Reviews (1)

Recommended for every new California diver
The title may be a bit misleading in that this book isn't simply an identification catalog like some other field guides. The book is organized into chapters describing different marine habitats, and does a good job of providing the big picture. The author describes many species, covering their appearance, behavior, role in their environment, and classification. Most species that are discussed are accompanied by photographs, but not all. While this book can serve as a reference, I enjoyed reading it cover to cover. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the international success of The Sea-Abrams' deluxe, oversize volume of photographs by Philip Plisson-The Sea/Day by Day offers a new compilation of the acclaimed marine photographer's work in an affordable, compact format. These spectacular images-including almost 200 new photographs-are the result of Plisson's 25-year obsession with the planet's waters, capturing the sea in all its power, drama, and changeability.

We see crashing waves, placid waters, jagged rocks rising from foamy mists, and the overwhelming force of the currents, as well as sailboat regattas and races on the high seas. From solitary lighthouses to seaside communities, Plisson's photographs also explore our desire to live close to the ocean and the need to adapt to its rhythms. A book for photography lovers and open-sea adventurers alike, this breathtaking volume celebrates-in 365 of Plisson's most evocative images-our never-ending fascination with the sea. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Magnificent Photographs Of Stunning Seascapes!
"The Sea" is a magnificent book of photographs. Anyone who loves the the world's great bodies of water will be awed by Philip Plisson's stunning seascapes. He has captured the oceans in all moods, in all their glory - gentle, tempestuous, mysterious, terrifying, powerful. There is the beautiful tranquility of the Caribbean, and the stormy violence of the North Atlantic. And Plisson also captures the elusive quality of light, and the way it falls on water. His successful efforts to capture the right light, at the best moment, to enhance the particular quality of the sea he wants to exhibit, is worth the price of the book alone.

Many of his remarkable images feature lighthouses, ancient tall ships, and modern sail boats, regattas, and sailors alone with the elements. The vast sea, however, is the dominant presence in all the photographs.

There is very little text here. The monumental photographs speak for themselves. Yann Queffelec's Introduction does provide a perfect setting, and Elaine Georges' text is well written.

I bought this huge, (11.5" X 14.5"), coffee-table book for a sailing mate's birthday, and he absolutely loves it. There are a total of 400 photographs, and four fold-out panoramas. I have looked through my gift so many times that I decided to purchase one of my own. I highly recommend this beautiful book! ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive book is a collective response to thousands of letters and phone calls received annually by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.Students, teachers, and scientists all have amazingly varied questions about whales and dolphins, and the most revealing inquiries are presented here with detailed answers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good reference book
This is an interesting and helpful reference book if simple answers are all that are needed. References to other literature for each topic would be helfpul since the answers are sometimes so general and brief. Also, I had hoped that it would contain more information about perhaps the most important question we could ask about these animals ... how can we protect them?

Fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins
Collaboratively written by James G. Mead (Curator of Marine Mammals, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) and Joy P. Gold (Technical Information Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), Whales And Dolphins In Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book is a gorgeously illustrated book filled with beautiful color photography by Flip Nicklin and showcases fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins. The first section presents basic facts in question-and-answer format; the second addresses these wondrous creatures species by species, offering amazing trivia and insight into the natural world. A superb giftbook for dolphin and whale enthusiasts, Whales And Dolphins In Questions is strongly recommended for school and community library wildlife and marine life reference collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Few subjects have generated as much emotional dialogue around conflicting scientific and policy agendas as the protection and management of Pacific salmon resources. In this major new work, esteemed fisheries expert Thomas Quinn distills from the vast scientific literature the essential information on the behavior and ecology of Pacific salmon, including steelhead and cutthroat trout. Unlike other books that examine only selected life stages, habitats, or species, this book--richly illustrated with beautiful photographs and original drawings--thoroughly covers the complete life cycle, emphasizing common themes and differences among the various species of salmon.

Representing the range of species and geographic regions, Quinn includes examples from classic studies by pioneers of salmon biology and from the most current research to illustrate the important features of salmon life history and behavior and the complex physical, biological, and human factors that affect them.

The Behavior and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout introduces salmon and trout as a group, with a brief description of each species, and compares them to other fishes. The book then follows salmon on their amazing homeward migration from the open ocean, through the complex coastal waters, and upstream to the precise location where they were spawned years earlier. It explains the patterns of mate choice, the competition for nest sites, and the fate of the salmon after their death. It describes the lives of offspring during the months they spend incubating in gravel, growing in fresh water, and migrating out to sea to mature. Quinn emphasizes the importance of salmon to humans and to natural ecosystems and the need to integrate sound biology into conservation efforts.

This thorough, up-to-date survey should be on the shelf of anyone with a professional or personal interest in Pacific salmon and trout. Written in a technically accurate but engaging style, it will appeal to a wide range of readers, including students, anglers, biologists, conservationists, legislators, and armchair naturalists. ... Read more

Book Description

The National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World describes in fascinating detail all 120 species of the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, Marine and Sea Otters, and the Polar Bear. Written by a team of experts and featuring more than 320 illustrations, 418 photographs, and 123 maps, this new guide offers more authoritative, up-to-date, and accessible information than any book previously published on the subject.

