Search results for ""CSIRO Publishing""

Did you know that there are plants that eat insects? Plants whose seeds spread in poo? Plants that move when you touch them? And plants that grow on other plants?Plantastic! presents 26 of Australia’s most unique and incredible native plants. Discover and identify native plants found in your local park, bushland, or even in your very own backyard.With its perfect balance of fun facts, activities, adventurous ideas and gorgeous illustrations, Plantastic! will prove just how fantastic Australia’s native plants really are!Features Suggests activities designed to encourage kids from all parts of Australia to explore their local area to go see firsthand some of the interesting plants described in the book. Explains a number of traditional Indigenous uses for some plants including hunting, fishing, building and medicine. Rachel Gyan’s beautiul and bright illustrations enable kids to recognise the plants from this book in the bush.

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Global food security is dependent on ecologically viable production systems, but current agricultural practices are often at odds with environmental sustainability. Resolving this disparity is a huge task, but there is much that can be learned from traditional food production systems that persisted for thousands of years. Ecoagriculture for a Sustainable Food Future describes the ecological history of food production systems in Australia, showing how Aboriginal food systems collapsed when European farming methods were imposed on bushlands. The industrialised agricultural systems that are now prevalent across the world require constant input of finite resources, and continue to cause destructive environmental change. This book explores the damage that has arisen from farming systems unsuited to their environment, and presents compelling evidence that producing food is an ecological process that needs to be rethought in order to ensure resilient food production into the future. Cultural sensitivity warning Readers are warned that there may be words and descriptions that may be culturally sensitive, and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. This publication may also contain terms and annotations that reflect the historical attitude of the author or the period in which the item was written and is considered inappropriate today. FEATURES: Offers a relevant and topical look at the way current food production is negatively impacting on our environment, and the lessons that can be learnt from the past. Uses accessible language to introduce key concepts including Social Ecological Systems, agroecosystems, resilience, sustainability and traditional ecological knowledge. Provides examples of present and possible future adaptive pathways that would work within the constraints of nature in Australia, and worldwide.

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When he hatches from his egg, Sepio, a baby bobtail squid, is not able to glow. His dark shape is too obvious in the moonlit water and all kinds of predators lurk nearby. Ali, an intrepid Vibrio fischeri bacterium, is determined to reach safety too. Can Ali and Sepio help each other?The Squid, the Vibrio and the Moon is a beautifully illustrated storybook about the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and the bioluminescent bacteria that help it glow in the moonlight.Originally published in 2014, this book has been extensively re-written to delight and captivate primary-school aged readers.FEATURES: A beautifully illustrated science-adventure story, set in the waters of Hawaii. Engages children in the invisible world of microbes. Combines cutting-edge scientific research, rich narrative and beautiful illustrations to tell stories that describe symbiotic partnerships between microbes and larger life forms.

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Wildland fires have an irreplaceable role in sustaining many of our forests, shrublands and grasslands. They can be used as controlled burns or occur as free-burning wildfires, and can sometimes be dangerous and destructive to fauna, human communities and natural resources. Through scientific understanding of their behaviour, we can develop the tools to reliably use and manage fires across landscapes in ways that are compatible with the constraints of modern society while benefiting the ecosystems.The science of wildland fire is incomplete, however. Even the simplest fire behaviours – how fast they spread, how long they burn and how large they get – arise from a dynamical system of physical processes interacting in unexplored ways with heterogeneous biological, ecological and meteorological factors across many scales of time and space. The physics of heat transfer, combustion and ignition, for example, operate in all fires at millimetre and millisecond scales but wildfires can become conflagrations that burn for months and exceed millions of hectares.Wildland Fire Behaviour: Dynamics, Principles and Processes examines what is known and unknown about wildfire behaviours. The authors introduce fire as a dynamical system along with traditional steady-state concepts. They then break down the system into its primary physical components, describe how they depend upon environmental factors, and explore system dynamics by constructing and exercising a nonlinear model. The limits of modelling and knowledge are discussed throughout but emphasised by review of large fire behaviours. Advancing knowledge of fire behaviours will require a multidisciplinary approach and rely on quality measurements from experimental research, as covered in the final chapters.

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Peri-urban landscapes are some of the world’s most vulnerable areas. Although they are often thought of simply as land awaiting development, these landscapes retain important natural resources and make valuable contributions to agriculture, water use, biodiversity conservation, landscape preservation and human well-being. Billions of people use them and enjoy their natural values. Their continuing loss threatens to alter our relationships with nature and have a negative impact on the environment.The Future of the Fringe first explores the history of peri-urban areas, international peri-urban policy and practice, and related concepts. It analyses internationally relevant issues such as green belts and urban growth boundaries, regional policy, land supply and price, and the concepts of liveability, attractiveness, well-being and rural amenity. It then examines a range of Australian peri-urban issues, as an extended case study. The book argues for a precautionary approach so that we retain the greatest number of options to adapt during rapid and unprecedented change.

