Zoology and animal sciences Books

Book Synopsis**OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD**How well do you know your dog? Did you know that dogs have dreams and fears? That they do see colour, that they smell electric storms, and feel scent as an emotion?Jeffrey Masson takes us into the world of the dog, a world created by a sense of smell one hundred million times more acute than ours, and reintroduces us to man''s best friend - loyal, honest, straightforward, spontaneous and almost unbelievably forgiving. Drawing on observations of his own three dogs, as well as true stories of dogs'' friendship, heroism and loyalty, Masson makes us laugh, cry and think again about our canine companions, who, unlike humans, will never lie about love.A charming, playful and moving book which will forever change the way you think about dogs.Trade ReviewTremendously reassuring for me, because my dog and I love each other to distraction...Masson dares to write about dogs' emotions, dreams, sadness, fears and loves, and attempts to interpret their feelings without sounding even slightly soppy...This is a fascinating and very moving book * Mail on Sunday *Charming...personal and dynamic * Independent *Gentle, funny and entertaining * Observer *Brilliant * Guardian *A joyous read... Hats of to Jeffrey Masson for his excellent, down-to-earth, understandable and, more importantly, loving study of man's best friend * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisPractical Feline Behaviour contains all the relevant information that a veterinary nurse or technician needs to understand and handle the behaviour and welfare of house cats, and to offer safe and practical advice to clients. There have been ground-breaking advances in our understanding of feline behaviour in recent years and, to protect the welfare of cats, it is increasingly important that anyone involved with their care, especially those in a professional capacity, keep up to date with these developments. This approachable and down-to-earth text describes the internal and external influences on feline behaviour; on communication, learning, social behaviour, the relationship between behaviour and disease, and the cat - human relationship. It also provides practical advice on how the welfare of cats in our care may be protected and how behaviour problems should be addressed and how to avoid them. In this book Trudi Atkinson draws on her extensive experience as a veterinary nurse and a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist to provide a rapid reference and an intensely practical feline behaviour resource for owners, breeders, veterinary professionals, shelter and cattery workers and anyone involved in the care of our feline companions. - Practical, down to earth guide detailing all aspects of feline behaviour - Rapid reference for instant access to information - Written by a well-known animal behaviourist who has extensive experience in treating feline behaviour problems and in advising clients to protect the welfare of their cats - Includes a foreword by John Bradshaw, School of Veterinary Science at University of Bristol, UKTable of Contents-: About the Author -: Preface Part One: Understanding Feline Behaviour 1: The Origin and Evolution of the Domestic Cat 2: The Senses 3: Feline Communication 4: Social, Feeding and Predatory Behaviour 5: Kitten to Cat - Reproduction and the Behavioural Development of Kittens 6: Health and Behaviour 7: Learning, Training and Behaviour Part Two: Practical Feline Behaviour 8: Advice for Breeders 9: Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 10: Advice for Cat Owners 11: Advice for Veterinary Professionals 12: Advice for Other Cat Carers Appendix 1: Environmental Enrichment Appendix 2: Play Appendix 3: Reducing Resource Competition in a Multi-cat Household Appendix 4: Neutering Appendix 5: Introducing an Additional Cat to your Household Appendix 6: Helping a Grieving Cat Appendix 7: Introducing Cats and Dogs Appendix 8: Cat Flaps Appendix 9: Teaching Your Cat to Come to You When You Call Appendix 10: Cats, Babies and Children Appendix 11: House-training Your Cat or Kitten Appendix 12: Training Your Cat to Like the Cat Carrier Appendix 13: Medicating Your Cat Appendix 14: Teaching Your Cat or Kitten to Accept Veterinary Examination Appendix 15: First Aid Advice for Common Feline Behaviour Problems Appendix 16: Friend or Foe Appendix 17: Approaching, Stroking and Picking Up Appendix 18: Recognizing Stress

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Book SynopsisA Short History of the World in 50 Animals provides a new perspective on the grand sweep of our planet’s making, taking readers from the time of the dinosaurs to the time of Dolly, the first cloned mammal. This book will include a great variety of beasts from across the animal kingdom, some well known and others far more surprising, from every continent in the world. Each entry will show the creature’s influence on world development, economy, health, culture, religion and society. The size of the animals range from hulking elephants to tiny bees but each one has made a significant impact on history.A Short History of the World in 50 Animals details the impact, legacy and role of fifty animals that determined the world’s history and shows how many of them are essential for our future survival. Featuring charming black and white illustrations throughout, which celebrate these extraordinary animals.In the same series: A Short History of the World in 50 Places.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMark Catesby, the English naturalist and artist, as well as his considerable accomplishments, is given new life in this well-written, multiauthored account. Emphasis is placed on Catesby's travels in North America that led to his monumental volumes on the flora and fauna of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahamas. The book is an important addition to the library of the history of natural history of colonial America.- William D. Anderson Jr., Professor of Marine Biology, Grice Marine Biological Laboratory, College of Charleston;""The Curious Mister Catesby is an absorbing blend of early colonial history in the American Southeast and the Bahamas, with the rich fauna and flora the settlers freshly contained. Catesby emerges as one of the first true naturalists of the New World.""- Edward O. Wilson, University Professor Emeritus of Entomology, Harvard University;""A landmark book filled with introspective and concise essays, each developed with a richness of detail, revealing the absorbing portrait of a self-taught artist from Suffolk who had an insatiable curiosity about nature. Wonderfully readable, this classic is an engaging introduction to Catesby's timeless illustrations and to his keen observation of the natural world. Like an investigation by forensic scientists the contemplative and thorough scholarship of these authors reveals new insight into Catesby, his journeys, his peers, and the inexhaustible pursuit of botanical and zoological specimens in an eighteenth-century world.""- Marian Hill, former president of the Garden Club of America;""This comprehensive, lavishly illustrated work . . . will stand for many years as the best critical analysis of [Catesby's] work, and of the groundbreaking natural science that his curiosity inspired.""- Linda Lear Nature;""This remarkable commemorative publication represents the perspectives of two dozen learned contributors representative of a broad spectrum of disciplines, including historians, botanists, zoologists, ornithologists, anthropologists, landscape architects, fine arts authorities, museum specialists and associated fields. Each of the 22 chapters is an essay revealing another of the many layers of Catesby's genius.""- Ben MCC. Moise The Post and Courier;""As if one of Catesby's ivory-billed woodpeckers swooped down before your eyes, this work draws the once-mysterious Catesby out of the shadows and, fittingly, displays him in vibrant living color.""- Robert Salvo Charleston Mercury;""The Curious Mr. Catesby is important for the history of natural history as it offers so much to know and understand about this interesting man and his contributions to natural history.""- Charles Tancin Huntia;""For the book’s top-notch construction and amazing array of colored maps and illustrations, The University of Georgia Press should be commended, reminding us why the physical book is so worthy of praise. This book should find a deserved place on the shelf of both general and academic readers.""- Vaughn Scribner, The Journal for Southern Literature

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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 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 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 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 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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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Signaling Systems 2. Integumentary Systems 3. Developmental Systems 4. Reproductive Systems 5. Behavioral Systems 6. Metabolic Systems 7. Circulatory Systems 8. Excretory Systems 9. Respiratory Systems 10. Locomotor Systems 11. Nervous Systems 12. Communication Systems 13. Genetics, Genomics, and Epigenetic Systems

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Book SynopsisEssential Ornithology provides the reader with a concise but comprehensive introduction to the biology of birds, one of the most widely studied and commonly taught taxonomic groups.Trade ReviewThis book is admirably direct and direct in conveying its points. While it uses the words and phrases of academic biology, its careful and caring tone makes it consistently readable. A textbook that students can read is an obvious virtue. A textbook that students can afford is another virtue, and this book is much less expensive than many textbooks. * Peter A. Bednekoff, ISBE Newsletter *Table of Contents1: Evolution of birds 2: Feathers and flight 3: Movement: migration and navigation 4: Eggs, nests, and chicks 5: Reproduction 6: Foraging and avoiding predation 7: Populations, communities, and conservation

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Book SynopsisTo date, more than a million insect species have been described, with probably at least another 5-8 million species waiting in the wings for a name. Insects are a fascinatingly diverse and beautiful spectrum of animals. They range in size from the tiny parasitic wasp, measuring a mere 139m, to the aptly named Titan beetle, which can reach lengths of up to 17cm. They can be found on all continents of the world, from the Sahara Desert to the frozen wastes of Antarctica; in caves, under the ground, inside plants, other insects and vertebrates, in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, in puddles, in the watery interiors of pitcher plants; and in our houses. While no insects live beneath the waves, the intrepid sea skaters skim the surface of some of the world''s oceans.This Very Short Introduction explores the extraordinary world of insects. It analyses insect evolution, taxonomy and development, and describes their behaviour, their life styles, and the interactions they have with other insects and other animals. As Simon Leather shows, insects are the bedrock on which human civilisation rests; without them we would almost certainly not exist. Although they can be seen as pests of our crops plants, they are also invaluable for pollinating our flowering plants and are an invaluable link in all land ecosystems. As they face challenges from climate change and pesticides it has never been more important to understand these oft-dismissed creatures.Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis excellent primer can be recommended to all insect enthusiasts, particularly those who advocate the value of insects. * Marco Ferrante, Community Ecology *This excellent primer can be recommended to all insect enthusiasts, particularly those who advocate the value of insects. * Community Ecology *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: In the beginning 2: Prolific procreators - reproduction and host selection 3: On the move - finding somewhere to live and something to eat 4: Living together - social insects, parental care, mutualism 5: Aquatic insects - skaters, divers, and bottom dwellers 6: Mimicry, crypsis, and blatant advertising 7: Against the odds - behaviour and survival in extreme conditions 8: The good, the bad, and the ugly - how insects help and hinder us 9: Ecological Armageddon - insects in decline? References Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisProvides a handbook of ecological methods and analytical techniques pertinent to the study of animals, with an emphasis on non-microscopic animals in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.Table of ContentsPreface to Fifth Edition, 2020 Preface to Fourth Edition, 2015 Preface to Third Edition, 1998 1: Introduction to the Study of Animals 2: The Sampling Programme and the Measurement and Description of Dispersion 3: Absolute Population Estimates Using Capture-Recapture Experiments 4: Absolute Population Estimates by Sampling a Unit of Habitat -Air, Plants, Plant Products and Vertebrate Hosts 5: Absolute Population Estimates by Sampling a Unit of Aquatic Habitat 6: Absolute Population Estimates by Sampling a Unit of Soil or Litter Habitat-Extraction Techniques 7: Relative Methods of Population Measurement and the Derivation of Absolute Estimates 8: Estimates of Species Richness and Population Size Based on Signs, Products and Effects 9: Wildlife Population Estimates by Census and Distance Measuring Techniques 10: Observational and Experimental Methods to Estimate Natality, Mortality, Movement and Dispersal 11: The Construction, Description and Analysis of Age-Specific Life-Tables 12: Age-Grouping, Time-Specific Life-Tables and Predictive Population 13: Species Richness, Diversity and Packing 14: The Estimation of Productivity and the Construction of Energy Budgets 15: Techniques for the Study of Long-Term Dynamics-Analysing Time Series 16: Studies at Large Spatial Scales, Citizen Science and the Classification of Habitats

