Book Description

Translated from the popular 1999 revised German edition, this text describes the temperature, water, fertilizer, and light needs of more than 300 aquarium plants. Artificial lighting - lamp types, color temperatures, and mounting - is discussed in detail and the author provides advice on choosing the right plants for an aquarium. Ecological factors, flower biology and morphology, and reproduction methods receive detailed coverage. The book contains 525 color photographs with nearly all plants depicted with fully developed submerged foliage. Many of the photographs of rare plants were published for the first time in the German edition. Botanists as well as professional and amateur aquarium keepers will find this book indispensable. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

would be better without missing pages problem
Warning: Some printings lack a substantial number of pages. I recently received this book and tried to look up Riccia. Unfortunately, this plant is in the index but 23 pages including the page describing Riccia were missing from the volume I received. I have not gone thorugh the entire book to see if other sets of pages are missing, but for $80+ please check.

Especially recommended to dedicated aquarium hobbyists
Painstakingly translated from the original German edition, Christel Kasselmann's Aquarium Plants is a meticulous, comprehensive, and practical resource describing a wide variety of common plant species used for private aquariums. Aquarium Plants comprises an informed and informative overview of factors necessary to the proper care of such plants and detailed, one-page studies of individual plant varieties that include etymology, distribution, description, special care instructions, ecology and more of each plant variety, as well as full-color photographs that vividly portray the plants. Aquarium Plants is a reliable and excellent reference which is especially recommended to dedicated aquarium hobbyists.

Excellent book for planted acquarium fans
A good book, describing in detail all about any treated plant or family. Has an introductory part about the main water parameters, in nature and in tank, and has many indications as to grow the plants. ... Read more

Book Description

Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.

Each species is illustrated with a photo and a detailed entry on the facing page; the text is commendably rich for such a compact guide. This information enables the particular animal or plant to be identified by such traits as size, plumage or pelage, color, and shape. An opening section on wildlife photography provides helpful tips on the best type of camera, film, and lenses to use, techniques, and codes of conduct. A map shows the region's major natural parks. Wildlife of East Africa is a must for anyone considering a first-hand look at, or simply daydreaming of, the elegant, enormous, or exotic wildlife of East Africa.

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Covers the main parks and reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, plus surrounding countries
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475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower--from ostriches to elephants, leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes
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Full-color photographs and detailed entries describing each species
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Written and illustrated by wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in East Africa for more than 20 years
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Tips on wildlife photography, techniques, and codes of conduct

Book Description

This best-selling classic tells the story of one of the world's greatest scientific adventures. Jane Goodall was a young secretarial school graduate when the legendary Louis Leakey chose her to undertake a landmark study of chimpanzees in the wild. In the Shadow of Man is an absorbing account of her early years at Gombe Stream Reserve, telling us of the remarkable discoveries she made as she got to know the chimps and they got to know her. This paperback edition, illustrated with 80 photographs, includes an introduction by Stephen Jay Gould and a postscript by Goodall.During Goodall's forty years of studying chimpanzees, she has become one of the world's most honored scientists. She tells of the later years in THROUGH A WINDOW, also available in Mariner paperback. AFRICA IN MY BLOOD: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN LETTERS tells the story, through her letters, of childhood through the early years at Gombe. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

An extraordinary account - even decades later
IN THE SHADOW OF MAN, first published in 1971, remains one of the most extraordinary observations of chimpanzee behavior in the wild. Goodall begins with the story of how she arrived in Africa and her first days there, but wisely switches the attention from herself to the endangered chimpanzees she studies. She not only recognizes individuals but learns their distinctive personalities, describing in compelling detail the smallest of moments that illuminate who these great animals are. Unlike most scientists of the time, Goodall documents emotions and complex political behavior, the social hierarchy and parenting abilities, the aggression and the bonds formed between chimps that can only be described as friendships. In eloquent prose, Goodall tells the stories of these chimps - most notably that of Flo and her family - and will forever change the way you view chimpanzees.

The book contains several black and white photographs of the chimps, a real treat after getting to "know" these chimps in writing.

If you have any interest at all in primates or in animals generally, this is a must-have book.

A classic and entertaining, but not for everyone
Jane Goodall wrote the book on contemporary ethology (the study of animals in the native habitats), literally, but not everyone will enjoy it. It is full of anecdotes from Goodall's life in Africa during the first few decades of the ethology experiment that shocked the scientific community with its informality and enthralled the world with its endearing stories. The reader becomes entranced in the saga of Jane's pitfalls and triumphs, and later is deeply affected by the chimpanzee society and its eerie parallels to that of man. But the reader of which I speak is interested in science, in animal behavior, in the story of a young girl jeered by those who never thought she could make it, in the story of a young girl who almost believed them, in the story of a woman who never did, and whose life, and that of man's closest relative, as well as the world scientific community and the environment as a whole, were changed forever. And, fascinating as the human story is, one must be able to dig the animal story as well, and all the way through the book, which is not long to one who does. Conclusion? Excellent in every respect, but if biology class turned you cold from the start, you might not make it through all 304 pages. Otherwise, get the book -- you'll be in for a treat.

Great Reading
I read this book a long time ago and have looked into it many times since. It's an entertaining read that teaches us not just about chimpanzees but also about human nature and behavior. If you pay attention to this book, you'll be a better person for it!

