Book Description

This comprehensive textbook for undergraduates in biology and environmental science integrates new approaches to the study of freshwater ecosystems with more traditional limnology. The authors combine theoretical background with empirical studies and include numerous lab experiments and a concise survey of the major organisms in lakes and ponds. ... Read more

Book Description

Why is the sea salty? Does the ocean ever freeze? Answers to these and many other questions can be found in this fact-filled question-and-answer guide to life forms thriving along the ocean’s edge. Learn about barnacles, starfish, sea anemones, mollusks, arthropods, crustaceans, tide pools, and a host of other plants and animals found in shoreline habitats. Excellent manual for nature lovers and environmentalists.
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Reviews (1)

well done
This is the best book on sea shores for such little money. a great way for children to learn about the coastline and its inhabitants, while still entertaining to the parent. ... Read more

Book Description

This essential volume offers the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on aquaculture engineering available, compiling basicengineering information for aquaculture facilities in a singleresource. It will enable the reader to design and operate aquaculturefacilities that meet the needs of an increasing, yet competitivemarket for cultivated seafood products. Taking a practical, how-toapproach, the author: * gives a broad overview of contemporaryaquaculture practice and species that are cultivated, and describeshow to select sites for aquaculture operations * examines the effectsof water quality on cultured animals, and provides guidelines onstate-of-the-art recirculation, aeration, and disinfection systems,as well as solids removal and biological filtration, demonstratinghow to ensure product quality * details the latest methods of pond,raceway, tank and pump design, plus flow estimation and measurement,allowing the reader to optimize the productive capacity of facilities* includes over 200 illustrations that enhance the text Integratingthe biological, chemical and structural aspects of successfulaquaculture, this unique volume is an indispensable resource for allengineers and technicians involved in this rapidly expandingindustry. The clear presentation makes this book appropriate foraquaculture and engineering students. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent set of taxonomic keys to Pac NW invertebrates
Kozloff and Price's set of keys is an excellent tool for collectors and scientists who need to know what they are looking at, and to be sure that they have the right name with the animal in their hand/bucket.

This 8.5" x 11' format book covers marine invertebrate phyla down to the species level for animals found from southern Oregon to the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada. As such, it makes a great companion set of keys to "Light's Manual: Intertidal Invertebrates of the Central California Coast" by Smith and Carlton, and "Marine Algae of California" by Abbott and Hollenberg. That set of 3 books is a treasure for people who need good taxonomic information on nearshore marine life to support what they do along the pacific coast of North America.

Back to Kozloff's book...the book has the keys themselves, as well as supporting BW photographs and great line drawings to help the reader interpret particularly sticky parts of the keys. There are also brief occasional notes about known ranges of some animals covered, but this is not a reference book to the ecology of these animals, it is an excellent set of taxonomic keys.

The book is a reprint of a 1987 publication. As such some names of taxonomic groups have changed in the intervening 13 years. Nevertheless, this book remains the best set of keys for this region that we have. ... Read more

Book Description

In the sequel to his bestselling Earth Ponds, Tim Matson offers new ideas, advice, a wealth of resources, and his trademark wit in this sourcebook full of practical information for pond owners. Those who want to build a new pond today are likely to face tighter regulations on wetlands and complicated questions about building methods; those who already own ponds may wonder how to stock it with fish, how to cure an alga or weed problem, or how to cope with beavers. This book addresses all of these issues, and more.

Topics covered include:

* Pond Building: a concise guide, A to Z
* Maintenance: symptoms of a dying pond and some basic and off-the-wall ideas about how to prevent, or reverse, this aging process
* Wildlife: how to attract those you want; how to repel those you don't.
* Activities and Use: skating, raising fish, saunas and hot tubs, kits for building rafts, docks, and gazebos, pumps for irrigation and pond protection,
* Garden ponds: goldfish, ornamental plants
* Details about the products on the market, where to buy supplies, and how to get the best for your buck. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very Wordy
This book is okay but very wordy. Perhaps it's just me and my Jack Webb attitude, "Just the facts, ma'am."...

Earth Ponds
This is meant as a companion for his other book on ponds but does a very nice job by itself. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Wonderful!
This is an absolute must have if you are looking for a quick explanation of all aspects of ocean life. The authors have done a thorough job of making short, detailed explanations to almost anything you might be looking for. This book is basically a fun to read encyclopedia of marine life.

Good Introductory Text
While not intended primarily as a textbook, I have used SeaLife as the text in my introductory oceanography class for the past two years. The authors present their ideas clearly and the illustrations are well done. An adequate index is furnished.