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Book SynopsisThe animal world is immensely diverse, and our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development (''evo-devo''). In this Very Short Introduction Peter Holland presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals (not obvious in biological terms), he takes the reader through the high-level groupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based on molecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. The phylogenetic view is central to zoology today and the volume will be of great value to all students of the life sciences, as well as providing a concise summary for the interested general reader.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. What is an animal? ; 2. Animal phyla ; 3. The evolutionary tree of animals ; 4. Basal animals: corals, sponges and jellyfish ; 5. The bilaterians: building a body ; 6. Lophotrochozoa: wondrous worms ; 7. Ecdysozoa: insects and nematodes ; 8. Deuterostomes I: starfish, sea squirts and amphioxus ; 9. Deuterostomes II: the rise of vertebrates ; 10. Deuterostomes III: vertebrates on land ; 11. Enigmatic animals ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisOrigins of Biodiversity is a unique introduction to the fields of macroevolution and macroecology, which explores the evolution and distribution of biodiversity across time, space and lineages. Using an enquiry-led framework to encourage active learning and critical thinking, each chapter is based around a case-study to explore concepts and research methods from contemporary macroevolution and macroecology.The book focuses on the process of science as much as the biology itself, to help students acquire the research skills and intellectual tools they need to understand and investigate the biological world around them. In particular, the emphasis on hypothesis testing encourages students to develop and test their own ideas.This text builds upon the foundations offered in most general introductory evolutionary biology courses to introduce an exciting range of ideas and research tools for investigating patterns of biodiversity.Trade ReviewAn exceptionally well-written textbook on large-scale evolution and ecology, which engages students by using a problem-based approach to recent controversies and debates. * Dr Peter Bennett, University of Kent *The treatment of the topics is authoritative and up-to-date, and it is certainly written with modern undergraduates in mind. * Prof Arne Mooers, Simon Fraser University *This book is well-placed to invigorate the fields of macroevolution and macroecology by filling a gap that will open up the subject to the next generation of budding young scientists. * Dr Kevin Arbuckle, Swansea University *This book succeeds in being a different sort of textbook: one which helps the students to understand science better by helping them understand the process of knowledge creation. * Dr Richard Field, University of Nottingham *Table of Contents1: What is macroevolution? What is macroecology?2: How did evolution get started?3: Does evolution favour increased size and complexity?4: What caused the explosion of animal evolution in the Cambrian?5: Were dinosaurs evolutionary failures?6: Was the diversification of mammals due to luck?7: Is sex good for survival?8: Why are most species small?9: Why are there so many kinds of beetles?10: Why are there so many species in the tropics?11: What is the future of biodiversity?

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Book SynopsisA moving collection of intimate portraits of farm animals who somehow escaped the typical fate of their kind and got to experience old age. These photos have so much personality, and Leshko supplements them with accounts of each animal’s life and her experience photographing them.Trade Review"Very few books can make you laugh, cry, smile, and ponder the universe all at once. This rare, beautiful, and thoughtful volume of photographs and essays does exactly all that. Please read it, please think about its message, and, if you can, please act on it!"--Gene Stone, coauthor of Living the Farm Sanctuary LIfe "Because of the betrayals they endured at our hands over long lifetimes, the eyes of Isa Leshko's subjects radiate deep sadness and reproach, but also a touching dignity and lack of bitterness and fear. I found myself stroking their fur and feathers on the pages to comfort them or perhaps to ask their forgiveness. Hers is an unforgettable book."--Steven Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project "Beautiful art and powerful animal advocacy--Isa Leshko's portraits of elderly farmed animals are both. Abe the goat (age 21) I gaze at just because he's so handsome; the images of Pearl (age 7), Violet (age 12), and Stella (age 18) affirm for me why I don't eat turkeys, pigs, or cows. Isa's words are compelling too: in describing her patient methods of honoring each animal's comfort level with being photographed at his or her sanctuary home, it becomes clear why these images so touch our hearts. This volume is a perfect choice for animal lovers."--Barbara J. King, author of Personalities on the Plate "In this unexpected encounter with aging animals, Isa Leshko enables us to see what she sees: the beauty and dignity of those allowed to live into old age. There is something new in these gorgeous portraits of the old."--Carol J. Adams, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat and Burger "Allowed to Grow Old is a priceless and heartfelt tribute in stunning images and moving words to elderly farmed animals--senior citizens--who had previously lived horrific lives.This beautiful book clearly reveals the individuality of each animal photographed, and shows that farmed animals are no different from the companion animals with whom we share our homes and our hearts.They all are sentient beings with unique characters and personalities, who simply want to live out their lives with lots of love and in peace and safety. As an ethologist who has studied the emotional lives of a wide variety of animals, I could easily feel what each individual was feeling when they were photographed, and could well imagine the lives they have led. I hope this book enjoys a global audience. No matter what language readers speak, these images transcend different cultures and belief systems. They are that compelling."--Marc Bekoff, author of Canine Confidential "In Allowed to Grow Old, Leshko's remarkable, unsentimental photos of older chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows and other animals achieve something that I have not seen before in photos of domesticated animals. We get to know them, not as things to eat or produce milk or eggs for us, but as individuals with personalities and lives of their own to lead."--Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation "It is a pleasure to see these elderly cousins of ours, rheumy-eyed, bewhiskered, unsteady on their feet, enjoying their twilight years in peace, security, and dignity." --J. M. Coetzee "There is great poise and dignity in the animals Isa Leshko captures with her lens: their characters shine brightly despite their often devastating histories. She looks at them, and her gaze reveals them as individuals. One hopes our society looks, too, and does better for them all. What Leshko gives us with these photographs is a reminder of the very real fates of these and all farm animals. I would love to know every one of them." --Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog "I learned at an early age that animals are complex, thinking, feeling creatures. All animals. So often, though, we overlook the lives of those animals who are raised for farming and meat production. Isa Leshko offers us a deeply personal view into the lives of these animals. Her portraits are tender and present the inescapable fact that each subject is a living thinking creature with an individual history and personality." --Moby

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Book SynopsisA fascinating natural history of an incredibly curious substance. Preternaturally hardened whale dung is not the first image that comes to mind when we think of perfume, otherwise a symbol of glamour and allure. But the key ingredient that makes the sophisticated scent linger on the skin is precisely this bizarre digestive by-product-ambergris. Despite being one of the world's most expensive substances (its value is nearly that of gold and has at times in history been triple it), ambergris is also one of the world's least known. But with this unusual and highly alluring book, Christopher Kemp promises to change that by uncovering the unique history of ambergris. A rare secretion produced only by sperm whales, which have a fondness for squid but an inability to digest their beaks, ambergris is expelled at sea and floats on ocean currents for years, slowly transforming, before it sometimes washes ashore looking like a nondescript waxy pebble. It can appear almost anywhere but is foTrade Review"Christopher Kemp weaves fascinating facts about sperm whales (bulls weigh 50 tons and consume up to a ton of food a day), ambergris's central role in creating the world's perfumes, and personal reflections about his quest for ambergris into a pleasing, easy-flowing story. Much of the book recounts spectacular past and recent finds of ambergris and the secretive individuals who search for the elusive substance. They're so secretive that one collector reportedly walked backward to 'disguise the direction he was traveling.' And Kemp's descriptions of the close-mouthed ambergris traders provide a satisfying glimpse into a little-known parallel universe in which readers vicariously share the thrill of the hunt and dreams of fortune that drive the ambergris obsessed." * Publishers Weekly * "In this entertaining natural history, molecular biologist and columnist Christopher Kemp recounts two years of obsessively combing beaches and visiting tight-lipped experts to discover the secrets of the international ambergris trade." * Booklist * "Christopher Kemp holds no world records (well, except hands-down for the best book ever written about ambergris), but after a childhood in Birmingham he found himself at the University of Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand, where he began his obsessive quest for ambergris. . . .You probably haven't spent many sleepless nights wondering where ambergris comes from or what it smells like, but I know that Floating Gold will enchant and surprise you with its answers to these and countless other questions, and you will now be able to dazzle your uninformed friends who otherwise would know nothing about how faecal impactions and French perfume go together." -- Richard Ellis * Times (UK) * "Christpher Kemp's engrossing study takes us through history, tales of present-day hunters and cetacean science, poking its nose into the perfume industry on the way." * Nature * "Ambergris is the kind of singularity-in nature and in human affairs-that cries out for investigation by an obsessed scientist who can write well. In Christopher Kemp, the world's most lusted-after poop has found its man." * Maclean's * "Carefully and thoughtfully written, Christopher Kemp's Floating Gold can take a place on the bookshelf among my favorite natural histories. Those peer at their subject from many angles, combining facts with observations of the places and people that have become part of its history. Kemp (a molecular biologist) tells stories about ambergris: fragrant stuff, produced in the gut of the sperm whale, that for centuries has been both a prized commodity and a compellingly mysterious substance. . . . Floating Gold offers an enticing initiation into the shadowy and intriguing history of ambergris." * Science * "It's hard not to fall in love with ambergris, or the concept of ambergris as the unknowable embodiment of the sea, along with Christopher Kemp." * The Millions * "Kemp manages to infuse each windy walk on the shore with an air of true mystery. Each foray seems as if it could be the right one, and I found myself peeking at the end to find out whether or not he succeeds." * Weekly Standard * "The history that Kemp, a molecular biologist and journalist, presents here illustrates the process of how an understanding of natural history on any topic typically matures from its nascent, speculative beginnings. The relaxed writing style is characterized by a justly parsimonious ability to describe locations, objects, and people. Clearly, the author's observational skills are well honed." * Choice * "Floating Gold will appeal to those who have a keen interest in the ingredients that go into the perfumes that they love and wear. It will also make essential reading for any would-be perfumer or anyone with a keen interest in the natural (and unnatural) materials that make up the perfumers palette." * BaseNotes * "In this wonderful-and surprisingly gripping-book, Christopher Kemp examines the curious history of one of the world's rarest and most magical substances. This is natural history done well." -- Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein "Following on the scent of what must be the strangest known natural substance, Christopher Kemp's adventure-filled journey into the often-bizarre world of ambergris takes us from whale innards to remote islands. A compelling narrative, a detective story, and a wonderful window into history and obsession, Floating Gold has struck a rich oceanic seam. With its mixture of scientific rigor, evocative travelogue, and eccentric personalities, Kemp's book finally uncovers the secrets of this elusive and extraordinary stuff. His book lingers like the smell of ambergris itself." -- Philip Hoare, author of The Whale "Christopher Kemp's delightful pursuit of all things ambergris has resulted in a wonderful and engagingly personal book on one of the world's most mysterious and alluring substances. Floating Gold is a fascinating tale of obsession, the limits of science, avarice, suspicion, secrecy, and the desire to create the perfect perfume. It's a pleasure to read." -- Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan: A History of Whaling in America "Occupying a near-mythical niche somewhere between truffles and unicorn's horn, ambergris is one of the rarest, most valuable substances in nature. It is also one of the most poorly understood-until now. With Floating Gold, Kemp has assembled the first comprehensive picture of a unique substance-an essence, really-that has inspired obsession and jealous secrecy for centuries and that, to this day, remains as precious as gold. With humor, insight, and the dogged determination of a Victorian scientist, Kemp takes us around the world and into the arcane and obsessive demimonde of ambergris seekers, traders, and high-end parfumiers. In so doing, he illuminates a world previously known to only a handful of people." -- John Vaillant, author of The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival "Ambergris! Perhaps nature's strangest and rarest gift-one could walk the shores for a lifetime and come up empty-handed. Christopher Kemp's lovely quest tale put me in mind of an afternoon, several years ago, when I opened a dusty letter in the archive of an old whale scientist: suddenly the room burst with the smell of violets, musk, and fresh-hewn wood. To the sheet was taped a little dab of greasy gum, with a note reading, 'Could this be it?' Indeed it was! Would that a little piece of the magic could be tipped inside every copy of Floating Gold. Read it, for it's as close as one can get without the stuff itself." -- D. Graham Burnett, author of The Sounding of the Whale: Science and Cetaceans inTable of ContentsPrologue: Wellington, 2008 Introduction: Marginalia 1 On Long Beach2 There Is a Piece at Rome as Big as a Man's Head3 The Beach Mafia4 It Looked like Roquefort and It Smelled like Limburger5 A Molecule Here and a Molecule There6 Close Encounters of the Ambergris Kind7 The Hopefuls8 On the Road9 Gone A-Whaling10 A Meeting Epilogue

