the subject, along with new material on topics of current and growing interest. Existing chapters on essential topics such as immunogenetics, genetics of diseases, developmental genetics and the genetics of behaviour have been fully updated, while new authors report on the latest advances in areas such as genetic diversity of dog breeds, canine genomics, olfactory genetics and cancer genetics.Table of Contents1: Canid phylogeny and origin of the domestic dog. 2: Experimental studies of early canid domestication 3: Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of dog breeds. 4: Molecular genetics of coat colour, texture and length 5: Mendelian traits in the dog 6: Immunogenetics 7: Genetic aspects of orthopaedic disorders in the dog 8: Genetics of cancer in dogs 9: Genetics of neurological disease in the dog 10: Genetics of eye disorders in the dog 11: Cytogenetics and chromosome maps 12: Canine genomics 13: Genetics of canine behavioural disorders 14: Biology of reproduction and modern reproductive technology 15: Developmental genetics 16: Genetics of morphological traits 17: Olfactory genetics 18: Pedigree analysis, genotype testing and genetic counselling 19: Genetics of quantitative traits and improvement of the dog breeds 20: Complex traits. 21: Canine model in medical genetics 22: Genetic aspects of performance in working dogs 23: Genetic nomenclature

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Book SynopsisBach Flower Remedies for Animals is a complete and authoritative guide to using the Bach Flower Remedies as an alternative treatment for pets and other animals. There is guidance on using the remedies and on reading animal behaviour, drawing on insights from professional animal behaviourists.

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Book SynopsisEver since Darwin, animal behaviour has intrigued and perplexed human observers. The elaborate mating rituals, lavish decorative displays, complex songs, calls, dances and many other forms of animal signalling raise fascinating questions. To what degree can animals communicate within their own species and even between species? What evolutionary purpose do such communications serve? Perhaps most importantly, what can animal signalling tell us about our own non-verbal forms of communication? In The Handicap Principle, Amotz and Ashivag Zahavi offer a unifying theory that brilliantly explains many previously baffling aspects of animal signalling and holds up a mirror in which ordinary human behaviours take on surprising new significance. The wide-ranging implications of the Zahavis'' new theory make it arguably the most important advance in animal behaviour in decades. Based on 20 years of painstaking observation, the Handicap Principle illuminates an astonishing variety of signalling behTrade Review"Among the most revolutionary and controversial concepts in modern behavioral biology is the handicap principle developed by Zahavi. After initially encountering resistance, it has been receiving increased acceptance for its success in explaining an enormous variety of animal behaviors and anatomical structures, from gazelles' seemingly suicidal displays to men's beards. Read this fine book, and discover what the excitement is all about!"--Jared M. Diamond, Professor of Physiology, University of California at Los Angeles"This fascinating, provocative, insightful and controversial book will charm, inform and sometimes infuriate all of those interested in understanding animal and human communication."--Paul Ekman, Professor of Psychology, University of California, San Francisco"By now the Handicap Principle is acknowledged by a growing body of biologists, and by joining their forces Amotz and Avishang Zahavi explain the principle and how it applies to communicative behaviour between organisms...from amebas to humans."--Arne Lundberg, Uppsala University, Sweden"[An] extremely well-written popularization of the authors' scientific work. Covering species as different as tigers and barn swallows, and topics as diverse as parasitism and parental care, the authors apply their theory to many aspects of animal behavior that were difficult to explain previously.... Highly recommended."--Booklist"This book is highly readable yet rigorous enough for specialists. Essential for any academic collection and worthwhile for genearal collections."--Library Journal"The Zahavis write well, with admirable clarity...Very readable book"--Science Books and Films

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Book SynopsisThis collection includes Jim Corbett's unpublished writings on man-eaters, nature, and his beloved Kumaon, personal letters, articles written for newspapers and gazettes by his contemporaries, and letters exchanged between Corbett and his publisher showcasing the development of his bestselling books-all from the archives of the Oxford University Press.Table of ContentsPUBLISHER'S NOTE ; TIMELINE ; PREFACE: 'HOW I CAME TO WRITE ' ; A LIFE WELL LIVED: AN INTRODUCTION TO JIM CORBETT BY LORD HAILEY ; SECTION ONE: THE UNPUBLISHED CORBETT-THE NIGHT JAR'S EGG ; 'ONE OF US' ; FROM MY JUNGLE CAMP ; THE RUDRAPRAYAG LETTERS ; CORBETT ON THE MAN-EATING LEOPARD OF RUDRAPRAYAG ; THE MAKING OF CORBETT'S MY INDIA: CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS EDITORS ; 'SHOOTING' TIGERS: CORBETT AND THE CAMERA ; WILDLIFE IN THE VILLAGE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL ; AN ENGLISHMAN IN INDIA ; LIFE IN KENYA ; SECTION TWO: CORBETT AND HIS AUDIENCE-'THE ARTLESSNESS OF HIS ART' ; THE MAN REVEALED: CORBETT IN HIS WRITINGS ; THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF JIM CORBETT: LETTERS AND REVIEWS ; DELIVERANCE FOR RUDRAPRAYAG: REACTIONS TO THE SLAYING OF THE MAN-EATING LEOPARD BY CORBETT ; CORBETT'S INFLUENCE: MAN-EATERS OF KUMAON AND THE CHHINDWARA COURT CASE ; EPIGRAPH