Best guide for the marine environment!
although not a "complete" guide, a wonderful book for every sea-loving creature! wonderful pictures and informative text for every amateure or pregraduate student

Excellent guide to the marine world
A "must have" for both armchair and amateur naturalists with a keen interest in the marine world. I'm a scuba diver who lives in the Pacific Northwest but takes vacations around the world. The joy of this book is that it begins with the beginning--the origination of the oceans, including a bit of tectonic theory--and progresses to a detailed description of many of the genera in the oceanic realm. It's not a detailed guide to my particular corner of the world, but as a general guide to the world's oceans it can't be beat for both it's breadth and depth. This is a beginner's book with some real 'meat' to it! I highly recommend it.

The Most Authoritative One Volume Guide to Marine Biology
Sealife : A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment by Geoffrey Waller is the best single volume guide to the marine eviroment. It was published by the Smithsonian Institution, which should speek for its self. Inside is pages apon pages of text and diagrams on subjects from ocean trenches to marine otters. It includes beautiful color plates of vertabrates and invertabrates in there natural habitat. This book is a must for any one who works with or enjoys ocean life. ... Read more

Book Description

Freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae, also known as naiads, have inhabited fresh waters around the world for the last 400 million years. Here in Texas, the presence of these unique mollusks ensures our water quality, helps support the worldwide pearl industry, and, in a quirk of history, influenced the founding of San Angelo. Yet their continued survival is by no means certain, due to overharvesting, environmental degradation, and the rapid spread of exotic mussel species.To help professional biologists and amateur naturalists know and preserve these mollusks, this book provides baseline reference material for all 52 species of freshwater mussels in Texas. It focuses particularly on the unionids, with brief descriptions of other freshwater bivalves. A typical entry includes the following information: ∑ Scientific and common names ∑ Distribution (with a range map) ∑ Size ∑ Shell ∑ Shell teeth ∑ External color ∑ Internal color ∑ Soft tissues ∑ Habitat ∑ Spawning ∑ Glochidia ∑ Hosts ∑ Economic importance ∑ Comments Color photos illustrate each species. In addition to the descriptions, the authors offer general discussions of freshwater mussel anatomy, biology, ecology, and commercial uses. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Most comprehensive resource on freshwater mussels in Texas
Bob Howells is "The Mussel Guy" for Texas.This book, co-written with Raymond Neck and Harold Murray, is the most comprehensive publication on the status of freshwater mussels in Texas.This is a valuable resource for aquatic ecologists interested in mussels, which are a conservation concern due to declining abundance across the state.This guide presents species accounts with black-and-white photographs on each species present in Texas. Descriptions, geographic distributions, and ecological information is included.Introductory material covers everything from mussel anatomy and behavior to collecting gear and commercial uses.The guide is indexed and fully referenced.Several pages of color plates in the appendix are a nice extra.No self-respecting student of Texas mussels should be without it! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

New age Fake ethnic
Good, but I had trouble keeping up with the names of the white guys. Seems like someone is always leaving and someone is always arriving, the pictures only confuses me more, because I would try in vain to match up the name with a picture.

Beautifully written, funny, engaging, terrific reading!
Russia's Lake Baikal is the largest, deepest, oldest, and cleanest freshwater lake in the world. It's size is greater than all of five of the North American Great Lakes combined and home to more than 1,500 species of life known nowhere else in the world. Bartle Bull led the first expedition to ever circumnavigate Lake Baikal. While on this epic sojourn, he and his team mapped the devastating impact of human development and industry on this wild and pristine ecosystem. Around The Sacred Sea: Mongolia And Lake Baikal on Horseback is the incredible and riveting story of this valiant trek, an exploration of Baikal's history, ecology, and culture, and well as an informative and engaging survey of incredible and unique plant and animal life. Beautifully written, funny, occasionally suspenseful, Around The Sacred Sea is a unique, engaging, informative, exciting, page-turner of an uncommon, true-life adventure story, ideal reading for the armchair traveler and inspiring for the globe trotter set.

