Zoology and animal sciences Books

Book SynopsisGlobally, the way the animal production industry copes with infectious diseases is changing. The (excessive) use of antimicrobials is under debate and it is becoming standard practice to implement thorough biosecurity plans on farms to prevent the entry and spread of pathogenic micro-organisms. Not only in farm animal production, but also in facilities where companion animals are kept, including in veterinary practices and clinics, awareness of the beneficial implications of a good biosecurity plan has raised. The book Biosecurity in Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine is the first compilation of both fundamental aspects of biosecurity practices, and specific and practical information on the application of the biosecurity measures in different animal production and animal housing settings. The book starts with a general introductory chapter on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, followed by a chapter explaining the general principles of biosecurity. Specific topics of biosecurity, including rodent and insect control, cleaning and disinfection, hygiene and decontamination of feed, drinking water and air, and measuring the biosecurity status of farms, are detailed in dedicated chapters. Explanations on the relevance of the implementation of biosecurity plans in order to improve animal health and performance and reduce antimicrobial usage are described, and a chapter on ways to motivate farmers to implement a biosecurity plan has been included. Practical chapters deal with biosecurity in the poultry, pig and cattle industry, horse facilities, dog kennels, veterinary practices and clinics and laboratory animal facilities. The book is a practical guide that can be used by farm and animal facility managers, consultants, veterinarians, animal caretakers, and people with an interest in prevention of diseases in animals. Academics and students will benefit from the book because it contains all relevant information on animal biosecurity.Table of Contents1: Circles of Disease Transmission 2: General Principles of Biosecurity in Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine 3: Biosecurity and its Relationship with Health, Production and Antimicrobial Use 4: How to Motivate Farmers to Implement Biosecurity Measures 5: How to measure Biosecurity and the Hygiene Status of Farms 6: Cleaning and Disinfection 7: Hygienic Aspects of Air and Decontamination of Air 8: Feed Hygiene 9: Drinking Water Hygiene and Biosecurity 10: Promoting Biosecurity through Insect Management at Animal Facilities 11: Rodent Control in Animal Production 12: Transmission of Pig Diseases and Biosecurity in Pig Production 13: Transmission of Poultry Diseases and Biosecurity in Poultry Production 14: Transmission of Cattle Diseases and Biosecurity in Cattle Farms 15: Biosecurity for Horse Facilities 16: Biosecurity Measures for Dog Merchants and Canine Breeding Kennels 17: Biosecurity in Veterinary Practices and Clinics 18: Biosecurity in Laboratory Animal Research Facilities 19: Biosecurity in Aquaculture: Practical Veterinary Approaches for Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention, Control, and Potential Eradication

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Book SynopsisAn understanding of biodiversity is an important requirement of a wide range of programmes of study including biology, zoology, wildlife conservation and environmental science. This book is a study and revision guide for students following such programmes in which biodiversity is an important component. It contains 600 multiple-choice questions (and answers) set at three levels - foundation, intermediate and advanced - and grouped into 10 major topic areas: 1. Principles of classification and taxonomy 2. Comparative anatomy and physiology 3. Protoctists, monerans, fungi, lichens and acellular organisms 4. 'Lower' plants and pteridophytes 5. Seed-bearing plants 6. Sponges, cnidarians, nematodes and minor animal phyla 7. Platyhelminths, annelids and molluscs 8. Arthropods and echinoderms 9. Fishes, amphibians and reptiles 10. Birds and mammals The book has been produced in a convenient format so that it can be used at any time in any place. It allows the reader to learn and revise the meaning of terms used in animal and plant classification, the principles of comparative physiology, and the characteristics of, and diversity in, the major animal and plant taxa. The structure of the book allows the study of one topic area or group of taxa at a time, progressing through simple questions to those that are more demanding. Many of the questions require students to use their knowledge to identify organisms and biological structures from drawings or photographs.Table of Contents1: Principles of classification and taxonomy 2: Comparative anatomy and physiology 3: Protoctists, monerans, fungi, lichens and acellular organisms 4: ‘Lower’ plants and pteridophytes 5: Seed-bearing plants 6: Sponges, cnidarians, nematodes and minor animal phyla 7: Platyhelminths, annelids and molluscs 8: Arthropods and echinoderms 9: Fishes, amphibians and reptiles 10: Birds and mammals

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Book SynopsisAn understanding of the work of zoos and aquariums is central to many programmes of study in wildlife conservation and more specialised programmes in zoo and aquarium science and management. This book is intended as a study and revision guide for students following these programmes. It contains 600 multiple-choice questions (and answers) set at three levels - foundation, intermediate and advanced - and grouped into 10 major topic areas: 1. History of zoos and aquariums 2. Zoo and exhibit design 3. Aquariums and Aquatic exhibits 4 Visitor studies, zoo education and zoo research 5. Nutrition and food presentation 6 Reproductive biology and genetics 7. Conservation breeding and assisted reproductive technologies 8. Behaviour, training and environmental enrichment 9. Animal welfare and conservation medicine 10. Zoo organisation and regulation The book has been produced in a convenient format so that it can be used at any time in any place. It allows the reader to learn and revise the meaning of terms used in zoo and aquarium biology, the principles of animal husbandry and enclosure design, the behaviour of zoo visitors, the operation of captive breeding programmes, the international organisation of zoos, their legal regulation and much more. The structure of the book allows the study of one topic area at a time, progressing through simple questions to those that are more demanding. Many of the questions require students to use their knowledge to interpret information provided in the form of graphs, diagrams, data or photographs.Table of Contents1: History of Zoos and Aquariums 2: Zoo and Exhibit Design 3: Aquarium and Aquatic Exhibits 4: Visitor Studies, Zoo Education and Zoo Research 5: Nutrition and Food Presentation 6: Reproductive Biology and Genetics 7: Conservation Breeding and Assisted Reproductive Technologies 8: Behaviour, Training and Environmental Enrichment 9: Animal Welfare and Conservation Medicine 10: Zoo Organisation and Regulation 11: Answers

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Book SynopsisDistinguishing between the bones of sheep and goats is a notorious challenge in zooarchaeology. Several methods have been proposed to facilitate this task, largely based on macro-morphological traits. This approach, which is routinely adopted by zooarchaeologists, although still valuable, has also been shown to have limitations: morphological discriminant traits can differ in different sheep/ goat populations and a correct identification is highly dependent upon experience, as well as the availability of appropriate reference collections and the degree to which a researcher is prepared to ‘risk’ an identification. The Neglected Goat provides a new, more objective and transparent methodology, based on a combination of morphological and biometrical analyses, to distinguish between sheep and goat post cranial bones. Additionally, on the basis of the newly proposed approach, it reassesses the role of the goat in medieval England. There are several historical and archaeological questions concerning the role of this animal that have so far remained unanswered: why is the goat commonly recorded in the Domesday Book, when it appears to be so scarce in the contemporary archaeological record? Is the goat under-represented in the archaeological record or over-represented in the Domesday Book? Why is this animal, when identified in English medieval animal bone assemblages, almost exclusively represented by horncores? Through the investigation of a number of English sheep and goat medieval assemblages, this study sheds light on these questions, and suggests that the goat was indeed rarer than the Domesday Book suggests.Table of Contents1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ; 1.2 TAXONOMY ; 1.3 METHODOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ; 1.4 THE MEDIEVAL ENGLISH GOAT: SETTING THE SCENE ; 2 STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND BIOMETRY OF THE MODERN MATERIAL ; 2.1 METHODS ; 2.2 MATERIALS ; 2.3 INTER-OBSERVER ERROR AND INTRA-OBSERVER ERROR: CONSISTENCY TESTS ; 2.4 MORPHOLOGICAL RESULTS ; 2.5 BIOMETRIC RESULTS ; 2.6 DISCUSSION OF THE STUDY OF THE MODERN MATERIAL: MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOMETRICAL APPROACH ; 3 RE-EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF THE GOAT IN MEDIEVAL ENGLAND ; 3.1 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ; 3.2 KING’S LYNN (AD 1050-1800) ; 3.3 MEDIEVAL AND POST-MEDIEVAL FLAXENGATE (C. LATE 11TH CENTURY AD; LATE 14TH - MIDDLE 16TH CENTURY AD) ; 3.4 WOOLMONGER /KINGSWELL STREET, NORTHAMPTON (C. 1000-1550 AD) ; 3.5 DISCUSSION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NEW METHODOLOGY ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGES ; 3.6 REASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE GOAT IN MEDIEVAL ENGLISH HUSBANDRY AND ECONOMY: A BEGINNING ; 3.7 FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS: THE WAY IS PAVED ; 4 CONCLUSIONS ; REFERENCES ; APPENDICES ; APPENDIX I: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOAT IN THE HUMAN PAST ; APPENDIX II: BLAND AND ALTMAN PLOTS AS INTEGRATION OF THE ICC (INTER-OBSERVER ERROR) ; APPENDIX III: DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS FOR THE MODEN SHEEP AND GOAT MATERIAL ; APPENDIX IV: ASSUMPTIONS FOR DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS (DA) AND PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS (PCA) ; APPENDIX V: PCA, A BRIEF GLOSSARY ; APPENDIX VI: DA: HOW TO USE IT TO PREDICT NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL CASES