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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 SynopsisWhen this classic was first published in 1975, it created a new discipline and started a tumultuous round in the nature versus nurture debate. In the introduction to this edition, Wilson shows how research in human genetics and neuroscience over the past quarter of a century has strengthened the case for a biological understanding of human nature.Trade ReviewIt is impossible to leave Wilson’s book without having one’s sense of life permanently and dramatically widened. -- Fred Hapgood * The Atlantic *Rarely has the world been provided with such a splendid stepping stone for an exciting future of a new science. -- John Tyler Bonner * Scientific American *This book enthralls and enchants… If you have this book… you can begin getting your mind ready for the illuminations about human society. -- Lewis Thomas * Harper’s *Sociobiology is an excellent book, full of extraordinary insights, and replete with the beauty and poetry of the animal kingdom. * Times Literary Supplement *Its contents do indeed provide a new synthesis, of wide perspective and great authority… Wilson’s plain uncluttered prose is a treat to read, his logic is rigorous, his arguments are lucid. -- V. C. Wymne-Edwards * Nature *Sociobiology explores the possibility that animal social behaviour—group living, kinship, attraction and mating, reciprocity and sharing, cooperation, conflict, and cheating, to name just the most familiar—has a genetic basis and can be shaped by natural selection: genes can be shaped by natural selection: genes can code for social behaviours in the same way that they code for body parts such as hands, hooves, eyes, antlers and ears. But, in an audacious final chapter, Wilson extended the analysis to humans: biology had grabbed our kinship, cooperation, mate preferences and the rest. Some branded Wilson and his ideas fascist, others as racist or guilty of genetic determinism. They are none of these things and, two Pulitzer Prizes later, Wilson has been vindicated… Wilson’s Sociobiology laid the foundations for a lifetime of meditations. -- Mark Pagel * Times Higher Education Supplement *A towering theoretical achievement of exceptional elegance… Like most great books, Sociobiology is unpedantic, lucid, and eminently accessible. -- Pierre L. van den Berghe * Contemporary Sociology *Sociobiology, a new concept, is one with extraordinary potential value for understanding and explaining human behavior. * Practical Psychology *This book will stand as a landmark in the comparative study of social behavior. * Quarterly Review of Biology *It’s been 25 years since E. O. Wilson wrote Sociobiology, naming a new science and starting it off with a bang—and a firestorm of protest. ‘Nurture!’ and ‘Nature!’ came the cries from every corner of the academic world, as the book became a causus belli for sociologists, feminists, human geneticists, and psychologists. -- Mary Ellen Curtin * Amazon.com *Table of Contents* Part I. Social Evolution *1. The Morality of the Gene *2. Elementary Concepts of Sociobiology *3. The Prime Movers of Social Evolution *4. The Relevant Principles of Population Biology *5. Group Selection and Altruism *6. Group Size, Reproduction, and Time-Energy Budgets * Part II. Social Mechanisms *7. The Development and Modification of Social Behavior *8. Communication: Basic Principles *9. Communication: Functions and Complex Systems *10. Communication: Origins and Evolution *11. Aggression *12. Social Spacing, Including Territory *13. Dominance Systems *14. Roles and Castes *15. Sex and Society *16. Paternal Care *17. Social Symbioses * Part III. The Social Species *18. The Four Pinnacles of Social Evolution *19. The Colonial Microorganisms and Invertebrates *20. The Social Insects *21. The Cold-Blooded Vertebrates *22. The Birds *23. Evolutionary Trends within the Mammals *24. The Ungulates and Elephants *25. The Carnivores *26. The Nonhuman Primates *27. Man: From Sociobiology to Sociology * Glossary * Bibliography * Index