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Amphibians are among the most threatened groups of animals on earth. In part due to their highly permeable skin, amphibians are highly sensitive to environmental changes and pollution and provide an early-warning system of deteriorating environmental conditions. The more we learn about the impact of environmental changes on amphibians, the better we as humans will be able to arrest their demise, and our own.Status of Conservation and Decline of Amphibians brings together the current knowledge on the status of the unique frogs of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Although geographically proximate, each region presents unique challenges and opportunities in amphibian research and conservation. This book contributes to an understanding of the current conservation status of the amphibians of each region, aims to stimulate research into halting amphibian declines, and provides a better foundation for making conservation decisions. It is an invaluable reference for environmental and governmental agencies, researchers, policy-makers involved with biodiversity conservation, and the interested public.FEATURES: Contains expert analysis of the conservation status of frogs in different regions within Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands as well as the threats they face Provides recommendations for future monitoring, research and legislation and a benchmark against which future threats can be assessed and effectiveness of conservation measures evaluated This book is Volume 11 (Status of Conservation and Decline of Amphibians: Eastern Hemisphere), Part 6 (Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands) of the Amphibian Biology series

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Since the early 1990s there has been a global trend towards governmental devolution. However, in Australia, alongside deregulation, public–private partnerships and privatisation, there has been increasing centralisation rather than decentralisation of urban governance. Australian state governments are responsible for the planning, management and much of the funding of the cities, but the Commonwealth government has on occasion asserted much the same role. Disjointed policy and funding priorities between levels of government have compromised metropolitan economies, fairness and the environment. Australia’s Metropolitan Imperative: An Agenda for Governance Reform makes the case that metropolitan governments would promote the economic competitiveness of Australia’s cities and enable more effective and democratic planning and management. The contributors explore the global metropolitan ‘renaissance’, document the history of metropolitan debate in Australia and demonstrate metropolitan governance failures. They then discuss the merits of establishing metropolitan governments, including economic, fiscal, transport, land use, housing and environmental benefits. The book will be a useful resource for those engaged in strategic, transport and land use planning, and a core reference for students and academics of urban governance and government.Features The first comprehensive examination of the need for a fourth sphere of governance in Australia, covering the country’s major city-regions, the metropolitan areas. Empowers readers to be able to analyse and critique the policy propositions of federal and state governments for Australia’s cities. Includes comparative international case studies.

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Do you know what a tree hollow is?To you and me, a tree hollow is just a hole, cavity or tunnel in a tree or branch. But to an animal, that hollow may be a bedroom, hiding place, nursery or shelter. It is the ultimate tree house!Come and take a peek inside the amazing world of tree hollows and discover more than 340 species of incredible Australian animals that call hollows home. With colour photos of glorious gliders, darting dunnarts, minute microbats and many more, this book is full of fun facts about animals that use tree hollows as places for resting, nesting or hiding.Find out how hollows are created, why they are threatened, and meet scientists who spend their time hollow-hunting. There are also plenty of tips on how you can spot hollows yourself, help to protect the environment and encourage habitat for hollow-dependent animals.Features Highly visual and engaging content, making learning easy and fun The first book for young readers dedicated to Australian hollow-dependent species Teaches young readers about Australia’s unique fauna and their habitat requirements, and inspires the next generation to tackle the challenge of biodiversity loss

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People have been visiting and living in the Victorian Grampians, also known as Gariwerd, for thousands of generations. They have both witnessed and caused vast environmental transformations in and around the ranges. Gariwerd: A History of the Grampians explores the geological and ecological significance of the mountains and combines research from across disciplines to tell the story of how humans and the environment have interacted, and how the ways people have thought about the environments of the ranges have changed through time.In this new account, historian Benjamin Wilkie examines how Djab wurrung and Jardwadjali people and their ancestors lived in and around the mountains, how they managed the land and natural resources, and what kinds of archaeological evidence they have left behind over the past 20 000 years. He explores the history of European colonisation in the area from the middle of the 19th century and considers the effects of this on both the first people of Gariwerd and the environments of the ranges and their surrounding plains in western Victoria. The book covers the rise of science, industry and tourism in the mountains, and traces the eventual declaration of the Grampians National Park in 1984. Finally, it examines more recent debates about the past, present and future of the park, including over its significant Indigenous history and heritage.

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Bryozoans are aquatic animals that form colonies of connected individuals. They take a variety of forms: some are bushy and moss-like, some are flat and encrusting and others resemble lace. Bryozoans are mostly marine, with species found in all oceans from sublittoral to abyssal depths, but freshwater species also exist.Some bryozoans are of concern as marine-fouling organisms and invasive species, while others show promise as sources of anticancer, antiviral and antifouling substances.Written by experts in the field, Australian Bryozoa Volume 2: Taxonomy of Australian Families is the second of two volumes describing Australia’s 1200 known species of bryozoans, the richest diversity of bryozoans of any country in the world. It contains detailed taxonomic data and illustrated family-level treatments, which can be used to identify specimens. It provides an authoritative reference for biology students, academics and others interested in marine biology.Features The second of two volumes (published concurrently) describing Australia’s 1200 known species of bryozoans. Contains detailed taxonomic data and illustrated family-level treatments, which can be used to identify specimens. Illustrated throughout with scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showing intricate details of bryozoan biology and morphology.