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Book SynopsisDogs, Past and Present: An Interdisciplinary Perspective gathers contributions from scholars from a variety of disciplines to provide a comprehensive assessment of the importance of dogs through history. Over the last decades, countless studies have examined the lives of dogs and their current place in our societies as well as their crucial part in human life and history. Data and hypotheses have progressively increased, sometimes controversially, in each field of investigation. The domestication of dogs and its success during prehistory is a fascinating theme that scholars of various disciplines are involved with. However, there has not been a real exchange between those approaches and it is extremely complex to reach a complete view of the thousands of texts which are published every year. By contrast, this volume is entirely dedicated to dogs and it is focused on the necessity of an ‘interdisciplinary perspective’ to fully understand the fundamental role that dogs have played in our past. When, where, how and why were dogs domesticated? What is their story? What was their role in the history of humankind? What is their role in traditional and non-traditional societies today? The book originated from the conference ‘Dogs, Past and Present – an Interdisciplinary Perspective’ held at CNR (National Scientific Council) and at Sapienza University in Rome (14–17 November 2018), promoted by the Italian Association for Ethnoarchaeology and organised by the editors.Table of ContentsPresentation – Adriano V. Rossi Forewords – Alberto Cazzella, Simon JM Davis, Dulam Sendenjav Introduction – Ivana Fiore and Francesca Lugli Calling on a Favour from Human’s Best Friend: Public Outreach in Science – David Ian Howe Section 1. Dog Genetics, Microtomography and Morphometric Techniques 1.1 A Molecular View on the Domestication of Dogs – Carles Vilà and Jennifer A. Leonard 1.2 Mitochondrial DNA Variation among Dogs of Mongolian, Tuvinian and Altaic Nomads – Daria Sanna, Ilenia Azzena, Piero Cossu, Fabio Scarpa, Massimo Scandura, Marco Apollonio, Francesca Lugli, Paolo Francalacci, Paolo Mereu, and Marco Casu 1.3 Ancient and Recent Changes in Breeding Practices for Dogs – Grégoire Leroy, Shi-Zhi Wang, Tom Lewis, and Sophie Licari 1.4 Using X-ray Microtomography to Discriminate Between Dogs’ and Wolves’ Lower Carnassial Tooth – Francesco Boschin, Federico Bernardini, Clément Zanolli, Antonio Tagliacozzo, and Claudio Tuniz 1.5 The Skull Shape of Canis lupus. A Study of Wolf and Dog Cranial Morphology – Raquel Blázquez-Orta, Laura Rodríguez, María Ángeles Galindo-Pellicena, Ignacio De Gaspar, and Nuria García Section 2. Wolf Versus Dog 2.1 Size Variation of the Middle-Late Pleistocene Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) from the Italian Peninsula – Dawid Adam Iurino, Beniamino Mecozzi, Davide Persico, Lucia Maimone, and Raffaele Sardella 2.2 The Advantages of Owning a Palaeolithic Dog – Mietje Germonpré, Martina Lázničková-Galetová, Mikhail V. Sablin, and Hervé Bocherens 2.3 Why Wolves Became Dogs: Interdisciplinary Questions on Domestication – Juliane Bräuer and Blanca Vidal Orga 2.4 Vector-Borne Diseases as Possible Constraints on the Spread of Dogs into the Tropics and Beyond – Peter Mitchell Section 3. Dogs through Time: Role, Task and Position 3.1 Urban Nomads and their Dogs – Christophe Blanchard 3.2 ‘The Mayor is a Dog’: The Coming of Age of Contemporary American Pet Culture – Simona Bealcovschi 3.3 Wolves, Dogs and Water – Dogs and Fishing Boats – Francesca Lugli 3.4 Dogs, Nomads and Hunters in Southern Siberia – Francesca Lugli and Galina B. Sychenko 3.5 The Dog – Human Interrelations in the Lower Amur Rural Regions (the Far East of Russia): Past and Present – Olga V. Maltseva 3.6 The Mother of Dogs: Women, Power and Dogs in First Nations Societies in Northwest North America – Lanoue 3.7 Dogs through Time: An Ethno-Evolutionary Perspective – Tiziano Latini, Luca Pandolfi, and Saverio Bartolini Lucenti 3.8 Dogs and the Afterlife in Southern Italy between Ethnology and Archaeology – Claudio Giardino and Tiziana Zappatore 3.9 Faithful unto Death. Burial, Legends and Heroism of the Dog from Antiquity to the Contemporary Age – Jacopo De Grossi Mazzorin (†), Ivana Fiore, Claudia Minniti, and Antonio Tagliacozzo Section 4. Dogs: Archaeological and Archaeozoological Cases 4.1 Ur-gir and the Other Dogs from Abu Tberah (Southern Iraq): Considerations on the Role of Dogs in Sumer during the 3rd Millennium BCE – Francesca Alhaique, Licia Romano, and Franco D’Agostino 4.2 Ritual Use of Dogs in the Neolithic Cultures of China – Maria Kudinova 4.3 Neolithic Dogs in the Central Po Valley - A Review of Published Data and New Evidence – Fabio Bona, Daniela Castagna, and Raffaella Poggiani Keller 4.4 Evolution and Utilisation of Dogs in Austria: The Archaeozoological Record from the Neolithic to the Roman Period – Konstantina Saliari, Erich Pucher, and Martin Mosser 4.5 A Dog’s Head in a House Pit at the Early Iron Age Site of Verucchio. Butchery Waste or Ritual Sacrifice? – Marco Bertolini and Ursula Thun Hohenstein 4.6 The Dogs from the Cult Layers of the Ipogeo del Guardiano (Trinitapoli, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy) – Martina Di Matteo, Anna Maria Tunzi, Rachele Modesto, and Francesca Alhaique 4.7 Four Dogs in the Road and Other Canine Oddities from Gabii (Rome, Italy) – Francesca Alhaique 4.8 The Discovery of a Dog in the Excavations of the Rome Underground Line C in Largo Amba Aradam – Simona Morretta, Giovanni Ricci, and Francesca Santini (†) 4.9 Dog and Human Sepultures at Peltuinum (L’Aquila, Italy) – Ivana Fiore, Luisa Migliorati, Antonella Pansini, Tiziana Sgrulloni, and Alessandra Sperduti 4.10 The Dog as a Companion in Life and Death: The Case Study of Dog Burials in a Human Grave (VII - VI BC) Loc. Collina dei Gelsi - Poggio Sommavilla (RI) – Francesca Santini (†) 4.11 The Role of Dogs in the Xiongnu Society – Evgeniy S. Bogdanov 4.12 Dog Burial at the Ust-Voikarskoe-1 Settlement and its Interpretation Issues – Andrey V. Novikov and Yuri N. Garkusha 4.13 The Dog in the Castle: A Dog Skeleton from the Castle of Santa Severa (Latium, Italy) – Eugenio Cerilli and Marco Fatucci Section 5. Representation of Dogs in Different Cultures 5.1 Lupus in Fabula: The Representation of the Wolf (Canis lupus) in European Palaeolithic Art – Gianpiero Di Maida, Margherita Mussi, Alberto Lombo Montañés, and Manuel Bea 5.2 At the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship. Canid Representations in Levantine Rock Art – Manuel Bea, Alberto Lombo, Gianpiero Di Maida, and Margherita Mussi 5.3 Dog Images in the Altai Rock Art – Dmitry V. Cheremisin 5.4 Representations of Dogs in Attic Funerary Monuments: A Question of Symbolism? – Francesco Tanganelli 5.5 ‘Do Not Laugh, I Beg of You, for This Is a Dog’s Grave’: The Human-Canine Bond in the Ancient Greek World – Liubov Eliseeva and Eugenia Andreeva 5.6 The Image of the Dog on Ancient Coins in the Mediterranean Area – Alessandra Bottari 5.7 The Numismatist’s Best Friend. Images of Dogs on Roman Coins – Alessandro Crispino 5.8 Dogs in Early Imperial China: Anthropo-Zoological Reading of Iconographic Sources from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) – Frédéric Devienne 5.9 ‘Cobalt Greyhounds’. An Artistic Proof in Ceramics – Silvia Nutini and Marino Marini Section 6. Dogs: Myth and Symbolism 6.1 ‘Implore Me Not, Dog’. The Dog in the Classical World: An Apotropaic View – Marco Giuman and Miriam Napolitano 6.2 Dogs in Phoenician Culture – Giuseppe Minunno 6.3 Dog in War, Hunting, Livestock Work and Everyday Life of Greco-Roman Society – Ana Portillo Gómez 6.4 Dog in Philippine Life, Ritual and Creation Myths: In a Spirit of Hunting – Maria V. Stanyukovich 6.5 Demonic Dogs of Mongolian Stag Stones and their Chinese Counterparts – Andrey V. Varenov 6.6 A Few Days with Mongolian Dogs and their Herders – Graziano Capitini and Francesca Lugli 6.7 Dog and Wolf in the Non-Tale Prose of the Turkic Peoples of Siberia – Galina B. Sychenko

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Book SynopsisOwls are one of the most fascinating bird families. They have inspired much folklore and superstition worldwide. This book discusses this nocturnal species and their unique physiology and anatomy. It includes owl studies from countries including Bulgaria, Ecuador, Iraq, Slovakia, Syria, and Africa.