A Great Book!
Reading this book has changed my life. I better know now who I am and why I am. The chimpanzee in the wild is a remarkable mirror.

An amazing woman!
Jane Goodall is such an ambassador for chimpanzees and all other life on this planet. Her hard work, insights, and drive are to be admired! This book is her beginning and a must read for everyone. She is a truly amazing woman! ... Read more

Book Description

Nematode worms are amongst the commonest and most widely distributed animals on Earth. Many species cause serious diseases of humans and livestock and as such are responsible for much economic loss in agriculture. However, almost all animals and plants are susceptible to attack by parasitic nematodes. Although they are probably best known as parasites, most nematodes are free-living and occur in enormous numbers in almost every habitat suitable for life. Although many parasitic species have been extensively studied because of their medical, veterinary or agricultural importance, the most thoroughly studied nematode is the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the complete genome of which has now been elucidated.
This multi-authored reference text has an international list of contributors and aims to synthesize our knowledge of most aspects of the biology of free-living, plant parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes. The use of molecular techniques, many of which have arisen from work on Caenorhabditis elegans, is increasingly opening up new approaches to the study of nematodes and this is reflected in several chapters in this book. Topics covered include:
* Systematics and phylogeny
* Neuromuscular physiology
* Locomotion
* Sense Organs
* Behaviour
* Ageing
* The nematode genome
The Biology of Nematodes is a suitable text for graduate students and for research scientists working on parasitic and free-living nematodes from the point of view of agriculture, control, helminthology, immunology, medical and veterinary parasitology, molecular biology, nematology, plant pathology and zoology. ... Read more

Book Description

This book examines behavioral adaptations of tropical birds in timing of breeding, life history traits, mating systems and parental care, territoriality, communication, and biotic interactions, and emphasizes the many gaps in our knowledge of tropical birds. We urge students and researchers in temperate and tropical regions alike to realize the potential they have for improving our knowledge of avian adaptations far beyond what is currently accepted as gospel. Time is running out. ... Read more

Book Description

The authors of Complex Worlds from Simpler Nervous Systems explain how animals with small, often minuscule, nervous systems -- jumping spiders, bees, praying mantids, toads, and others -- are not the simple "reflex machines" they were once thought to be. Because these animals live in the same world as do much larger species, they must meet the same environmental challenges. They do so by constructing complex perceptual worlds within which they can weigh options, make decisions, integrate unique experiences, apply complex algorithms, and execute plans -- and they must do this with thousands rather than the billions of neurons necessary for their larger counterparts.

The authors of each chapter, leading neuroscientists and animal behaviorists, present their research in ways that allow the reader to understand this process from the animal's perspective. The first of the book's three parts, "Creating Visual Worlds: Using Abstract Representations and Algorithms," examines the visual worlds of jumping spiders, honeybees, praying mantids, and toads. Part II, "Enhancing the Visual Basics: Using Color and Polarization," explores color vision and light polarization perception in honeybees, butterflies, crayfish, mantis shrimps, and octopuses. The final part, "Out of Sight: Creating Extravisual Worlds," examines the complex integration of visual and mechanosensory information in the cockroach and the unique auditory world of the unusual bladder grasshopper. All of these fascinating stories can be read both for what they teach us about the perceptual worlds of little animals, and for what they suggest about the general organizing principles of all central nervous systems, both "simple" and complex. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very interesting and informative
Anyone curious as to extent to which various human cognitive and neural capabilities are can exist in nervous systems that are much smaller and simpler than humans will gain a lot from the perusal of this book. But more importantly, the book also offers a glimpse of how these nervous systems are able to deal with their environment in ways that perpetuate the survival of the organisms that possess them. Their abilities in many ways surpass those of humans, but the comparison with humans should really not be the focus of attention. The most important thing to gain from the reading of this book is that nervous systems have evolved in ways that are advantageous to the organism. As two authors in the book expressed it, "the abilities of an animal seem to be governed largely by what it needs to pursue its lifestyle." All of the articles in this book are interesting, but for lack of space only three of them will be reviewed here.

The authors of the article "Exploration of Cognitive Capability in Honeybees: Higher Functions Emerge from a Small Brain", give a brief but fascinating overview of the research that has been performed in the neural and learning capabilities of honeybees. It is incredible fact, as brought out in the article, that the brain of the worker honeybee is only one cubic millimeter in volume, has a mass of only 1 mg, and has less than a million neurons. In spite of these dimensions however, honeybees are still able to process visual and motion information in ways that are very similar to the way that humans do. Indeed the honeybee is able to engage in pattern recognition, perception, and the learning of complex tasks. Honeybees are able to take pattern presented to them, train on these patterns, and use what they have learned to evaluate new patterns presented to them. Most interestingly, the authors describe experiments that show that honeybees are able to perceive some of the illusions that humans do. Other abilities discussed include learning to negotiate complex mazes, and are able to count landmarks as they do. Furthermore, they make use of rules that worked in the past in order to navigate through mazes. Thus bees exhibit a remarkable ability to construct concepts. The authors also mention the exciting prospect of constructing a learning machine that is capable of performing behavior similar to the honeybee. Given the size of the honeybee brain, this certainly seems like a goal that could be readily accomplished.