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Today’s impacts, evolution, pressure changes, and the current direction of marine conservation 2. Marine area-based conservation in the context of global change 3. Effects of coastal urbanization on marine species and habitat conservation 4. Marine bioinvasions in the Anthropocene 5. Biodiversity, aquaculture, and conservation of endangered species 6. Conservation of out-of-sight communities and dark habitats 7. A physiological approach to conservation using biomarkers and molecular approaches 8. Conserving marine biodiversity with ecological restoration 9. Citizen science, conservation policies, monitoring, and management

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Book SynopsisThe IACUC Administratorâs Guide to Animal Program Management supports IACUC administrators who assist with developing, managing, and overseeing a program of animal care and animal use. It provides many options and possibilities for specific operational practices (e.g., how to build a well-functioning IACUC, what a functional protocol template looks like) to satisfy regulatory requirements.The material provided is a compilation of several years of Best Practices (BP) meetings among IACUC administrators across the country. The BP meetings included representatives from the NIH/OLAW, AAALAC, and the USDA, whose presence and dialogue assured the BP discussion met or exceeded all regulatory or accreditation minimum standards. BP meeting attendees from private, public, governmental, and academic organizations have helped to shape and develop the information offered herein. It is through the insight of several hundred colleaguesâtheir successes as well as theiTrade Review"The IACUC Administrator’s Guide to Animal Program Management is tailored to meet the needs of IACUC Administrators, Attending Veterinarians (AVs) and/or Animal Research Directors involved with developing, managing, and overseeing a program of animal care and use. While the Federal regulations (AWA act) and standards such as the guide for "The care and use of laboratory animals" help set the expectations for lab animal programs they do not provide clear guidance on the methods that need to be in place especially at the IACUC level to help balance compliance and animal welfare adequately. The authors have tried to bridge this gap by compiling shared best practices from animal program administrators across a wide spectrum of institutions ranging from academia, government and private organizations. …A special feature of the book is the inclusion of chapters on FOIA, Sunshine laws and the DOD/VA regulations. This has not been traditionally addressed in other books of this nature. We especially loved reading chapter 4, The Animal Care and Use Program and chapter 5, Protocol Review and Approval for the content and concise detail. …The authors have done a great job highlighting the issue as well as providing different practices that IACUC’s can adopt to overcome this situation. Chapter 8, Animal Care and Use Program Review was also very well written and could act as a significant resource for administrators to use when training IACUC members on how to conduct and participate in a program reviews. Overall the details, real life scenarios and wide range of topics makes this a must have book for IACUC administrators and program directors. This could be especially valuable to individuals new to the field, lab animal residents and a resource book for those seeking certification as a professional IACUC administrator." Jennifer McElroy, RVT, CPIA and Dr. Jeetendra Eswaraka, DVM, PhD, DACLAM in Laboratory AnimaTable of ContentsAn Introduction to Best Practices Meetings. The IACUC Administrator’s Office Structure. The IACUC Administrator’s Role and Responsibilities. The Animal Care and Use Program. Protocol Review and Approval. Protocol Noncompliance. Protocol and Grant Congruency. Animal Care and Use Program Review. Semiannual Facility Inspection. Monitoring the Animal Care and Use Program. Facilitating Communication. Field Studies. Personnel Qualifications and Training Programs. Tracking Animal Use on Protocols. Veterinary Care Programs. Whistle-Blower Policy. Occupational Health and Safety Program. Emergency Disaster Plans. The Role of a Primary Grantee. FOIA, Sunshine Laws, and Confidential Information. DOD and VA Regulations—Know the Differences. Data Management and Electronic Systems. Policies, Guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures. Appendices.

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Book SynopsisSheep Medicine, Second Edition describes key sheep diseases encountered in general practice along with their diagnoses, treatment, prognoses, control, and, where appropriate, post-mortem features. The book is divided into chapters covering each body system. Each chapter of this completely revised and updated book opens with a recommended approach to clinical examination of the featured body system, rather than simply providing a listing of disorders and diseases. The book also guides readers through all stages of the disease process highlighting the critical clinical features important in the diagnosis. Ancillary tests available to veterinary practitioners are detailed, emphasising their practical applications and cost limitations. Several self-assessment exercises featuring typical clinical cases affecting each body system are collected in a revision chapter at the end of the book. Diseases and disorders are included with the common differential diagnoses followed by the specific diagnosis and recommended treatment(s). The book is invaluable to veterinarians in practice and training, animal scientists and agricultural advisors, and scientists interested in animal welfare.Trade Review"…an extremely useful book for the student or young vet with a particular interest in the subject, and it’s system-categorised, well indexed and comprehensively illustrated."—Veterinary Record"The book provides a breakdown of important diseases and issues commonly seen in sheep production via body system. Each section about a particular issue contains an overview, etiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, treatment, and management/prevention/control measures."—Chelsey Ramirez, BS, DVM, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Doody’s Book ReviewsPraise for the first edition:"…ideal for the student about to take their finals on the veterinary degree course, the new graduate about to set foot on their first sheep farm and the farmer who is keen to learn about an emerging disease."—Oliver Hodgkinson in The Veterinary Journal "The format is familiar: diseases are dealt with the body system, but the inclusion of notes on economic and welfare issues are interesting additions…Dr. Scott is an experienced and caring clinician who has produced a volume that combines authoritative text with excellent photographs…It deserves to become a well used addition to the veterinary armoury."—David C. Henderson in Veterinary Record"…a very useful book, which I hope the author will keep up-to-date with further editions for many years to come."—Graham Duncanson in Veterinary Times"...any practice that does any work with sheep, whether hill or lowland, commercial or lawn mowing, should buy a copy of this book... the illustrations alone make this textbook worthwhile, and the layout is excellent."—Veterinary Times"…an extremely useful book for the student or young vet with a particular interest in thesubject, and it’s system-categorised, well indexed and comprehensively illustrated."—Veterinary Record"The book provides a breakdown of important diseases and issues commonly seen in sheep production via body system. Each section about a particular issue contains an overview, etiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, treatment, and management/prevention/control measures."—Chelsey Ramirez, BS, DVM, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Doody’s Book ReviewsPraise for the first edition:"…ideal for the student about to take their finals on the veterinary degree course, the new graduate about to set foot on their first sheep farm and the farmer who is keen to learn about an emerging disease."—Oliver Hodgkinson in The Veterinary Journal "The format is familiar: diseases are dealt with the body system, but the inclusion of notes on economic and welfare issues are interesting additions…Dr. Scott is an experienced and caring clinician who has produced a volume that combines authoritative text with excellent photographs…It deserves to become a well used addition to the veterinary armoury."—David C. Henderson in Veterinary Record"…a very useful book, which I hope the author will keep up-to-date with further editions for many years to come."—Graham Duncanson in Veterinary Times"...any practice that does any work with sheep, whether hill or lowland, commercial or lawn mowing, should buy a copy of this book... the illustrations alone make this textbook worthwhile, and the layout is excellent."—Veterinary TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction. Husbandry. The Reproductive System. Neonatal Lamb Diseases. The Digestive System. The Cardiorespiratory System. The Respiratory System. Neurological Diseases. The Foot. The Musculoskeletal System. The Urinary System. The Skin. Eye Diseases. Mammary Gland. Metabolic Disorders and Trace Element Deficiencies. Parasitic Diseases. Miscellaneous Diseases. Anaesthesia. Cases.

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Book SynopsisAs textbooks go, this is one of the few that I may actually choose to read in a spare moment, not just when madly researching what could possibly be the problem when I get called to a goat farm. It contains interesting information on the background of goat farming, goat behaviour, nutrition and husbandry in the introductory section... This hardback, logically presented book will live on a handy shelf to be used on a regular basis.- Pam Brown, mixed practice vet at Alnorthumbria Vets, Wooler, in Veterinary Record, 27 April 2019 Key features:Covers both goat medicine and surgeryCovers basic anatomy, commons breeds and husbandryIncludes new and emerging diseases Goats are one of the most widely kept domestic animals globally, mainly as a result of the relative ease with which they can be kept and the obvious benefits provided to those who keep them. Goat Medicine and SurgTrade ReviewAs textbooks go, this is one of the few that I may actually choose to read in a spare moment, not just when madly researching what could possibly be the problem when I get called to a goat farm. It contains interesting information on the background of goat farming, goat behaviour, nutrition and husbandry in the introductory section. This is an area that was poorly covered during my time at vet school and, had I not had good exposure to goat medicine in practice, the temptation would always be to assume their needs are the same as those of sheep. Despite being written by two of the most well-known goat vets in the UK, the information is based at general practitioner level. The layout makes for easy reading with suitable text size, plenty of colour photos of live animals, postmortem findings, ultrasound scans, radiographs and histology samples... Those of us who treat goats know how few products are licensed for treating them, but this book gives detailed recommended dosages that won’t be found on any medicines packaging. This hardback, logically presented book will live on a handy shelf to be used on a regular basis.- Pam Brown, mixed practice vet at Alnorthumbria Vets, Wooler, in Veterinary Record, 27 April 2019Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: World goat population and reasons they are kept. Common Breeds. Goat Biology. Husbandry. Chapter 2: Reproductive System: Normal structure & function. Breeding management. Female reproductive tract diseases. Causes of foetal loss / abortion. Male reproductive tract diseases. Chapter 3: Pregnancy and Parturition: Pregnancy diagnosis. Normal kidding. Dystocia. Caesarean section. Pseudopregnancy / cloudburst. Chapter 4: Neonatology: Neonatal kid care. Neonatal disorders. Disbudding. Castrating. Supernumerary teats. Chapter 5: Alimentary Tract and Abdomen: Examination. Non-infectious disease. Infectious disease. Surgical conditions / procedures. Chapter 6: Respiratory System: Examination. Non-infectious disease. Infectious disease. Chapter 7: Cardiovascular Disease and Disorders of the Haematopoietic System: Examination. Cardiovascular disorders. Haematopoietic disorders including lymphatic system. Chapter 8: Nervous System Disorders: Examination. Non-infectious disease (CNS). Non-infectious disease (peripheral). Infectious disease. Chapter 9: Musculoskeletal Disease including Foot Disorders: Examination. Non-infectious disease (including fracture management). Infectious disease. Chapter 10: Urinary Tract Disease: Examination. Non-infectious disease. Infectious disease. Surgical procedures. Chapter 11: Skin Diseases: Examination. Non-infectious disease. Infectious disease. Surgical procedures and wound management. Dehorning / disbudding. Chapter 12: Mammary Gland: Examination. Non-infectious disease. Infectious disease. Surgical procedures. Chapter 13: Sensory Organ Disease: Diseases of the eye & surgical procedures. Diseases of the ear. Chapter 14: Metabolic Diseases. Chapter 15: Trace Element Disorders. Chapter 16: Poisoning. Chapter 17: Emerging and Exotic Diseases: Tuberculosis. Bluetongue. Schmallenberg. FMD. Chapter 18: Anaesthesia and Analgesia, Fluid Therapy and Euthanasia. Chapter 19: Post Mortem Examination and Sampling. Appendix 1: References Ranges: Appendix 2: Pharmacology. Index.