Buy this book
Around The Sacred Sea tells of the author's extrodinary feat of riding horseback completely around Lake Baikal.The book draws you in right from the prologue. Bartle Bull is an excellent writer, who not only describes in beautiful detail the sights, sounds, people and animals he and his friends encounter during the expedition, through his words he brings the reader along with him. I have never been even near Lake Baikal, but I feel like I have. There were moments of danger that had me flipping ahead in the book to make sure everything turned out alright. There were sad moments and there were drunk moments and there were irate moments and there were happy moments. And I felt every single one of them. The book is also illustrated with beautiful photographs taken during the adventure. I loved this book. This book is a must have for people anxious to take their own adventures, people who have any interest in Russia and Lake Baikal and for people who want to have adventures while they are safe and secure at home. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive yet user-friendly volume is a layman’s guide to the identification and habits of hundreds of marine animals. Much more than a fish identification book, this all-in-one guide emphasizes the most interesting aspects of the natural history of animals that range from sponges to the great whales. You will discover how animals adapt to their surroundings, how each species manages to survive, how various animals reproduce, how they capture their food, and what "bag of tricks" they employ to avoid being captured by other animals. There are chapters on the habitats of the reef, sand and rubble zones, and the wall. Included are over 300 of the authors’ best color photographs, color-coded pages, frequent boxes on points of interest, photo tips, at-a-glance boxes, and the authors’ personal accounts of their encounters with various animals. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Guide to Marine Life of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida
A well written, informative, easy to understand book. Not only do you receive a reference guide, you get biology lessons, photo tips, and great overviews of reef systems. This book is perfect for scuba divers!

best source I've seen for teaching diving ecology
I'm a scuba instructor, and have spent years looking for the perfect book to use in fish identification and underwater naturalist courses. When I found this book, I stopped looking! It is the perfect combination,and makes everything understandable to the beginner, yet still informative to us old pros! The photo tips also come in very handy in teaching photography and videography... no Caribbean diver can afford not to have this book... I mean it!

A MUST HAVE FOR ANY DIVER/SNORKELER
This is my latest addition to my "diving book collection". I am a recent diving convert (the very best sport ever), and find myself reading this book constantly (more looking at the pics I suppose, which are gorgeous!). If you are looking for a fantastic book to invest in...LOOK NO FURTHER...BUY IT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

The Perfect Book For People Getting Into Diving!
This is the perfect book for anyone who is getting into SCUBA diving. Not just a identification book, it explains about the different areas that you will see when diving: The wall, The Reef, and the Sand & Rubble Area. It helps you understand why you see different animals in particular areas. It will also help you understand what you will be seeing before you ever hit the water. It was my first book when I started diving and I've given it to many friends when they got certified to dive. I highly recommend it as a gift to anyone who has just started diving or is curious about diving. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Superior never gives up her dead...
I've been fascinated with the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking for many years, partially because I've lived around the great lakes most of my life. This book answered many of the haunting questions about the ship and what happened to her. The examination of the incident by Hemming is excellent and his proposed explanation of the cause is far better than the Coast Guard's excuses. I highly recommend this book on several levels, especially for its writing and research. Thanks to Gordon Lightfoot for bringing this to our attention.

Please read the Author's Note
The author started his book as a non-fictional work based on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. However, that isn't how it ended up. Although it seemed that he did an admirable job in describing where and what each crewman might have been doing at the time of the ship's loss, I don't believe it did any of their families a service. In my opinion, the families should be left in peace. It also wasn't a service to the reader of a non-fictional book.

A reader new to Great Lakes shipping may have found some general information useful, however, beyond the fiction, there were factual inaccuracies. One of the most serious was the inclusion of the "larger than normal waves" theory, otherwise commonly referred to as "the Three Sisters". This theory assumed that several larger than average (if anything was average about the night of 10 November) struck the after section of the Fitz and pushed the bow beneath the waves, ultimately causing the ship to submarine. None of the other four ships in the Eastern section of Lake Superior that night noted this same wave action. Nor was the timing of the storm right for a type of wave action of this form - usually known in hurricane parlance as a "dome of water". Typically, such a "dome" comes ashore as the low pressure system associated with a hurricane makes landfall in the tropics. It was noted by several of the witnesses aboard the other vessels that the sky had cleared of the snow fall shortly after the RADAR return of the Fitz was lost, therefore, the low pressure system was already passing on it's way into Ontario at that time.

I was on Whitefish Bay in July 1994, and it was hard to believe that the beautiful body of water I was on could do the damage as evidenced in the Coast Guard Marine Causalty Report.

Hemming's Voyage to Oblivion
The Gales of November was purchased on the strength of the information I could access through the Amazon pages and online discussions I held at Encylopedia Titanica. It was a purchase well made.

As the Edmund Fitzgerald crosses Lake Superiror we are given background into the running of these kind of ships and one by one the names of the 29 are given lives as Mr Hemming shares the story of their backgrounds. As events worsen to the terrifying and rapid conclusion I am made to identify with these men which makes those few minutes even worse.

Mr Hemming resorts to informed artistic licence to give us asense of what may have taken place, and to my thinking he does it well. Some may not like this style which is also used in the film and book Perfect Storm but it is necessary if we are to create a narrative of the events that led up to the sinking.

I understand that a film is being considered. If so It will make frightful viewing especially for anyone who makes the living on the sea.