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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 SynopsisDrawing on extensive observations of wild chimpanzees’ behavior and social dynamics, Craig Stanford portrays a complex and more humanlike ape than the chimps Jane Goodall popularized more than a half century ago—one that plots political coups, strategizes for resources, and passes on cultural traditions to younger generations.Trade ReviewStanford…is a talented and fluent writer as well as an accomplished researcher…Stanford’s book expands upon what we have learned in the four decades since [Jane] Goodall first began her field research…The New Chimpanzee is a remarkably thorough account of our current knowledge about free-living chimpanzees. -- David Barash * Wall Street Journal *The New Chimpanzee is a tour de force, bringing together a vast body of research in chimpanzee behavior, ecology, and genetics. Readers searching for an up-to-date account of what we’ve learned about chimpanzees in recent decades will find Stanford’s book to be informative and edifying. -- Herman Pontzer, Hunter College, City University of New YorkLively, informative, and ambitious in scope, The New Chimpanzee vividly demonstrates that we are living in an exciting time for chimpanzee research. Stanford’s book will speak to anyone interested in the latest findings on chimpanzees, especially as they relate to our understanding of human evolution. -- Michael Wilson, University of MinnesotaStanford’s wide-ranging account reveals what it is like to be a chimpanzee, and how scientists know, ultimately clarifying what is unique about our own species. -- Martin N. Muller, University of New MexicoThe New Chimpanzee is an authoritative, readable, lively, and balanced survey of the behavior of one of the most closely studied and significant species on the planet. -- Richard W. Wrangham, Harvard University[The New Chimpanzee] provides a comprehensive view of wild chimpanzees as never before seen…With [his] wealth of experience, [Stanford] expertly guides us through the dense forest of wild chimpanzee data that we have carefully cultivated since Goodall first shed light on this breathtakingly complex species…This book is jam-packed with many such fascinating glimpses into the complex lives of wild chimps, from political tactics to cultural quirks…This book adds to our understanding of our closest living kin and, through this understanding, maybe we will be compelled to do more to conserve them. -- Laura Kehoe * Times Higher Education *An illuminating history of chimpanzee field research…Stanford’s volume addresses the broad spectrum of chimpanzee behavior, focusing on research that has been conducted in the wild, with a heavy emphasis on new insights gained during the last two decades. This will be an excellent resource for new students of primate behavior, or other interested readers, to gain an up-to-date and rigorous review of the species. -- Melissa Emery Thompson * Quarterly Review of Biology *

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Book SynopsisBears have fascinated people since ancient times. The relationship between bears and humans dates back thousands of years, during which time we have also competed with bears for shelter and food. In modern times, bears have come under pressure through encroachment on their habitats, climate change, and illegal trade in their body parts, including the Asian bear bile market. The IUCN lists six bears as vulnerable or endangered, and even the least concern species, such as the brown bear, are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. The poaching and international trade of these most threatened populations are prohibited, but still ongoing. Covering all bears species worldwide, this beautifully illustrated volume brings together the contributions of 200 international bear experts on the ecology, conservation status, and management of the Ursidae family. It reveals the fascinating long history of interactions between humans and bears and the threats affecting these charismatic species.Trade Review'The quality of the information and the general conciseness of the text make this long overdue book a thoroughly enjoyable read … Bears of the World fills a much needed niche in providing an expert overview of accurate, relevant, up‐to‐date, and highly readable information. As the only complete reference work on this subject, its value is immense for professionals in the field of bear ecology and management, and for interested naturalists and conservationists.' Jean‐Pierre d'Huart, The Journal of Wildlife Management'This is a professional job throughout, including excellent photos, maps, and other illustrations … Highly recommended.' D. A. Lovejoy, CHOICETable of ContentsPart I. Systematic, Ecology and Behaviour: 1. Systematic, evolution and genetic of bears; 2. Mating strategies; 3. Interspecific interactions between brown bears, ungulates and other large carnivores; 4. Adaptations and Competitive Interactions of Tropical Asian Bear Species Define Their Biogeography: Past, Present, and Future; 5. Remarkable adaptations of the American black bear help explain why it is the most common bear: a long-term study from the centre of its range; Part II. Species Accounts: 6. Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); 7. Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus); 8. Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus); 9. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus); 10. Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus); 11. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus); 12. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos; Eurasia); 13. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos; North America); 14. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus); Part III. Human – Bear Coexistence: 15. Human–Bear Conflicts at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: Patterns, Determinants, and Mitigation Measures; 16. Principles of Human–Bear Conflict Management in Challenging Environments; 17. Patterns of bear attacks on humans, factors triggering risky scenarios and how to reduce them; 18. Effects of human disturbance on brown bear behavior; 19. Bears in human-dominated landscapes: The case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine and Pindos Mountains; Part IV. Conservation and Management: 20. Conservation and management of bears; 21. How is climate change affecting polar bears and giant pandas?; 22. Managing for inter-population connectivity of the world's bear species; 23. Ex-situ conservation of bears: Roles, status and management; 24. The Challenge of Brown Bear Management in Hokkaido, Japan; 25. Potential ecological corridors for remnant Asiatic black bear populations and its subpopulations linked to management units in Japan; 26. Captive bears in Asia: Implications for animal welfare and conservation; 27. Human Dimensions of Asiatic Black Bear Conflicts and Management in Japan; 28. Ecological and social dimensions of sloth bear conservation in Sri Lanka.