In the article "In the Mind of a Hunter: The Visual World of Praying Mantis", the authors present the mantis as being an insect that is very complex from the standpoint of its ability to process information, being manifested in what the authors refer to as "plastic behaviors." Anyone who has observed a praying mantis in a garden or other places outdoors cannot help but be fascinated by their behavior. This article puts these behaviors on a neurological foundation, and the picture the authors paint is a very interesting one. The reader learns of the compound eyes of the praying mantis, which allow visualization in every direction. The range of light intensity (four log units) allows the mantis to distinguish between different objects. Amazingly, their eyes have about nine thousand sampling units or `ommatidia' as the authors call them. But it is the "prey recognition" algorithm used by mantids that is of primary interest to the authors. They have found through their research that this algorithm depends on the simultaneous assessment of a collection of stimulus parameters. From the standpoint of its nervous system, prey recognition is accomplished by a movement-sensitive cell called the lobula giant movement detector (LGMD). The LGMD is presynaptic to the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD). They mention the construction of an artificial neural network of the LGMD-DCMD systems that learns to respond to the same types of stimuli that mantids recognize as prey, but unfortunately do not discuss it in any detail.

The author of the article "Motion Perception Shapes the Visual World of Amphibians" discusses how frogs and toads are able to catch their prey, avoid predators, and find mates without the benefit of eye movements. The emphasis in the article is in on how these different entities are classified and discriminated, how retinal images of moving objects are discriminated from self-induced moving images, on whether or not toads employ concepts or engage in learning, and how toads analyze visual stimuli without the benefit of a cerebral neocortex. The distinction between prey and nonprey is correlated with the geometry of the object relative to the direction of movement. In order to justify what is happening at the neuronal level, the author describes the properties of the retinal ganglion cells (which mediate the output of the retinal network) and the neurons of the retinal projection fields in terms of their receptive fields. A table is given along with extension discussion of their properties. Toads also make use of the odor of their prey, and the author discusses, with a detailed diagram, the brain structures involved in visual-olfactory learning. Most interesting is the author's discussion of backpropagation artificial neural networks used to model the feature detection abilities of amphibians. A two-layered artificial neural network is trained to classify and evaluate objects of different lengths moving in prey and nonprey configurations.
... Read more

Book Description

This magnificent, encyclopedic reference to 157 fish species-which are found not only in Wisconsin but also in much of the Great Lakes region and Mississippi River watershed-has been a model for all other such works. In addition to comprehensive species accounts, Becker discusses water resources and fisheries management from both historical and practical policy perspectives. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The most thorough, classic natural history
What makes this book one of the best is its painstaking & thorough documentation of all that is known about the natural history of each species. This includes not just published scientific accounts, but anecdotes, which are often the starting point of a good hypothesis. It leads one to a full appreciation of the behavioral diversity of freshwater fish.

I am, BTW, in search of a copy of this book!

Extremely thorough.
The book should be considered the top in its field. Dr. Becker obviously spent much time and effort writing this book.

The standard in the field for native fish books
Easily the standard in the field of midwestern fishes. Dr. Beckers text is colorfull and extremly well writen . I makes the reader want to spend some time in the many lakes, creeks and ponds of Wisconsin in search of it's unique and beutifull native fish. This is the standard for the student, aquarist or naturalist interested in native fish. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Social Foraging Theory
This is an excellent theoretical study. The mathematics seemed to explain general patters, and offered insights to the field worker. The organization was logical and the extensions of behavioral models to ecological processes suggest new directions for both theoretical and experimental work. A broad range of biological scientists should read this book.

Putting social back into foraging
This is an excellent and timely book, about the behavioral ecology of foraging in animals. This is a field that lacked progress since optimal foraging theories in the 1970's, and the authors make clear why, namely that the social dimension has too often been ignored. The authors remedy this omission and provide a clear and comprehensive overview of contemporary views on foraging theory in a social context.

The art of being complicated
This book is the art of writing complex and no attempt has been made to simplify the (indeed complex) field of behavioral ecology in general and foraging theory in particular. This is a book for the specialist only, certainly not for students, neither for graduates, not even for researchers working aside the very narrow field of foraging theory. The book is not very well organized, and one gets lost rapidly. If mathematics are not your strong point, or your background is weak, you will have a hard time with that book. The writing is somewhat stiff, complicated and argumentation difficult to follow. I certainly do not recommend it unless you are a very specialist of foraging theory, or want to be one.

a synthesis of foraging behavior
This book brings the different components of social foraging behavior into one general comprehensive theory. For instance, this book does a great job at linking the benefits and costs of living in group. It goes through detailed, well explained, models to bring general tendencies and go beyond that in providing predictions to test for the years to come. This book is easy to read and provide the best review of social foraging to date. I recommend it to anyone interested in behavioral and population ecology. ... Read more

Book Description

Insect-related evidence is one of the most powerful, least understood examples of modern forensic science. Entomology and the Law is a detailed roadmap from crime scene to courtroom--for entomologists, law enforcement personnel and lawyers preparing for trial. Part I focuses on carrion flies as forensic indicators, exploring relevant biology clearly and concisely illustrated by real-life cases. Part II is a thorough examination of the law of scientific evidence worldwide, complete with caselaw, applicable code provisions, and legal issues relevant to the admissibility and use of forensic entomology in litigation. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

C.S.I. comes to life!
If you're a fan of the hit television series C.S.I., then this book is for you. It explains in clear, understandable terms exactly how C.S.I. professionals use scientific evidence to solve crimes. It is fascinating to see how insects can actually provide the key to murder mysteries.

