Why do you switch from walking to running at a specific speed? Why do tall trees rarely blow over in high winds? And why does a spore ejected into air at seventy miles per hour travel only a fraction of an inch? "Comparative Biomechanics" is the first and only textbook that takes a comprehensive look at the mechanical aspects of life--covering animals and plants, structure and movement, and solids and fluids. An ideal entry point into the ways living creatures interact with their immediate physical world, this revised and updated edition examines how the forms and activities of animals and plants reflect the materials available to nature, considers rules for fluid flow and structural design, and explores how organisms contend with environmental forces.

Drawing on physics and mechanical engineering, Steven Vogel looks at how animals swim and fly, modes of terrestrial locomotion, organism responses to winds and water currents, circulatory and suspension-feeding systems, and the relationship between size and mechanical design. He also investigates links between the properties of biological materials--such as spider silk, jellyfish jelly, and muscle--and their structural and functional roles. Early chapters and appendices introduce relevant physical variables for quantification, and problem sets are provided at the end of each chapter. "Comparative Biomechanics" is useful for physical scientists and engineers seeking a guide to state-of-the-art biomechanics. For a wider audience, the textbook establishes the basic biological context for applied areas--including ergonomics, orthopedics, mechanical prosthetics, kinesiology, sports medicine, and biomimetics--and provides materials for exhibit designers at science museums.Problem sets at the ends of chapters Appendices cover basic background information Updated and expanded documentation and materials Revised figures and text Increased coverage of friction, viscoelastic materials, surface tension, diverse modes of locomotion, and biomimetics

In der Antike mythisch verklart, spater als Rohstoffquelle verbraucht, sind Wale und Delphine mittlerweile zu Publikumslieblingen und Symboltieren des Naturschutzes geworden. Wolfgang Gewalt pflegt seit mehr als einem Vierteljahrhundert fast taglichen Umgang mit diesen faszinierenden Tieren - im Zoo und draussen im freien Meer. Er erzahlt von der Herkunft der Wale und Delphine, ihrem Lernvermogen, ihrer Sprache und ihrem Verhalten. Locker und verstandlich erhalt der Leser damit einen unmittelbaren Einblick in den heutigen Stand der Walkunde.

Since the appearance of the second edition of Sydney A. Asdell's widely used Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction in 1964, the field of reproductive physiology has expanded dramatically. Accordingly, this revision adopts a different structure from previous editions, substituting empirical delineations for physiological interpretations. With the emphases now on a presentation of the published facts of mammalian reproduction, it provides a thorough compilation of what is known about the basic reproductive biology of each of the 4300 mammalian species.To gather information, the authors examined more than 20,000 publications, dating up to 1992. They used primary sources as much as possible, supplementing them with English translations of Russian, Finnish, Chinese, and Japanese journals. The data are presented in taxonomic order. Each familial account summarizes the pattern of reproduction for the family and provides lists of citations arranged by topic of the literature on the endocrinology, reproductive anatomy, and reproductive physiology of the family. Following each account is a tabular listing of species-specific data for neonatal mass and size, weaning mass and size, litter size, age at sexual maturity, estrous cycle length, gestation length, lactation length, number of litters per year, and seasonality of reproduction. For each of these reproductive variables, the range of data gleaned from the literature is given, together with the source of each value listed.Virginia Hayssen is Assistant Professor of Biology at Smith College. Ari Van Tienhoven is Professor of Animal Physiology, Emeritus, at Cornell University. Ans Van Tienhoven assisted in the compilation of data for the book.

Here is a uniquely modern approach to the study of physiological diversity that builds on the tradition established by C. Ladd Prosser's Comparative Animal Physiology. Responding to the need for a rigorously up-to-date, comprehensive survey of function and integrative systems in a variety of species, which is also easily accessible to the user, Dr. Prosser has delivered a thoroughly revised Fourth Edition in a convenient two-volume format. This carefully designed framework lets each volume zero-in on distinct aspects of comparative physiology normally studied as a whole unit. From the study of genetically replicating molecules to investigations of adaptive modulation, these two companion volumes offer an all-encompassing view of the field. With their contemporary approach, scholarly editing, flexible format, and detailed contents, Neural and Integrative Animal Physiology and Environmental and Metabolic Animal Physiology will stand together as the authoritative source in the field.