Organized by the four major groups of marine mammals--marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians--the species descriptions include:

Full-color paintings, some depicting males and females, juveniles, subspecies, or special features. Color photographs showing appearance in the wild and illustrating typical behaviors. Life history data, including length and weight at various life stages, and life span. Range and habitat text and a full-color range map based on the most current information. Facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming, and diving. Information on mating behavior, breeding, and the rearing of young. Details about food items and foraging techniques.Estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

A general introduction outlines the evolution and taxonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals, and more.

Introductions to groups include comparative size illustrations, discussion of behaviors particular to the group, and other unique features.

A useful illustrated glossary of terms and an index of species names complete the guide.

Exquisitely detailed illustrations, stunning photographs, and clearly written text combine to make this an indispensible reference source for marine mammal watchers and anyone interested in the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Much more than expected!
Audubon has certainly delivered their best in this marine life field guide! When I bought this, I expected it to be the usual good Audubon repeat of their previous field guides. I was quite impressed by the number of species inserted, and the special illustrations used along with it. There are a surprising number of families and subspecies listed also.
The whales and dolphins section is the best part of the guide, listing rare and endangered species. I don't suspect anyone has heard of the "Tucuxi" dolphin, have they? Rather than just listing commonly seen or normal species, Audubon has done extensive research on others, and has inserted dozens or more in each family section, making identification completely unmistakable. The seals and sea lions covered are no different in variety and number of listings. However, many of the seals listed are subspecies of 6 previous listings.
The binding is usual quality by Audubon publishers, making an excellent reading book, whether on a boat trip, in a car, or simply in an easy chair at home. Forget other Marine Mammal Guides, and make an extensive search for this!

Very informative, but a few minor quibbles
I picked this book up at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago (inspired by the walrus exhibit). It is a very informative guide and beautifully illustrated.

I would hazard to guess that this book is intended for the "arm-chair naturalist." Very few of us can afford vacations to the distant locales where many of the marine mammals in this book live.

The book is laid out like the typical birding guide: species description, similar species, habitat and natural history.

With this in mind, I was disapointed to find the "species describtion" and the "similar species" sections of the species accounts were often longer than the behavior and natural history sections. I do want to know how a Swainson's Thrush is similar to a Grey-checked Thrush (two similar birds), but I really do not care how to tell apart two endimic Antarctic seals. I would much rather read more about how their lives are lived.

My only other quibble is with the "status and conversation" sections of the species accounts. While it is certainlly true that many marine mammals are threatened and endangerd, it is also true that many marine mammals (such as harbor seals and bottle nose dolphins) are doing just fine. The authors of the book seem reluctant to admit this.

Both of these are minor quibbles. If you are even remotely curious about the variety of marine mammals in the world, this book is certainly for you.

Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
Guide to Marine Mammals of the World illustrated by Pieter Folkens et al is a National Audubon Society book organized into four major groups of marine mammals; marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians.

There is fascinating detail as the book goes on to describe the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, marine and sea otters, and polar bears. Not only is there detailed descriptions, but there are maps to show where these animals live throughout the world. There is a general introduction that outlines the evolution and tanonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals.

There are 120 species represented in this book. Also, there are facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming and diving, details about food items and foraging techniques, and estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

If you are taking a trip to the coastlines or live near the oceans then don't be caught without this fine field guide. You will be amazed by the wildlife near the and in the ocean. This is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work.

Don't leave home without it, as your trip will be richer and more fulfilling as you spot the animals listed.

A lasting, important library reference
Pieter Folkens illustrates Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World, a comprehensive desk reference which blends color photos and maps with realistic drawings of marine mammals. Paintings illustrate juvenile and subspecies, photos show typical behavior and appearance in the wild, and color range maps reflect the latest information, while chapters cover all the natural history basics. Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World promises to be a lasting, important library reference.

The 'Sibley' of Marine Mammals
The National Audubon Society's Guide to Marine Mammals of the World contains a wealth of information about pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), polar bears and otters that's timely and easy to digest. Descriptions, range, behavior, etc. of the various species are informative, with just enough detail for anyone short of a marine biology major.