Thank you Mr Hemming, Gordon Lightfoot, Amazon and all who made this book possible.

An Exciting Tale of the Great Lakes
The Edmund Fitzgerald, immortalized in song by Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, was, at the time, the largest vessel to sail on the Great Lakes. At over 750 feet long, it was nearly as large as a World War II era battleship. The thing that made the "Fitz" so special was her large cargo capacity; she could carry well over twenty thousand tons of cargo in her massive holds. However, these holds might have ultimately led to her demise on a stormy night in November, 1975.

The Great lakes are famous for their storms and gales, but in early November, 1975, a storm of immense strength bore down on Lake Superior and unleased its vengance on the ships that dared sail on the lake. The storm was born in the southwestern United States, and as it moved slowly northward, it gathered tremendous amounts of moisture. Its warm winds, when coupled with the north's cooler air, made a cauldron of swirling winds, sleet, and snow. The winds whipped as much as one hundred miles per hour and made waves as high as thirty feet.

While this storm was intensifying, the "Fitz" set out on its trip across Superior. Another ship, the Arthur Anderson, was travelling in the same direction as the Fitzgerald and they kept in contact by radio. Soon, the rolling seas were slamming into the Fitz, and she began to take on water. Some water managed to leak in around the hatch covers, but, without radar to assist them, the Fitz was forced to rely upon charts from the U.S. and Canada to map a course across Superior. Unfortunately, the charts weren't completely accurate, and the Fitz's course sent her directly over a submurged shoal, which punched holes in the hull, allowing more water to enter the ship.

The ship began to list and the pumps were unable to keep up with the amount of water pouring in. Finally, a huge wave hit the side of the ship, driving the bow deep into the lake, and instead of popping back up, the bow kept on going down, taking the rest of the ship along. Twenty nine men died in the span of a few minutes as the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald came to rest in 530 feet of water at the bottom of Lake Superior.

This book gives an excellent narrative about the loss of the Fitzgerald and life on the Great Lakes in general. The reader also gets a glimpse into the lives of each crewman aboard, as well as some other memorable shipwrecks that occurred earlier on the Great Lakes. I recommend this book very highly. Maritime readers and adventure fans alike will surely enjoy it.

A good first book for this subject
This is a great book about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. If you have never read a book on the Fitz this is a great start. The author does a great job of introducing you to the crew and what life is like sailing on the Great Lakes. He takes several of the crew and introduces you to their personality and their history. This helps you to develope feelings for the crew member as they sail on the Lakes. Hemming also does a good job of presenting the facts of the sinking and helps you to understand what the last several hours were like on the Fitzgerald. The book is very inclusive when it comes to describing the factors that lead to the Fitz's eventual demise. The only complaint that I have about the book is that Hemming described vividly the crews last actions immediately prior to the sinking when no further contact was made with any other ships. Since nobody knows exactly what happen during this period of time the author may have created a scinario to keep the book real. He accomplishes this but it may compromise the facts. All in all I learned a lot about the story and I think most readers will too. ... Read more

Book Description

Scattered over several continents, the ancient lakes of the world have a unique uninterrupted history dating back beyond 100,000 years.
Ancient lakes are, in effect, aquatic islands in which a complex of ecology, genetics and evolutionary constraints have shaped in isolation their biotas over hundreds of thousands to millions of years. The diverse faunas achieve some of the highest levels of diversity known to any habitat, offering unique opportunities as 'natural laboratories' for studying the mechanisms of evolution and speciation in situ.
This internationally authored volume contains the latest research results and theories to emerge from a diverse range of studies in these lakes.
Containing exciting new findings in the ecology, evolution and systematic studies of ancient lake biotas together with many suggested areas for future research, it will be essential reading for all those with a general interest in ecology, evolution and natural history.
In this volume expert scientists present the latest results and perspectives from their research on the organisms of the ancient lakes. Diverse in its taxonomic coverage and themes, and international in its authorship and coverage, Ancient Lakes will appeal to all biologists interested in evolution, ecology and biodiversity.

Key Features
* Ancient lakes are increasingly recognised as important models of evolution and speciation
* This volume presents a diverse range of exciting new hypotheses and perspectives on ancient lake biotas
* Information is included on Russian and Chinese faunas, available in English here for the first time ... Read more

Book Description

This book shows to plan and plant a diverse natural lakeshore landcape.Features information on how to restore wildlife habitat, wildflowers and clear water--preserve or restore the natural beauty that attracted you to lakeshore living in the first place.The principles and techniques in this book are also applicable for landscaping along rivers, streams and wetlands.Also features lakeshore rules and regulations for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Please read this if you own lakeshore!
We are upsetting nature and killing our lakes with lawns to the waters edge and removing all the natural vegetation. Read this book before you start landscaping. You can make it a win-win situation with you and nature.