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Book SynopsisIn an area of growing interest to veterinarians, this is a rapid reference to the practical clinical aspects of small animal dentistry. The text is arranged to reflect the clinician’s thinking and approach to problems: background information, clinical relevance, key points, differential diagnoses, diagnostic tests, and management. Some 400 top-quality illustrations—color photos, imaging and diagrams—provide a critically important complement to the text.The color handbook, now with revised text and references, offers real-life insights into the progression of oral disease and has been welcomed as a working resource by veterinary practitioners and students, and as a valuable review by more advanced veterinary dentists.Trade ReviewPraise for the Previous Edition:...a very good canine and feline dentistry and oral surgery resource... In general the photographs and images of radiographs are of good quality... The illustrations were excellent, detailed, and informational... the text provides an excellent visual resource and has the opportunity to improve and add photographs in future editions... allows the reader to quickly learn a large amount of information on a particular topic in just a few pages; the arrangement is relatively unique for a veterinary dental textbook and provides the reader with a concise, informative, and clinically relevant synopsis of the condition discussed. The handbook is easy to read and the reader can quickly learn about particular pathologies in the oral cavity. It is a textbook that should be included on reading lists for veterinary students, technicians, and in the library of general practitioners. The US list price of the book is a good value and would be an important resource for any small animal hospital library. It is a quality color and photographic resource for the practicing veterinarian to help identify pathology found in the oral cavity. It offers a quick resource with condensed information for a practitioner challenged with a busy practice schedule.—Kevin S. Stepaniuk, Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, June 2010Useful not only for general practitioners, but also for veterinary residents, specialists, and students...This high quality book is a useful addition to the limited number of veterinary dental textbooks currently available. The pictorial guide is a useful tool for those with limited dental background and the information on each lesion is broad. (3 stars)—Mary Buelow, DVM, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Doody's Review ServiceTable of ContentsAnatomy and Physiology. Oral Examination. Veterinary Dental Radiology. Pathology in the Pediatric Patient. Pathologies of the Dental Hard Tissue. Problems with the Gingiva. Pathologies of the Oral Mucosa. Problems with Muscles, Bones and Joints. Malignant Oral Neoplasia. Pathologies of the Salivary System. Appendices. References.

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Book SynopsisAnimal Learning and Cognition: An Introduction provides an up-to-date review of the principal findings from more than a century of research into animal intelligence. This new edition has been expanded to take account of the many exciting developments that have occurred over the last ten years.The book opens with a historical survey of the methods that have been used to study animal intelligence, and follows by summarizing the contribution made by learning processes to intelligent behavior. Topics include Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, discrimination learning, and categorization. The remainder of the book focuses on animal cognition and covers such topics as memory, navigation, social learning, language and communication, and knowledge representation. Expanded areas include extinction (to which an entire chapter is now devoted), navigation in insects, episodic memory in birds, imitation in birds and primates, and the debate about whether primates are aware of mental states in themselves and others. Issues raised throughout the book are reviewed in a concluding chapter that examines how intelligence is distributed throughout the animal kingdom.The broad spectrum of topics covered in this book ensures that it will be of interest to students of psychology, biology, zoology, and neuroscience. Since very little background knowledge is required, the book will be of equal value to anyone simply interested in either animal intelligence, or the animal origins of human intelligence.This textbook is accompanied by online instructor resources which are free of charge to departments who adopt this book as their text. They include chapter-by-chapter lecture slides, an interactive chapter-by-chapter multiple-choice question test bank, and multiple-choice questions in paper and pen format.Trade Review"There are very few instances in which one of the world's leading researchers is willing to write a textbook in his area of expertise, and even fewer where the resulting text is beautifully clear and interesting. Pearce's text is of just this quality; any student fortunate enough to read it will be exposed to a lucid, entertaining, and stimulating introduction to what we know about animal learning and cognition." - Dr. David Lieberman, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, UK"This new edition of Pearce's text integrates a solid grounding in associative learning theory with an introduction to topics in animal cognition such as memory, spatial behavior, and social cognition. A particularly noteworthy feature is the way in which students are encouraged to think critically but open mindedly about the many intriguing new findings on animal tool using, imitation, theory of mind, and the like. As a basic text that covers the field of animal learning and cognition as it exists in the early 21st century, it has few, if any, competitors." - Professor Sara J. Shettleworth, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada"The last decade has seen a major revolution in our understanding of animal intelligence, which is elegantly captured in John Pearce's new edition of Animal Cognition: An Introduction. Even better than the last two versions, this textbook provides a clear and comprehensive review of our current knowledge of animal learning and cognition, and in a style that is suitable for all undergraduate levels. I heartily recommend it." - Professor Nicky Clayton, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK"Pearce has expanded and updated an excellent text that combines traditional learning theory with careful and critical coverage of the latest findings in comparative cognition, social learning, and communication. Students and professionals alike will be able to evaluate claims and plan experiments much more effectively after absorbing its wisdom." - Gordon M. Burghardt, University of Tennessee, USATable of ContentsPreface. 1. The Study of Animal Intelligence. The Distribution of Intelligence. Defining Animal Intelligence. Why Study Animal Intelligence? Methods for Studying Animal Intelligence. Historical Background. 2. Associative Learning Conditioning Techniques. The Nature of Associative Learning. Stimulus–stimulus Learning. The Nature of us Representations. The Conditioned Response. Concluding Comment: The Reflexive Nature of the Conditioned Response. 3. The Conditions for Learning: Surprise and Attention. Part 1: Surprise and Conditioning. Conditioning with a Single CS. Conditioning with a Compound CS. Evaluation of the Rescorla–Wagner Model. Part 2: Attention and Conditioning Wagner’s Theory. Stimulus Significance. The Pearce–Hall Theory. Concluding Comments. 4. Instrumental Conditioning. The Nature of Instrumental Learning. The Conditions of Learning. The Performance of Instrumental Behavior. The Law of Effect and Problem Solving. 5. Extinction. Extinction as Generalization Decrement. The Conditions for Extinction. Associative Changes During Extinction. Are Trials Important for Pavlovian Extinction? 6. Discrimination Learning. Theories of Discrimination Learning. Connectionist Models of Discrimination Learning. Metacognition and Discrimination Learning. 7. Category Formation. Examples of Categorization. Theories of Categorization. Abstract Categories Relationships as Categories. The Representation of Knowledge. 8. Short-term Retention. Methods of Study. Forgetting. Theoretical Interpretation. Serial Position Effects. Metamemory. 9. Long-term Retention. Capacity. Durability. Theoretical Interpretation. Episodic Memory. 10. Time, Number, and Serial Order. Time. Number. Serial order. Transitive Inference. Concluding Comments. 11. Navigation. Part 1: Short-distance Travel. Methods of Navigation. Part 2: Long-distance Travel. Navigational Cues. Homing. Migration. Concluding Comments. 12. Social Learning. Diet Selection and Foraging. Choosing a Mate. Fear of Predators. Copying Behavior: Mimicry. Copying Behavior: Imitation. Theory of Mind. Self-recognition. Concluding Comments. 13. Animal Communication and Language. Animal Communication. Communication and Language. Can an Ape Create a Sentence? Language Training with Other Species. The Requirements for Learning a Language. 14. The Distribution of Intelligence. Intelligence and Brain Size. The Null Hypothesis. Intelligence and Evolution. References.

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Book SynopsisThe vegetation addressed in this book is, biologically, one of the most diverse on Earth, with many characteristic taxa offering refuge and food sources for many resident and migratory animals. Yet the forests of Las Yungas remain poorly known from a floristic and vegetation point of view. This book seeks to fill that gap by studying the distribution of forest along an altitudinal but also a bioclimatic gradient. The richness in species demonstrates that these forests are substantially more diverse than other subtropical mountain woodlands. 103 diagnostic (characteristic or indicator) species were selected, of which 29 are dominant, 67 are exclusive, selective, preferential or differential, and 7 are stenoic. In addition, 13 communities were identified and characterized. These forests can be attributed to the Bolivian-Tucuman biogeographical province (South-Andean Region, Neotropical Sub-Kingdom). They are seasonal, semi-deciduous or evergreen micro- and mesowoodlands growing on foothills, hillsides, ravines, gorges and the edges of mountain ranges (terrestrial communities), as well as river terraces and beaches (riparian communities). Thanks to the range of new findings, the content presented here will benefit experts in related fields such as geographers, ecologists and botanists, but also teachers, nature guides, those involved in the management of forest or conservation areas, and policymakers. Table of ContentsVegetation of Las Yungas (Serranías de Zapla, Jujuy, Argentina): Subtropical Mountain Forest.- General Features of Serranías de Zapla Multiple Use Ecology Reserve.- Bioclimatology.- Geobotany of Serranías de Zapla Multiple Use Ecology Reserve: Flora and Vegetation.- Biodiversity Analysis: A Geobotanic Interpretation.- Final Remarks.