Along with a number of excellent quality photographs, Pieter Folkens (from my hometown of Benicia, CA!) illustrations are superb. From Knopf, the same publishers of the Sibley Guide to Birds, the graphics and layout of this guide are similarly clean and very attractive. I think it's one of the best looking books of it's type, and an ideal introductory guide for anyone with an interest in marine mammals. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 500 photos of 400 species taken in their natural habitat. Concise text includes species common, scientific and family names, size range, description, distinctive features, habitat, behavior, depth range and distribution. Includes an appendix on whales and dolphins. ... Read more

Book Description

The field of marine mammal science has made enormous strides in the last ten years as well as attracting a large amount of interest, due no doubt to the public appeal of whales, dolphins, and seals, which are never out of media attention.The purpose of this book is to review key topics through chapters on the major disciplines from invited authorities around the world. Subjects covered include evolution and genetics, life histories, ecology, physiology, behaviour, medicine (diseases, parasitology), survey methodology, and all the main conservation issues (pollution, fisheries interactions, and sound disturbance).The book has an ecological and conservation emphasis since these are subject areas calling for the most attention in the modern world, but other areas such as evolution, physiology, and medicine are also given in-depth treatment. The book is written at the level of the undergraduate or above, although its style should appeal to anyone with a serious interest in marine mammal science. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Review from The Quaterly Review of Biology, March 2003
"The editors have successfully defined and filled this niche. The book has two distinctive viewpoints. First, all of the chapters focus on issues relating to conservation. For example, sensory systems are covered because such knowledge is relevant for the later chapters to deal with net entanglement and noise pollution...this provides an often subtle, but refreshing alternative viewpoint to most other recent books on marine mammals."

Review from Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2002
"Let's cut to the chase, this book is simply an outstanding read regarding the evolution, behavior, health, and conservation of marine mammals... the following five topics are covered in a very complete fashion: (1) life history and ecology; (2) sensory systems; (3) survey and study techniques; (4) health, parasites, and pathogens; and (5) conservation and management. No one of these sections in necessarily better than the other, as they are all provide excellent summaries of the available literature. The text is written in a style appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. One of the things I found particularly appealing about the book is that the editors clearly emphasized to each of the contributing authors that they should include some of the cutting edge questions, where future research needs to be directed to move the various fields forward. Therefore, the text is replete with ideas and suggestions for Masters and Ph.D. level research. In addition, I think the editors, who obviously worked closely with the authors of each chapter, found the right balance between emphasizing the underlying discipline...and the wonderment of knowledge about marine mammals... this is a textbook that belongs in the bookshelves of practicing marine mammal biologists and academics interested in vertebrate biology. In addition, I highly recommend this book to graduate students interested in applying the tools of a particular discipline to a specific hypothesis that can be tested using marine mammal data. As far as textbooks go, this text has "legs" and I would venture to guess that its useful shelf-life will exceed 10 years in most disciplines covered." - Douglas P. DeMaster, National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Review from Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology
"This book is generally of high editorial standard... I intend to recommend the book as background reading for my course and to use some chapters as the basis for restructuring some of my lectures... If you are interested in marine mammals this book will certainly be a very useful addition to your library."- by Helen Marsh, James Cook University ... Read more

Book Description

This new field guide will describe approximately l,000 species of invertebrates and tunicates that are found in the Central and Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.The narrative for each species will include a description of the animal and discuss its natural history and distribution.The photographs for this field guide have been contributed by 36 of the world's best underwater photographers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply the best invertebrate book
I only have positive thoughts about this great reference. It is simply the best book ever written on the invertebrates of the Indian Ocean and especially the Indonesian area. It is like an oversized version of Debelius` field guides,but this one truly rocks!It does not only include 1105 interesting invertebrate species,but also some great information about them. Some species are such new to science that they`ve not even been described. For example,there are 10 undescribed little octopi. If any animal are more strikingly colourfull than reef fishes,these are the ones. I love all animals but I especially like the chapters about flatworms,crustaceans,and molluscs,of which many species are new to me. I already have a great knowledge of animals for beeing such young,and this book gives me much more. When I take a trip to Thailand for the next winter,I`ll bring this book and see how many invertebrates I`ll recognize from it. Over all,this is a great book and would recommend it to any serious scientist,aquarium hobbyist,invertebrate lover,or the one that just likes strong colours. The price is high,but believe me,it`s definitly worth it!

Fantastic Assortment of Pictures.
This soft-cover book provides some of the most vivid color pictures of marine invertebrates that I have seen to date. However, do not expect involved explanations about each species listed. Scientific names are given for each species, but common names are not always included. Very little information given concerning how each species relates in the aquarium environment. ... Read more