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Book SynopsisNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by The New Yorker and Science News What happens when you try to recreate a woolly mammoth—fascinating science, or conservation catastrophe? Jurassic Park meets The Sixth Extinction in Rise of the Necrofauna, a provocative look at de-extinction from acclaimed documentarist and science writer Britt Wray, PhD.In Rise of the Necrofauna, Wray takes us deep into the minds and labs of some of the world’s most progressive thinkers to find out. She introduces us to renowned futurists like Stewart Brand and scientists like George Church, who are harnessing the powers of CRISPR gene editing in the hopes of “reviving” extinct passenger pigeons, woolly mammoths, and heath hens. She speaks with Nikita Zimov, who together with his eclectic father Sergey, is creating Siberia’s Pleistocene Park—a daring attempt to rebuild the mammoth’s ancient ecosystem in order to save earth from climate disaster. Through interviews with these and other thought leaders, Wray reveals the many incredible opportunities for research and conservation made possible by this emerging new field.But we also hear from more cautionary voices, like those of researcher and award-winning author Beth Shapiro (How to Clone a Woolly Mammoth) and environmental philosopher Thomas van Dooren. Writing with passion and perspective, Wray delves into the larger questions that come with this incredible new science, reminding us that de-extinction could bring just as many dangers as it does possibilities. What happens, for example, when we bring an “unextinct” creature back into the wild? How can we care for these strange animals and ensure their comfort and safety—not to mention our own? And what does de-extinction mean for those species that are currently endangered? Is it really ethical to bring back an extinct passenger pigeon, for example, when countless other birds today will face the same fate?By unpacking the many biological, technological, ethical, environmental, and legal questions raised by this fascinating new field, Wray offers a captivating look at the best and worst of resurrection science.Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

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Book SynopsisFrom domestic cats to shire horses to dromedaries, from farmyard Jersey cattle to pandas to stick insects, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an exploration of the wonders of nature, featuring more than 750 of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. Each featured animal is illustrated with an excellent full-colour artwork, showing in great detail its characteristics and colouring, and completed with an informative caption and a box of key facts including height, weight, diet and lifespan. With more than 750 outstanding colour artworks, Animals Visual Encyclopedia is an authoritatively researched book that celebrates the natural world and all its inhabitants.Table of ContentsIntroduction MAMMALS BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS FISH INVERTEBRATES Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is an essential, thorough, very practical guide to understanding and caring for your rabbit. By following the advice in this book, both rabbit owners and veterinary health professionals report healthier and more content rabbits. Developed from the successful Norwegian text Den Store Kaninboka by the award-winning author Marit Emilie Buseth, Rabbit Behaviour, Health and Care will help you: - develop an understanding of the rabbit's nature, which will help you to spot normal and abnormal behaviour; - learn about the correct living conditions in which to keep domestic rabbits, in terms of their behavioural, physical and social needs; - acquire essential knowledge about rabbit nutrition, dentistry and disease; - discover a new and improved approach to rabbit-keeping through stories and case examples of real rabbits; - gain a rewarding owner-pet relationship. Rabbits are extremely popular pets, but misconceptions about their care and behaviour are widespread. Most illnesses or behaviour problems are a direct or indirect result of poor nutrition and care. This book helps veterinarians and rabbit owners to overcome these challenges by understanding the rabbit's nature and needs.Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Origins and Development of Rabbits 3: Rabbits as Companion Animals 4: Behaviour, Learning and Communication 5: The Social Rabbit 6: From Nose to Tail 7: Rabbit Nutrition 8: Neutering 9: Cleanliness and Hygiene 10: Rabbit Housing and Conditions 11: House Rabbits and Rabbit Proofing of the Home 12: Life Outdoors 13: World Wide Rabbits 14: Rabbit Reproduction and Breeding Control