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Book SynopsisThis 2-volume set provides a state-of-the-art study of the fossil record and taxonomy of the main vertebrate groups from Greece. Greece stands between 3 continents and its vertebrate fossil record is of great importance for paleontological and evolutionary studies in Europe, Asia and Africa. Fossils from classic, world-famous localities (e.g., Pikermi, Samos) form an essential part of the collections of the most important museums in the world and have been studied by numerous scientists. Recent paleontological research led to the discovery and study of numerous new sites. The volumes contain a taxonomic review of all named and identified taxa, their taxonomic history and current status, as well as historical, phylogenetic and biogeographic information. Volume 1 contains a synopsis of the fossil record and taxonomy of important groups of vertebrates represented in the fossil record of Greece. The volume deals with some of the early splitting clades, including the basal and enigmatic conodonts and basal tetrapods like fishes, amphibians, and reptiles like lizards, snakes, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises. The second part of the volume deals with basal mammalian clades, some of which are quite characteristic for the fossil record of the country: aardwarks, hyraxes, proboscideans, elephants and mammoths, sea cows, rodents, and lagomorphs. The volume ends with special chapters on the primate fossil record of the country, including some of our most recent and distant relatives. Table of Contents1-Introduction to the study of Greek Fossil Vertebrates.- 2-Introduction to the geology of Greece with emphasis on the Neogene.- 3-The fossil record of conodonts in Greece.- 4-The fossil record of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) in Greece.- 5-The fossil otolith record of fishes (Vertebrata: Teleostei) in Greece.- 6-The fossil record of lizards and snakes (Reptilia: Squamata) in Greece.- 7-The fossil record of amphibians (Amphibia: Urodela and Anura) in Greece.- 8-The fossil record of crocodylians (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in Greece.- 9-The fossil record of turtles and tortoises (Reptilia: Testudines) in Greece.- 10-The fossil record of aardwarks (Mammalia: Tubulidentata: Orycteropodidae) in Greece.- 11-The fossil record of hyraxes (Mammalia: Pliohyracidae) in Greece.- 12-The fossil record of the Neogene Proboscidea (Mammalia) in Greece.- 13-The fossil record of contintental elephants and mammoths (Mammalia: Proboscidea: Elephantidae) in Greece.- 14-The fossil record of sea cows (Mammalia: Sirenia) in Greece.- 15-The fossil record of rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Greece.- 16-The fossil record of hares, rabbits and pikas (Mammalia: Lagomorpha) in Greece.- 17-The fossil record of the Old World monkeys (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Greece.- 18-The fossil record of the Miocene hominoids (Mammalia: Primates: Hominoidea) in Greece.- 19-The hominin fossil record from Greece.

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Book SynopsisThis extensively revised and expanded new edition offers concepts, principles and applied information that relates to the wellbeing of reptiles. As a manual on health and welfare in a similar vein to volumes addressing the sciences of anatomy, behaviour or psychology, this book thoroughly examines the biology of reptile welfare and is about meeting biological needs. The editors, acknowledged experts in their own right, have once again drawn together an extremely impressive international group of contributors. Positive and negative implications of general husbandry and research programs are discussed. In addition to greatly revised original content are nine new chapters offering readers novel insight into:• sensory systems• social behaviour• brain and cognition• controlled deprivation and enrichment• effects of captivity-imposed noise and light disturbance on welfare• spatial and thermal factors• evidential thresholds for species suitability in captivity• record keeping as an aid to captive care• arbitrary husbandry practices and misconceptionsThe authors have adopted a user-friendly writing style to accommodate a broad readership. Although primarily aimed at academic professionals, this comprehensive volume is fundamentally a biology book that will also inform all involved in captive reptile husbandry. Among others, zoo personnel, herpetologists, veterinarians, lab animal scientists, and expert readers in animal welfare and behavioural studies will benefit from this updated work. Trade Review“Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles, Second Edition is a huge 19-chapter,638-pagebook … . it consists of a series of very detailed literature reviews on aspects of reptile physiology and behavior … . Each chapter is heavy with references. … Inclusion of the weblinks to those which are freely available in the reference lists is a welcome touch. … I suspect the book will prove most valuable to educators in veterinary schools and agricultural colleges” (Frances M. Baines, Animal Welfare, November 6, 2023)Table of Contents

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

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

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Book SynopsisOver the course of evolution, multicellular animals - Metazoa - have successfully colonized every conceivable habitat on our planet, thanks to their ability to survive and adapt under adverse or changing conditions. But how is an animal's body structured to accomplish this? What organs do animals have, how do they perceive their environment, and what is the evolutionary relationship between these seemingly so different organisms?This volume, designed as a modern practical book, presents the most important body plans of selected animals. It is intended to help all biology students to recognize and understand the basic body shapes and structures in the respective animal groups, including the main features that have contributed to their evolutionary success, the similarities and differences, and the many different solutions that evolution has come up with for given biological problems. The authors have consistently used focused, compact text and photographs that not only show the animals' most important external features but also explain the dissection process step by step. The authors hope that this new book will help all biology students successfully complete their practical zoology course and gain new insights into the morphology and evolution of animals.

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Book SynopsisThis text book on Physiology of Animals is intended to be useful for elementary animal physiology course in colleges of agriculture, zoology, veterinary and animal sciences. In all s, the aim has been to present a clear and concise account of the functioning of various systems of domestic animals. Where appropriate, examples from human and non domestic animals such as rat and rabbit have been cited. Physiology has now grown into a vast discipline. The book covers and explains the following deeply: o Nature and Scope of Physiology o Body Fluids: Water, Electrolyte and Acid Base Balance o Respiration o Blood o Circulatory System o Structure & Functions of the Kidney o Rumen Function o Digestion & Metabolism o Vitamins and Minerals o Endocrine Glands and Their Secretions o Reproduction in the Male o Female Reproduction o Lactation o Nervous System o Bone, Skin and Special Senses o Physiology of Temperature RegulationTable of Contents01: Nature and Scope of Physiology 02: Body Fluids: Water, Electrolyte and Acid Base Balance 03: Respiration 04: Blood 05: Circulatory System 06: Structure & Functions of the Kidney 07: Rumen Function 08: Digestion & Metabolism 09: Vitamins and Minerals 10: Endocrine Glands and Their Secretions 11: Reproduction in the Male 12: Female Reproduction 13: Lactation 14: Nervous System 15: Bone, Skin and Special Senses 16: Physiology of Temperature Regulation

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Book SynopsisThis book attempts to describe applied breeding methods for different domestic animal species as currently implemented. In this book, brief history of population genetics, domestication of livestock species, classification of breeds, economic characteristics of different livestock species & poultry and their importance, basic statistics, qualitative and quantitative inheritance, gene and genotype frequency and factors influencing gene frequency, values and means of population, methods of estimation and uses of heritability and repeatability, correlations, selection, response to selection, basis of selection, progeny testing, open nucleus breeding system, sire evaluation, methods of selection, breeding or mating systems, heterosis or hybrid vigor definitions and current livestock and poultry breeding programmes have been discussed in different s. The subject matter has been dealt with in a logical sequence so that the reader is conveyed from simple to more complex interpretation with relative ease. It is felt that the reader which are likely to comprise mostly of graduate and post graduate student of animal breeding and researcher will be able to get a deeper insight and better perceptions into the realm of the dynamic science of animal breeding.Table of Contents01 Brief History of Population Genetics 02 Domestication of Livestock Species 03 Classification of Livestock Breeds 04 Economic Characters of Livestock and Poultry 05 Basic Statistics 06 Qualitative and Quantitative Inheritance 07 Gene and Genotype Frequency and Factors Influencing Gene Frequency 08 Variation and Measurements 09 Values and Means of Population 10 Heritability - Methods of Estimation and Use 11 Correlations 12 Selection - Natural Vs Artificial Selection 13 Response to Selection 14 Basis of Selection15 Methods of Selection 16 Open Nucleus Breeding System 17 Methods of Sire Evaluation 18 Breeding or Mating Systems 19 Heterosis or Hybrid Vigor 20 Selection of Dairy Cattle & Buffaloes 21 Current Livestock and Poultry Breeding Programmes 22 Conservation of Genetic Resources in India

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Book SynopsisTechniques and theory for processing otoliths from tropical marine fish have developed only recently due to an historic misconception that these organisms could not be aged. Otoliths are the most commonly used structures from which daily, seasonal or annual records of a fish’s environmental history are inferred, and are also used as indicators of migration patterns, home range, spatial distribution, stock structure and life history events. A large proportion of projects undertaken on tropical marine organisms involve removal and processing of calcified structures such as otoliths, statoliths or vertebrae to retrieve biological, biochemical or genetic information. Current techniques and principles have evolved rapidly and are under constant modification and these differ among laboratories, and more particularly among species and within life history stages. Tropical fish otoliths: Information for assessment, management and ecology is a comprehensive description of the current status of knowledge about otoliths in the tropics. This book has contributions from leading experts in the field, encompassing a tropical perspective on daily and annual ageing in fish and invertebrates, microchemistry, interpreting otolith microstructure and using it to back-calculate life history events, and includes a treatise on the significance of validating periodicity in otoliths.Table of Contentsto Otoliths and Fisheries in the Tropics.- Ageing in Coral Reef Fishes: Do we Need to Validate the Periodicity of Increment Formation for every species of Fish for which we collect age-based Demographic Data?.- Age in Years from Otoliths of Adult Tropical Fish.- Daily Otolith Increments in the Early Stages of Tropical Fish.- Alternatives to Sectioned Otoliths: The use of other Structures and Chemical Techniques to Estimate Age and Growth for Marine Vertebrates and Invertebrates.- The Back-Calculation of Fish Growth From Otoliths.- Otolith Microstructure in Tropical Fish.- Otolith Chemistry.- Tropical Otoliths – Where to Next?.- Alternatives to Sectioned Otoliths: The use of other Structures and Chemical Techniques to Estimate Age and Growth for Marine Vertebrates and Invertebrates.