Invaluable Resource For Lakeshore Property Owners
As a lakeshore property owner in northern Minnesota I would like this book to be read by all lakeshore property owners. Lakeshore environments are in need of our best conservation efforts.

Learning about the role of "aquatic weeds," dead trees, "brush," and live trees enables us to improve lake water quality and our relationship with wildlife. The information, presented by authors with expertise, will be useful in the planning of your lakeshore while learning about and understanding the wonderful diversity of lakeshore environments.

The layout's inviting, full of graphics and easy to read. The nine chapters deal with lakeshore landscaping and problems, site preparation and plant installation, shoreline stabilization and maintenance, good stewardship and more.

There are also thirteen useful appendices that include the state rules of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, while other appendices help you identify and locate native plants and invasive non-native plants.

This is the perfect gift for every lakeshore property owner! Full of information and fun to read! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Provides a thorough introduction to the biology of fishes, covering basic diversity, biology and physiology. Detailed coverage of environmental aspects relating to fish biology is a key feature of this book which will be of great use to students and individuals in fish biology, fisheries, aquaculture and environmental sciences. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very Informative
I would recommend this book for anyone who is considering aquiring a salamander or newt as a pet. It provides good background information so that you will be able to pick a species that is right for you. It also contains the proper information on the general care of newts and salamanders. This book is perfect for one who is just getting started.

the best book for beginers
This is the perfect book for beginers. I found a spotted salamander on thanksgiving and i didn't know what to do. I took it inside and got out this book and it explaned it all. If i didn't have that book she might have died. ... Read more

Book Description

The Finger Lakes region of central New York is a place where light and water meet to create a distinctive look to the land that residents cherish and visitors return to again and again. To capture the wide, open beauty of the long lakes under changing skies and the surrounding hilly vistas, photographer Kristian Reynolds has found the perfect vehicle in a panoramic camera. Within the wide sweep of his lens, he presents images of dramatic gorges, picturesque villages, vivid weather patterns, fertile vineyards, classic boating scenes, and verdant countryside. This is a book for which lifetime lovers and newly initiated fans of the Finger Lakes have long waited, a book which reveals the best of the upstate landscape.

The book's foreword is written by the Hon. Matthew F. McHugh, Counsel to the World Bank and former Upstate New York Member of Congress. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

breathtaking photos
This book reminds all of us who live in the Finger Lks, how beautiful this area is, and how lucky we are to live here. GREAT JOB KRIS!

Finger Lakes Panoramas
I live in the Finger Lakes area (Elmira) and I have either driven, hiked, or bicycled around all the lakes and sailed across several. This is a wonderful piece of work and all scenes are easily recognized. A great compilation.

Beautifully-done portrayal of the Finger Lakes area.
As a previous resident of the Finger Lakes area, I can personally vouch for the beauty of the area. Mr. Reynolds has captured it as well as any human being can capture the glory of nature's beauty. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a taste for looking at beautiful places, beautifully photographed. Mr. Reynolds has presented an excellent talent with this beautiful book. I look forward to his next effort.

Excellent Book!!!
The pictures are beautiful. Mr. Reynolds is a top knotch photographer. You can tell much time and effort was put into this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Perhaps the best book available on the subject of limnology! Praised for its clear handling of a diverse and complex subject, this classic, illustrated volume presents a useful blend of practical and analytical limnology. Readers will welcome the author s clear writing and concise coverage of topics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Detailed.
I have a nearly complete degree in Geology. Because my special interest is paleontology, I got into sedimentary petrology and geomorphology. It'd been years since I'd read anything on these subjects, so I decided to get back into it by reading the Textbook of Limnology. I enjoyed the first half of the book. It deals with more general information on rivers and lakes and their formation, but I found the later chapters on specific chemistry of fresh water bodies and their flora and fauna more tedious. Unless this is your special area of interest, I suspect you will find it as slow going and unmemorable as I did. This is more a reflection of my own personal interests than a criticism of the content. Certainly for someone with an interest in watershed management this would be a superb general resource. Since I live in Minnesota, a state which has some 10,000 lakes and many rivers including the Mississippi, was covered by and therefore topographically effected by the glaciers, and has a variety of biomes all effected by water distribution, I still found the final chapters of the volume of interest. I've recently started volunteering at the Minnesota Zoo which exhibits animals of the three biomes, so I may reread the text just to get a clearer understanding of the relationship between freshwater bodies and animal life distribution in our state. ... Read more