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""In more than 40 years of painstaking measurements, the Grants mapped how serendipitous changes in weather and habitat changed the lives and beaks of finches. Peter Grant is similarly attuned to the role of happenstance in his own life."---Emily Bobrow, Wall Street Journal"[Leaves] the impression that the Grants are interesting, unassuming people you'd like to meet."---M. Gochfeld, Choice

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Book SynopsisIn a fascinating story of discovery and science, we meet a remote population of wolves unafraid of humans. For parts of twenty-four summers, wolf biologist L. David Mech lived with a group of wolves on Ellesmere Island, some six hundred miles from the North Pole. Elsewhere, most wolves flee from even the scent of humans, but these animals, evolving relatively free from human persecution, are unafraid. Having already spent twenty-eight years studying other populations of wolves more remotely by aircraft, snow-tracking, live-trapping, and radio-tracking, Mech was primed to join their activities up close and record their interactions with each other. This book tells the remarkable story of what Mechand the researchers who followed himhave learned while living among the wolves. The Ellesmere wolves were so unconcerned with Mech's presence that they allowed him to camp near their den and to sit on his all-terrain vehicle as he observed them, watching packs as large as seven adults a

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Book SynopsisA highly readable Poyser monograph on one of the most widespread raptors.The Osprey is a large, fish-eating bird of prey. Distinctively marked in deep brown and white, with a piercing yellow eye and powerful hooked bill, the Osprey snatches its prey in spectacular swoops above lakes and wetlands around the world it is one of the most widespread of all birds. Persecuted mercilessly in Britain, it became extinct in the 1890s before returning to the famous Loch Garten in Scotland in the 1950s. The return of the bird has been slow, but reintroduction programmes elsewhere notably at Rutland Water have been successful, and this remarkable raptor is an increasingly common sight in our skies. This Poyser monograph is dedicated to this fine species and includes more than 150 colour photographs. The Osprey looks at the distribution, foraging ecology, migration, breeding behaviour and population dynamics of this spectacular bird, with emphasis placed on conserv

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A well-organized, -researched, and -illustrated overview of the parasitic world."---Tina Panik, Library Journal"[An] approachable and often fascinating primer on the subject."---Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker"[A] fascinating book. . . . you won’t look at parasites in the same way again."---Gege Li, New Scientist"[A] world-ranging study."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"Engrossing and well-illustrated. . . .A very readable, interesting, and well-presented introduction to the often overlooked evolutionary and ecological aspects of host-parasite interactions"---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist"Recommended."---D.A. Brass, Choice"The stories narrated by Gardner et al. are truly informative. . . . [If] you are looking for a new way to explore the planet, look no further than the microscopic, and sometimes macroscopic, world of parasites."---Francisco C. Ferreira, The Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisOrganic cattle farming is on the increase, with consumer demand for organic milk and meat growing yearly. Beginning with an overview of the aims and principles behind organic cattle production, this book presents extensive information about how to feed cattle so that the milk and meat produced meet organic standards, and provides a comprehensive summary of ruminant digestive processes and nutrition. Since the publication of the first edition, global consumers have increasingly become concerned with the sustainability of meat production. Here, Robert Blair considers the interrelationships of sustainable practices and profitability of organic herds, reviewing how to improve forage production and quality, and minimizing the need for supplementary feeding using off-farm ingredients. This new edition also covers: - Managing a recurrent shortage of organic feed ingredients, due to increased GM feed crop cultivation worldwide - Current findings on appropriate breeds and grazing systems for forage-based organic production - Diet-related health issues in organic herds and the effects of organic production on meat and milk quality. Required reading for animal science researchers, advisory personnel that service the organic milk and beef industries and students interested in organic milk and meat production, this book is also a useful resource for organic farming associations, veterinarians, and feed and food industry personnel.Table of Contents1: Introduction and Background 2: Aims and Principles of Organic Cattle Production 3: Elements of Cattle Nutrition 4: Ingredients for Organic Diets 5: Breeds for Organic Production 6: Integrating Feeding Programmes into Organic Production Systems 7: Conclusions and Recommendations for the Future