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Meet the super dogs, hero rats and cyborg bees keeping our environment safe.Come on an action-packed adventure with an amazing mob of animal eco-warriors as they use their special talents to help solve our planet’s environmental problems!From the nosy noses of biosecurity beagles at airports to rats learning to sniff out landmines in war-torn landscapes, animals are using their unique abilities to help make the world a better and safer place. With fantastic colour photos of animal eco-warriors at work, this book is full of fun facts on how animals are helping humanity work towards a more sustainable future. There are also plenty of tips on how you can make a difference to the planet. Join the animal eco-warrior team today!This book is ideal for teachers and librarians looking for locally relevant, teachable materials addressing environment and sustainability issues, as well as for children and their families with an interest in animals and science.Perfect for readers aged 9-12.

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Provides an insight into the environmental knowledge of Indigenous Australians.Indigenous Australians have long understood sustainable hunting and harvesting, seasonal changes in flora and fauna, predator–prey relationships and imbalances, and seasonal fire management. Yet the extent of their knowledge and expertise has been largely unknown and underappreciated by non-Aboriginal colonists, especially in the south-east of Australia where Aboriginal culture was severely fractured.Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South-eastern Australia is the first book to examine historical records from early colonists who interacted with south-eastern Australian Aboriginal communities and documented their understanding of the environment, natural resources such as water and plant and animal foods, medicine and other aspects of their material world. This book provides a compelling case for the importance of understanding Indigenous knowledge, to inform discussions around climate change, biodiversity, resource management, health and education. It will be a valuable reference for natural resource management agencies, academics in Indigenous studies and anyone interested in Aboriginal culture and knowledge.

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The city of Perth is well known and treasured for its areas of protected bushland in the heart of the city. Kings Park and Bold Park represent a significant part of the natural heritage of the Swan Coastal Plain and are an important part of city life. The city is also a gateway to the incredible biodiversity to be found in south-west Western Australia.Perth Plants provides a comprehensive photographic guide to all plants known to occur in the bushlands of Kings Park and Bold Park, both native plants and naturalised weeds. There are 778 species included, representing approximately one-quarter of all the plants in the greater Perth region, and one-tenth of all species known for the south-west of Western Australia.This new edition contains 22 additional species and updated photography throughout. It is an essential reference for anyone interested in the plants of south-west Western Australia, and particularly the Swan Coastal Plain.

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Point-of-care testing (POCT) refers to pathology testing performed in a clinical setting at the time of patient consultation, generating a rapid test result that enables informed and timely clinical action to be taken on patient care. It offers patients greater convenience and access to health services and helps to improve clinical outcomes. POCT also provides innovative solutions for the detection and management of chronic, acute and infectious diseases, in settings including family practices, Indigenous medical services, community health facilities, rural and remote areas and in developing countries, where health-care services are often geographically isolated from the nearest pathology laboratory.A Practical Guide to Global Point-of-Care Testing shows health professionals how to set up and manage POCT services under a quality-assured, sustainable, clinically and culturally effective framework, as well as understand the wide global scope and clinical applications of POCT.The book is divided into three major themes: the management of POCT services, a global perspective on the clinical use of POCT, and POCT for specific clinical settings. Chapters within each theme are written by experts and explore wide-ranging topics such as selecting and evaluating devices, POCT for diabetes, coagulation disorders, HIV, malaria and Ebola, and the use of POCT for disaster management and in extreme environments. Figures are included throughout to illustrate the concepts, principles and practice of POCT.Written for a broad range of practicing health professionals from the fields of medical science, health science, nursing, medicine, paramedic science, Indigenous health, public health, pharmacy, aged care and sports medicine, A Practical Guide to Global Point-of-Care Testing will also benefit university students studying these health-related disciplines.

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Provides a fascinating and at times amusing insight into the real world uses of chemicals.Chemicals are everywhere. Many are natural and safe, others synthetic and dangerous. Or is it the other way around? Walking through the supermarket, you might ask yourself: Should I be eating organic food? Is that anti-wrinkle cream a gimmick? Is it worth buying BPA-free plastics?This Sixth Edition of Chemistry in the Marketplace provides fresh explanations, fascinating facts and funny anecdotes about the serious science in the products we buy and the resources we use. It might even save you some money.With chapters on the chemistry found in different parts of our home, in the backyard and in the world around us, Ben Selinger and Russell Barrow explain how things work, where marketing can be deceptive and what risks you should really be concerned about.Chemistry in the Marketplace is a valuable text book for university lecturers, high school teachers and students of chemistry and chemistry related subjects and disciplines, such as biochemistry, microbiology and science in society.