Forensic Entomology made understandable!
This is a superb work of immense scope and brilliance. The authors leave no aspect of forensic entomology a mystery. Splendid for experts, both scientists and lawyers alike.

This is what CSI is really about!
Bugs are excellent crime solvers. This terrific book explains how and why, in a way everyone can understand. Great for everyone from experts to novices.

CSI made easy!!!!
This book makes it easy for even a layperson to understand the forensic entomology evidence so often featured on the C.S.I. television series! Kunich and Greenberg take insect-related evidence and make it come alive. What an amazing book!

Comprehensive? Hardly¿
Entomology and the Law by Greenberg and Kunich was promoted to be "the first comprehensive book on forensic entomology." This book certainly does not live up to that description, though it is a decent book in its own rights. At [the price], the book seems a little thin and incomplete.

The first section of the book, written by Dr. Greenberg, deals with the history, biology, identification, and use of forensically important flies. Dr. Greenberg's knowledge of flies is indeed extensive, and he has included keys to species of adults and larvae (pupae are ignored) of carrion flies from many parts of the world. Note that only flies are covered in this book, and all of the other forensically important insects are ignored. Also there is no mention of insect succession on the corpse outside of the preface to the first section of the book. This aspect alone limits the application of this book to the early postmortem interval.

The second section of the book, written by John Kunich, focuses on the legal applications of forensic entomology. This section deals with the laws behind scientific evidence, the admissibility of insect evidence, and how to optimize the use of such evidence. Placing the legal aspects into the prospective of forensic entomology made this section useful to the scientist who is interested in that aspect of the criminal justice system alone.

This book is far from being comprehensive. Nowhere are the details of the collection of entomological evidence presented, successional patterns of insects are largely ignored, and the temperature information included in the book is incomplete. Though lawyers and entomologists with experience in the field of medicocriminal entomology will benefit from this book, the curious lay person or law enforcement official should save their money and purchase either Catts & Haskell or Byrd & Castner. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the publication of the highly-successful first edition of Earthworm Ecology, there were two international symposia and an increased number of publications on the subject, demanding a revision of the book that addresses the most rapidly developing areas of earthworm research.Earthworm Ecology, Second Edition updates the most comprehensive work available on earthworm ecology with extensive revisions of the original chapters. This well-illustrated, expansive study examines the important, and often overlooked, impact earthworms have on the environment. It discusses the impact of climate, soil properties, predation, disease and parasitism, and competition upon earthworm ecology.New chapters analyze the history of earthworm research, the importance of earthworms as representatives of soil fauna and how they affect plant growth, the effects of the invasion of exotic earthworms into North America and other regions, and vermiculture and vermicomposting in Europe and Asia. This new material makes this volume an essential reference work for soil scientists, agronomists, and others with a great interest in earthworms. ... Read more

Book Description

“Engrossing” (The Christian Science Monitor), “fascinating” (TimeOut New York), “delightfully nuanced” (Entertainment Weekly), “terrific” (New York Newsday), “inspiring” (Bust magazine). “You know a book is good when you actually welcome one of those howling days of wind and sleet that makes going out next to impossible” (The New York Times).

The Earth Moved has moved reviewers across the country. In witty, offbeat style, Amy Stewart takes us on a subterranean adventure and introduces us to our planet’s most important gatekeeper: the humble earthworm. It’s true that the earthworm is small, spineless, and blind, but its effect on the ecosystem is profound,moving Charles Darwin to devote his last years to studying its remarkable attributes and achievements.

With the august scientist as her inspiration, Stewart investigates the earthworm’s astonishing realm, talks to oligochaetologists who have devoted their lives to unearthing the complex web of life beneath our feet, and observes the thousands of worms in her own garden. Stewart’s “ease in gliding from worms to plants to humans will remind readers of John McPhee’s essays on canoes, oranges, the geology of America” (Providence Journal). “Stewart’s book paddles along in [Rachel] Carson’s wake. Read her book and you’ll start to see how the rhododendron bed in front of your house is a kind of Mars for frontier science” (The Boston Globe). ... Read more

Reviews (9)

I really enjoyed reading this book!
I think this book would be fascinating to anyone interested in worms, gardening, soil, ecology, or Charles Darwin. (I hadn't realized that Darwin was a big fan of earthworms!) It is absolutely full of information on all these topics and more. It's written by a layman, so it's very accessible to any reader. But it delves into enough of the science to be of interest to scientists too.

If you find earthworms even a little bit interesting, I would recommend buying this book!

This book is great!!
Amy Stewart insists that she is not a scientist, and I believe that is why this book is so wonderful.First of all, it's readable.She does a great job of explaining what the earthworm does, how certain species differ from each other, and how they are playing a vital role on the earth.There's a very informative chapter on a "green" sewage treatment plant in San Francisco that is utilizing earthworms.Also, some great info about giant earthworm bins that help compost animal manure from dairy farms.An interesting chapter about how earthworms are hurting (from a human point of view) the growth of hardwood forests in Minnesota.Definetly check this book out.