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year 2022.The first comprehensive coverage of a subject that has fascinated natural historians for centuries.Avian vagrancy is a phenomenon that has fascinated natural historians for centuries. From Victorian collectors willing to spend fortunes on a rare specimen, to today's high-octane bird-chasing twitchers', the enigma of vagrancy has become a source of obsession for countless birders worldwide.Vagrancy in Birds explores both pattern and process in avian vagrancy, drawing on recent research to answer a suite of fundamental questions concerning the occurrence of rare birds. For each avian family, the book provides an in-depth analysis of recent and historical vagrancy patterns, representing the first comprehensive assessment of vagrancy at a global scale. The accounts are accompanied by hundreds of previously unpublished images featuring many of the most exceptional vagrants on record.The book synthesises for the Trade ReviewA fascinating read into the different causes of vagrancy, and the instances of vagrancy in different bird families. * BBC Wildlife *An exceptional publication ... If you have an interest in migration and vagrancy you should definitely add it to your bookshelf. * Birdwatch Magazine *Vagrancy in Birds takes you on a journey, following the movement of birds around the world, and showing you why so many end up often in the ‘wrong place’ … The mixture of colour pictures really adds to the text, especially in the excellent species accounts which make up most of the book. * Bird Watching, Book of the Month *Incredibly rich ... this remarkable, unique book deserves a place on the shelf of every birder. * Neotropical Birding *This book offers something for all birders and ornithologists, from rarity hunters to conservationists studying habitat loss … one of the most useful titles of the year. * British Birds *Vagrancy In Birds is a unique book, a scholarly volume of ornithological research that birders will also find fascinating and enjoyable. * Bird Observer *This is a rarity of a book, technical, but enthralling. -- John Lewis-Stempel * Country Life *One of the most useful titles of 2022... presents theories and observations in an easily accessible way. * BTO, Best Bird Book of the Year 2022 *For the first time, this book, in no short order, explores the how and the why of bird vagrancy on a global scale, exploring in great detail how birds navigate and the driving forces that find some birds thousands of kilometres from their intended location, and even on different continents from the one they set out for... one of the most interesting things I have read on birds for a long time. -- Paul Stancliffe * BTO *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Scope of the Book How Birds Navigate Vagrancy through Compass Errors Wind Drift and Vagrancy Overshooting Extreme Weather and Irruptions Vagrancy and Natural Dispersal Human-driven Vagrancy Consequences of Vagrancy for Species and Ecosystems Family Accounts Avian Vagrancy in an Era of Global Change References General Index Species Index