Book Description

Comprehensive handbook of seafood information!This definitive reference is the most comprehensive handbook of information ever assembled on foods and other products from fresh and marine waters. Marine and Freshwater Products Handbook covers the acquisition, handling, biology, and the science and technology of the preservation and processing of fishery and marine products. The array of topics covered includes: aquaculture fisheries management, and harvesting o fish meal and fish oil o fish protein concentrates o seaweed products o products from shell o other industrial products o bioactive compounds o cookery o specialty products o surimi and mince o HACCP o modern processing methods o religious and cultural aspects of water products o marine toxins and seafood intolerances o contamination in shellfish growing areas o pathogens in fish and shellfish. Marketing, transportation and distribution, retailing, import and export, and a look to the future of the seafood industry are also addressed. Extensive coverage of speciesAll major marine and freshwater finfish species are covered, as well as processing technologies: fresh fish, preserved fish, finfish processing, and other processed products. Crustaceans and other useful marine and freshwater species and their processing are also covered. These include: mollusk o clams o oysters o scallops o abalone o squid o shrimp o lobster o crawfish o crabs o eels o turtles o sea urchin o octopus o snails o alligator. The definitive seafood industry sourcebookMarine and Freshwater Products Handbook incorporates the advances in biotechnology and molecular biology, including potential drugs and medicinal products; the manufacture of chemicals from the sea; seafood safety, including toxin detection techniques and HACCP, and processing technologies. With contributions from more than 50 experts, helpful, data-filled tables and charts, numerous references and photos, this is the sourcebook for everyone involved in products from our waters. It will serve as the standard reference for the seafood industry for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated guide to every species of whale, dolphin and porpoise.Covers their identification, evolution, biology, behaviour, reproduction and social lives. Includes tips on how and where to watch whales, dolphins and porpoises, and information on their conservation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Do you feel lucky? Well do ya?" asked Dirty Harry. Paleontologist Peter Ward and astronomer Donald Brownlee think all of us should feel lucky. Their rare Earth hypothesis predicts that while simple, microbial life will be very widespread in the universe, complex animal or plant life will be extremely rare.Ward and Brownlee admit that "It is very difficult to do statistics with an N of 1. But in our defense, we have staked out a position rarely articulated but increasingly accepted by many astrobiologists."

Their new science

is the field of biology ratcheted up to encompass not just life on Earth but also life beyond Earth. It forces us to reconsider the life of our planet as but a single example of how life might work, rather than as the only example.

The revolution in astrobiology during the 1990s was twofold. First, scientists grew to appreciate how incredibly robust microbial life can be, found in the superheated water of deep-sea vents, pools of acid, or even within the crust of the Earth itself.The chance of finding such simple life on other bodies in our solar system has never seemed more realistic.But second, scientists have begun to appreciate how many unusual factors have cooperated to make Earth a congenial home for animal life: Jupiter's stable orbit, the presence of the Moon, plate tectonics, just the right amount of water, the right position in the right sort of galaxy.Ward and Brownlee make a convincing if depressing case for their hypothesis, undermining the principle of mediocrity (or, "Earth isn't all that special") that has ruled astronomy since Copernicus. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Interesting, but flawed hypothesis?
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the explanations given therein. My bone with the authors is that they have stretched their conclusions (namely that life in the Universe is a rare event) way too far. The idea that Earth is a perfect place for life because everything is 'just so' is not really new. Arguments for intelligent design (code-word for creationism) follow similar logic. The problem with the logic of this book is that it assumes all life must evolve exactly (or nearly so) as it did here on earth (same requirements, same molecular structure etc). Although this may be true, we simply do not yet know if that is the case. The authors do indeed argue that this is true only for complex life and therefore the discovery of simpler life forms may not negate their thesis. However, we also do not have enough information to make such a broad sweeping conclusion regarding the Universe. Ultimately, the argument comes down to what we observe in our own solar system and indeed we may be a 'rare earth' insofaras the type of complex life we have here, but complex life in other forms may be common elsewhere in the Universe. Indeed, the solar system may simply appear 'rare' because we are in charge of defining the term. Nevertheless, this is a very entertaining book and I encourage you to read it with a critical eye.

The Thesis That Spells Death For Modern Science Fiction
This is one of the most astonishing books I have ever read. Its thesis, that complex life similar to life on the Earth, is probably very rare in the galaxy, if not the universe. The authors meticulously build a case for Earth's special place in the cosmos, showing how bacterial life might be common but that anything bigger than simple organisms might not be able to survive the ravages of time and comets and wandering axial tilt. As other readers have pointed out, this doesn't necessarily mean that silicon-based life or some other kind of life can't exist in the universe, but it does demonstrate that Fermi's Dilemma might in fact be true. As a science fiction writer, I was stunned at how much this book could change the way science fiction is written. No more Star Trek universes with complex life in every system, no more "federations" or "foundations" or "assemblies" of thousands of inhabited worlds. According to the thesis Ward and Brownlee present, habitable worlds might be few and far between. Humans may very well find no other worlds beyond the Earth upon which to live. RARE EARTH will make it difficult to read books or watch movies that envision a galaxy filled with wonderful and curious creatures, where humans spread out across the galaxy as if they were so many islands in Polynesia. And if the Rare Earth hypothesis is true, then we are also obliged to get our act together here and now if we are going to become a space-going species. I think this book puts a lot of science fiction writers out of business. It certainly makes a lot of science fiction, including my own, seem downright silly.

A Great Entry In A Terrific Debate
This is one side of a fascinating debate, between astrobiologists and xenobiologists. In Rare Earth, there is a detailed explanation of what there is about planet Earth that made life possible, and what might have induced divergence. Thus the question, "how lucky are you to be here" is answered in superb detail. In a contrasting book, "What Would A Martian Look Like?", one looks at the question of just how large is the solution space for life, or how many ways might life get going and develop. We might never really know which approach is correct, but I find the issue worthy of consideration.