For the gardener...
What a delightful little book this is! Not long, not full of science-speak, and very earthy, I found myself anxious to get into my garden to inspect my own worms while reading it. Ms. Stewart is "one of us," not a scientist but a gardener who was curious about the worms she found in her backyard and pursued that curiosity to all our benefit. I can't say it has altered the way I think about worms and gardening, but it has expanded it. The basic idea presented throughout, a concept of Darwin's, is that the repetition of incremental change over long periods of time can and has brought about drastic change in the way the earth and its many species function (think evolution). The expanse of this idea is mind boggling when you stop to think that worms may be responsible for leveling mountains. And yet Ms. Stewart presents the evidence in a compelling and interesting way that this is pretty much what they do. If you've also heard that worms are ecological disasters, she explores that as well, visiting Minnesota where European worms are completely altering the balance of native forests. I think most of us will walk away from having read this book with at least a little awe at the purpose of something we scarcely ponder. The only thing missing, in my view, is some pictures. There are none save the cover art. I think that, considering the nature of the book, some photos of the various species she discusses and/or the effects of worms in the garden, forest, or worm bin would enhance the reading experience. As it was, however, it is a charming book deserving of a place on any gardening enthusiasts bookshelf, and the bookshelves of any who have some interest in biological or ecological science (and even waste management!).

Great Job!
I would definitely recommend this seller.My book arrived earlier than expected and in great condition!

I Was So Turned On By This Book
Highly recommended for all worm fetishists. Extremely graphic! ... Read more

Book Description

Biology of Marine Birds provides the only complete summary of information about marine birds ever published. It both summarizes and analyzes their breeding biology, ecology, taxonomy, evolution, fossil history, physiology, energetics, and conservation. The book covers four orders of marine birds: penguins (Sphenisciformes); albatross, shearwaters, petrels (Procellariiformes); pelicans, boobies, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, cormorants (Pelecaniformes); and gulls, terns, guillemots, auks (Charadriiformes - Families Laridae and Alcidae). Two summary chapters address the biology of shorebirds and wading birds and their lives in the marine environment.This comprehensive book contains numerous summary tables that give you exhaustive information on various aspects of their life histories, breeding biology, physiology and energetics, and demography. It also discusses research techniques and future research needed, providing a guide to ornithologists and students for research projects. Written by acknowledged experts in this field, Biology of Marine Birds is the ideal resource. The authors not only present known information, but provide new analyses and insights into marine bird biology. You will find no other book that covers all the major seabird groups and all the major topics with this depth of detail. Whether you are studying, researching, or managing marine environments, you will find yourself reaching for this resource repeatedly. ... Read more

Book Description

This new field guide uses all 147 color plates from Princeton's A Guide to the Birds of Western Africa, with concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a compact, lightweight field reference covering all 1,285 species found in the region--from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It is the first field guide to cover this region exclusively and in such comprehensive depth, and will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the twenty-three countries and territories covered.

Birds of Western Africa also has an updated color distribution map for each species, conveniently placed on interleaved pages within the color plates. The plates, all original and painted by the same leading illustrator, comprise over 3,000 figures--including a number of new images painted for this field guide--and depict almost all the species described. The entries opposite the plates focus on key identification marks for all main plumages.

Both authors have gained extensive field experience over many years in western Africa. Their knowledge and expertise shines through in this unprecedented and outstanding field guide to one of the world's most exciting birding regions.

Book Description

A sighting in the field is just one way birders can identify bird species. Observant nature-lovers can discover what birds are where by examining tracks, trails, and a variety of bird sign: discarded feathers, feeding leftovers and caches, pellets, nests, droppings, and skulls and bones. This fully illustrated guide-the first of its kind for North American birds-presents thorough and straightforward instruction for identifying birdfamilies or individual species by careful examination of the unique sign they leave behind. It also offers keys to the birds' behavior in the wild.Includes songbirds, waterfowl, owls,shorebirds, warblers, woodpeckers, nightjars, and birds of prey. For trackers, birders, and nature-lovers. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great gift for that serious birder
This is a guide to identifying bird families or individual species by clues they leave behind of their presence. The title may appear, at first glance, to be a typo. It is not. As the authors explain on the first page: "Sign refers to all the possible signs of their passing: sign of feeding, gathering material for nesting, the nests or cavity holes themselves, pellets, droppings, feathers lost during molt, or kill sites."

This book appears to be packed with too much information for a beginner to digest. But its actually quite good for anyone who is interested in birds and would use such a book more than once or twice. The information is organized by types of sign - tracks, feathers, feeding signs, droppings, nests and roosts, etc., rather than by species. This allows you to read about whichever subject you're interested in and to take in the basics behind, say, interpreting signs of feeding, rather than getting bogged down by details specific to a certain species.

Due to the nature of the topic, the squeamish may not enjoy all the pictures. However, the pictures are certainly not as gruesome as they could have been.

In the introduction, one of the authors writes: "real tracking is bigger than one lifetime. Tracking, as our ancestors knew it, was a body of knowledge handed down from generation to generation. Each person added to this knowledge..." The authors clearly see themselves as a continuation if this process, referring to and giving credit to other excellent books, such a Rezendes' "Tracking and the Art of Seeing".

To my knowledge, this is the only book like this specific to birds. I feel this would be an excellent gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for bird watcher.

petervtamas@mail.com

At Last! Something that actually contributes to the Field!
Call me cynical but in the last twenty years I have seen field guide publishers recylce the same old info over and over again, just adding a new tabulature or color photos. The text is minimal and always leaves me wanting more.