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Queensland’s Tropics provide numerous environments for enjoyable walking: lush rainforests, cloud-shrouded mountains, extinct volcanoes, drier savanna woodlands, magnificent beaches on the coast and Great Barrier Reef islands.This book brings together more than 150 of the best walks, tracks or trails in Queensland’s Tropics, located within the coastal strip between Rockhampton and Cooktown. Walks vary from short boardwalk strolls in the lowland rainforests of Daintree National Park to 4-6 day hiking and camping trips on Hinchinbrook Island. Other routes follow old gold miners’ and forestry tracks or coaching routes or feature historical sites, rivers, lagoons, geological and geographical formations or much earlier Aboriginal communication tracks where Dreamtime stories add a further dimension. Man-made environments of abandoned gold towns, heritage riverfronts, Art Deco streetscapes, and Second World War installations also feature. Most routes are best completed during the ‘Dry’ season (May to October) and walked by moderately fit individuals. Most do not require specialist navigation or bushcraft skills.Walks, Tracks and Trails of Queensland’s Tropics highlights the best the region has to offer. Easy-to-interpret maps are included to help you navigate, and the book’s size makes it convenient to carry in the backpack.

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Sprinter and Sprummer challenges the traditional four seasons, and encourages us to think about how we view changes in our natural world.Since 1788, Australia has carried the yoke of four European seasons that make no sense in most parts of the country. We may like them for historical or cultural reasons, or because they are the same throughout the world, but they tell us nothing of our natural environment. It's time to reject those seasons and to adopt a system that brings us more in tune with our plants and animals – a system that helps us to notice and respond to climate change.Using examples from his 25 years working in botanic gardens, author Timothy Entwisle illustrates how our natural world really responds to seasonal changes in temperature, rainfall and daylight, and why it would be better to divide up the year based on what Australian plants do rather than ancient rites of the Northern Hemisphere.Sprinter and Sprummer opens with the origins and theory of the traditional seasonal system, and goes on to review the Aboriginal seasonal classifications used across Australia. Entwisle then proposes a new five-season approach, explaining the characteristics of each season, along with the biological changes that define them. The book uses seasons to describe the fascinating triggers in the life of a plant (and plant-like creatures), using charismatic flora such as carnivorous plants, the Wollemi Pine and orchids, as well as often overlooked organisms such as fungi. The final chapter considers climate change and how the seasons are shifting whether we like it or not.

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This field guide to introduced dung beetles covers all species found in Australia, including two newly introduced species. It will enable farmers, Landcare workers and the interested public to identify and learn about the basic biology of these beetles found in cattle dung.

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Volume 39 of the Flora of Australia describes 17 families of monocots in 76 genera and 256 species. Most of the families are aquatic, and include the sea-grasses, pond weeds, and some major agricultural weed species. Four families are entirely or mostly terrestrial. The aquatic families are all small in number of species, and two, Juncaginaceae and Posidoniaceae, have their greatest diversity in Australia. Lemnaceae contains the world’s smallest and most reduced flowering plants, some as tiny as 1 mm long. Of the terrestrial families, all are predominantly tropical, with their greatest diversity outside Australia. Arecaceae (palms) and Pandanaceae are often large trees, and include species of economic importance as food and oil crops, fibre, timber and other construction materials, as well as many horticultural species. Araceae are mostly climbers but also arborescent to aquatic herbs, with several important food species, and many horticultural species and cultivars. Thirty authors, illustrators and photographers have contributed to this volume.

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For the first time in a single volume, this book brings together more than 140 of the best walks, tracks or trails in New South Wales, which can be walked by the moderately fit individual. They are located in national parks, coastal parks, state forests, conservation reserves, historic parks and local government and public easements. Other routes follow state highways, minor roads, coastal cliffs, old gold routes, or pass bushranger haunts and back roads linking towns and historical features. Most routes do not require specialist navigation or bushcraft skills, and vary in length from a 45-minute stroll to a 4-day, 65-kilometre camping trip. Walks, Tracks and Trails of New South Wales highlights the best the state has to offer, from an outback ghost town and ancient lake beds, to Australia’s highest mountain, coastal environments and World Heritage rainforests. Easy-to-interpret maps are included to help you navigate, and the book’s size makes it convenient to bring with you on your adventures.

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The bioregion of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea possesses a unique natural heritage stretching back over 50 million years since the break-up of the great southern continent of Gondwana. The South Australian Museum focuses on enhancing a general knowledge of this extraordinary legacy by encouraging photography of the region's nature and wilderness, and promoting an annual competition to find the Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year. Australasian Nature Photography: ANZANG Sixth Collection presents more than 150 of the finest photographs submitted to the competition. Each photograph is accompanied by technical information as well as anecdotes about how the picture was taken, which will stimulate yet further interest in the flora and fauna and their conservation in the region. Nick Moir from New South Wales is the Overall Winner for the 2009 ANZANG Nature Photography Competition with his evocative image Temora bushfire. Prizes were awarded in 11 other categories, including the Portfolio Prize for the photographer who submits the best of six or more images. This year, the Portfolio Prize winner is Justin Gilligan from New South Wales. Winning and commended photographs from the competition will be on display at the South Australian Museum from 2 October to 22 November 2009.