NASA Will Never Like This Book!
Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee have written a very thought-provoking book in "Rare Earth." They have, in fact, given voice to some thoughts that had occurred to me and to a lot of others quite some time ago - namely "Where is everybody?" Flying saucer enthusiasts and alien abduction aficionados aside, most of us who think about such things have wondered why no alien civilization's radio transmissions have not obviously reached planet earth by now if alien civilizations were so common. Also we are starting to wonder where life exists in our solar system outside of Earth.

When I was in my teens I eagerly kept track of every launch of a spacecraft. I dreamed of even becoming an astronomer specializing in planetary geology. But my true love was biology and the thought of a possible alien biological system was fascinating. I was soon disillusioned. First the veil of Venus was lifted and where swamps and dinosaur-like creatures roamed in science fiction was a barren acid and heat scorched version of Dante's Inferno. Mars was also found to be a volcanic version of the earth's moon, except with weather (dust storms mostly), pole caps of carbon dioxide and water ice, and a very thin atmosphere. The temperature of close to 100 degrees F. below zero did not seem promising and still does not. Thus the civilizations of Mars envisioned by Lowell disappeared into the Martian dust (as they had started to even before the first space probes). Then the moons Titan (Saturn) and Europa (Jupiter) were proposed as abodes of life, however weird, and a Martian meteorite with strange "nano-bacteria" was brought out. The latter "nano-bacteria" have become dubious at best and the moons are looking less promising by the day. Titan may have such a smoggy atmosphere and be so cold as to be certainly questionable as an abode for life. In addition to this, recent reports indicate that Europa is covered with a layer of concentrated sulfuric acid (possibly from the neighboring moon Io, which has sulfur volcanoes on its surface) and hydrogen peroxide- not exactly a good place for living things! To top it off some scientists think that the ice on Europa may actually cover a sea of sulfuric acid with a pH close to 0!

If we cannot find even primitive living things (bacteria, lichens, fungi) on other planets in our system we may have to face the fact that life, while it may exist on numerous planets, is not nearly as common and as accessible as some would have it and that "civilizations" are even less common.

Why is this? Ward and Brownlee have provided detailed answers, which, even if their formulae are somewhat flawed (as one reviewer suggested), are persuasive. We have to keep in mind that we do not know how long civilizations last or how often they occur but do not develop our type of technology. We are up against billion of years of time and trillions of cubic light years of space. Star Trek aside, we are not even sure that interstellar travel will ever be possible, so we may never know for sure what is out there.

As Ward and Brownlee point out, to even have a planet with the possibility of life we have to have several conditions met. First planets revolving around multiple stars probably do not last long because of tidal effects and if they do life might have to cope with radical changes in surface temperature. Given that, we still have a number of candidate stars and have even found a number of such stars with planets (most of which are huge, some even by Jupiter standards). We also need planets within a star's habitable zone (assuming the star is not unstable and lasts long enough for the development of life). Then contingency has to allow for the development of living forms sometime during the life of the planet. To get more complex life than bacteria we need several billion years and perhaps a large moon. It gets even dicier if we want intelligent life, and even then we may have intelligent ocean-dwelling creatures who never develop radio and thus may not be detectable. Even if radio waves are produced by a civilization, we need to exist ourselves within that civilization's survival time frame (or actually light years later).

Ward and Brownlee have provided, I think, some very good reasons why we are unlikely to find multicellular life on nearby planets or advanced technologies on planets even around distant stars. Even if life is fairly abundant in the universe (and I think it probably may be), planets with life (even at the bacterial level) may not be anywhere near as abundant as lifeless ones. This is not a reason to embrace creationism, as some would have it, but is simply a property of our universe. While I wish it were not so, I fear we cannot argue with the logic of this- especially with the little evidence we now possess. Of course one cannot completely rule out the possibility that Ward and Brownlee have missed something, but that is a present a meager hope.

Read this book if you are interested in why complex life may be uncommon in the universe.

Not Up to Snuff
OK, I am in the obvious minority with this review, but it's how I see it.

This is a work filled with broad, sweeping suppositions, yet it seems that as always the devil is in the details and I was left unconvinced that the authors really had the details right to support their "Rare Earth" theory. It is an interesting, if ultimately unconvincing book. Interesting theory, lots of conjecture, and lots of "What if..." in every chapter.

To me it seems that in many places sweeping statements are made, but never supported. Take for instance the statement on page 110 "Changes in ocean chemistry caused by increased tectonic activity beginning a billion years ago facilitated the evolution of skeletons." But the section does not, to me, provide adequate support or explanation for this supposition.

Also take for example the Drake Equations which - while properly explained - is misstated in the details.