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Book Synopsis''I think that, if required on pain of death to name instantly the most perfect thing in the universe, I should risk my fate on a bird''s egg'' Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 1862How are eggs of different shapes made, and why are they the shape they are? When does the shell of an egg harden? Why do some eggs contain two yolks? How are the colours and patterns of an eggshell created, and why do they vary? And which end of an egg is laid first the blunt end or the pointy end?These are just some of the questions A Bird's Egg answers, as the journey of a bird's egg from creation and fertilisation to its eventual hatching is examined, with current scientific knowledge placed within an historical context. Beginning with an examination of the stunning eggs of the guillemot, each of which is so variable in pattern and colour that no two are ever the same, acclaimed ornithologist Tim Birkhead then looks at the eggs of hens, cuckoos and many other birds, revealing weird and wonderful facts Trade ReviewThe title is also a perfect description of the book itself - full of wonder and surprise and beautifully written -- Nick Davies, author of CuckooBirkhead’s approach to writing – hard, clear sentences; deep, revelatory looking – has the same effect as his microscope, bringing objects to light that were previously hidden, making us see the familiar with new eyes … After reading The Most Perfect Thing, you’ll never dip your morning soldiers without a shiver of wonder at the complexity and resourcefulness of the humble egg. -- Alex Preston * Observer *Eye-opening … Thoroughly engaging, it also gives us a thrilling sense of the vast, unmapped territories that lie beyond, waiting to be discovered * Sunday Times *Superb ... like having the top of your own head lifted off and its contents deliciously stirred: no one after reading this book could think it was possible to know too much, no one could think science removes us from feeling * Observer *What Birkhead does is show to anyone interested in nature why any such object is a source of wonder and fascination … Innovative work. Birkhead has made birds’ eggs interesting again, by giving us a new way of looking at them: not as commodities to be drooled over and collected, but as wonders of natural science … Birkhead answers all the basic questions with panache, but other, stranger facts caught my imagination even more … Yet it is the incredible mechanisms of the life-support system, which Birkhead lays bare with perfect clarity, that are the most wondrous -- Michael McCarthy * Independent *Quirky and revealing … Many fascinating facts … Birkhead writes in a jaunty and compelling style, and is not afraid to deal head-on with the politics of eggs … This book is illustrated with a fine selection of photographs showing the extraordinary variety of shapes, sizes and colours of eggs … Tim Birkhead is one of Britain’s leading zoologists, yet he skilfully bridges the gap between scientists and non-scientists … Impressive – an important contribution to our understanding of the world around us, and its extraordinary natural wonders -- Stephen Moss * Daily Mail *Birkhead has made birds’ eggs interesting again, by giving us a new way of looking at them: not as commodities to be drooled over and collected, but as wonders of natural science * Independent *So full of fascinating facts. The author is to be congratulated on a major step forward in our understanding of eggs that in the past we just accepted and did not query. The reader will never look in eggs the same way again -- Ray Collier * Highland News Group *He takes us on an epic journey, from the outer shell of an egg to its genetic core … It is a voyage packed with astonishing details -- James Attlee * Independent *Justly acclaimed for his brilliance at explaining complex science in a beguilingly lively style … Though it is only April, I suspect that this beautifully written volume will end up the best bird book of 2016 * BBC Wildlife *Excellent … the author is exceptionally versed in the literature on eggs, from speculative 17th-century texts to the sprawling data pumped out by the poultry industry today * Wall Street Journal *Anyone drawn to the natural sciences will relish it … There are curiosities at every stage * Spectator *A wonderful insight into one of nature’s most fascinating processes * Countryside Photographer *A text that bubbles with enthusiasm ... A book that will keep you enthralled from your morning egg to your evening quiche. A delight * New Scientist *Anyone drawn to the natural sciences will relish it … The story of learning delights Birkhead as much as our current accumulation … Birkhead’s telling is joyful -- Horatio Clare * Spectator *Superb … an enthralling, immensely readable book that combines deep scientific knowledge, lightly worn, with an awareness of history and a refreshing willingness to give the early pioneers of British ornithology – notably Francis Willoughby and John Ray – their due -- Nigel Andrew * Literary Review *Birkhead’s enthusiasm for this “everyday miracle of nature” is infectious and his erudition lightly worn … A magical account * Times Literary Supplement *A delightful blend of amazing facts and hard science. You’ll never look at a chicken in quite the same way again -- Stephen Moss * Guardian *From the handsome coloured pictures to the fascinating details about the sex life of birds, this is that rare thing: a scientific book to delight the general reader -- Books of the Year * Daily Mail *I cannot think of a science book that is better written -- John Lewis-Stempel * The Times *

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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 SynopsisThe definitive history of sharks, as told by a foremost world expert.

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Book SynopsisWinner of The Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Non-Fiction in 2011 and the Authors'' Foundation Roger Deakin Award in 2011A stunning debut in the tradition of Robert Macfarlane and Helen MacdonaldOf all the birds of the British Isles, the raptor reigns supreme, sparking the imagination like no other. In this magnificent hymn to these beautiful animals, James Macdonald Lockhart explores all fifteen breeding birds of prey on these shores from the hen harrier swimming over the land in the dregs of a May gale on Orkney, to the ghostly sparrowhawk displaying in the fields around his home in Warwickshire. This is a book that will change how we think of our own skies.Trade Review‘Lockhart's prose is so intimate, urgent, and visceral as to make his darkly resonant ruminations almost unfailingly gripping’ Independent ‘A hymn in praise of living, soaring, terrifying grandeur … his exquisite, poetic language is a sensuous delight without sacrificing scientific accuracy … A tour de force’ Daily Mail ‘Lockhart puts the rapture back in the raptor. Raptor rips at its words, turning them into exquisite portraits of the utter wild, shaping soaring, obsessive beauty out of the British landscape and its imperial birds. A true heir to J.A. Baker's The Peregrine, and T.H. White's The Goshawk' Philip Hoare ‘In Lockhart’s soaring debut he laces vivid prose with illuminating facts … He elegantly depicts these creatures of the sky and, in doing so, celebrates the natural richness of the country over which they fly’ Financial Times ‘If you publish a book on birds of prey in the tumultuous wake of Helen MacDonald’s prizewinning H is for Hawk, you expect comparisons. James MacDonald Lockhart can relax. His book is outstanding … Wild birds of prey represent the living spirit of a place- of Britain. In this delicate, complex, open-ended book, full of freshness and movement, he captures that wild spirit without ever making it feel captive’ Sunday Times ‘Lockhart brings out both the birds’ ecstatic gifts of flight but also the tragedy and triumph of their predatory lifestyle… His descriptions are as precise as they are inventive’ Observer ‘Lockhart is stepping towards the distinguished company of the great modern literary books on birds of prey… The writing, at times, is as good as anything we have on the subject to date’ Country Life ‘His understanding of raptor ethology shines’ Nature ‘Any bird of prey fan will find it irresistible … thoroughly recommended’ BirdGuides ‘Nothing prepared me for the sustained brilliance and intensity of this book … Warm, intimate, full of wonder and delight in the ways the birds revealed themselves’ Caught by the River