Addressing principles associated with breeding animals for enhanced health and resistance to specific diseases, this new edition provides an updated review of the field and is illustrated with examples covering many diseases of importance to livestock production across all major livestock species. Authored by experts in the field, the book covers techniques and approaches, viruses, TSEs, bacteria, parasites, vectors, and broader health issues seen in production systems, including metabolic diseases. The book will be an essential reference for professionals in the field, scientists and researchers, students, breeders, vets, agricultural advisors and policymakers.

Paxinos and Franklin's The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, Fifth Edition, emulates in design and accuracy Paxinos and Watson's The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, the most cited publication in neuroscience.

Through its emphasis on recent research, its many summary tables, and its bibliography of more than 4,000 entries, this first modern, synthetic treatment of comparative amphibian environmental physiology emerges as "the" definitive reference for the field. Forty internationally respected experts review the primary data, examine current research trends, and identify productive avenues for future research.

The Tai Chimpanzee Project (Tai National Park, Cote D'Ivoire) has yielded unprecedented insights into the nature of cooperation, cognition, and culture in our closest living relatives. Founded in 1979 by Christophe and Hedwige Boesch, the project has entered its 40th year of continuous research. Alongside other famous long-term chimpanzee study sites at Gombe and Mahale in East Africa, the tireless work of the team at Tai has contributed to the fields of behavioural ecology and anthropology, as well as improving public awareness of the urgent need to protect this already endangered species. Encompassing important research topics including chimpanzee ecology, reproductive behaviour, tool use, culture, communication, cognition and conservation, this book provides an engaging account of how Tai chimpanzees are adapted to African jungle life and how they have developed unique forms of cooperation with less violence, regular adoptions and complex cultural differences between groups.

There are few creatures more beautiful, aloof, and fascinating than giraffes. Their social and ecological impact has been documented by many researchers. However, the inner workings of extant giraffes are less well known. That is why Graham Mitchell decided to write How Giraffes Work: a comprehensive overview of the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry-in short, the normal functions-of a free-living, wild animal in its natural environment. A zoologist, veterinarian, and physiologist, Mitchell explains how giraffes get through their day. Additionally, he takes readers through the evolution of their physical characteristics, such as their size, shape, and coat markings. His approach integrates history with the physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, behavior, evolution, genetics, ecology, climate science, and more. Each chapter follows the discovery and utility of a different characteristic of giraffes. Illustrated with over two hundred figures and diagrams, the book explains how giraffes might have evolved and survived over many millions of years as well as how our perception of them has changed throughout history. So, how do giraffes work? The answers lie in a story filled not only with the details of their internal working but also with the labors of the extraordinary scientists who have put so many pieces of this puzzle together.

This new and updated edition, with two entirely new chapters, provides a comprehensive coverage of the comparative physiology of animals, in a strongly environmental context.

It provides full analysis of the basic principles of physiological adaptations, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. It now also includes new chapters on the control systems (nervous and sensory systems, muscles, and hormones) and how they allow integration with the environment, suitable for introductory courses on excitable tissues

But it is unique in also providing detailed and integrated reviews of how animals sense, react to and cope with particular environments - the marine and freshwater worlds, the particularly challenging seashore and estuarine zones, the different kinds of terrestrial habitat, and the parasitic environment. In this way, physiology is for the first time properly integrated with ecological principles and with behavioural responses used by animals in coping with environmental challenges.

The book provides a stand-alone core text for undergraduate courses in comparative physiology, animal physiology, or environmental physiology, but also provides key material for integrating across modules in any environmental biology degree.

Compared to terrestrial mammals, the cetacean skin has some unique features. It is not only non-glandular and essentially hairless because of the missing hair follicle complexes, except for sinus hairs in the head region, but shows very specific adaptations to the aquatic environment to overcome problems arising from the saltwater milieu and its low temperatures, or from any biofouling attacks. Moreover, the environmental factors impinging upon the cetacean integument, and necessitating their perception, correlation and a response, are - rather unusual for former terrestrial mammals - also water turbulence and pressure, and light or its reflection. This new book examines the integumentary system of the dolphin which protects it from possible damage that could arise because of their aquatic environment.