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Book SynopsisSolomon, the legend goes, had a magic ring which enabled him to speak to the animals in their own language. Konrad Lorenz was gifted with a similar power of understanding the animal world. He was that rare beast, a brilliant scientist who could write (and indeed draw) beautifully. He did more than any other person to establish and popularize the study of how animals behave, receiving a Nobel Prize for his work. King Solomon's Ring, the book which brought him worldwide recognition, is a delightful treasury of observations and insights into the lives of all sorts of creatures, from jackdaws and water-shrews to dogs, cats and even wolves. Charmingly illustrated by Lorenz himself, this book is a wonderfully written introduction to the world of our furred and feathered friends, a world which often provides an uncanny resemblance to our own. A must for any animal-lover!Trade Review'This wise and beautiful book ... bears upon every page the imprint of a profound, humane and questing mind.' - Observer'For great interest, amusement and relaxation - in short, for unalloyed pleasurel - let nothing stop you from getting hold of a copy.' - Liverpool Post'It is one of the best and most penetrating non-technical books about animals and animal nature that has ever been written ... every sensitive reader will agree that the book is a work of humanity, wisdom and balance as well as of delightful humour.' – W H Thorpe'It is one of the best and most penetrating non-technical books about animals and animal nature that has ever been written ... every sensitive reader will agree that the book is a work of humanity, wisdom and balance as well as of delightful humour.' – W H ThorpeTable of ContentsChapter 1 Animals as a Nuisance; Chapter 2 Something that does no Damage; Chapter 3 Robbery in the Aquarium; Chapter 4 Poor Fish; Chapter 5 Laughing at Animals; Chapter 6 Pitying Animals; Chapter 7; Chapter 8 The Language of Animals; Chapter 9 The Taming of the Shrew; Chapter 10 The Covenant; Chapter 11 The Perennial Retainers; Chapter 12 Morals and Weapons;

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

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Book Synopsis* Provides a thorough understanding of how fish reproduce * Vital source of information for those studying wild fish populations and also in aquaculture systems where successful reproduction is a core element of commercial success in fish breeding .Trade Review“I was very impressed by this book, even if it does not delve deeply into the mathematics of evolutionary theory applied to the topics.” (Environ Biol Fish, 1 September 2015) Table of ContentsPreface xvii Acknowledgements xix Abbreviations and acronyms xxi 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 1 Reproductive modes of the teleosts 2 Gender systems of teleosts 2 Spawning dynamics 4 Modes of fertilisation 5 Mating systems 5 Secondary sexual characteristics 6 Parental care 6 Reproductive guilds 6 Reproductive diversity in teleosts: an explanatory framework 6 Phylogenetic relationships of the teleosts 8 Life-history theory 9 Aims of the volume 11 2 Sex determination 13 Introduction 13 Genotypic sex determination 14 Monofactorial genotypic sex determination 14 Multifactorial genotypic sex determination 20 Polyfactorial (polygenic) genotypic sex determination 20 Environmental sex determination 21 Evolution of sex-determining mechanisms 26 3 Sex differentiation 31 Introduction 31 Embryology of the gonads 32 Origin and migration of primordial germ cells 33 Sex differentiation in the gonadal anlagen 35 Initial differentiation of the gonads 36 Initial differentiation of ovaries 38 Initial differentiation of testes 38 Genetic control of early gonadal differentiation 40 Synthesis 42 4 Gametogenesis 45 Introduction 46 Structure of ovaries 48 Gross morphology of the ovaries 48 Development of female gonoducts 51 Oogenesis 52 Oogonial proliferation and oogonial nest formation 53 Chromatin nucleolus stage 53 Primary growth 54 Secondary growth – vitellogenesis 55 Vitellogenin and the zona pellucida proteins 56 Polarity of the oocyte 58 Oocyte maturation 58 Ovulation 60 Atresia 60 Fertilisation 62 Genetic control of oogenesis 64 Dynamics of oocyte development 65 Spawning dynamics and fecundity 66 Structure of the testes 66 Gross morphology of a testis 66 Development of male gonoducts 69 Accessory structures associated with the testes and gonoducts 70 Spermatogenesis 71 Spermatocysts 71 Sertoli cells 71 Stages of spermatogenesis within a spermatogenic spermatocyst 73 Differentiated spermatogonia 73 Primary spermatocysts 73 Secondary spermatocysts 73 Spermatids 74 Spermiation and capacitation 75 Types of spermatozoa 76 Structure and phylogenetic distribution 76 Spermatozoa viability 77 Genetic control of spermatogenesis 79 Dynamics of spermatogenesis 79 Quantitative analysis of sperm production 80 5 Endocrinology of reproduction 81 Introduction 82 Brain–pituitary–gonad reproductive axis in vertebrates 83 Levels of analysis 85 Gonadal steroids 86 Sex steroid synthesis 86 Sex steroid receptors 87 Endocrine control of oogenesis 88 Oogonial proliferation and primary growth 88 Secondary growth: vitellogenesis 89 Maturation and ovulation 90 Endocrine control of oogenesis in species with batch spawning 91 Endocrine control of spermatogenesis 93 Spermatogonial proliferation 95 Initiation of meiosis and formation of spermatocysts 95 Spermiation 96 Patterns of spawning in relation to spermatogenesis 96 The pituitary and the gonadotrophins 98 Brain–pituitary relationship 98 Gonadotrophs and gonadotrophins 99 Gonadotrophin receptors 100 Hypothalamic control of the pituitary 101 Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 101 Functions of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 102 Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptors 102 Distribution of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neurons in the brain 103 Role of dopamine as an inhibitor of reproduction 104 Role of other brain factors in the control of gonadotrophs 105 Feedback control in the brain–pituitary–gonad reproductive axis 106 A provisional model for the control of the developmental dynamics of ovaries and testes 109 Puberty in teleosts 109 Physiological control of puberty 110 Interactions between growth and reproductive axes 113 Endocrines, behaviour and secondary sexual characteristics 116 Four model species 117 Role of endocrines in regulation of reproductive behaviour 118 Sensory systems 118 Central integrative systems 118 Motor systems 120 Endocrines and secondary sex characteristics 120 Effect of social interactions on reproductive endocrines 121 Role of pheromones in reproductive interactions 122 Endocrine-disrupting chemicals 123 Conclusions 125 6 Environmental control of reproduction 127 Introduction 128 Seasonal patterns of reproduction 128 Global seasonal patterns 128 Ultimate factors 129 Proximate factors 130 Spawning seasonality in freshwater systems 130 Spawning seasonality in marine species 132 Lunar-related reproductive cycles 134 Intertidal spawners 135 Coral reef spawners 135 Freshwater spawners 136 Diel reproductive cycles 136 Multiple environmental cycles 136 Endogenous cycles and reproductive activity 137 Proximate factors 138 Photoperiod and temperature 139 Lunar-related and tidal cycles 143 Rainfall, flooding and other cues 143 Social factors as cues 144 Stress and reproduction 144 Neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating environmental effects 147 Food as a proximate factor 150 Feeding and capital breeders 151 Feeding and income breeders 154 Feeding and skipped spawnings 155 Physiological basis for the effect of feeding on reproduction 156 Conclusions 157 7 Migration, territoriality and spawning site selection 159 Introduction 160 Migration 160 Terms and definitions 161 Migratory patterns associated with reproduction 162 Adaptive significance of reproductive migrations 164 Energetic costs of migration 166 Survival costs of migration 167 Physiological adaptations associated with migration 167 Mechanisms of orientation and homing during spawning migrations 168 Control of timing of migration 171 Human impacts on migration 172 Territoriality 173 The concept of territoriality and definitions 174 Adaptive significance of territoriality 174 Cost–benefit analysis and evolutionary stable strategy 174 Aggression and territoriality 175 Patterns of occurrence of territoriality 176 Establishment and maintenance of territories 180 Physiological basis of territoriality 182 Energetic costs of territoriality 184 Genetic basis of territoriality 184 Territoriality and population dynamics 185 Spawning site selection 188 Sites for reproduction 188 Site selection without habitat modification 188 Site preparation 189 Site excavation 189 Site preparation and young brooded elsewhere 190 Site preparation and eggs buried 191 Excavation of shelters and tunnels 192 Nest construction 193 Terrestrial spawning sites 195 Cues used in spawning site selection 197 Spawning symbioses 197 Conclusions 200 8 Mating systems and sexual selection 201 Introduction 202 Classification of mating systems 203 Sexual selection and theories of mate choice 204 Direct intersexual selection 205 Indirect intersexual selection 206 Good genes 207 Compatible genes 207 Antagonistic genes 209 Arbitrary mate choice 210 Fisherian selection 210 Sensory bias 211 Male mate choice and female ornaments 212 Mutual mate choice and the ‘double process’ of sexual selection 214 Mate choice copying 216 Intrasexual selection 216 The interaction of intra- and intersexual selection 218 The strength of sexual selection and the operational sex ratio 218 Courtship 219 Functions of courtship 219 Mate identification and attraction 219 Mate stimulation, mating synchrony and appeasement 220 Maintenance of pair bonds 221 Ornaments and signals in courtship 221 Visual 222 Body size 222 Morphological trait size 223 Colour 224 UV reflectance 224 Display behaviour 225 Auditory 226 Olfaction and gustation 227 Tactile, electrical and other cues 228 Multiple cues 228 Sexual signals and reproductive isolation 229 Fertilisation 231 Sperm competition 231 Cost of sperm production 231 Risk and intensity of sperm competition 232 Sperm competition avoidance 234 Pre-oviposition ejaculation 234 Seminal fluid composition 235 Sperm capacitation and motility 235 Ejaculate size and ejaculation frequency 236 External fertilisation 237 Internal fertilisation 238 Quasi-internal fertilisation 239 Male mating polymorphisms 240 Causal factors 242 Floaters, sneakers, streakers, pirates, parasites, fighters and the bourgeoisie 243 Male mating polymorphism and sperm competition 244 Guarder male response to non-guarders 244 Female response to alternative male mating phenotypes 244 Female mating polymorphisms 245 Sexual conflict 246 Phylogenetic history and mating system evolution 249 9 Parental care 251 Introduction 252 Definition of care 252 Distribution of parental care 252 Modes of parental care 253 Protection from predators and disturbance 253 Protection from hypoxia and desiccation 253 Protection from pathogens 255 Nutrition 256 External bearing 257 Internal bearing 261 Costs of parental care 262 Cost to parental survival 262 Cost to number of offspring produced 264 Sex role reversal and parental care 265 Phenotypic plasticity in care 266 Number of offspring 266 Offspring age 267 Offspring quality 267 Food availability 268 Parental age 268 Availability of alternative mates 268 Helper care systems 269 Alloparental care 270 Sneaky mating and egg dumping 270 Egg stealing, kidnapping and nest takeovers 271 Brood parasitism 271 Cooperative care 273 Misdirected care 274 Filial cannibalism 274 Evolution of parental care 276 10 Unusual reproductive modes 281 Introduction 282 Viviparity in teleosts 282 Systematic distribution of viviparity in teleosts 283 Internal fertilisation 283 Lecithotrophy and matrotrophy 286 Ovarian modifications in viviparity 287 Testis modification in viviparity 289 Gestation 289 Timing of events 289 Embryonic nutrition 290 Superfetation 291 Endocrine control of viviparity 292 Evolution of viviparity and matrotrophy 292 Male viviparity in the Syngnathidae 295 Unisexual teleosts 298 Systematic distribution of unisexual biotypes in teleosts 299 Cyprinodontiformes 300 Poeciliid unisexuals 300 Poeciliid unisexuals: Poecilia formosa 300 Poeciliid unisexuals: Poeciliopsis 300 Atheriniformes 301 Cypriniformes 301 Phoxinus eos-neogaeus 302 Tropidophoxinellus alburnoides 302 Carassius gibelio 302 Cobitis 303 Problems posed by unisexual teleosts 303 Developmental 303 Evolutionary implications 304 Hermaphroditism in teleosts 305 Phylogenetic distribution of hermaphroditism in teleosts 306 Gonadal organisation in hermaphroditic fishes 308 Endocrinology of reproduction in hermaphroditic species 309 Simultaneous hermaphrodites 312 Self-fertilisation 312 Cross-fertilisation 313 Sequential hermaphrodites 313 Protogyny 314 Protandry 315 Serial change 315 Adaptive significance of hermaphroditism 316 Why are hermaphrodites found in teleosts? 319 Deep-sea anglerfish dwarf males: quasi-hermaphroditism 320 11 Reproduction and life-history evolution 323 Introduction 324 Life-history variables 324 Size and age at maturity 325 Fecundity and clutch size 325 Egg and offspring size 327 Incubation time 331 Reproductive lifespan 333 Parental care 333 Other life-history traits 333 Basic concepts in life-history theory 334 Trade-offs 334 Costs of reproduction 334 Measuring the costs of reproduction 335 Evidence of costs of reproduction 336 Reproductive effort 338 Demographic models of life-history evolution 339 Measures of fitness 340 Predictions of demographic models 341 Empirical studies of life-history evolution 342 Habitat invasion 344 Environmental gradients 346 Habitat templet model 347 Dimensionless variables and life-history invariants 350 Plasticity of life-history traits 351 Constraints on life-history evolution 353 Alternative life-history strategies 354 Conclusions 356 12 Reproduction, fisheries and aquaculture 357 Introduction 358 Reproduction and fisheries management 358 Stock–recruitment relationships and reproduction 358 Reproductive traits and population dynamics 362 Age at maturity 362 Fecundity 363 Mode of reproduction and susceptibility to overexploitation 364 The impact of fisheries on reproductive traits 365 Age and size structure 365 Population sex ratio 368 Population size and density 370 Fisheries-induced evolution 372 Control of reproduction in aquaculture 373 Facilitating reproduction 374 Environmental manipulation 374 Endocrine manipulation 375 Sexual dysfunction in cultivated fishes 376 Sexual dysfunction in females 376 Sexual dysfunction in males 378 Preservation of gametes 378 Suppressing reproduction 379 Monosex production 379 Endocrine manipulation 380 Production of female monosex lines 381 Production of male monosex lines 382 Gynogenesis 383 Androgenesis 385 Hybridisation 385 Sterilisation 386 Mechanical, immunological, chemical and irradiation techniques 386 Hybridisation 387 Polyploidy 387 13 Coda 389 References 391 Systematic index 451 Subject index 463