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Growth in human consumption is the transcending problem of our times. In the short span of 50 years, high income societies have shifted from an era when a ‘simple life’ was the norm to one where material consumption is pervasive. Consumption has become the engine for post-industrial societies. The liveability of cities in these societies is directly attributable to the consumption of resources – indirectly via their built environments and directly by their residents. This pattern of development is not sustainable. Nor is it equitable. Urban Consumption explores the prospect for winding back current levels of household consumption in high income societies, covering such critical areas as energy, water, food, housing and travel.

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Running a Small Flock of Sheep uses a step-by-step approach and has been written for small-scale sheep farmers and inexperienced people considering a rural life-style change. It will prepare the reader for each procedure and event on a sheep farm. The book begins with an introduction to the basic principles and procedures of sheep farming and the economics and required farm infrastructure for different sheep enterprises. There are chapters on handling techniques, the obligations of owners, and laws and regulations covering the welfare of sheep. The remainder of the text deals with sheep husbandry including health and nutrition, condition scoring, breeding, lamb care and weaner management. There are separate chapters on wool production and prime lamb production. The final chapter covers the diagnosis, control and prevention of sheep diseases. This reliable and understandable guide provides all the information anyone needs to make the right choices in successfully managing a small flock of sheep, whether you're running a single pet or several hundred sheep for prime lamb, wool or dual purpose.

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Volume 56A of the highly acclaimed Flora of Australia series covers some of the most spectacular and ecologically significant Australian lichens. This volume provides treatments of Pertusaria and Lecanora, two of the most species-rich crustose genera on rock and bark in Australia. Pertusaria is often dominant in tropical, temperate and alpine communities in eastern Australia. Lecanora occurs on rock, soil, and on trunks and canopy branches of trees in all ecosystems; some are especially prominent in the comparatively species-poor lichen floras of semi-arid and arid regions. Also included here is Usnea, a genus of robust and often luxuriant lichens ranging from almost rigid tufts on exposed, alpine rocks to metre-long skeins hanging from the canopies of temperate rainforest trees. Complete or partial accounts of nine families are provided in Volume 56A, including 17 genera and 287 species and infra-specific taxa. This brings to 1168 the number of Australian lichen species and infra-specific taxa treated in the four volumes published so far.

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In Medicine of Australian Mammals, more than 30 experts present the most current information available on the medical management of all taxa of Australian native mammals. This comprehensive text is divided into two parts. The first includes chapters on general topics relevant to the medical management of captive and free-ranging Australian native mammals such as: veterinary considerations for the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release of wildlife; veterinary aspects of hand-rearing orphaned marsupials; marine mammal strandings and the role of the veterinarian; and wildlife health investigation and necropsy of Australian mammals. The second part covers the medicine of specific taxa of Australian native mammals. Detailed information on taxonomy, distribution, biology, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, husbandry, nutrition, physical and chemical restraint, clinical pathology, hand-rearing, diseases, zoonoses, therapeutics, reproductive management and surgery is included. This practical, one-source reference is complemented by detailed photographs and illustrations, as well as tables listing reproductive and physiological data, diets, haematology and biochemistry values, and drug formularies. Appendices include a checklist of the mammals of Australia and its territories and a guide to the identification of common parasites of Australian mammals. Medicine of Australian Mammals is clinically oriented and is a must-have for veterinary clinicians, no matter how experienced. The book will also be of use to veterinary students, researchers, biologists, zoologists, wildlife carers and other wildlife professionals.

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Horse Sense provides an in-depth guide to horse care under conditions unique to Australia and New Zealand. It is written in an easy-to-read style to appeal to novices as well as experienced owners and covers all aspects of horse care and management. This new edition provides the latest information on new feeds and supplements, new techniques for handling horses, safe riding, and treating injuries, diseases, worms and other pests. The book also incorporates the latest standards and guidelines for the welfare of horses.

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Part of an eight-volume set providing a comprehensive study of Australian weevils, this second volume focuses on the Brentidae, Eurhynchidae, Apionidae, and immature stages. Features of the set of books include: information on about 4,000 species; an annotated catalogue of Australian weevils; keys to families, genera and species; and information on host plants, distribution, life histories and economic importance. The eight volumes are aimed at libraries in universities, museums, departments of agricultures, forestry, quarantine, state and national parks, environmental studies, specialists and naturalists in Australia, and other countries.

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Plants of Subtropical Eastern Australia describes the rich flora of this biogeographically distinct region located on the east coast of Australia, covering the north coast of New South Wales and South-East Queensland. This guide presents a selection of common, threatened and ecologically significant plants found in the region’s major vegetation habitats including rainforest, heathland, grassy forest, wetlands and rock outcrops.More than 500 plants are featured, with photographs and descriptive features enabling the reader to identify any species encountered. Interesting biological, cultural and historical characteristics of each species are included, along with notes on the plant’s biogeography and a map of its distribution.Suitable for anyone with an interest in plant ecology and botany, Plants of Subtropical Eastern Australia is the definitive guide to this beautiful region of Australia and its unique flora. Presents an overview of the wide range of ecosystems in this biologically important region. Species accounts detail the ecology, biogeography and taxonomy of more than 500 of the region’s plants. Readers will be able to identify plants most likely to be encountered, and gain an understanding of the wider biogeographical relationships of common and rare species.