The equation is usually written: N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L where:

N = The number of civilizations in The Milky Way Galaxy whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable.
R* =The rate of formation of stars suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with planetary systems.
Ne = The number of planets, per solar system, with an environment suitable for life.
fl = The fraction of suitable planets on which life actually appears.
fi = The fraction of life bearing planets on which intelligent life emerges
fc = The fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
(Source: Seti Institute, http://www.seti-inst.edu/science/drake-bg.html)

However, as given in the text of "Rare Earth" the formula is:

N* x fs x fp x ne x fi x fc x fl = N

This does not appear to be a big difference, however, the terms fi, fl, and fc are each mis-defined in the book. fi is defined as planets where life does arise, not intelligent life; fc as planets on which intelligent life emerges, not civilizations that develop a technology; and fl as percentage of lifetime of a planet that civilizations release detectable signals into space, not planets with life. This may seem nothing more then nit picking over details, but to me this is symptomatic of the entire work. If you can't even get a few simple 40 plus year old definitions right how accurate is the rest of the work? The belief that earth is the rarest of planets and then the selection of information to support that idea appears to be the main thrust here.

Good science uses data to take you to a logical, fact supported conclusion, you get the reverse when to select facts to support a preconceived conclusion.

Overall an unsatisfactory book. ... Read more

Book Description

With more than 500 species described and more than 400 illustrations, this guide provides quick and easy visual identification of fishes, mollusks, sponges, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and much more of the fauna found on the coral reefs of the Caribbean and Florida. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

lacking color photos
I like most peterson books, however this one is just as knowledgable, but I bought the book hopeing to see color plates of corals, which it did not have. It had mostly color plates of starfish, sponges, sea buscuits, other animal life. I was disappointed in that, but as most of their books have, a nice description on how to identify it. It does seperate out the different types of corals, such as brain coral, then different subspecies (depressed, common, sharp hilled) but NO good pictures. It tells depth circumferance and valley, color, nice descriptions. It does have some black & white photos of coral, but it really does not help much.

It's a hard guide to write
I would feel confident recommending any of Peterson's field guides including "Coral Reefs." Many field guides simply discuss a single group of animals or plants. However Kaplan has succeeded in producing a pocket book explaining the most diverse habitats on earth. He writes from a broad knowledge base covering many topics important to coral reef watchers or biologists. Frequently he injects wit and humor into what might have been a dry text. He manages to hit on most groups of animals and uses many types of illustrations to allow the reader to identify and sort out the great number and types of animals that they will see on any coral reef within the area discussed.

I am new to this book but have used quite a few field guides in my day. Now I can't wait to visit the reefs again, armed with my new education. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When David Doubilet was a child, he photographed swimmers in the waters off of New Jersey. Water Light Time is a collection of images that capture the underwater magnificence that seized the photographer's imagination in childhood and spurred a lifelong fascination. Underwater plant life floating like snakes, bright blue water filled with schools of silver fish, a diver immersed in a throng of bubbling yellow jellyfish, a close-up of pink and white sea anemones looking all the world like a floating bouquet of flowers--each image in this book is exquisitely photographed with preternaturally clear colors, full of detail and depth. Some images toy with perspective, creating surreal tableaux as a crustacean leg pokes out of the yellow-green water to appear almost as large as a nearby tree.

With a career that started as a National Geographic photographer in 1972, Doubilet has a lifetime of experience from which to make such a marvelous meditation on this otherworld that is vaguely familiar to most readers only through pictures and visits to aquariums. Doubilet captures what must surely be his own awe at the uniqueness of being a human in this nonhuman environment, and the reader can marvel at both the lushness of life in the water and at the beauty of the photographs themselves, which dominate almost all of the book's 240 pages. --Jennifer Cohen ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The most impressive ocean imagery book I`ve ever seen
This book is really IMPRESSIVE.
It is an oversized,full color photo book about the ocean realm.
David Doubilet revolutionized UW photography in 1989 with "Light in the Sea",which was a remarkable book. This is like a sequel book,released ten years later,which is even more remarkable.
Because it is so huge,it is usually too broad for most book cases. Therefore,I have it laying in my bookcase,instead of standing.
The book is introduced with a story of Doubilet`s life and how he came in contact with the underwater world.
Every picture is worth a thousand words,but I have got some favorites among them.
One is a picture of a tuna skeleton,which is very unusual - a tuna that has met a natural death,not captured by man. The stingray pictures (one of them the cover pic),are also very remarkable,and truly portrays the grace and beauty of these magnificent but dangerous animals.
The black and white photos of Sea lions and Mantas are also spectacular,and in b/w,they become even more artistic.
The enormous schools of Jellyfish are also rather impressive. There are many good pictures of sharks in this book,especially white-tipped reef sharks and an incredible picture which truly portrays how fearsome a 20-foot great white really is,when throwing it`s jaws against the cage.
There are also some ultraviolet photos of corals,which are quite spectacular too. And so are the scorpionfish pictures,especially of the Rhinopias,which is the most well-camouflaged fish in the world.
And there are so many more,which would take an entire book to mention. As my review cannot be that long,you`ll have to buy the book for yourself and find out what the other images are.
The book perfectly captures the beauty,mystery,danger,and wonder of our oceans,with a varied library of images. It is quite inspiring,and my stories "The Magic Shell",which are about marine animals,will partly be based on the look of these habitats and animals. It really makes your fantasies lift off. Just open the book and look at the intro picture of a sardine school beneath the waves. It will blow you away!