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Book SynopsisKaren Moriello's seminal book has been completely updated to create a true two-volume set highlighting fundamental and advanced concepts. This revised edition by Dr. Darren Berger, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Iowa State University, includes all new cases on the essential concepts of small animal dermatology, accompanied by nearly 300 new images. The guide uses a case-based format to deliver a general overview of dermatology of the dog and cat, providing a reference that mirrors the way veterinarians will encounter different scenarios at random in real-life practice. It uses self-assessment problems to review the most common skin diseases encountered every day, plus some more obscure diseases that a veterinarian will face. The cases vary in complexity, with coverage ranging from those confronted daily to the most difficult and serious cases. Answers fully explore the disease/disorder in question. The book will appeal to candidates preparing for examinations and to prTable of ContentsBroad classification of cases: Allergic cases. Alopecia. Autoimmune. Bacterial. Congenital and breed-related issues. Cytology. Diagnostic techniques. Endocrine. Fungal. Keratinization cases. Miscellaneous. Neoplasia. Nutrition cases. Otitis. Parasite cases. Pharmacology and therapeutics. Structure and function cases.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Human-Animal Interaction focuses on the human dimension of interacting with other animals. This book introduces recent developments, theories, and debates in the relatively new research area of Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) and focuses on the social and life sciences aspect of these interactions. Experts from different academic disciplines provide an overview for students and professionals interested in how humans and other animals interact, and what advantages and disadvantages emerge for both parties in this relationship.The book starts with the theories and mechanisms supporting our interactions with animals, such as human-animal communication, and it then covers the implications of HAI in terms of ethics and welfare. After discussing cultural differences and forensic aspects in human-animal interaction (e.g., wildlife crime and animal abuse), the book examines evidence in the area of animal-assisted intervention. The final chapters give an overviTrade Review"The book is a revelation: The authors have done an impressive job in bringing together all the main areas of actual contemporary human-animal interaction research."Prof. Robert Mitchell, Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, USA"Each chapter provides a really nice introductory text for key topics taught across a range of disciplines in HAI."Prof. Carri Westgarth, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UKTable of Contents1. An Introduction to Human–Animal Interaction, Book Content and Considerations 2. Theories in Human–Animal Interaction 3. Human–Animal Communication 4. Bioethics and Human–Animal Interaction 5. Human–Animal Welfare: The Interconnectedness of Human Well-Being and Animal Welfare 6. Cross-Cultural Variation in Human–Animal Interaction 7. Criminal Issues in Human–Animal Interaction 8. Animal-Assisted Intervention and Professional Practice 9. Human–Pet Interaction 10. Human–Livestock Interaction 11. Human–Wildlife Interaction Multiple Choice Questions: The Answers! Going the Extra Mile ...

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Book SynopsisInterest in the field of human-animal interactions is burgeoning, and researchers and educators are keen to understand the science undergirding research that helps us understand interactions between people and animals. Recently, exciting and innovative research is focusing on how peopleâs virtual interactions with animals can enhance their learning, social interactions, and well-being. This research aims to answer questions such as, What types of interactions do people have with animals in a virtual context? How do people access and experience their virtual interactions with animals? Do virtual interactions with animals hold potential to enhance peopleâs well-being and learning in the same way that in-person interactions with animals have been documented? What educational strategies could be employed to enhance peopleâs virtual interactions with animals? How can we respect animals as research participants within a virtual context? Drawing from seminal and cutting-edge research in thTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: From In-Person to Virtual Human-Animal Interactions: An Overview Chapter 3: Exploring Asynchronous and Synchronous Opportunities for Virtual Human-Animal Interactions Chapter 4: The Unique Role of Social Media in Fostering Informal Virtual Human-Animal Connections Chapter 5: Safeguarding Animal Welfare in a Virtual Context Chapter 6: Best Practices in Creating Virtual Human-Animal Connections Chapter 7: Conclusion and Future Directions

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Book SynopsisThere isnât one conversation about animal ethics. Instead, there are several important ones that are scattered across many disciplines.This volume both surveys the field of animal ethics and draws professional philosophers, graduate students, and undergraduates more deeply into the discussions that are happening outside of philosophy departments. To that end, the volume contains more nonphilosophers than philosophers, explicitly inviting scholars from other fieldsâsuch as animal science, ecology, economics, psychology, law, environmental science, and applied biology, among othersâto bring their own disciplinary resources to bear on matters that affect animals. The Routledge Handbook of Animal Ethics is composed of 44 chapters, all appearing in print here for the first time, and organized into the following six sections:I. Thinking About AnimalsII. Animal Agriculture and HuntingIII. Animal Research and Genetic EngineeringTrade Review"A wonderful collection of well-informed and diverse perspectives on some of the most interesting and important topics in contemporary animal ethics. Highly recommended."Ben Bramble, University of LiverpoolTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Psychological Mechanisms Involved in Human– Animal Interactions: How Do Humans Cognize About Animals 2. Understanding the Moral Implications of Morgan’s Canon 3. Animal Intelligence 4. The Emotional Lives of Animals 5. Animal Self-Awareness: Types, Distribution, and Ethical Significance 6. The Moral Animal 7. Quantifying Animal Well-Being and Overcoming the Challenge of Interspecies Comparisons 8. Cost-Effectiveness in Animal Health: An Ethical Analysis 9. The Origins of Factory Farming in the United States: An Overview 10. The Economics of Intensive Animal Agriculture 11. Animal Welfare—Is Intensification the Problem? 12. Intensive Animal Agriculture and the Environment 13. Intensive Animal Agriculture and Human Health 14. Seafood Ethics: Reconciling Human Well-being with Fish Welfare 15. Small-Scale Animal Agriculture 16. Subsistence Hunting 17. Institutionalized Ethical Assessments of Animal Experiments 18. Animal Models: Problems and Prospects 19. Applied Ethics in Animal Experimentation 20. Genetic Engineering of Nonhuman Animals 21. Building Ethical De-extinction Programs: Considerations of Animal Welfare in Genetic Rescue 22. Pets 23. The Ethics of Domestication 24. The Ethics of Keeping Pets 25. The Ethics of Companion Animal Euthanasia 26. Links Between Violence Against Humans and Nonhuman Animals: Examining the Role of Adverse Family Environments 27. Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Integrated Species Conservation 28. The Educational Value of Zoos: An Empirical Perspective 29. Moral Arguments Against Zoos 30. Defensible Zoos and Aquariums 31. Killing for Conservation: Ethical Considerations for Controlling Wild Animals 32. Ethical Dimensions of Invasive Animal Management 33. Property, Regulation, and Endangered Species Conservation 34. The Laissez-Faire View: Why We’re Not Normally Required to Assist Wild Animals 35. Welfare Biology 36. Wild Animals as Political Subjects 37. The History of Animal Activism: Intersectional Advocacy and the American Humane Movement 38. The Political and Cultural Sociology of Animal Advocacy 39. Beyond Compare: Intersectionality and Interspecieism for Co-liberation With Other Animals 40. Political Lobbying for Animals 41. Effective Animal Advocacy 42. Cultured Meat: A New Story for the Future of Food 43. Veganism, (Almost) Harm-Free Animal Flesh, and Nonmaleficence: Navigating Dietary Ethics in an Unjust World 44. Animal Sanctuaries