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A land of extremes, the Northern Territory's arid deserts and monsoonal forests harbour some of Australia's smallest and the world's largest reptiles, as well as some of the world's most venomous snakes.Field Guide to the Reptiles of the Northern Territory is the first regional guide to the crocodiles, turtles, lizards and snakes of this megadiverse region. It presents introductions to order, family and genus; keys to family, genus and species; and species profiles, including descriptions, photos, distribution maps and notes on natural history. It features profiles for the 390 species that occur or may occur on the land and in the sea of the Northern Territory.Extensively illustrated, this is an essential resource for wildlife enthusiasts and professional and amateur herpetologists.KEY INFO Dichotomous keys to families, genera and species. Detailed profiles of the 390 reptile species found in and around the Northern Territory, including distribution maps and information about identification and ecology. Multiple colour photographs of species, as well as detailed illustrations that highlight important identification features.

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Mistletoes are fascinating, diverse, colourful and ecologically important plants, found in most parts of Western Australia.Mistletoes of Western Australia is a guide to identification, mistletoe ecology, conservation, biogeography and evolution, including how mistletoes cope with fire. The book explores the relevance of mistletoes to the biodiversity of the communities in which they live, and provides information on their hosts and simple identification keys to species. Each species is illustrated and described in simple terms, with photos illustrating the species and a map of its known distribution in Western Australia.Featuring 7 genera and 42 species, this comprehensive illustrated guide will be essential for botanists, conservationists and anyone interested in Australian flora.FEATURES: Provides keys to all 7 genera and 42 species of Western Australian mistletoes. Includes descriptions and images of all Western Australian taxa, with information on hosts and distribution maps for all taxa. Covers many species that also occur in the Northern Territory. Features chapters on mistletoe ecology and biology.

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A captivating story of the remarkable, but critically endangered, swift parrot – one of the fastest parrots in the world!Swifty grows from a hatchling to a fledgling in the blue-gum forests of Tasmania. She is then ready to make a challenging migration, following the blossom trail across Bass Strait to mainland south-eastern Australia.Swifty faces many threats and dangers, but she must return home. Will she make it?Fly with Swifty in this beautifully illustrated story, and learn how to spot a swift parrot and help protect them.Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.FEATURES Captivating story of one of the world's fastest parrots, the critically endangered swift parrot. Astred Hick's illustrations beautifully capture the swift parrot's challenging migration journey from Tasmania to mainland Australia following the blossom trail. Provides facts about the swift parrot, including tips for kids on how to spot one in their backyard, and how to help protect them.

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A reindeer treks a continent under unimaginable weather extremes. One tiny bird flies non-stop for nine days, while another flies from the north to south pole (and back!) every year. A whale swims around an entire hemisphere.Animal Migrations: Flying, Walking, Swimming offers a fascinating insight into the what, where, why and how of these incredible journeys of survival. It explores the migrations of mammals, birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and aquatic microorganisms. Discover exceptional and unusual journeys, their effect on our world, and how we can help these migrating animals.The remarkable adventures covered in Animal Migrations show strength, determination, inbuilt knowledge and the importance of community across global connections.Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.Features An engaging introduction for kids to animal migrations and how they play out around the lobe. Features exceptional and unusual animal migration journeys, by land, air and sea. Packed with fascinating facts, photos and fun illustrations. Shares the migration stories of a broad range of mammals, birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and aquatic microorganisms. Explores the threats migrating animals face, and the different ways we can help.

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Magpie has one job, one desire, one purpose: KEEP THE EGGS SAFE. Always on alert for danger, will Magpie's determination be enough when rock-carrying intruders arrive? Why do magpies swoop and why do we have such a fascination with them? Discover more about these clever, cheeky and charming songbirds through this delightful book. Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.

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Fire is a natural part of the Australian bush. This is a story about that relationship – fire that breathes life back into nature.Alight shares the story of Australian native plants and animals during a planned fire. Discover how the fire helps Christmas Bells grow new flowers and Wallum Banksia to open its woody seed capsules. Follow Antechinus and a tiny Wallum Sedge Frog as they face the danger of the fire – and the challenges that come after. See how the bush recovers and flourishes after the fire, all under the watch of Old Eucalypt.With engaging text by Sam Lloyd, and stunning illustrations by Samantha Metcalfe, Alight is a gentle exploration of the importance and benefits of healthy fire in the bush.Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.KEY INFO Explores how planned fire is a necessary element in the fire-prone ecosystems of the Australian bush. Shows how different species of plants and animals respond to fire and can benefit from post-fire conditions. Illustrates how tiny animals can survive fire and how fire can trigger flower production, seed release and germination in plants. Demonstrates the challenges animals and plants can also face in the post-fire environment.