Doubilet -- The Underwater Picasso
After flipping through the book once, I was stunned at Doubilet's ability to capture the art that abounds under the sea. I've seen many of the images in National Geographic, but I've never lingered over them like I do in this book. Although the sea is filled with light and shadow and color, I think his most stunning photos are in black and white. They capture an almost etherial emotion and reduce the images to simple forms of light and contrast. I feel that this is Doubilet's Magnum Opus, and perhaps solidifies his position as the great underwater photographer of our time. Buy the book, study the photos, read the captions and dream of diving in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

An adventure all on its own
The pictures are amazing. You feel like you are diving with Doubilet only he lets you see things that you may never find on your own. I would definately recommend this book to anyone!!

Day Dream your way into new worlds looking at these photos
You'll feel a profound sense of wonder as you wander the depths of these pages. There is joy, and there is sadness. The world is an amazing place, and this life's work capturing part of it on film will transport you up and out of yourself. Wafting through the views is like taking a vacation. You will come back changed.

Transcendency
This is a stunningly beautiful book. David Doubilet has broken a visual barrier, between water and earth. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the hugely successful Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, DK dives into the past to swim with prehistoric reptiles and mammals in Chased by Sea Monsters. Exploring the underwater world where he "encounters" amazing creatures, Nigel Marven presents a unique record of a lost world never revealed before now. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings
This gorgeous presentation explores the prehistoric world in search of sea-based monsters and is published to coincide with the BBC program of the same name; but familiarity with the TV show is not required for a separate appreciation of this book. More than just another dinosaur guide, Chased By Sea Monsters focuses on life in ancient oceans during each prehistoric period, providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings.

Bigger, meaner and deadlier
Nothing, not the carnivorous dinosaurs of the past, nor the imagined sea serpents and monsters of maritime history, nor the great white shark, salt water crocodile, killer whale and leopard seal of today can compare to the horrifying hunters of the prehistoric oceans. You will feel a lot more comfortable about going out for a swim or an afternoon boat ride knowing that such behemoths are extinct today!

The Dunkleosteus is school bus-sized armored fish with razor sharp bladed jaws for cutting through anything in its path. The mighty Liopleurodon is a true monster, largest and most powerful of the Pliosaurs. The deadly Mosasaurs where the real sea serpents of their day, and some where large enough to dispatch an adult tyrannosaur easily. The Basilosaurus, the first of the large whale species, is not a harmless plankton eater but a fearsome high speed hunter. And most frightening of all is the Megalodon, a gargantuan ancestor of the great white that makes its modern day relative look like a tuna.

If you're a paleontology buff like me or a fan of BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs series, this book is for you. The digital designs of the monsters are excellent and very well realized. And the fun-loving Nigel Marvin provides a great narrative. My only question is when does the DVD of the series come out?

Another excellent book is Sea Dragons by Richard Ellis. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive book introduces readers to the aquaculture industry.It covers every aspect of aquaculture, including history, potential, descriptions, management, feeding, marketing, and diseases of aquatic animals and plants.Also addressed are the water requirements and chemistry necessary for successful aquaculture.The book offers detailed information on employment opportunities in the aquaculture industry and stresses the science of aquaculture. Chemistry, biology, and anatomy and physiology are included to ensure that readers understand the fundamental principles.A complete chapter is dedicated to those interested in exploring career opportunities in the industry. ... Read more

Book Description

This invaluable reference for biologists, divers, and aquarium enthusiasts identifies over 200 species of fishes, invertebrates and plant life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Useful field guide to marine life of the region
I bought this book during a trip to the Gulf of Maine, and found it to be an extremely useful guide to the invertebrates, vertebrates, and algae of the NE coast of North America.

Photos in the field guide are composed well and show detail needed to figure out what you are looking at. Each photo in the book is accompanied by a brief summary of identifying characteristics of the organism itself, a description of habitats where they are likely to be seen, the geographic range for the organism, and brief comments that will help you look in the right kinds of places to see things.

Though not a comprehensive guide to marine life of the region, this book provides a great introduction to marine biota. The author even provides room in the book for you to write down where and when you saw each entry. There is also room for brief comments.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are planning a trip to New England or the Maritime Provinces.

Good stuff!

An excellent photo identification guide.
This book has many outstanding pictures. This book is a great picture identification guide with a lot of clear descriptions of subjects and their habitat. It has a place beside each picture to keep track of when and where you saw each subject making you want to find more and more of the featured subjects. It covers from seaweeds to sharks and everything in between. It shows all the ocean life you are likely to find as a diver, snorkeler or beach comber.