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Book SynopsisThe history of interest and practice in insect conservation is summarised and traced through contributions from many of the leaders in the discipline, to provide the first broad global account of how insects have become incorporated into considerations of conservation. The essays collectively cover the genesis and development of insect conservation, emphasising its strong foundation within the northern temperate regions and the contrasts with much of the rest of the world. Major present-day scenarios are discussed, together with possible developments and priorities in insect conservation for the future.Trade Review“New's Insect Conservation: Past, Present and Prospects, gives the reader … a sweeping vision of the history, present-day research, and future directions of insect conservation. … the authors explore the pitfalls and challenges of insect conservation and present new directions for the discipline to take. … It succeeds wonderfully in providing an in-depth coverage of the field of insect conservation, and it is certain to be the leading text for college students and conservation researchers for years to come.” (Scott R. Shaw, Conservation Biology, Vol. 29 (5), 2015)Table of ContentsPreface.- List of contributors.- 1. Tim New. Introduction to insect conservation, an emerging discipline.- Section 1. Organisations in the United Kingdom.- 2. Michael G. Morris and Oliver D. Cheesman. Insect conservation in the United Kingdom – the role of the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British insects and Invertebrate Link (JCCBI).- 3. Ian F.G. McLean and Roger S. Key. A history of invertebrate conservation in the British Statutory Conservation Agencies.- 4. Alan Stubbs and Matt Shardlow. The development of Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust.- 5. David Lonsdale. Insect conservation in the United Kingdom – the Amateur Entomologists’ Society.- 6. Martin Warren. Butterfly Conservation: the development of a pioneering charity.- Section 2. North American developments.- 7. Robert Michael Pyle. The origins of insect conservation in the United States.- 8. Scott Hoffman Black. Insect conservation and the Endangered Species Act: a history.- Section 3. The temperate southern regions.- 9. Tim New and Alan Yen. Insect conservation in Australia.- 10. Corinne Watts, Ian Stringer and George Gibbs. Insect conservation in New Zealand: an historical perspective.- 11. Michael Samways, Michelle Hamer and Ruan Veldtman. Development and future of insect conservation in South Africa.- 12. Jonathan Ball. Lepidopterology in southern Africa: past, present and future.- Section 4. Regional themes and developments.- 13. Karel Spitzer. Insect conservation developments in central Europe.- 14. John R. Haslett. Development and future of conservation policy initiatives for insects and other invertebrates in Europe. - 15. Minoru Ishii and Yasuhiro Nakamura. Development and future of insect conservation in Japan.- 16. Francis G. Howarth and Betsy H. Gagné. Development of insect conservation in Hawai’i.- 17. David L. Pearson and Fabio Cassola. Insect conservation biology: What can we learn from ornithology and birding?- Section 5. Looking forward.- 18. Alan Stewart. Where to next? The future of insect conservation.- 19. Tim New. Developing insect conservation: concluding thoughts.- Index.

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Book SynopsisThis publication contains the proceedings of a seminar held in Germany (Fed. Rep.) on May 4 -6, 1977, under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities, as part of the EEC programme of co­ ordination of research on beef production. The programme was drawn up by a combined scientific working group on Genetics and Selection and on Nutrition and Management on behalf of the Beef Production Committee. The working group consisted of Professor Dr. Neimann­ S~rensen (Denmark, Chairman), Dr. Brolund Larsen (Denmark), Mr. Boccard (France), Dr. H. de Boer (Netherlands), Priv.-Doz. Dr. B. Hoffmann (Germany, Fed. Rep.), Professor Dr. H.J. Langholz (Germany, Fed. Rep.), Dr. J.W.B. King (UK), Mr. R. Jarrige (France), Mr. B. Vissac (France), Professor Dr. A. Romita (Italy), Professor Dr. E.P. Cunningham (Ireland), Mr. P. L'Hermite (CEC) and Dr. J.C. Tayler (Scientific Adviser to CEC). The subject chosen for this seminar was drawn from the list of priorities in research objectives drawn up in 1973 by members of a committee (now the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, (~PRA). One of the functions of this series of seminars was to summarise and update the information available on the selected subjects and to discuss future needs for research, so as to assist the Commission in evaluating the probable impact of research on agri­ cultural production within the Community.Table of ContentsSurvey of the Present Situation in the EEC.- Survey of the incidence of calving problems, calf mortality, and their economic importance: dairy and dual-purpose cattle.- Present situation of calving problems in the EEC: incidence of calving difficulties and early calf mortality in beef herds.- Discussion.- Genetic Factors and Breeding for Calving Performance. Part 1.- Selection for double-muscling and calving problems.- Reproductive performance in crossbreeding: results from a current experiment in the Federal Republic of Germany.- Influence of sire breed on calving performance, perinatal mortality and gestation length.- Breeding considerations for minimising difficult calving.- Discussion.- Genetic Factors and Breeding for Calving Performance. Part 2.- A breeding strategy for reducing perinatal calf mortality in heifer calvings.- Selection for calving ability in French beef breeds.- Relationship between performance test data and calving performance of test bulls.- Breeding for calving performance.- Sire evaluation for dystocia in Dutch cattle breeds.- Investigations on the relationships of body measurements and weight of heifer and calf to calving difficulties in German Simmental (Fleckvieh) cattle: preliminary results of EEC project no. 320 of the beef production programme.- Comparison of the main European cattle breeds used in industrial crossing on French Friesian dairy cows: preliminary results on calving difficulties.- Discussion.- Physiological Aspects of Parturition.- Hormonal mechanism involved in control of parturition in the cow.- The influence of the sire on the oestrogen production of the bovine foetus-placental unit.- Neural control of the reproductive tract in the cow as it relates to parturition.- Preliminary observations on myometrial electrical activity before, during and after parturition in the cow.- Discussion.- Induced Parturition.- Betamethasone induced calving: a comparison between induced and non-induced dairy cows.- Some results with induced parturition in cows and heifers.- Induction of parturition in the bovine.- Use of prostaglandins for induction of parturition in the cow.- Discussion.- Nutrition and Management of the Dam in Relation to Calving Problems. Part 1.- Effect of rearing intensity and age at calving on calving performance.- Pre-calving management and feeding of the beef cow in relation to calving problems and viability of the calf.- Problems associated with the calving and neonatal period in beef cattle.- Discussion.- Nutrition and Management of the Dam in Relation to Calving Problems. Part 2.- Effect of plane of nutrition during late pregnancy on the incidence of calving problems in beef cows and heifers.- The influence of pre-partal feeding on energy metabolism in early lactation.- The influence of pre-calving feeding and management of the cow on ease of calving and calf viability.- Clinical aspects of the nutritional status of the dam and parturition.- Discussion.- Status, Nutrition and Management of the Newborn Calf. Part 1.- Conclusions from the EEC seminar on perinatal ill health in calves.- Immune mechanisms in the newborn calf.- The effect of different methods of feeding colostrum on calf blood serum immuno globulin levels.- Discussion.- Status, Nutrition and Management of the Newborn Calf. Part 2.- Management of the newborn calf: an attempt at an economic analysis.- Treatment of the newborn calf.- Acidosis and clinical state in depressed calves.- Discussion.- General Discussion with Panel of Session Chairmen.- List of participants.

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Book SynopsisThis publication contains the proceedings of a seminar held in Ghent, Belgium on October 11th-13th 1977, under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities, as part of the EEC programme of co-ordination of research on beef production. The seminar was initiated by the scientific working group on 'Carcass and Meat Quality' and attracted the interest of the working groups on 'Genetics and Selection' and on 'Nutrition and Management'. Consequently it developed into a multi-disciplinary programme, organised under the responsibility of the working group on Carcass and Meat Quality. This group comprised Ir. H. de Boer (Chairman), Netherlands; Prof. R. Boccard, France; Dr D.E. Hood, Ireland; Dr R.W. Pomeroy, UK; Dr A. Romita, Italy; Professor Dr L. Sch~n, Fed. Rep. of Germany; Mr P. L'Hermite, CEC; and Dr J.C. Tayler, UK (adviser to the CEC). In view of the broad scope of the subject, a special plan­ ning meeting was organised, involvi.ng experts from the different disciplines involved. The additional participants were: Dr B. Bech Andersen, Denmarkj Dr A.J.H. van Es, Netherlands; Prof. Dr J. Martin, Belgium; Dr. St.C.S. Taylor, UK. The multidisciplinary scope of this ~eminar follows a series of seminars in 1975-76 on more specific aspects of beef production research in the individual fields involved. It seems logical that further seminars should integrate the approaches by different disciplin~s in order to achieve a balanced programme of research on the very complex topic of beef production.Table of ContentsSection 1 : Patterns of Growth and Development of Bone, Muscle and Fatty Tissue.- Historical and general review of growth and development.- Bovine compositional interrelationships.- Dressing percentage in relation to weight, sex and breed.- Development with age of the anatomical composition of the carcass of bulls.- Biochemistry of muscle in relation to growth.- Development of connective tissue and its characteristics.- Sources of variation in muscle weight distribution.- Variation and impact of muscle thickness.- Bone growth and development with particular reference to breed differences in carcass shape and lean to bone ratio.- A note on conformation and meat characteristics in beef carcasses.- Meat amino acid composition of calves and steers slaughtered between 200 kg and 500 kg live weight.- Myorheological, chemical and colour characteristics of meat in water buffalo and bovine calves slaughtered at 20, 28 and 36 weeks.- Assessment of changes in myofibre size in muscle.- Partition and distribution of fatty tissues.- Factors affecting the fatty acid composition of depot fats of cattle and other ruminants.- The development of adipose tissue in cattle.- The development of fat cells in different anatomical positions in carcasses of young bulls, heifers and cow-heifers.- Fatty acid composition of fat in water buffalo calves and bovine calves slaughtered at 20–28 and 36 weeks of age.- Effect of Finnish landrace and Galway breeds on carcass composition, fat distribution and fatty acid composition of different fat depots in lambs.- Discussion.- Section 2: Growth and Nutritional Efficiency and the Effects of Genotype, Sex, Hormones and their Interactions.- Biological models of quantifying growth and efficiency.- Some neuroendocrine aspects of growth.- Anabolic agents in beef production: their action as growth promoters.- Nutritional efficiency of protein and fat deposition.- Feed efficiency and genotype-nutrition interactions in growing animals, particularly in cattle for beef production.- Effect of energy level on growth and efficiency.- Influence of nutrition on the growth pattern of fattening bulls of two different breeds (Friesian and Simmental).- Influence of nutrition on body composition and carcass quality of fattening bulls of different breeds (German Friesian and Simmental).- Nitrogen utilisation of young fattening bulls kept on two different energy levels.- Genetic variations in growth and body composition of male cattle.- Effect of breed and interaction with nutrition.- Effect of siregroup within breeds on growth and efficiency and interaction with nutrition.- Efficiency of lean meat production by dairy steers.- Multibreed comparisons of body weight and food intake in cattle.- Influence of age, nutrient intake and body type on weight gain and body composition in young fattening bulls of the breeds German Schwarzbunte and German Fleckvieh.- Carcass composition of different breeds.- Growth rates and carcass composition of water buffalo calves and bovine calves slaughtered at 20, 28 and 36 weeks.- Discussion.- Section 3: Possibilities for the Improvement of Beef Production in Relation to the Customer’s Requirements.- Possibilities for fulfilling trade and consumer requirements for meat quality in present and future beef production systems.- Targets for beef production in relation to market and consumer requirements.- Eating quality of buffalo and bovine calves slaughtered at 20-28 and 36 weeks of age.- Discussion.- Section 4: Methods of Quantifying Growth and Development.- Methods of quantifying growth and development: general review.- A survey of allometric analysis.- Growth curves: their nature, uses and estimation.- Nutritional models of growth.- Quantifying breed difference in shape.- An approach to the comparison of growth curves of Dutch Friesian, British Friesian and Holstein Friesian cows.- The relationship between growth curve parameters and carcass composition.- Discussion.- Section 5: Summary and Needs for Future Research.- Recapitulation and Outline for the Future.- General discussion.- Final considerations.- Closing remarks.- List of participants.