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Book SynopsisThis book presents an engaging and accessible examination of the role of systematic biology in species exploration and biodiversity conservation.Our planet and systematic biology are at a crossroads. Millions of species face an imminent threat of extinction, and, with knowledge of only a fraction of earth's species we are unprepared to respond. Species, Science and Society explains what is at stake if we continue to ignore the traditional mission of systematics. Rejecting claims that it is too late to document earth's species, that molecular evidence is sufficient and that comparative morphology and the grand traditions of systematics are outdated, this book makes a compelling argument for a taxonomic renaissance. The book challenges readers to rethink assumptions about systematics. Shattering myths and misconceptions and clarifying the role of systematics in confronting mass extinction, it hopes to inspire a new generation of systematists. Readers are giTrade Review"Wheeler’s compelling narrative reminds us of the unprecedented crisis facing biodiversity and forcefully argues that the way forward, for the sake of life on our planet and our humanity, must include and emphasize detailed morphological study of the species we name. This book is in part a provocative, fact-based opinion piece, a memoir of a lifelong passion for the wonders of the natural world, and a serious logical challenge to the hegemony of experimentalist and molecular genetics in biology. Wheeler’s take is more than just a screed on the current state of affairs, he lays out a vision of the solution. His solution requires a reconstituted science of taxonomy, a collaborative global workforce, and funds to make it happen."Kipling W. Will, University of California, Berkeley"The author has succeeded in writing a highly original book on species exploration: their discovery, explanation, and relationships, that is both rigorous and accessible to a wide audience. There is no book on the market that addresses the nature of the content of this book with the breadth, depth, and clarity that this book achieves."Antonio G. Valdecasas, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid"Usually thought of as the science dealing with describing and classifying all organisms, taxonomy is a rich and varied discipline. Quentin Wheeler’s book sets out to make a compelling case for taxonomy as a significant, fundamental, if under-appreciated, discipline. Rather than detail all the intricacies of its intellectual complexity, his book is a straightforward, no nonsense pragmatic account – one that should be, must be – read. But not just by life scientists and environmental policy makers, but by the general public as well – if for no other reason than to appreciate just how the interrelatedness of life on our earth is understood."David M. Williams, The Natural History Museum, London"Species, Science and Society is a constructive defense and promotion of Systematics in the 21st century... A timely book to remind us that good research in Systematics must integrate identification, description and classification in numerous and complementary comparative approaches... A clear statement that the results of Systematics are essential for a better understanding of Biodiversity, a fundamental societal challenge in facing global changes."Thierry Bourgoin, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris"This excellent book is lighting a path for those who wish to respond to the biodiversity crisis with expanded taxonomic knowledge rather than retracted expectations. It makes a persuasive argument for a mainly scientific solution to the biodiversity crisis based on the science of Systematics to replace the poverty of contemporary frameworks that treat the natural world as ecosystem services, natural capitol and nature-based solutions which, based on current data, have failed to halt or address the decline of biodiversity in any significant way. At its heart this book extols the idea that we need to live with, understand and document the natural world rather than solely viewing it as an object solely for exploitation."Robert Scotland, Oxford University"A plea for a renaissance of taxonomy in its full form by one of the greatest living advocates of the field. Wheeler speaks to the next generation of researchers in a personal and often humorous narrative, warning that the foundation of biodiversity studies is rapidly crumbling."Joseph V. McHugh, University of GeorgiaTable of ContentsPart I — Overview A Little about Molecules Scientific Malpractice The Science of Species The Art of Survival Cosmology of the Life Sciences Choices Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Taxonomy but Were Afraid to Ask A Science Misunderstood Greatly The Species-Scape The Illusion of Knowledge Morphology without Apology The Inventory Imperative Other than That, Mrs. Lincoln, How Was the Play? Part II — A Crisis of Crises Extinction Systematics under Siege The Nature Gap Options for a Sustainable Future Part III — Solutions Taxonomic Renaissance A Planetary-Scale Species Inventory Hall of the Holocene Shameless Self-Promotion The Evolution of Evolutionary Economics

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Book SynopsisThis book presents an engaging and accessible examination of the role of systematic biology in species exploration and biodiversity conservation.Our planet and systematic biology are at a crossroads. Millions of species face an imminent threat of extinction, and, with knowledge of only a fraction of earth's species we are unprepared to respond. Species, Science and Society explains what is at stake if we continue to ignore the traditional mission of systematics. Rejecting claims that it is too late to document earth's species, that molecular evidence is sufficient and that comparative morphology and the grand traditions of systematics are outdated, this book makes a compelling argument for a taxonomic renaissance. The book challenges readers to rethink assumptions about systematics. Shattering myths and misconceptions and clarifying the role of systematics in confronting mass extinction, it hopes to inspire a new generation of systematists. Readers are giTrade Review"Wheeler’s compelling narrative reminds us of the unprecedented crisis facing biodiversity and forcefully argues that the way forward, for the sake of life on our planet and our humanity, must include and emphasize detailed morphological study of the species we name. This book is in part a provocative, fact-based opinion piece, a memoir of a lifelong passion for the wonders of the natural world, and a serious logical challenge to the hegemony of experimentalist and molecular genetics in biology. Wheeler’s take is more than just a screed on the current state of affairs, he lays out a vision of the solution. His solution requires a reconstituted science of taxonomy, a collaborative global workforce, and funds to make it happen."Kipling W. Will, University of California, Berkeley"The author has succeeded in writing a highly original book on species exploration: their discovery, explanation, and relationships, that is both rigorous and accessible to a wide audience. There is no book on the market that addresses the nature of the content of this book with the breadth, depth, and clarity that this book achieves."Antonio G. Valdecasas, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid"Usually thought of as the science dealing with describing and classifying all organisms, taxonomy is a rich and varied discipline. Quentin Wheeler’s book sets out to make a compelling case for taxonomy as a significant, fundamental, if under-appreciated, discipline. Rather than detail all the intricacies of its intellectual complexity, his book is a straightforward, no nonsense pragmatic account – one that should be, must be – read. But not just by life scientists and environmental policy makers, but by the general public as well – if for no other reason than to appreciate just how the interrelatedness of life on our earth is understood."David M. Williams, The Natural History Museum, London"Species, Science and Society is a constructive defense and promotion of Systematics in the 21st century... A timely book to remind us that good research in Systematics must integrate identification, description and classification in numerous and complementary comparative approaches... A clear statement that the results of Systematics are essential for a better understanding of Biodiversity, a fundamental societal challenge in facing global changes."Thierry Bourgoin, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris"This excellent book is lighting a path for those who wish to respond to the biodiversity crisis with expanded taxonomic knowledge rather than retracted expectations. It makes a persuasive argument for a mainly scientific solution to the biodiversity crisis based on the science of Systematics to replace the poverty of contemporary frameworks that treat the natural world as ecosystem services, natural capitol and nature-based solutions which, based on current data, have failed to halt or address the decline of biodiversity in any significant way. At its heart this book extols the idea that we need to live with, understand and document the natural world rather than solely viewing it as an object solely for exploitation."Robert Scotland, Oxford University"A plea for a renaissance of taxonomy in its full form by one of the greatest living advocates of the field. Wheeler speaks to the next generation of researchers in a personal and often humorous narrative, warning that the foundation of biodiversity studies is rapidly crumbling."Joseph V. McHugh, University of GeorgiaTable of ContentsPart I — Overview A Little about Molecules Scientific Malpractice The Science of Species The Art of Survival Cosmology of the Life Sciences Choices Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Taxonomy but Were Afraid to Ask A Science Misunderstood Greatly The Species-Scape The Illusion of Knowledge Morphology without Apology The Inventory Imperative Other than That, Mrs. Lincoln, How Was the Play? Part II — A Crisis of Crises Extinction Systematics under Siege The Nature Gap Options for a Sustainable Future Part III — Solutions Taxonomic Renaissance A Planetary-Scale Species Inventory Hall of the Holocene Shameless Self-Promotion The Evolution of Evolutionary Economics

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Book SynopsisThis book strongly challenges the Western philosophical tradition's assertion that humans are superior to nonhuman animals. It makes a case for the full and direct moral status of nonhuman animals. The book provides the basis for a radical critique of the entire trajectory of animal studies over the past fifteen years. The key idea explored is that of felt kinship'a sense of shared fate with and obligations to all sentient life. It will help to inspire some deep rethinking on the part of leading exponents of animal studies. The book's strong outlook is expressed through an appeal for radical humility on the side of humans rather than a constant reference to the human-animal divide'. Historical figures examined in depth include Aristotle, Seneca, and Kant; contemporary figures examined include Christine Korsgaard and Martha Nussbaum. This book presents an account according to which the tradition has not proceeded on the basis of impartial motivations at all, but instead has maTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter One: Background Ideals of Living1. A Counterintuitive Idea2. Background Ideals of Living in the Philosophical Tradition3. Anthropocentric Implications of Some Contemporary Approaches 4. Anthropocentric and Non-Anthropocentric Background Ideals of LivingChapter Two: The Essential Role and Pitfalls of Reason in Moral Judgment1. Background Ideals of Living and Our Basic Understanding of Reason2. Two Early Exponents of Anthropocentric Rationality: Aristotle and Seneca 3. The Enlightenment's Chief Exponent of Anthropocentric Rationality: Kant 4. Questioning the Traditional Commitment to the Primacy of ReasonChapter Three: Historical Idealism and the Process of Critical Reflection1. Rationality: Rethink or Reject? 2. Rorty's Challenge to Reason and Criteria 3. The Ideal of Critical Detachment Revisited 4. Ortega's Turn to Historical Reason 5. Miller's Actualism and the Problem of Universals 6. A Concluding ThoughtChapter Four: The Affective Dimension of Moral Commitment1. Background Ideals of Living and the Putative Autonomy of Reason2. A Positive Path Beyond the Limits of Reason?3. Reclaiming a Guiding Place for the Emotions 4. Pre-Predicative Meaning and Affective Engagement 5. The Moral Community is Neither Exclusively Nor Primarily Human Chapter Five: Felt Kinship: The Essential Tension Between Local and Global Commitments1. The Power and Essential Limits of Reason 2. The Power and Essential Limits of Feeling or Emotion 3. Toward a Dialectical Conception of the Reason-Emotion Dichotomy 4. Toward a Well-Tempered HumanismBibliography

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Book SynopsisWith heart-shaped face, buff back and wings, and pure white underparts, the barn owl is a distinctive and much-loved bird which has fascinated people from many cultures throughout history. How did the barn owl colonise the world? What adaptations have made this bird so successful? How is the increasing impact of human disturbance affecting these animals? Answering these questions and more, Roulin brings together the main global perspectives on the evolution, ecology and behaviour of the barn owl and its relatives, discussing topics such as the high reproductive potential, physiology, social and family interaction, pronounced colour variation and global distribution. Accessible and beautifully illustrated, this definitive volume on the barn owl is for researchers, professionals and graduate students in ornithology, animal behaviour, ecology, conservation biology and evolutionary biology, and will also appeal to amateur ornithologists and nature lovers.Trade Review'The ultimate compendium of all things about barn owls. This beautifully illustrated book will appeal to researchers, students and amateurs alike by providing a comprehensive account of the behavior and life history traits of this much beloved animal.' Jan-Åke Nilsson, Lunds universitet, Sweden'[This book] refreshingly presents the biology of the barn owl and its relatives within the framework and context of today's world, and not simply within the original natural environment that is currently vanishing or, more commonly, already lost. Roulin forthrightly describes the challenges that barn owls meet, points out conservation measures to ensure their existence, and explores the potential value of barn owls in biological pest control and peace among warring countries. Ethical dilemmas and responsibilities of doing ecological research on wild animals are also skilfully and seamlessly integrated into this insightful and thought-provoking book.' Dominique G. Homberger, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge'Barn owls are everywhere, a ubiquity that might lead people to take them for granted. That would be a mistake. In this beautifully illustrated and wide-ranging book, Alexandre Roulin uncovers the extraordinary abilities of this cosmopolitan bird. Meticulously researched, this book is filled with information from the latest studies on every aspect of barn owl biology, tied together with entertaining prose that underscores both how much and how little we understand about the owls that are all around us.' Marlène Zuk, University of Minnesota'… this is a thoroughly enjoyable and comprehensive introduction to the Barn Owl. It is one of a number of books on the Barn Owl but it will be the first one I turn to in future when seeking information about this bird's lifestyle and ecology.' Ian Carter, British Birds'Written from his own research work and 3,600 papers on barn owls and their close relatives, there are many new facts here for you to absorb. An easy layout allows you to find the facts on a bird that is never out of danger due to the sheer amount of poison used in this country and around the world to remove rodents from our domestic and industrial world. But this is also a bird that has brought some form of peace and understanding in the Middle East, and shown us the way forward as to how to rid the poison from our lives! The book is full of excellent photos and artwork and needs a place on your bookshelf.' John Miles, Bird Watching'… [Alexandre Roulin] examines what has made these owls so successful and discusses aspects of their biology, including morphology and physiology, natural history, behavior, conservation, and evolution of their plumage patterns. Barn owls have some unusual characteristics that make them attractive model organisms for research: acute hearing, ability to fly almost silently, high reproductive potential, asynchronous hatching of chicks coupled with peaceful sibling interactions, plumage variability, and high population fluctuations. This volume is profusely illustrated and includes reproductions of paintings and drawings, photographic images, and charts. A 'Further Reading' section at the end of each division includes references to scholarly literature. Written in a less formal style than is typical of academic works without sacrificing the scholarly focus, this book will appeal to all readers and is essential for academic libraries supporting biology programs.' C. E. Buckley, Choice'This new book about [Barn Owls] and their relatives (Grass, Masked and Sooty Owls) brings together information from thousands of research papers … it is not a heavy textbook but reads like a novel. The text is interspersed with beautiful drawings, paintings and photographs. The author … has published over 240 research papers, the majority on Barn Owls. In this book, he covers all aspects of their biology and ecology, with substantial references for further reading and gives suggestions for future research at the end of each chapter … It is also particularly interesting that the book doesn't just have a small focus on Barn Owls in one country but covers the species' entire, extensive range due mainly to the author's passion and experiences. This beautifully presented book is for anyone with an interest in Barn Owls, not just for those involved in research. It is a worthy addition to the bookcase.' Hayley Anne Douglas, Scottish Birds'This monograph is very current and in my opinion the best of the many … works so far on the barn owl.' translated from Der Falke'… presents a beautifully designed, fascinating book about the world of barn owls … I can recommend this book to scientists as well as hobby ornithologists and people interested in nature. There is sure to be something exciting, new or amazing for everyone to discover.' Bettina Almasi, Ornithological ObserverTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Conservation; 3. Parasites and predators; 4. Physiology in an ecological context; 5. Morphology in an ecological context; 6. Foraging; 7. Sexual behaviour; 8. Reproduction; 9. Parental care; 10. Sibling interactions; 11. Demography; 12. Plumage coloration.