Not so with this book! Mark and Eleanor have created something that goes well beyond any field guide currently on the market concerning birds! This stuff is new and never before seen except for experienced birders in the field. It is easy to use, fun to use and it will help anyone learn more about birds, their habits and sign. The photography is stunning as well.

I cannot over-recommend this book. Go get it, now!

Ricardo Sierra

A gorgeous birder's guide for all ages and skill levels.
Collaborative written by Mark Elbroch and Elanor Marks, Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide To North American Species is a gorgeous birder's guide filled cover to cover with full-color photography on thick, glossy, sturdy paper. From bird trails and feathers to pellets and nest, bird signs of every shap, size and format are presented, described, and lavishly illustrated. Portable, authoritative, and "user friendly", Bird Tracks & Sings is very highly recommended for North American birdwatchers and aspiring ornithologists of all ages and skill levels.

For beginners too!
I'm a beginner birder and tracker - When I first saw this book, I thought, fat chance, I probably can't even identify the birds' feathers or tracks because I'm still so new to the birding and tracking worlds. Still, I kept it around just in case - and when I found a feather or a track, I'd look up it in the book. It would take me less than a few minutes to discover the owner of the feather and tracks! That's thanks to the handy quick reference chart on the inside cover of the book! I now know I can go out and have fun with this book!

Tremendously Useful, Beautiful, and Creative Field Guide
Mark Elbroch's and Elanor Marks "Bird Tracks and Sign" is a gem.

No self-accliamed naturalist, tracker, birder, or nature educator should be without a well-worn copy in years to come.

This book fills a niche long absent from teh worlds of animal tracking and birding. What a wondrous blend of dazzlig photographs, informative text, and practical information. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents the first unified conceptual and statistical framework for understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies. Using the concept of the opportunity for sexual selection, the authors illustrate how and why sexual selection, though restricted to one sex and opposed in the other, is one of the strongest and fastest of all evolutionary forces. They offer a statistical framework for studying mating system evolution and apply it to patterns of alternative mating strategies. In doing so, they provide a method for quantifying how the strength of sexual selection is affected by the ecological and life history processes that influence females' spatial and temporal clustering and reproductive schedules.

Directly challenging verbal evolutionary models that attempt to explain reproductive behavior without quantitative reference to evolutionary genetics, this book establishes a more solid theoretical foundation for the field. Among the weaknesses the authors find in the existing data is the apparent ubiquity of condition-dependent mating tactics. They identify factors likely to contribute to the evolution of alternative mating strategies--which they argue are more common than generally believed--and illustrate how to measure the strength of selection acting on them. Lastly, they offer predictions on the covariation of mating systems and strategies, consider the underlying developmental biology behind male polyphenism, and propose directions for future research.

Informed by genetics, this is a comprehensive and rigorous new approach to explaining mating systems and strategies that will influence a wide swath of evolutionary biology. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent
This is a great book for Salamander lovers, like myself. Petranka provides well gathered information and writes it out on paper well. I would not change a thing. I am a student and have used this on all my papers and Reports. i has given me well grades and it provides excellent information. i Rate it 5 stars. So give it a try! Then go out and turn over a few logs youll love what you see!

Essential reference for serious herpetologists
Petranka provides a masterful summary of our current state of knowledge about the taxonomy, natural history, ecology, and behavior of North American salamanders. No other work comes close to matching the depth of coverage of this book. It is no surprise that this work received the Wildlife Society's prestigious Book of the Year Award.

Not a well done book
Good photographs and maps. Text okay. Taxonomy is completely out of date and common names are the tongue-twisters used earlier in the last century (instead of standardized common names, which have been adopted nationwide since 1978). These errors make the book difficult to use. Publishers should have sent it out for review by a younger generation of herpetologists before approving it. Not recommended.

The most complete work on ecology of USA Caudata so far
As a keeper and breeder of rare Asian and American salamanders I'm very happy with the arrival of this book. It's so far the most comprehensive & complete work on life environments & ecology of American Urodela species I read. It truly helps us/me overhere to install the animals in a natural urodarium, keeping them as close to nature as possible. A similar older standard book by E. R. Dunn was more of scientifical nature. The only thing that comes close to it concerns Pfingstens book on Ohio Salamanders. I'm sure this book will become a future standardwork in this peticular field. It's already famous in the midst of Belgian, German and Dutch urodela circles. If only this excisted for Asian species too.

Comprehensive, informative and pretty. Almost perfect.
This is destined to become one of the great classics in American Natural History. Dr. Petranka describes every species of salamander in exhaustive detail. His photographs and physical descriptions should enable even a novice to correctly identify every specimen. The accurate range maps make identification even easier. I especially enjoyed the habitat and ecological data provided for each species. Good stuff.

This is a great gift book for birdwatchers. It will broaden their horizons by forcing them to look down for a change.

Comment: The current trend in taxonomy is to split species rather than to lump them. Often this splitting is based on esoteric DNA differentiation. Fifteen years from now, the "lumpers" (me) will regain ascendency and a number of currently valid species will be relegated to varieties. The text follows the current splitting trend, but it does include a discussion of each species taxonomy and its relationships to closely related species.

Minor quibble: The photography is excellent. Beyond excellent. I only wish the editors had allowed for larger images and more of them, but that would have jacked up the price. I guess that sixty bucks is the perceived limit for this type of book. But salamanders are beautiful little animals that deserve better.