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Book SynopsisComparison of closely related species is a powerful D. melanogaster. In D. melanogaster, microsatel- approach to understanding the changes that have oc- lites reveal that West African popUlations are more curred since their divergence from a common ancestor. closely related to non-African populations than to The sibling species Drosophila melanogaster and D. East African popUlations. East African populations are simulans are probably the species pair for which the more variable than West African or non-African popu- most genetic data are available. A workshop held at lations, suggesting that East African populations may 1 Gif/Yvette in January 2002 reviewed and discussed more closely reflect African ancestral variability. comparisons between these species, from their ecol- Ecophysiology, popUlation dynamics and popula- tion structure are also important to understanding the ogy and biogeography to their behavior and DNA evolution of the two species. Genetic diversity (8) polymorphism. is higher in D. simulans (S. Mousset and R. Singh).Table of ContentsPreface; P. Capy, P. Gibert, I. Boussy. 1. Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila simulans: so similar yet so different; P. Capy, P. Gibert. Biogegraphy and population structure: past and present. 2. How two Afrotropical endemics made two cosmopolitan human commensals: the Drosophila melanogaster-D. simulans palaeogeographic riddle; D. Lachaise, J.F. Silvain. 3. Mitochondrial DNA in the Drosophila melanogaster complex; M. Solignac. 4. Wolbachia infections in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans: Polymorphism and levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility; H. Mercot, S. Charlat. 5. Historicity and the population genetics in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans; M. Veuille, E. Baudry, M. Cobb, N. Derome, E. Gravot. 6. Patterns of microsatellite variability in the Drosophila melanogaster complex; B. Harr, C. Schlötterer. 7. Molecular polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans: What have we learned from recent studies? S. Mousset, N. Derome. 8. The Sex-Ratio trait and its evolution in Drosophila simulans: a comparative approach; D. Jutier, N. Derome, C. Montchamp-Moreau. 9. A reanalysis of protein polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, D. sechellia, and D. mauritiana: effect of population size and selection; R.A. Morton, M. Choudhary, M.-L. Cariou, R.S. Singh. Transposable elements and chromosomes. 10. Transposable element dynamics in two sibling species: Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans; C. Viera, C. Biémont. 11. Wanderings of hobo: a transposon in Drosophila melanogaster and its close relatives; L.A. Boussy, M. Itoh. 12. Mitotic and polytene chromosomes:comparisons between Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans; S. Aulard, L. Monti, N. Chaminade, F. Lemeunier. Geographical variability and adaptation. 13. Comparative life histories and ecophysiology of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans; J.R. David, R. Allemand, P. Capy, M. Chakir, P. Gibert, G. Pétavy, B. Moreteau. 14. Comparative analysis of morphological traits among Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans: genetic variability, clines and phenotypic plasticity; P. Gibert, P. Capy, A. Imasheva, B. Moreteau, J.P. Morin, G. Pétavy, J.R. David. 15. Ecological and genetic interactions in Drosophila-parasitoids communities: a case study with D. melanogaster, D. simulans and their common Leptopilina parasitoids in South-Eastern France; F. Fleury, N. Ris, R. Allemand, P. Fouillet, Y. Carton, M. Boulétreau. 16. Relations between cuticular hydrocarbon polymorphism, resistance against desiccation and breeding temperature: a model for their evolution in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans.J. Rouault, C. Marican, C. Wicker-Thomas, J.-M. Jallon. 17. Molecular analysis of circadian clocks in Drosophila simulans; A.S. Rogers, E. Rosato, R. Costa, C.P. Kyriacou. 18. Mutation in Drosophila simulans that lengthens the circadian period of locomotor activity; A.S. Rogers, A.E. Stefan, C. Pasetto, E. Rosato, R. Costa, C.P. Kyriacou. 19. Sperm size evolution in Drosophila: inter- and intraspecific analysis; D. Joly, A. Korol, E. Nevo. Speciation: pre and post zygotic isolation. 20. The nature of genetic variation in sex and reproduction-related genes among sibling species of the Drosophila melanogaster complex; R.J. Kulathinal, R.S. Singh. 21. Genetics of

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

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

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Book SynopsisThis publication contains the proceedings of a seminar held in Brussels on November 8-9, 1988. The title of the seminar was "Reducing the costs of disease by improving resistance through genetics". The seminar was held as an activity of the Community Programme for the Coordination of Agricultural Research, 1984-1988. Costs of disease depend on losses caused by morbidity, mortality and production decreases and on the costs of preventive measures including vaccination and medication. Production losses often contribute a major portion to the total costs. To reduce costs of disease preventive measures like vaccination, preventive medication and hygienic procedures are applied. Genetic resistance is an attractive preventive measure because of its consistent nature in the next generations, because it precludes veterinary services and because there are no side-effects. Constraints are the long term investment, relatively slow progress per generation (in combination with production traits) and the considerable lack of knowledge about inheritance of resistance mechanisms in farm animals.Trade Review`It is recommended for libraries and research workers in the field.' New Zealand Veterinary Journal, September 1990 Table of ContentsTable of Contensts.- Session 1: General aspects Chairperson: A.J. van der Zijpp.- Introduction:.- Biological significance of the MHC.- Session 2: MHC serology and immunology Chairperson: M. Simonsen.- The characterisation and function of the bovine MHC:.- Current status of SLA class I and II serology:.- ELA (Equine Lymphocyte Alloantigens) serology and genetics:.- The chicken MHC and its importance:.- Some evidence for the presence of an MHC analogue in fish:.- Session 3: MHC polymorphism by protein chemistry and DNA techniques Chairperson: R.L. Spooner.- BoLa polymorphism, biochemical analysis at the product level:.- Comparison of BoLa class I and class II typing methods and their application to MHC function studies:.- The molecular genetics of the SLA complex:.- Molecular anatomy of the chicken Major Histocompatibility B complex:.- Session 4: MHC and disease associations Chairpersons: M. Vaiman and S. Lazary.- Possible influence of the Caprine Leucocyte Antigen (CLA) system on development of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) in family and population studies:.- Statistical aspects of cattle MHC (BOLA) and disease associations exemplified by an investigation of subclinical mastitis:.- Possible effects of the pig SLA complex on physiological performances:.- ELA disease associations:.- Session 5: Immune response markers and disease resistance Chairperson: E. Andresen.- An immune competence profile in swine:.- The genetics of parasite resisrance in sheep:.- The Biozzi model applied to the chicken:.- Genetic resistance to bovine mastitis:.- Session 6: General discussion Chairpersons: W. Sybesma and A.J. van der Zijpp.- General Discussions and Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisAnimal production systems have changed dramatically over the last two decades. Knowledge of energy metabolism and environmental physio­ logy has increased as appears from many textbooks on these disciplines. The contents of the symposia on energy metabolism of farm animals show this and they have initially focussed on feed evaluation and later on com­ parative aspects of energy metabolism. They show part of the progress being made. Application of knowledge of energy metabolism for animals has a long history since Lavoisier. In addition to this, studies about the environ­ mental requirements of animals have shown that we are still far from ac­ curate assessment of these requirements in terms of nutrients and ener­ gy. I n model studies on energy metabolism researchers have recognized the interaction between the environment and the energy requirements of animals. Estimation of energy requirements has been done in physiolo­ gical, physical and behavioural studies. The impact of conditions as en­ countered by animals in various production systems has been approached from different viewpoints related to these different disciplines. In addi­ tion, various kinds of infections (bacterial, parasitic: subclinical, clini­ cal) have been evaluated only recently with regard to their effect on pro­ tein and/or energy metabolism and thus on production. People working in the field of feed evaluation have defined how che­ mical and physical properties of nutrition infiuence energy to be derived for maintenance and production.Table of ContentsI. Introduction.- Energy metabolism of farm animals.- The Wageningen respiration unit for animal production research: a description of the equipment and its possibilities.- II. Housing-Systems and Energy Metabolism.- Adaptation to, and energy costs of, tethering in pregnant sows.- Metabolic rate of piglets between sucklings.- Influence of some environmental, animal and feeding factors on energy metabolism in growing pigs.- The effects of housing conditions on energy utilization of poultry.- III. Climatic Conditions and Energy Metabolism.- Surface temperatures as parameters.- The influence of climatic environment on sows.- Thermal requirements of growing pigs from birth to slaughter.- A formula to describe the relation between heat production at thermoneutral as well as below thermoneutral temperatures simultaneously.- Effect of environmental temperature and air velocity two days preslaughtering on heat production, weight loss and meat quality in non-fedpigs.- Effects of climatic conditions on energy metabolism and performance of calves.- Climatic conditions and energy metabolism of laying hens.- Climatic environment and energy metabolism in broilers.- Heat tolerance of one-day old chickens with special reference to conditions during airtransport.- IV. Health and Aspects of Energy Metabolism.- Energy metabolism and immune function.- Parasite worry and restlessness caused by sarcoptic mange in swine.- Respiratory diseases in pigs: incidence, economic losses and prevention in the Netherlands.- Mastitis in dairy cows with special reference to direct and indirect effects of climatological factors.- The effect of gastrointestinal nematodes on metabolism in calves.- Energy and nitrogen metabolism of growing calves continuously infected with Dictyocaulus viviparus.- Respiratory diseases in calves.- The effect of a subclinical Haemonchus infection on the metabolism of sheep (a pilot study).- Coccidiosis: a problem in broilers.- V. Variation in Energy Metabolism Characteristics Due to Feeding Level and Differences Between Breeds/Strains.- Effect of feeding level on maintenance requirements of growing pigs.- Genetic variation of energy metabolism in poultry.- Genetic variation of energy metabolism in mice.- Effects of body weight, feeding level and temperature on energy metabolism and growth in fish.