-- This new edition offers significant new information, regarding new technologies like CRISPR-Cas, new housing systems and management practices (including metabolic cages), a table on injection volumes and recommended needle sizes, info on new concepts such as pain assessment by facial expression, possible anesthetic reversal agents, and the potential impact of common procedures on animal welfare. The regulatory section has been entirely updated. The book is now more relevant to an international audience, addressing differing regulations across borders. -- With the advent of transgenic and other genetic engineering technologies, the versatility and usefulness of the mouse as a model in biomedical research has soared. As a result, mouse colonies everywhere are expanding, and scientists who previously focused on other models are turning their attention to the mouse. These researchers and their lab technicians need a handy, quick and up-to-date reference guide to inform them of best practice when working with these animals. -- Unlike existing books on laboratory mice, this book focuses not only on veterinary medicine but also offers detailed information regarding management and behavior of mice. It also offers a concise synopsis of material relevant to those working with, and caring for, laboratory mice, making for an easily-used reference.

This presentation uses anatomically precise, computer-generated reconstructed images of the human body for three-dimensional presentation of acupuncture points and channels. The CD component is fully interactive and allows the user to see through tissue layers, remove tissue layers, and rotate structures so that specific acupuncture points can be visualized in relation to their surrounding nerves, organs, and vessels. The accompanying book provides full color anatomic drawings and detailed information regarding the physiologic basis for acupuncture, which will be useful in conjunction with the CD.

The book deeply focuses on the epidemiology, diagnostics, therapy and molecular basis of canine and feline dementia or cognitive dysfunction syndrome. The aim is to provide a broad overview of the current knowledge on canine and feline dementia. Experiences of clinicians are appropriately linked with current scientific knowledge in a readily comprehensible form. In the first three chapters we describe the clinical pictures of canine and feline dementia, discuss the medical causes of the disease and its phenotypic variability. In the 4th chapter we introduce the dog as an appropriate animal model for human Alzheimer's disease progression. Then we shed light on the neuropathological hallmarks of canine and feline dementia. For the first time we touch upon the modern diagnostic approaches based on the neuroproteomic technological progress. Last but not least, we address the current pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for therapy and risk and protective factors of feline and canine dementia. The book addresses clinicians, researchers, university teachers and graduate students in veterinary neurology and medicine.

With the staggering amount of pet health information available on the Internet, it is often difficult to find exactly what you are looking for. The Internet Guide to Pet Health is a one-stop guide that weeds through all the clutter to bring you only the most dependable sources and relevant content. This comprehensive compilation of annotated links will serve as a handy, useful, and easy-to-consult guide for persons who appreciate animals and/or own domestic pets of all kinds, especially cats and dogs. This text also features a full glossary of medical terms, bibliography, and a quick-find index. The health needs of pet animals have become as complex and specialized as those of humans. Pet owners, veterinarians, and animal lovers alike need authoritative, reliable, and up-to-date information about caring for the health and well-being of pets. The Internet Guide to Pet Health offers a quick, easy, and comprehensive reference to quality Web sites that focus on the health and welfare of animal companions. The Internet Guide to Pet Health will help you pinpoint reliable information on: * the health benefits of pet ownership * diseases transmitted by pets * pet food safety * animal care and welfare societies and organizations * death, dying, and euthanasia * poisons, dangerous situations, and other hazards * spaying and neutering * traveling with pets * pet-specific care for dogs, cats, small animals, and fish * surgery, surgical procedures, and hospitalization * exercise and training * dental care, diet, and nutrition * disabled pets * service and therapy animals * and much, much more! The Internet Guide to Pet Health is an ideal resource for anyone who is directly involved in the lives of pet companions or simply an animal lover. Medical librarians in academic medical centers and teaching hospitals; consumer health and public librarians; veterinarians and veterinary clinic staff; public health personnel; animal trainers; and groomers will also find this to be an invaluable text.

Physiological ecology has grown in importance as an area of biology in the past thirty years and integrates the diverse approaches used in the comparative biology of organisms. Biologists segregate their approaches by technique and concept, but the boundaries among ecology, behavior, anatomy, and physiology are arbitrary and of no significance to organisms. Physiological ecology emphasizes the diversity of not only organisms, but also of solutions to (and evasions of) problems posed by the environment.In a comprehensive and authoritative synthesis of physiological ecology supported by more than 3,100 references, Brian K. McNab demonstrates the intellectual cohesion of the field. To ground his discussion in clearly understood contexts, McNab emphasizes the common thread of energy expenditure throughout the text and limits the discussion to vertebrates, which have familiar habitats and comparatively well-known evolutionary histories.A thorough scientific resource and reference tool, Physiological Ecology of Vertebrates is the first book to cover this complex subject. It will be the standard reference and basis for much future research in this fast-growing field of study.