Buy this book. Read it. Then go out into the woods and turn over a few logs. Then put them back. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Animals is a lavishly illustrated, authoritative, and comprehensive exploration of the rich and intriguing world of animals. Written by an international team of specialists, spectacularly adorned with a gallery of more than 2,000 color illustrations, and supplemented with distribution maps, detailed and beautifully rendered diagrams, and some of the world's finest wildlife photographs, this volume will become the standard by which all others are measured. Each page is expertly laid out to enhance either browsing or in-depth study. Readers will find detailed coverage of all sorts of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.The Encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of animal evolution, biology, behavior, classification, habitats, and current conservation issues. An extensive encyclopedic survey of the animals follows, with special attention given to endangered and vulnerable species. All information is completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific and conservation data.Elegant graphics put a broad selection of information at readers' fingertips, including classification information, scientific and common names, distribution maps for all animal groups, conservation panels that focus on threatened species, accurate and detailed anatomical drawings, and illustrations of multiple species. Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups. Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior. With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this will be the ideal reference for a broad range of uses. * Completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific information and conservation data* A gallery of more than 2,000 illustrations* Authoritative text contributed by a team of international specialists* Lavish color photographs from leading wildlife photographers* Distribution maps for all animal groups* Detailed explanatory scientific diagrams* Feature pages exploring topics of particular interest and providing insights into animal behavior

Illustrations: 475 color photographs, 1,700 color illustrations, 950 maps, 125 tables ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

loved it..
This book made me wish to venture into the field of cetology. No other text to date comes close to revealing the lives of the four most studied species of cetacean( the bottlenose dolphin,killer whale,humpback,and sperm). It speaks of just about all the behaioral aspects of these wonderful creatures and more. Altough, i suggust you don't start with this book to learn about cetaceans. This book is only for those who have a high interst in these animals. Besides that, i absolutely enjoyed this book edited by the greatest minds of cetology of our time.

A very imformational book on cetaceans
This book goes into orcas, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, and humpbacks. It goes into every detail about their lives. Any piece of information you could possibly want to know about these animals is in this book. But it is heavy reading. Definately not an easy read, but very informative. ... Read more

Book Description

Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's "marvelous" (Jane Goodall) New York Times bestseller, When Elephants Weep, made us re-evaluate the emotional lives of animals. And in his follow-up New York Times bestseller, Dogs Never Lie About Love, Masson reflected with "intelligence and originality" (Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review) on the emotional world of dogs. Now, in The Emperor's Embrace, Masson offers a remarkable look at one of the most fulfilling roles in the animal world: fatherhood.

With fascinating insight, impeccable research, and captivating writing, controversial psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson, a new father himself, introduces us to the world's best dads. He takes us to such places as Antarctica, as he explores how emperor penguin fathers incubate the eggs of their young by carrying them around on their feet for two months, nestled beneath a special brood pouch. And he tells us how, once the babies hatch, the fathers snuggle the babies on their feet until the mother returns from her time at sea, feeding them a special milk-like substance until her arrival. Masson, a superb storyteller, showcases the extraordinary behavior of outstanding fathers, heroes among animals, including:

• the wolf -- and why wolves make good fathers and dogs don't
• the beaver, who encourages his young to cling to his tail as he navigates through ponds
• the sea horse, the only male animal that gives birth to its young
• the marmoset, the South American monkey who carries his babies for the first two years of their lives wherever he goes.

Masson also examines nature's worst fathers: lions, langurs, bears -- and humans. He shows that when a father does care for his young, as with the beaver, we immediately look for a biological and not an emotional explanation. But Masson demonstrates that for these animals, as with humans, fatherhood is a profound, all-encompassing experience.

Groundbreaking, compelling, inspirational, Masson's unique look at one of nature's most venerable institutions takes us to animal habitats around the world, yet always returns to the heart. For animal lovers, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters everywhere, The Emperor's Embrace is a book that will forever change our perceptions of parenthood and family love. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

lions, penguins and bears, oh my
This book should be discussed from two views: (1) those steeped in evolutionary theory and animal behavior and (2) those not. Those from the first camp will find many faults in the author's evolutionary arguments, but might profit from taking some of the criticisms to heart. For instance, the author sees emotional explanations for paternal care (maybe the penguin dad feels love for the egg he keeps warm: how to test this?) as alternatives to evolutionary explanations when, if the capacity for such emotions exists, they can be seen as the products of evolution (promoting a bond between father and offspring). In other words, the author poorly integrates what biologists refer to as ultimate (evolutionary function) with proximate (emotions, thoughts, physiology) perspectives. On the other hand, Masson's criticisms of evolutionary perspectives--Why not a greater focus on individual differences vs. species-typical behaviors? Why not always a clean fit between the expectations of paternity certainty, kin recognition theory, kin selection theory, etc.?--merit reflection. To non-specialists, there's more to recommend this book. Masson's accounts of non-human animal fathers are passionate, humane and sometimes beautifully written. Under one cover, one can find an ode to the penguin father, discussion of caring canids, marvel at fish (e.g. mouthbrooding)and frog dads, consider "dangerour fathers" such as bears and lions, ponder monogamy, including that prevalent among birds, focus on paternity certainty, prairie dogs and watching one's offspring leave. That's a lot, and the result is more piecemeal than integrated. If anything, this book warmly conveys the study and thought of non-human fathers, but asks for another book to better integrate examples and adequately apply an evolutionary perspective.