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Book SynopsisMost of the future increase in livestock production is expected to occur in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Cattle are the most numerous of the ruminant species in the tropics and provide the largest quantity of animal food products. More than one-third of the world's cattle are found in the tropics. Disease is the major factor which prohibits full utilization of these regions for cattle production. Various infectious and transmissible viral, rick­ ettsial, bacterial, and particularly protozoan and helminthic diseases, are widespread in the tropics and exert a heavy toll on the existing cattle industry there. This uncontrolled disease situation also discourages investment in cattle industries by private and government sectors. In Africa alone, it is estimated that 125 million head of cattle could be accommodated in the tropical rainbelt if the disease and other animal husbandry factors could be resolved. The potential of efficient cattle production under more favorable conditions prompted various international agencies to establish a multi­ million dollar International Laboratory for Research in Animal Diseases (ILRAD) in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. In South America, principal sites for raising cattle are shifting to the savannah lands because the more fertile soils are being used for crop produc­ tion, however, in the savannahs also, disease remains the most powerful deterrent in implementing the cattle industry.Table of ContentsI: Special Topics.- 1. Characteristics of types and breeds of cattle in the tropics.- 2. The tropics and the world demand for animal protein.- 3. Effect of climate and management systems on production of cattle.- 4. Human-bovine ecosystems: reflections on zoonoses in the tropics.- 5. Epidemological approaches to disease control.- II: Infectious Diseases.- 6. Bovine papular stomatitis.- 7. Malignant catarrhal fever.- 8. Pseudorabies.- 9. Rabies.- 10. Foot and mouth disease.- 11. Rinderpest.- 12. Rift Valley fever.- 13. Lumpy skin disease and pseudo-lumpy skin disease.- 14. Ephemeral fever.- 15. Bovine viral diarrhea.- 16. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis.- 17. Leptospirosis.- 18. Bovine genital vibriosis.- 19. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis.- 20. Blackleg and malignant edema.- 21. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.- 22. Brucellosis.- 23. Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis).- 24. Tuberculosis.- 25. Anthrax.- 26. Tetanus and botulism.- 27. Anaplasmosis.- 28. Heartwater disease.- 29. Bovine petechial fever.- 30. Dermatophilosis.- 31. Coccidiosis.- 32. East coast fever.- 33. Theileria infections other than East Coast fever.- 34. Besnotiosis and globidiosis.- 35. Babesiosis.- 36. Bovine trypanosomiasis.- 37. Mycotic diseases.- 38. Metazoal diseases.- III: Diseases of Mixed Etiology or Lesser Frequency.- 39. The care of young calves, neonatal calf diarrhea, the calf pneumonias.- 40. Actinobacillosis, actinoomycosis, nocardiosis, eperythrozoonosis, hemobartonellosis, and trichomoniasis.- IV: Ticks and Environmental Effects.- 41. Tick toxicosis of cattle.- V: Problems of Disease Control in the Tropics.- 42. Problems of disease control in the tropics.- Toxic plants grouped by clinical signs and systems affected.- Index of subjects.

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Book SynopsisThis book comprehensively summarizes the biological mechanisms of coloration and pattern formation of animals at molecular and cellular level, offering up-to-date knowledge derived from remarkable progress in the last 10 years. The brilliant coloration, conspicuous patterns and spectacular color changes displayed by some vertebrates and invertebrates are generally their strategies of the utmost importance for survival. Consists of mainly three parts, starts with introductory chapter, such as Pigments and Pigment Organelles, Developmental Genetics of Pigment Cell Formation, Adult Pigment Patterns, and Color Changes, this book introduces new pigment compounds in addition to classically known pigments and organelles, explains how the generation of multiple types of pigment cell is genetically controlled, describes the mechanisms underlying the zebrafish stripe formation as well as other animals and also summarizes the mechanism of physiological and morphological color changes of teleost, amphibian and cephalopod. Written by experts in the field, this book will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers in biological fields who are interested in pigmentation mechanisms of animals.Table of ContentsPart 1 Pigments and pigment organelles 1 Pigments in insects 2 Melanins in vertebrates 3 Body color expression in birds 4 Pigments in teleosts and their biosynthesis 5 Bioluminescence and Pigments Part 2 Pigment cell and patterned pigmentation 6 Development of melanin-bearing pigment cells in birds and mammals 7 Pigment cell development in teleosts 8 Pigment patterning in teleosts 9 Theoretical studies of pigment pattern formation 10 Evolution of Pigment Pattern Formation in Teleosts 11 Mechanisms of feather structural coloration and pattern formation in birds 12 Mechanism of color pattern formation in insects Part 3 Color changes 13 Physiological and Morphological Color Changes in Teleosts and in Reptiles 14 Color change in cephalopods 15 Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of insect color change towards understanding molecular links