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Book SynopsisThis interdisciplinary work will appeal to reproductive biologists, behavioural ecologists and mammalogists with special interests in evolutionary biology and sexual selection. It provides a valuable resource for graduate students and for lecturers who design university courses, as well as established researchers.Trade Review'Rarely have I seen a book by a single author that is as comprehensive as this one on mammalian sexuality. One unusual aspect of the text is that the author discusses, clearly and with apparent ease, everything from how aspects of anatomy have developed in tandem with mating behaviour, to detailed discussions of the latest research on sperm transport and its genomic responses within the female reproductive tract. The author provides very clear explanations of important mechanisms such as sperm competition and cryptic female choice, referring to multiple species, many of which will be unfamiliar even to experienced readers. In this sense, the book presents a treasure trove of examples against which to understand comparative reproductive biology. As an impressive bonus the book also contains many of the author's own original drawings of animals and specific anatomical details, which he used to illustrate his points very skilfully.' William V. Holt, University of Sheffield, UK'This excellent, beautifully illustrated book - a magnum opus - is the definitive work on the comparative zoology of mating and reproductive strategies in mammals. Essentially an evolutionary perspective, it is an invaluable and absorbingly readable monograph for evolutionary biologists, zoologists, mammalogists, and reproductive biologists, particularly those interested in post-copulatory sexual selection. It gathers together vast amounts of information, formerly widely-dispersed throughout the literature, into a coherent and fascinating whole, outlining how selection has shaped mammalian mating patterns, genitalia, accessory glands, testes, sperm cells, and reproductive tracts, including the complex coevolution of male and female behaviour and anatomy.' Geoff A. Parker, Emeritus Professor of Zoology, University of Liverpool, UK'Mammalian Sexuality fills an important niche and is unlike other works in its sheer scope - it covers an impressively broad swath of mammalian species. Alan Dixson's decades of research and scholarship on this topic have enabled him to amass a wealth of information in this new text, which includes classic studies and newer research on mammalian sexual behavior, reproductive anatomy and physiology. This book will serve as an essential reference to researchers of mammalian reproduction. I recommend it to anyone interested in animal reproduction, especially those interested in how sexual selection has shaped copulatory behavior and reproductive anatomy, and to all who endeavor to answer the fascinating questions about mammalian reproduction that still remain.' Joyce A. Parga, California State University, Los Angeles, USA'A comprehensive comparative study of the diversity of mammalian reproductive traits. Yet this book goes beyond just facts, but also addresses major proximate and ultimate questions in the evolution of the morphology, physiology, and behavioural adaptations of mammals. An amazing resource for anyone studying sexual selection and reproductive biology.' Jane Waterman, University of Manitoba, Canada'Highly recommended.' J.-B. Leca, Choice Magazine'… Mammalian Sexuality was a pleasure to read, filled with novel insights, as well as dramatic, carefully described details of mammalian mating. I expect that although there is more yet to learn about mammalian sexuality, this volume is bound to be one of those books that never gathers dust on the shelf.' Patricia Adair Gowaty, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Carnival of the Animals: 1. Quo Vadis?; 2. Mammalian classification and evolution; Part II. The Act of Mating: 3. Copulatory patterns: phylogeny and modes of life; 4. Copulatory interactions and sexual selection; Part III. The Evolution of Reproduction: 5. Phallic structure and function; 6. The testes and spermatozoa; 7. The accessory reproductive glands and ducts; 8. Cooperation, conflict, and cryptic female choice; 9. The evolution of mating-induced and spontaneous ovulation; Part IV. Epilogue: 10. An end of day glass.

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Book SynopsisOur highly seasonal world restricts insect activity to brief portions of the year. This feature necessitates a sophisticated interpretation of seasonal changes and enactment of mechanisms for bringing development to a halt and then reinitiating it when the inimical season is past. The dormant state of diapause serves to bridge the unfavourable seasons, and its timing provides a powerful mechanism for synchronizing insect development. This book explores how seasonal signals are monitored and used by insects to enact specific molecular pathways that generate the diapause phenotype. The broad perspective offered here scales from the ecological to the molecular and thus provides a comprehensive view of this exciting and vibrant research field, offering insights on topics ranging from pest management, evolution, speciation, climate change and disease transmission, to human health, as well as analogies with other forms of invertebrate dormancy and mammalian hibernation.Trade Review'Insect Diapause guides the reader through an expansive library of historic and recent discoveries towards a synthesis of how diapause works, how it evolves, and how it might be the key to insect resilience or decline … Denlinger makes it relatively easy to navigate a complex series of experiments … [and] is adept at tracing the common thread without obscuring the variability and uncertainty of the results … Insect Diapause provides a much-needed synthesis of modern diapause research and should find a home on the shelves of many entomologists. It covers a lot of territory yet throughout it reveals fertile ground for a new generation of breakthroughs in diapause biology.' Greg Ragland, American Entomologist'Denlinger is a world leader in the study of insect diapause. The volume is heavily referenced and up to date. The book is appropriate for both experienced researchers and graduate students.' Goggy Davidowitz, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of Contents1. Confronting the challenges of a seasonal environment; 2. What seasons are being avoided?; 3. Variation in the diapause response; 4. The cost of diapause and some diapause alternatives; 5. Interpreting seasonal cues to program diapause entry; 6. Preparing for diapause; 7. The diapause state; 8. Ending diapause and reinitiating development; 9. Molecular signaling pathways that regulate diapause; 10. Genetic control of diapause; 11. Evolution of diapause; 12. Wider implications; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe illegal trade in live apes, ape meat and body parts occurs across all ape range states and poses a significant and growing threat to the long-term survival of wild ape populations worldwide. What was once a purely subsistence and cultural activity, now encompasses a global multi-million-dollar trade run by sophisticated trans-boundary criminal networks. The challenge lies in teasing apart the complex and interrelated factors that drive the ape trade, while implementing strategies that do not exacerbate inequality. This volume of State of the Apes brings together original research and analysis with topical case studies and emerging best practices, to further the ape conservation agenda around killing, capture and trade. This title is also available as Open Access via Cambridge Core.Trade Review'This fourth volume in the publisher's State of the Apes series provides multisourced information synthesized and clearly explained, and colorful, easily understood tables and figures … Highly recommended.' L. K. Sheeran, Choice Magazine'This is a very impressive treatise. It contains tables and maps documenting available data on numerous populations of extant apes and the major threats to their existence. The discussions of problems facing ape populations today are extensive and thoughtful, addressing the many different perspectives from local populations to large international organizations. This is supplemented by a glossary of the important factors that are discussed.' John Fleagle, Quarterly Review of Biology'a very impressive treatise' John Fleagle, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsThe arcus foundation; Notes to readers; Acknowledgments; Apes overview; Part I. Infrastructure Development and Ape Conservation: 1. The impact of killing, capture and trade on apes and their habitat; 2. Understanding and responding to cultural drivers of the ape trade; 3. Socioeconomics and the trade in ape meat and parts; 4. Drivers of the illegal trade in live apes; 5. Curbing the illegal killing, capture and trade in apes: responses at source; 6. Protecting apes: the legal and regulatory environment; Part II. The Status and Welfare of Great Apes and Gibbons: 7. The status of apes: a foundation for systematic, evidence-based conservation; 8. The campaign for nonhuman rights and the status of captive apes; Annexes; Acronyms and abbreviations; Glossary; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisQuaggas were beautiful pony-sized zebras in southern Africa that had fewer stripes on their bodies and legs, and a browner body coloration than other zebras. Indigenous people hunted quaggas, portrayed them in rock art, and told stories about them. Settlers used quaggas to pull wagons and to protect livestock against predators. Taken to Europe, they were admired, exhibited, harnessed to carriages, illustrated by famous artists and written about by scientists. Excessive hunting led to quaggas'' extinction in the 1880s but DNA from museum specimens showed rebreeding was feasible and now zebras resembling quaggas live in their former habitats. This rebreeding is compared with other de-extinction and rewilding ventures and its appropriateness discussed against the backdrop of conservation challengesincluding those facing other zebras. In an Anthropocene of species extinction, climate change and habitat loss which organisms and habitats should be saved, and should attempts be made to restorTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Zebras; 2. Quaggas; 3. Coat coloration; 4. Quaggas, zebras, and humans in Southern Africa; 5. Quaggas abroad; 6. Extinction; 7. Afterlife; 8. Rebreeding; 9. Identity and conservation; Appendix 1. Early illustrations of quaggas; Appendix 2. Records of quaggas kept in Europe; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Population Ecology,2nd Editionis a comprehensive textbook covering all aspects of population ecology. It uses a wide variety of field and laboratory examples, botanical to zoological, from the tropics to the tundra, to illustrate the fundamental laws of population ecology. Controversies in population ecology are brought fully up to date in this edition, with many brand new and revised examples and data. Each chapter provides an overview of how population theory has developed, followed by descriptions of laboratory and field studies that have been inspired by the theory.Topics explored include single-species population growth and self-limitation, life histories, metapopulations and a wide range of interspecific interactions including competition, mutualism, parasite-host, predator-prey and plant-herbivore. An additional final chapter, new for the second edition, considers multi-trophic and other complex interactions among species. ThroTable of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xi About the companion website xiii Part 1 Single species populations 1 1 Density independent growth 5 1.1 Introduction 5 1.2 Fundamentals of population growth 8 1.3 Types of models 10 1.4 Density independent versus density dependent growth 12 1.5 Discrete or "geometric" growth in populations with non-overlapping generations 12 1.6 Exponential growth in populations with overlapping generations 16 1.7 Examples of exponential growth 18 1.8 Applications to human populations 19 1.9 The finite rate of increase (λ) and the intrinsic rate of increase (τ) 23 1.10 Stochastic models of population growth and population viability analysis 25 1.11 Conclusions 30 References 30 2 Density dependent growth and intraspecific competition 33 2.1 Introduction 33 2.2 Density dependence in populations with discrete generations 37 2.3 Density dependence in populations with overlapping generations 42 2.4 Nonlinear density dependence of birth and death rates and the Allee effect 46 2.5 Time lags and limit cycles 51 2.6 Chaos and behavior of the discrete logistic model 53 2.7 Adding stochasticity to density dependent models 54 2.8 Laboratory and field data 55 2.9 Behavioral aspects of intraspecific competition 60 2.10 Summary 64 References 64 3 Population regulation 69 3.1 Introduction 69 3.2 What is population regulation? 70 3.3 Combining density-dependent and density-independent factors 71 3.4 Tests of density dependence 73 3.5 Summary 77 References 78 4 Populations with age structures 81 4.1 Introduction 81 4.2 Survivorship 83 4.3 Fertility 90 4.4 Mortality curves 94 4.5 Expectation of life 96 4.6 Net reproductive rate, generation time, and the intrinsic rate of increase 97 4.7 Age structure and the stable age distribution 99 4.8 Projecting population growth in age-structured populations 99 4.9 The Leslie or population projection matrix 102 4.10 A second version of the Leslie matrix 103 4.11 The Lefkovitch modification of the Leslie matrix 104 4.12 Dominant latent roots and the characteristic equation 105 4.13 Reproductive value 107 4.14 Conclusions: sensitivity analysis 109 References 112 5 Metapopulation ecology 115 5.1 Introduction 115 5.2 Metapopulations and spatial ecology 116 5.3 MacArthur and Wilson and the equilibrium theory 120 5.4 The Levins or classical metapopulation 124 5.5 Lande's extension of the Levins model 125 5.6 Extinction in metapopulations 127 5.7 Metapopulation dynamics of two local populations 127 5.8 Source-sink metapopulations and the rescue effect 129 5.9 Nonequilibrium and patchy metapopulations 130 5.10 Spatially realistic models 130 5.11 Assumptions and evidence for the existence of metapopulations in nature 135 5.12 Summary 138 References 139 6 Life history strategies 145 6.1 Introduction 145 6.2 Power laws 149 6.3 The metabolic theory of ecology 152 6.4 Cole and Lewontin 154 6.5 The theory of τ- and κ-selection versus fast and slow life histories 159 6.6 Cost of reproduction and allocation of energy 162 6.7 Clutch size 163 6.8 Latitudinal gradients in clutch size 164 6.9 The effects of predation and disease on life history characteristics 165 6.10 Bet-hedging 166 6.11 The Grime general model for three evolutionary strategies in plants 166 6.12 Summary 168 References 168 Part 2 Interspecific interactions among populations 173 7 Interspecific competition 177 7.1 Introduction 177 7.2 Interspecific competition: early experiments and the competitive exclusion principle 178 7.3 The Lotka–Volterra competition equations 180 7.4 Laboratory experiments and competition 186 7.5 Resource-based competition theory 187 7.6 Spatial competition and the competition-colonization trade-off 194 7.7 Evidence for competition from nature 196 7.8 Indirect evidence for competition and "natural experiments" 198 7.9 Summary 205 References 205 8 Mutualism 209 8.1 Introduction 209 8.2 Ant–plant mutualisms 210 8.3 Modeling mutualism 215 8.4 Summary: the costs of mutualism 217 References 217 9 Host–parasite interactions 221 9.1 Introduction 221 9.2 Factors affecting microparasite population biology 223 9.3 Modeling host–microparasite interactions 224 9.4 Dynamics of the disease 226 9.5 Immunization 229 9.6 Endangered metapopulations and disease 230 9.7 Social parasites 232 9.8 Summary 235 References 235 10 Predator/prey interactions 239 10.1 Introduction 239 10.2 The Lotka-Volterra equations 248 10.3 Early tests of the Lotka–Volterra models 250 10.4 Functional responses 252 10.5 Adding prey density dependence and the type II and III functional responses to the Lotka-Volterra equations 256 10.6 The graphical analyses of Rosenzweig and MacArthur 258 10.7 Use of a half saturation constant in predator/prey interactions 262 10.8 Parasitoid/host interactions and the Nicholson–Bailey models 264 10.9 Section summary 267 10.10 Field studies 268 10.11 The dangers of a predatory lifestyle 277 10.12 Escape from predation 277 10.13 Summary 281 References 282 11 Plant–herbivore interactions 287 11.1 Introduction 287 11.2 Classes of chemical defenses 289 11.3 Constitutive versus Induced Defense 294 11.4 Plant communication 296 11.5 Novel defenses/herbivore responses 296 11.6 Detoxification of plant compounds by herbivores 297 11.7 Plant apparency and chemical defense 298 11.8 Soil fertility and chemical defense 299 11.9 Modeling plant–herbivore population dynamics 299 11.10 Summary: the complexities of herbivore–plant interactions 303 References 306 12 Multi-trophic interactions 311Jonathan Witt 12.1 Introduction 311 12.2 Trophic cascades 312 12.3 Trophic cascades and antropogenic change 317 12.4 Intraguild predation 319 12.5 Intraguild predation and prey suppression 321 12.6 Intraguild predation and mesopredator release 322 12.7 Cannibalism 323 References 326 Appendix 1: Problem sets 333 Appendix 2: Matrix algebra: the basics 337 Appendix 3: List of mathematical symbols used in this book 343 Index 351