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Book SynopsisA must read for all wildlife lovers' Dominic DyerFoxes, buzzards, crows, badgers, weasels, seals, kites Britain and Ireland's predators are impressive and diverse and they capture our collective imagination. But many consider them to our competition, even our enemies.The problem is that predators eat what we farm or use for sport. From foxes and ravens attacking new-born lambs to weasels eating game-bird chicks, predators compete with us, putting them directly into the firing line. Farming, fishing, sport and leisure industries want to see numbers of predators reduced, and conservation organisations also worry that predators are threatening some endangered species. Other people, though, will go to great lengths to protect them from any harm. This clashing of worlds can be intense. So, what do we do? One of the greatest challenges facing conservation today is how, when and where to control predators. It is a highly charged debate.Mary Colwell travels across the UK and Ireland to encounTrade Review‘Provocative, thought provoking and life affirming. Mary Colwell enters a world steeped in blood, much of it on our hands. A masterpiece of Conservation writing’ Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project ‘This fascinating – and balanced – book wrestles with our confused, paradoxical relationship with predators … and argues that our relationship with them needs to be evaluated within the context of its history’ The Field ‘There are few more fraught topics than the status of Britain’s larger predators … It takes immense courage to be a voice of calm … and once again Mary Colwell has stepped up to the mark. There is much to learn from this book’ BBC Wildlife ‘Colwell seeks to steer those who legally cull predators towards a more thoughtful stance, while urging others to understand why predators have to be managed’ BBC Countryfile magazine ‘This book made me question what I thought that I knew about species ranging from seals to wolves’ BTO magazine ‘An engaging, balanced and wise book on a contested subject … A lesson both in open-mindedness and in sweet reason’ Jeremy Mynott, author of Birdscapes ‘A brave book … that seeks out a fair-minded variety of opinions … thoroughly researched, indexed and annotated … this honest scrutiny of our relationship with middle-sized British predators is timely, informative and necessary’ Juliet Blaxford

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Book SynopsisAnaesthetising a fish, x-raying a frog and hospitalising a walrus are all in a day's work for the world's wildest veterinarian.Travelling from the rainforests of Sierra Leone to the jungles of Borneo, Romain Pizzi has caught, anaesthetised, diagnosed, operated on, medicated, and then released some of the world''s most endangered wild animals.From disease testing Polynesian snails to keyhole surgery in Sumatran orangutans; from endoscopy in sharks to ultrasound on a chimpanzee. Sometimes this is high tech work, such as the first robotic surgery in a tiger, or giant panda cloning attempts. Sometimes the situations are more primitive, from anaesthetising a bear with a bicycle pump, old plumbing tubes and a plank, to operating on a vulture using an old metal spoon.In Exotic Vetting, Romain recalls his many interesting patients, while taking readers on a tour of the challenges of treating the world's amazing spectrum of wild animal species.Trade Review‘A highly entertaining and thought-provoking tour de force. Thoroughly recommended.’ Veterinary Record ‘Romain Pizzi, who pioneered keyhole surgery foranimals, is arguably the most versatile and inventivevet in the world.’ Guardian ‘We have other vets who are incredibly talented, butRomain is one of a kind.’ Matt Hunt, CEO of Free the Bears One of the most innovative wildlife surgeons in Europe and perhaps the world … he has operated on giraffes and tarantulas, penguins and baboons, giant tortoises and at least one shark, and maintains a reputation for taking on cases others won't. If you're in possession of a tiger with gallstones, or a suspiciously sickly beaver, you call Pizzi.’ Wired magazine

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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 SynopsisA charming and quirky illustrated exploration of birds and the reasons we love them.From the Common Swift, which can stay in the air continuously without landing for up to ten months at a time, even sleeping on the wing, to the tiny Goldcrest, Europe''s smallest bird, which can lay one-and-one-half times its body weight in eggs every season, birds are incredible creatures.With fascinating facts, humorous anecdotes and charming illustrations, artist Misha Blaise pays loving homage to the amazing birds that populate our skies in a delightful gift book sure to enchant birders, art-lovers, children and adults alike.

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