This book has many outstanding pictures.
This book is a great picture identification guide with a lot of clear descriptions of subjects and their habitat. It has a place beside each picture to keep track of when and where you saw each subject making you want to find more and more of the featured subjects. It covers from seaweeds to sharks and everything in between. It shows all the ocean life you are likely to find as a diver, snorkeler or beach comber. ... Read more

Book Description

The search for life in space begins on the ocean floor...

Far beneath the ocean's surface, beyond the reach of the sun, an astonishing community of animals lives in a world of searing heat, intense pressure, and absolute darkness. In Aliens of the Deep, Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron and a crew of scientists embark on an extraordinary mission to document this extreme environment. What they learn about the deep sea may one day help scientists search for life on other worlds.

Aliens of the Deep takes readers miles below the sea to volcanic hot springs -- hydrothermal vents -- where superheated water flows from Earth's crust into the cold, deep ocean. These vents are surprising oases of life, home to blind crabs, seething hordes of shrimp, reefs of mussels and clams, and swarms of microbes that have found a way to adapt in one ~of the most unlikely places on the planet. Unknown until 1977 and still largely, unexplored, hydrothermal vent fields support no life-giving photosynthesis. Yet many scientists believe that at sites like these, life on Earth may have begun.

Spectacular high-resolution photography brings this breathtaking world into focus: jellyfish that appear to glow from within, hideous-looking anglerfish, and the stunning architecture of the calcite towers of a site dubbed "Lost City."

Aliens of the Deep asks: If life can survive in this extreme environment on Earth, can the conditions to sustain life exist elsewhere in the universe? Veteran ocean explorer and writer Dr. Joseph MacInnis follows Cameron and his crew as they overcome technical and physical challenges to make a giant-screen film that provides an unprecedented view of this savage and surreal world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful Pictures From a World So Near and Yet So Far
This is the companion volume to the 3-D, Giant-Screen Film. The nice thing about having these pictures in book form is that they don't flash by the screen and disappear. And of course, the quality of the pictures had better be good.

Some reviewers have complained about the quality of these images. I do not agree. These pictures are supurb. The fact that they exist at all is amazing. Then you have to realize that they are taken a mile or two or three below the surface of the ocean. It's a long ways down there, you can't spend long there, and you are shooting the picture through water. And the pictures you are taking are of things that man has never seen before, at one point they counted 500 newly identified species.

I also liked the occassional reference to the way this is not unlike space exploration, one comment, "piloting a mini-sub at 12,000 feet is very similar to flying a spacecraft to another planet. You must be prepared for isolation and the risk of losing your life."

Thank you guys for going down there, I don't believe I want to go with you. I'll just look at the pictures.

Aliens of the deep
This is a must read for all divers. If you have no Imax this is it but see the 3d and have the book set it all off. A great book to add to my diving books. Great for teachers to use in class as a reference or add to reading list. So much water so little time. ... Read more

Book Description

North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Problem-based textbook on the diagnosis and treatment of disease in fishes. Uses a systems-based approach (water/environment, skin, gills, internal organs) rather than by pathogen. Case studies. Color and halftone photographs. For students or fish health specialists. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Systemic Approach
This book has been very helpful as I begin my hobby in aquarium science. Fish will get sick and I like the systemic approach that this book takes. Many books on fish disease barely cover the surface and don't discuss anything but the most common ailments. Well done, well referenced.

Well done....the best book I've ever seen on fish health!
This is an excellent book for fish health professionals and students alike. It contains methods for diagnosing fish diseases as well as detailed biology, life history, and the current most effective treatment regimen for each organism. The book covers environmental problems, as well as bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and nutritional deficiencies.It is well written and organized making it a good resource book for the laboratory. ... Read more

Book Description

A stunning look at the amazing fish diversity of Alabama, home to almost one-third of all fishes found in the US.

An enormous, superbly illustrated book revealing the astounding diversity of Alabama's fishes through brilliant color plates by Joseph Tomelleri and incredibly detailed information from the authors. Boschung and Mayden are two leading scientists of biodiversity. Boschung , co-editor of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales, and Dolphins and Mayden, author of over 100 papers on fishes, and editor of the landmark publication Systematics, Historical Ecology, and North American Freshwater Fishes, have dedicated years to documenting the evolutionary histories, diversity, diets, growth rates, reproduction, sizes, distribution, and status of Alabama's fishes, and they present this wealth of information in a helpful, user-friendly format. The identification keys to the species are beautifully illustrated with extremely helpful drawings that provide fast, accurate identification, useful to experts and the general public alike. Whether an angler looking to determine the species of fish he just caught, a biology student interested in stream biodiversity, or a young naturalist exploring North America's hotspot for fish biodiversity, everyone with an interest in the diversity of our world will find Fishes of Alabama ideal. 709 color, 804 b/w illustrations. ... Read more