Thought-provoking and bold
While it is true that Masson asserts some claims in this book that are not yet proven at this point, he also states right away that he IS NOT a scientist. He is however, an amazing author and researcher. Every claim he asserts, while perhaps not backed by biology (yet) is followed by several extremely convincing examples. he has wonderful insight and some delightful thoughts and theories on animal behavior that the scientific community would do well to explore. Because Masson is not limited to the rules of scientific hypotheses, he has the ability to ask, not only "Why?", but also "Why not?" He reminds us that just because something has not YET been proven, does not mean its impossible. We discover new truths everyday. Read this book. Read what he has to say. Allow yourself to consider the possibilities. Ask yourself "Why not?" Then form your own opinion. This book may lead you to think in new directions, even if it convinces you of nothing else.

Speculations testable and untestable
When I saw the paperback edition of this book in a Shanghai bookstore, I was attracted by its subtitle: Fatherhood in Evolution. It turned out that the author may have read some books about evolutionary psychology and talked to scientists in the field, but in his book he does not discuss their findings and theses. On the contrary, The Emperor's Embrace is part of the backlash against evolutionary psychology - and it is not a convincing example of that kind of writing.

Masson, who received a Ph.D in Sanskrit from Harvard University and later trained as a Freudian psychologist in Toronto, starts from a laudable premise that reminds me of a bumper-sticker slogan used in motivational seminars: if you can conceive it, you can achieve it. In Masson's words: "we cannot test what we fail to imagine". Very true. Scientists must come up with creative ideas before they can put them to the test. And testable they should be, as Niko Tinbergen, one of the founders of ethology (the study of animal behavior) stressed: "because subjective phenomena cannot be observed objectively in animals, it is idle either to claim or to deny their existence".

Masson's favorite ideas which he presents in "The Emperor's Embrace" are: (1) animals may feel the same emotions as humans, (2) animals may be able to exercise conscious choice, (3) emotions may determine animal behavior to a larger extent than genetic disposition, (4) it makes sense to define what is "natural" for an animal species. He is very careful to stress that these ideas are just possibilities which science should not rule out (note the word "may"). To give a couple of examples from the text: (1) "these are the emotions that humans would feel in such circumstances; I can see no good reason to deny them to penguins", (2) "not every male lion kills cubs. Individual behavior certainly suggests, to me at least, individual choice", (3) "tales of animals who form deep friendships across the species barrier ... remind us of the primacy of feelings, of the powerful forces mobilized by sorrow and love and compassion, a power that can even defy the very bedrock of evolutionary logic", (4) "by and large, I think attempting to determine what is truly natural is a worthy goal. We can then always choose to alter our behavior once we know what is natural, whereas if we don't know, we will make false claims resulting in behavior that is much more difficult to change."

I personally think no scientist should attribute human emotions to animals because not only do I agree with Tinbergen, but also because as long as we cannot define what an "emotion" is in a human being we should not try in an animal. A similar argument applies to the problem of free will. Free will is a purely subjective category, a human "user illusion", if you want. As long as an animal does not tell me that it thinks it has free will, I see no reason to assume it actually thinks it has free will. The primacy of emotions over genetic disposition is also an untestable thesis as long as we can not clearly separate the parts of the emotional structure of a human being which are determined either by genes or by learning (the "nature or nurture" debate). Finally, I think it is time to throw the word "natural" on the dump heap of scientific debate. There is no such thing as a "natural" behavior. Behavior results from the interaction of a body with its environment. The body is a very complex issue (ask biologists, chemists and psychologists) and the environment is, too (ask sociologists, anthropologists, economists, historians, etc.). It is simply not possible to determine what "natural" is and then base "good" behavior on that definition. By the way, the "noble savage" which results from that kind of thinking belongs to the 18th century - and there he should remain.

If you like to see animals as human (they may not look like us, but they feel like us...), and if you need to convince yourself that it is "natural" to be a good father - another argument of the book - go ahead, read it. If you think animals should be treated on their own terms, and if you have no doubts about your abilities as a father - don't read it.

Too Fluffy
Having enjoyed Massons "When Elephants Weep" I expected a bit more than what I recieved from this book. His reference of the literature on animal behavior is impressive, however, his vast essays of his own opinion were a bit tiresome. When he took on a Dr. Spock attitude about raising children, it was especially boring and sometimes infuriating. I did not want to read about his first failed marriage and how his method of raising his first child differed form his second. If I wanted to know how to raise a child, I'd read a different book.

Intruiging, but save your money or wait till your library has it.

Haphazard collection of random thoughts
This book is a poorly organized and poorly conceived collection of half thoughts and ideas. Masson reviewed the scientific research on animal behavior. He then presents a few examples of how male animals nurture (or fail to nurture) their children. Masson's hypothesis is that if an animal father (from carp to penguin to wolf) takes care of his children, it is because of a conscious choice to be involved in the childrearing process. If, on the other hand, a male animal is not involved in child rearing, that too is a conscious choice, although usually by the mother to keep the father away. He then sympathizes with the poor male who must miss out on the wonderful joys of fatherhood.

Fatherhood is a wonderful experience for humans. Whether other animals also experience this or any other emotional response is well worth exploring. Unfortunately, this book doesn't come close to addressing the issue. ... Read more