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAbundance Estimation; Aerial Behavior; Age Estimation; Aggressive Behavior; Albinism; Amazon River Dolphin; Ambergris; Antarctic Fur Seal; Antarctic Marine Mammals; Archaeocetes, Archaic; Arctic Marine Mammals; Atlantic Spotted Dolphin; Atlantic White-sided Dolphin; Australian Sea Lion; Australian Snubfin Dolphin; Baculum; Baiji; Baikal Seal; Balance; Baleen; Baleen Whales (Mysticeti); Baleen Whales, Evolution; Barnacles; Basilosaurids and Kekenodontids; Beaked Whales, Overview; Bearded Seal; Behavior, Overview; Beluga Whale; Berardius Beaked Whales; Biogeography; Biotelemetry; Blubber; Blue Whale; Bones and Teeth, Histology of Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops aduncus, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin; Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Common bottlenose dolphin; Bottlenose Whales; Bowhead Whale; Bow-riding; Brain; Breathing; Bryde's Whale; Burmeister's Porpoise; Bycatch; California, Galapagos and Japanese Sea Lions; Callosities; Cape and Australian Fur Seals; Captivity; Caspian Seal; Cephalorhynchus Dolphins; Cetacea, Evolution; Cetacean Ecology; Cetacean Life History; Cetartiodactyla; Circulatory System; Climate Change; Clymene Dolphin; Coloration; Common Dolphin; Communication; Conservation; Crabeater Seal; Culture and Social Learning; Cuvier's Beaked Whale; Dall's Porpoise; Delphinids, Overview; Dental Morphology; Desmostylia; Dialects; Diet; Distribution; Diving Behavior; Diving Physiology; Dolphins, Porpoises, and Monodontids, Evolution; Dugong; Dusky Dolphin; Eared Seals (Otariidae); Earless Seals (Phocidae); Echolocation; Ecology; Elephant Seals; Embryology; Endangered Species and Populations; Endocrine Systems; Energetics; Entanglement of Whales in Fishing Gear; Epimeletic Behavior; Ethics; Evolutionary Patterns; Extinctions, Specific; False Killer Whale; Feeding Morphology; Feeding Strategy and Tactics; Filter Feeding; Fin Whale; Finless Porpoise; Fisheries Interactions; Folklore and Legends; Forelimb Anatomy; Franciscana; Fraser's Dolphin; Gastrointestinal Tract; Genetics and Genomics; Genetics, Forensics; Genetics, Management; Geographic Variation; Gray Seal; Gray Whale; Group Behavior; Guadalupe, Galapagos, and Juan Fernandez Fur Seals; Habitat Pressure; Hair and Fur; Hindlimb Anatomy; Harbor Porpoise; Harbor Seal; Harp Seal; Health; Hearing; History of Marine Mammal Research; Hooded Seal; Hourglass Dolphin; Humpback Dolphins; Humpback Whale; Hunting; Hybridism; Identification Methods; Indo-Pacific Beaked Whale; Intelligence; International Whaling Commission; Inuit and Marine Mammals; Irrawaddy Dolphin; Killer Whale; Krill and other Plankton; Language Learning and Cognitive Skills; Leopard Seal; Locomotion, Terrestrial; Management and Conservation; Manatees; Marine Parks, Zoos, and Aquariums; Marine Protected Areas; Mark-Recapture; Mass Mortalities; Mating Systems; Melon-headed Whale; Mesoplodon Beaked Whales; Migration and Movement Patterns; Mimicry; Minke Whales; Molecular Ecology; Monk Seals; Musculature; Museums and Collections; Narwhal; Neoceti; New Zealand Fur Seal; New Zealand Sea Lion; Noise; Northern Fur Seal; Ocean Environments; Odobenocetops; Omura's Whale; Osmoregulation; Otters; Pacific White-sided Dolphin; Pantropical Spotted Dolphin; Parasites; Parental Behavior; Pathology; Peale's Dolphin; Pilot Whales; Pinniped Ecology; Pinnipedia, Evolution; Pinniped Life History; Pinniped Physiology; Pinnipeds; Playful Behavior; Polar Bear; Pollution; Popular Culture and Literature; Population Dynamics; Porpoises, Overview; Predation on Marine Mammals; Predator-Prey Relationships; Prey Consumption; Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales; Pygmy Killer Whale; Pygmy Right Whale; Remoras; Reproductive Anatomy; Reproductive Behavior; Reproductive Physiology; Ribbon Seal; Right Whale Dolphins; Right Whales; Ringed Seal; Risso's Dolphin; River Dolphins; River Dolphins, Evolution; Ross Seal; Rough-toothed Dolphin; Scrimshaw; Sealing; Sei Whale; Sensory Biology; Sexual Dimorphism; Shepherd's Beaked Whale; Signature Whistles; Sirenian Life History; Sirenian Evolution; Skeleton; Skull; Sociobiology; Song; Sound; Sound Paths; South American Fur Seal; South American Sea Lion; Species & Subspecies; Spectacled Porpoise; Sperm and Beaked Whales, Evolution; Sperm Whale; Spinner Dolphin; Spotted Seal; Steller Sea Lion; Steller's Sea Cow; Stock Identity and Assessment; Strandings; Streamlining; Striped Dolphin; Subantarctic Fur Seal; Surveys; Sustainability; Susu and Bhulan; Swimming; Systematics; Territorial Behavior; Thermoregulation; Thorax and Abdomen, Anatomy; Tool Use; Toothed Whales (Odontoceti); Tourism; Training; Tucuxi and Guiana Dolphins; Tuna-Dolphin Issue; Vaquita; Vision; Walrus; Weddell Seal; Whale Lice; Whaling, Illegal and Pirate; Whaling, Japanese; Whaling, Modern; Whaling, Traditional; Whiskers; White-beaked Dolphin

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Book SynopsisAn essential, 2-volume reference for everyone interested in herpetology—professional herpetologists and their students conducting research in the classroom, at the zoo, and in the field, as well as amateurs.Trade ReviewThe discussion of envenomation identification, grading, and treatment is fascinating and clinically valuable. I was very impressed with the organization and readability of the text. I nearly forgot to mention the wonderful color photographs.... The amount of information packed into these two volumes is truly mindboggling. This is a 'must have' reference for anyone interested in these creatures. -- Grady Calhoun * "The Forked Tongue," The Monthly Newsletter of the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society *The information available is overwhelming, yet it is presented in scholarly and clearly understandable fashion, utilizing every available form of still documentation.... The two volumes are indeed a masterful compilation and overview of the venomous reptiles in this geographic region. The volumes are well-produced and published, with sturdy binding, easily readable font size and style, and excellent quality printing of illustrations, colored figures, and the abundant colored photographic plates.... The chapter on 'Venom Poisoning by North American Reptiles' and the following contribution entitled 'Snake Bites in Central and South America: Epidemiology Clinical Features and Clinical Management' offers abundant experiences, observations, and recommendations that often support those currently used by toxicologists and emergency room physicians in North America, yet are diverse enough to highlight some of the controversies and continuing debates on what is most appropriate when and how!... One could easily spend many hours reviewing the clinical recommendations made and observing the excellent documented color photographs of effects and the good-and-bad results from various management procedures.... Just to skim through the illustrations and accompanying text for elaboration opens up a new world for students, herpetologists, zoologists, and veterinary and human toxicologists conducting research in the field or at the zoo, or managing envenomated patients. * Veterinary and Human Toxicology *

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Book SynopsisAnimal Physiology: an environmental perspective provides a broad review of animal physiology, demonstrating how an understanding of the physiology of animals in their natural habitats helps us to understand how and why animals evolved the way they did, as well as how we can protect them from the extreme effects of changes to their environments.Trade ReviewFor a course more focused on animal physiology, this would certainly work as an appropriate, comprehensive textbook, especially as it includes all of the basics that students would, in theory, know before taking a physiology course, but have surely forgotten ... Overall, the volume is a considerable achievement -- and one that I am happy to have, especially in an electronic format. * Theodore Garland Jr., Quarterly Review of Biology *Very clearly explained. Easy and enjoyable to read. * Dr Sheena Cotter, University of Lincoln *The descriptions and explanations are excellent...the best I have read in a long time. * Professor William Velhagen, New York University *The emphasis on the environmental factors influencing physiological processes and the link from this to adaption to change is particularly helpful. * Dr Debbie Bartlett, University of Greenwich *Table of ContentsPART ONE - ANIMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT1: The diversity of animals and their interactions with natural environments2: Energy metabolism - generating energy from food3: Cells, organisms and interactions with their environmentPART TWO - WATER AND SALTS4: Body fluid regulation: principles and processes5: Osmotic and ionic regulation in aquatic animals6: Water balance of land animals7: Kidneys and excretionPART THREE - TEMPERATURE8: Temperature and the principles of heat exchange9: Temperature regulation in ectotherms10: Temperature regulation in endothermsPART FOUR - OXYGEN11: The respiratory gases, gas exchange and transport: key characteristics and principles12: Respiratory systems: an overview13: Transport in respiratory systems, and acid-base balance14: Cardiovascular systems: an overview15: Environmental and behavioural influences on the cardio-respiratory systemPART FIVE - COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION16: Neurons, nerves and nervous systems: an overview17: How animals sense their environments18: Muscles and animal movement19: Hormones20: Reproduction21: Control of sodium, water, and calcium balance22: Integration of the respiratory and circulatory systems: rhythm generation and control

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times BestsellerA new, fully updated narrative edition of David Attenborough's seminal biography of our world, The Living Planet.Nowhere on our planet is devoid of life. Plants and animals thrive or survive within every extreme of climate and habitat that it offers. Single species, and often whole communities adapt to make the most of ice cap and tundra, forest and plain, desert, ocean and volcano. These adaptations can be truly extraordinary: fish that walk or lay eggs on leaves in mid-air; snakes that fly; flightless birds that graze like deer; and bears that grow hair on the soles of their feet.In The Living Planet, David Attenborough's searching eye, unfailing curiosity and infectious enthusiasm explain and illuminate the intricate lives of the these colonies, from the lonely heights of the Himalayas to the wild creatures that have established themselves in the most recent of environments, the city. By the end of this book it is difficult to say which is the more astonishing the ingenuity with which individual species contrive a living, or the complexity of their interdependence on each other and on the habitations provided by our planet.In this new edition, the author, with the help of zoologist Matthew Cobb, has added all the most up-to-date discoveries of ecology and biology, as well as a full-colour 64-page photography section. He also addresses the urgent issues facing our living planet: climate change, pollution and mass extinction of species.Trade ReviewPraise for the New Edition of Life on Earth: ‘It does not disappoint. The new Life on Earth is as glorious as the first’ Guardian ‘A beautiful and wide ranging work. The breadth of natural history covered is extraordinary and mesmerising. Life on Earth is still breathtakingly rich, and we would know far less about it were it not for Attenborough’s wonderful skills of communication over the years: our cultural and scientific lives would be poorer without him’ New Scientist ‘This natural history masterpiece offers a spectacular snapshot of a once-wild planet’ New Scientist Praise for David Attenborough: ‘A marvellous book … unputdownable … utterly engaging’ Telegraph ‘An elegant and gently funny writer’ The Times ‘His writing is as impressive and as enjoyable as his TV programmes and there can be no higher praise’ Daily Express ‘A great educator as well as a great naturalist’ Barack Obama ‘Sir David is a wizard of television, and, like Gandalf or Dumbledore, he has a near-magical gift for combining warmth and gravitas . . . the man who, for me, exemplifies the best in British broadcasting’ Louis Theroux ‘When I was a young boy I used to love turning on the television and watching David's programmes and really feeling like I was either back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet’ HRH Prince William

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