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The Australian Soil Classification provides a framework for organising knowledge about Australian soils by allocating soils to classes via a key. Since its publication in 1996, this book has been widely adopted and formally endorsed as the official national system. It has provided a means of communication among scientists and land managers and has proven to be of particular value in land resource survey and research programs, environmental studies and education. Classification is a basic requirement of all science and needs to be periodically revised as knowledge increases. This third edition of The Australian Soil Classification includes updates from a working group of the National Committee on Soil and Terrain (NCST). The main change in this edition accommodates new knowledge and understanding of the significance, nature, distribution and refined testing for soils comprising deep sands, leading to the inclusion of a new Order, the Arenosols. The introduction of the Arenosols Order led to a review and changes to Calcarosols, Tenosols and Rudosols.The Australian Soil Classification is Volume 4 in the Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook Series.

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Have you heard of the Great Southern Reef?Join Professor Seaweed and her friends Frankie and Sam to learn more about one of Australia's best kept secrets!The Great Southern Reef spans thousands of kilometres along the coast from northern New South Wales to Western Australia. It is home to giant kelp forests and fascinating animals such as rock lobsters, sea snails and sponges. Explore the sandy beaches with this inquisitive trio, and discover marine curiosities that are washed up along the coast after a big storm.You may be inspired to go beachcombing yourself, to learn and care about the animals and seaweed that you find!Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6–9.

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High in the Australian Alps, Possum faces the challenges of finding enough food and shelter to survive the harsh alpine winter. She will spend months hibernating under a blanket of snow. Will she last through the year to successfully raise a new family?The Mountain Pygmy-possum is a unique endangered species that's small in size but huge in appeal! Once thought to be extinct, there are now fewer than 2500 of these tiny survivors in the wild. They need snow and Bogong Moths to survive, and also support through great conservation work.Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths is a lyrical adventure from former zoologist Julie Murphy and beautifully illustrated by Ben Clifford, which is perfect for primary-aged readers.FEATURES Reveals the relationship between the mountain pygmy-possum and the bogong moth, which is an essential food source. Inspires young readers to tackle the challenges of biodiversity loss, habitat loss and climate change. Written by a former zoologist and zookeeper, and author of almost 20 books published in Australia and internationally. Includes links to further learning and an online citizen-science activity. Links in to Zoos Victoria campaigns to turn off lights so bogong moths can return to alpine region.

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Join Milly on her microlight adventure and discover how amazing and awesome migratory shorebirds are!In A Shorebird Flying Adventure you'll take a trip to the Arctic tundra and back. On the way you'll meet the birds who travel phenomenal distances every year and explore their precious wetland habitats and breeding grounds. Learn fascinating facts about their diet and find out Milly's top tips to tell one species from another. Grab your binoculars, hop on board and let's go bird watching!Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.

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Poo, Spew and Other Gross Things Animals Do! will show you how being gross isn't just hilarious – it can be an important survival strategy for animals all over the world.Take a deep breath and step into the world of not just poo, but also spew, snot and all the other gross things animals do to survive and thrive. From using poo to build a nest, leaving stinky secretions to find a mate, or oozing slime to deter a predator, the animals in this book are amazing … and revolting. Discover a whole world of poo, learn how to be a poo detective, and meet some of the great scientists doing gross and yucky work! You'll laugh. You'll cry. You might even throw up!Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 8-12.

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Get ready for lift-off on a Martian adventure!Have you ever imagined living on another planet? How to Survive on Mars explores whether we could live on this rocky planet, deep in the solar system. But with no air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat and not enough sunlight to keep us warm, living on Mars is going to be challenging! But it just might be possible.Take a journey to the Red Planet, and discover Mars' natural wonders, like polar ice caps, the highest volcano in the solar system and a 45-kilometre-wide impact crater that was once a Martian lake.Packed with stunning photographs, fun activities and quizzes, this book will show you what you need to do to survive on Mars! Join scientists, engineers and science-fiction writers for a space exploration adventure.Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 8 to 12.Features Explores what humans would need to do and the challenges we'd need to overcome to live on Mars. Introduces kids to astronomy and space exploration in an engaging way. Includes fun activities and quizzes, as well as amazing photographs from Mars space missions. Features interviews with astrobiologists, geologists, engineers, archaeologists and sci-fi writers.

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Our oceans are amazing! They are filled with wonderful sea creatures and are essential for a healthy planet. But it's now estimated that there are more pieces of plastic in the ocean than visible stars in the Milky Way. So how can we stop plastic from our homes and cities from ending up floating in oceans far away? By becoming ocean change-makers!Oceans of Plastic explores how ocean systems and swirling currents bring plastics together into massive ocean garbage patches. It also uncovers the floating world of the 'plastisphere' – a mini community of microbes living on ocean plastics – and explains how plastic breaks up, not down, and can even end up on your dinner plate!Oceans of Plastic is packed with great ideas and simple changes that you can make to help our oceans. Become an ocean change-maker in your home, school or community, and inspire others to join you in protecting the future of our oceans.Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 9 to 12.