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Book SynopsisNearly 20 years after Bryn Tennant's first edition, this new update covers all aspects of diseases and disorders and affecting organs of the abdominal cavity and the endocrine/metabolic system in a case-based format. Responding to advances in imaging technology, digital radiography and high-resolution ultrasonography as well as the growth in specialised diagnostic tests for many diseases, new editor Craig Ruaux brings together a wide variety of new cases.These cases cover a wide spectrum of metabolic, endocrine, immune-mediated, inflammatory and infectious diseases and range in difficulty from simple bacterial infections to complex, multisystem disorders that would challenge most practitioners. They are presented in random order, as they would appear in everyday practice, and each author brings their own specialist expertise and experience to problem identification and management. Includes over 150 new, color illustrated casesCovers all aspects of diseases and Trade Review"This is an excellent resource, skillfully designed as a workbook of small animal medicine case management. The second edition has incorporated new imaging modalities and other medical advances to reflect cutting-edge care forveterinary patients. This book should be considered a must for every veterinary student intent on a career in small animal medicine." Marcella Ridgway, VMD, MS, DACVIM (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine) Table of ContentsCardiology. Diagnostic Testing. Effusions. Electrolytes and Acid/Base. Endocrine. Esophageal. Gastric Diseases. Hematology. Hepatobiliary. Immune Mediated. Infectious Diseases. Intestinal/Abdominal Emergencies. Large Intestine. Lower Urinary Tract. Miscellaneous Metabolic Disorders. Neurology. Oncology. Oral Cavity. Pancreas. Rectoanal. Renal Diseases. Reproductive. Respiratory. Small Instestinal.

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Book SynopsisIn 1908, near Folsom, New Mexico, a cowboy discovered the remains of a herd of extinct giant bison. By examining flint points embedded in the bones, archeologists later determined that a band of humans had killed and butchered the animals 12,450 years ago. This discovery vastly expanded America's known human history but also revealed the long-standing danger Homo sapiens presented to the continent's evolutionary richness. Distinguished author Dan Flores's ambitious history chronicles the epoch in which humans and animals have coexisted in the wild new world of North Americaa place shaped both by its own grand evolutionary forces and by momentous arrivals from Asia, Africa, and Europe. With portraits of iconic creatures such as mammoths, horses, wolves, and bison, Flores describes the evolution and historical ecology of North America like never before. The arrival of humans precipitated an extraordinary disruption of this teeming environment. Flores treats humans not as a species Trade Review"This is a magnificent achievement—a sweeping saga stretching across thousands of years. With his sharp eye for compelling anecdotes, Dan Flores weaves an unfolding story that keeps you turning the pages." -- Dayton Duncan, author of The National Parks: America's Best Idea"Dan Flores has given us a searing and devastating accounting of what has been lost since humans first set foot in North America. This is environmental history at its best: gracefully written, filled with marvelous new details, and infused with a quiet fury that comes across as well-earned and long overdue. It belongs on the same shelf as Barry Lopez’s Of Wolves and Men." -- Nate Blakeslee, author of American Wolf"Flores is a judicious and even-handed writer, and Wild New World provides readers with a sweeping and nuanced look from…a wise writer, disarmingly keen-eyed. Wild New World is full of wonders…Flores does a consistently marvelous job." -- Open Letters Review"An amazing history…Flores at his best." -- Birdfreak"This is the best book I have read on Americans and the amazing wildlife of this amazing continent. Dan Flores is sweeping, bold, and eloquent, weaving together modern genetic science and traditional literature, people and nature, the history of biology and of laws and politics. He informs us about the world that was, the world we have destroyed, while immersing us in his own personal search for the world that is. An inspiring work." -- Donald Worster, author of A Passion for Nature"Wild New World surveys America’s bestiary, teeming and rambunctious. Roaming its pages is like having an all-access pass to the backstory of a continent. Dan Flores is an erudite and indefatigable guide on this multidimensional journey through space, time, natural and human history, overflowing with arcane knowledge and surprising insight that is bolstered by the latest science, and, above all, an abiding love for this land and its creatures, past and present." -- John Vaillant, author of The Jaguar’s Children and The Tiger"I’ve never encountered a work like Wild New World—nothing even close in the scope, depth, and analysis." -- John Miles - National Parks Traveler"Never has there been so complete, so fascinating, and so accessible a telling of the long history of people with American wildlife." -- Obi Kaufmann, author of The California Lands trilogy"[Dan] Flores relates this huge body of information about the birth of America with both style and clarity…It enlightens readers about where we came from and where we might be headed in the future." -- Leslie Doran - Durango Herald"The future of conservation, and our own survival, depends on busting some of the most stubborn myths that have embedded themselves in Western belief systems—ideologies that have, for centuries, steered us down a course of overexploitation of our planet’s resources…In Flores’ deft hands the facts, fortified by the latest findings in ecology, genetics, and archaeology, fly off the pages in vivid and fascinating detail." -- Isabella Tree - Bookpost"To see this book nominated for the National Book Award or nominated for a Pulitzer would not surprise me." -- Steven Rinella, author of American Buffalo"A passionate history of North American animal life and people.... Outstanding." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"[Wild New World is] a tale of wonder at what was and the pathos of extinction, both ancient and current. Flores writes beautifully of how geography shaped the landscape, of the impact of the spread of humans across the land during the Ice Age…. This is an outstanding and invaluable work of popular science." -- Booklist (starred review)"Flores is a skilled raconteur ….Wild New World succeeds in establishing a powerful, and credible, narrative of life and death in North America." -- Michelle Nijhuis - New York Review of Books

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Book SynopsisDom Joly sets off round the world, but this time he''s not looking to holiday in a danger zone - he''s monster hunting. Ever since he was given a copy of Arthur C. Clarke''s Mysterious World for his ninth birthday Dom has been obsessed with the world of cryptozoology - monster hunting - and in Scary Monsters and Super Creeps he heads to six completely different destinations to investigate local monster sightings. He explores the Redwood Curtain in northern California in search of Sasquatch; in Canada he visits Lake Okanagan hoping to catch a glimpse of a thirty-foot snake-like creature called Ogopogo; and near Lake Tele in Congo he risks his life tracking the vegetarian sauropod Mokele-mbembe. Naturally he heads to Loch Ness - but for this hunt he has his family in tow; he treks across the Khumbu Valley in Nepal looking for Yeti; and in the hills above Hiroshima in Japan he enlists the help of a local man to find the Hibagon, a terribly smelly ''Trade ReviewEngaging and entertaining, the sort of book that makes you want to one day share a long-haul flight with Dom, if only to joust elbows with him -- Tim Butcher, bestselling author

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