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We are currently facing significant challenges in environmental management that must be addressed to maintain the health of our planet and our population. While carbon offsetting in its various forms is widespread globally, few countries have fully legislated and put into operation other offset policies. This edited collection aims to fill the gap of knowledge on environmental offsets, from theory to practice.Environmental Offsets addresses four major forms of environmental offsets – biodiversity offsets, carbon offsets, offsetting the depletion of non-renewable resources and offsetting the destruction of built heritage. The authors discuss their research and provide case studies from around Australia and across the developing world. Using examples such as the Sydney Olympics, the Bakossi Forest Reserve in Cameroon and green roof gardens, this book highlights the strengths and weaknesses of environmental offsetting and illustrates how jobs can be created in the offsetting process. Environmental Offsets is both a historical source in our understanding of environmental offsetting and a guide to the way forward. It illustrates what works, what does not and what can be improved for the future. Features: An easy-to-read presentation of the theory and practice of environmental offsetting. Illustrates the approach to estimating the amount of carbon dioxide offset. Includes case studies from Australia and across the developing world.

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Are you ready to learn about real technology and make it yourself?Ready, Set, Code! explains how cutting-edge digital technology works and its surprising uses now and in the future. Filled with interesting examples, each chapter explores a different topic, such as artificial intelligence, sensors and data, and applies it with a fun, hands-on coding project. You will learn how to create your own chatbot, translate messages into different languages, construct a burglar alarm, make digital art and music, and launch a citizen science project. Plus, you'll learn how to protect yourself online and much more.Suitable for beginners, this book provides illustrated step-by-step instructions to teach kids to code with the highly acclaimed Scratch programming language, popular micro:bit mini computers and simple app building tools.

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The greater Perth coast is a biodiverse and ecologically vulnerable region, with its unique native plant species threatened by clearing, invasive species, fire and climate change. This second edition of Coastal Plants has been updated and expanded to provide a definitive guide to 128 of the most common plants of the Perth coastal region. It includes the key species used in coastal restoration, along with important weeds. The description of each species is accompanied by a distribution map and diagnostic photographs of the whole plant, flowers, seeds and fruits. The book also contains introductory chapters on the biology and ecology of the coastal plants, their biogeography, and practical approaches to the restoration of coastal dune vegetation.Coastal Plants is distinctive in its focus on restoration, which makes it valuable for community groups and individuals interested or involved in coastal natural history or restoration activities.Features Allows identification of coastal plants through fully updated descriptions, photos and maps Includes a new section on creating habitat for fauna, and updated information on the ecology and biology of coastal plants Includes new native and weed species, including information on weed control measures Presents best practice for the restoration of coastal dune vegetation, as per the newly published National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration Contains hundreds of colour images alongside descriptions.

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The Otways and Shipwreck Coast is known for its natural beauty and attracts millions of visitors each year, particularly along the Great Ocean Road. The value of the region’s rich biodiversity is recognised at the national and global level and its wildlife is markedly different to other regions, including eastern Victoria which supports similar vegetation types.Wildlife of the Otways and Shipwreck Coast is a photographic field guide to the vertebrate wildlife of Victoria’s south-west. It covers all the mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs that occur in the region, including on land and in coastal waters. Each of the 288 species profiles includes a description and information on identification, range, conservation status, habitat use and ecology and is complemented by an exquisite colour photograph and a detailed distribution map. The book also includes chapters on habitat types, conservation and management, and on 14 key places in the region to view wildlife.This book will allow those interested in wildlife, including residents and visitors, to identify vertebrate animals found in the region. Readers will also become more familiar with the distinct role the Otways has in conserving Australia’s biodiversity.

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Birds of prey spend most of their time in flight and, when viewed from the ground, they are notoriously hard to identify. Australian Birds of Prey in Flight is a photographic guide to the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high above you. Individual species profiles describe distinguishing features and the text is supported by detailed images showing the birds at six different angles and poses, using photographs from many of Australia’s leading bird photographers. Annotated multi-species comparison plates highlight key features that can help differentiate birds of prey in flight.This book will be of value to anyone who wants to learn more about Australia’s birds of prey, and will provide a useful reference for identifying soaring birds in the field, and also while trying to identify images from your own camera.FEATURES: First guide to focus solely on helping you to identify Australian birds of prey in flight. Coverage of 26 birds of prey, including all resident Australian species, as well as 2 regular visitors. Lavishly illustrated with photographs from many Australian bird photographers. Photographic plates combine multiple photographs of birds at different angles of flight for easier comparison of key characteristics. Detailed text and annotated photographs to explain the key features and markers that help you to identify that distant flying bird of prey.

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The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Australia’s most threatened species. When their existence came under extreme threat from habitat loss, predators and human development, Eastern Barred Bandicoots found refuge in the most unlikely of places – a rubbish tip. This captivating true story details the plight these small, nocturnal marsupials faced, and the outstanding efforts that ensured their survival. Written by Rohan Cleave and illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Bouncing Back shows that even on the brink of extinction, there is hope for the protection of our most vulnerable species. Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch’s first book, Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, won a Whitley Award for Children’s Natural History Book and was an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Awards (Eve Pownall Information Book category).

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