The latest advances in knowledge of growth biology are now available in a single, seminal volume. "Biology of Growth of Domestic Animals" critically examines the fundamental process of growth both from a systems viewpoint (mathematical aspects, modeling, cell and molecular biology, hormones, growth factors, the extra-cellular matrix) and at the organ level (muscle, adipose, mammary gland and bone). The text considers the interface of growth with other disciplines including nutrition, genetics, and environment management, as well as specific aspects of growth in livestock and companion animal species. Man's relationship with animals is reviewed as an introduction to the importance of domestic animals which have been critical to human development providing nutrition, income, transportation, locomotive power, companionship and entertainment.

Through the ages natural historians have puzzled over how animals work, wavering between a vitalist belief in a soul animating bodily functions and a mechanistic outlook in which animal body parts are seen as pieces of organic machinery. Animal as Machine explores the life, work, and ideas of scientists who, branding themselves as physiologists, subscribed to mechanistic concepts to explain how animals acquire and process food, breathe, circulate their blood, and sense their environment. As medical physiology thrived in the nineteenth century, zoologists struggled to forge their own distinctive physiology predicated on understanding animal functions in a context of environmental adaptation and evolutionary forces. Physiological schools with distinct emphases that shaped their outlook sprang up around the world. Dividing their time between fieldwork in marine stations and laboratory experimentation, animal physiologists stood in awe of the diversity and ingenuity of the functional strategies by which animals survived. Animal as Machine tells a remarkable and insightful story of the larger-than-life personalities and gripping historical episodes that marked the emergence and blossoming of animal physiology.

Avoiding Attack discusses the diversity of mechanisms by which prey avoid predator attacks and explores how such defensive mechanisms have evolved through natural selection. It considers how potential prey avoid detection, how they make themselves unprofitable to attack, how they communicate this status, and how other species have exploited these signals. Using carefully selected examples of camouflage, mimicry, and warning signals drawn from a wide range of species and ecosystems, the authors summarise the latest research into these fascinating adaptations, developing mathematical models where appropriate and making recommendations for future study. This second edition has been extensively rewritten, particularly in the application of modern genetic research techniques which have transformed our recent understanding of adaptations in evolutionary genomics and phylogenetics. The book also employs a more integrated and systematic approach, ensuring that each chapter has a broader focus on the evolutionary and ecological consequences of anti-predator adaptation. The field has grown and developed considerably over the last decade with an explosion of new research literature, making this new edition timely.

Key features: Beautifully illustrated with detailed, full-colour images - very user-friendly for investigators, students, and technicians who work with animals Provides essential information for research and clinical purposes, describing some structures not usually shown in any other anatomy atlas In each set of illustrations, the same view is depicted in the mouse and the rat for easy comparison Text draws attention to the anatomical features which are important for supporting the care and use of these animals in research Endorsed by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Comparative Anatomy of the Mouse and Rat: a Color Atlas and Text provides detailed comparative anatomical information for those who work with mice and rats in animal research. Information is provided about the anatomical features and landmarks for conducting a physical examination, collecting biological samples, making injections of therapeutic and experimental materials, using imaging modalities, and performing surgeries.

Key features: Offers chapters by renowned experts which are comprised of three subunits: a theoretical discussion of the content area, a description of the methods employed to address the content area, and finally, and most importantly, a discussion of the ways that relevant aspects of the content area can be easily employed/adapted to enhance the behavioral management of NHPs Provides case studies that highlight the areas of expertise of the authors and emphasize 'success stories' that can be used to develop behavioral management strategies and build behavioral management programs Presents 'Genera-specific' chapters which focus on behavioral management strategies that, typically, are successfully employed with particular taxa of NHPs Includes a novel, pioneering 'Product/services' section that provides the producers of important technologies, equipment, and services with an opportunity to highlight the ways in which their products enhance the ability of their clients to manage the behavior of NHPs Illustrated with full color images and drawings throughout. The Handbook of Primate Behavioral Management (HPBM) fills a void in the scientific literature, providing those who work with nonhuman primates (NHPs) with a centralized reference for many issues related to the care and behavioral management of captive nonhuman primates. While there are numerous publications scattered throughout the literature that deal with the behavioral management of NHPs, this comprehensive handbook is the first single-source reference to summarize and synthesize this information. The HPBM is organized into six complementary parts starting with an introductory section. The book then provides in-depth coverage of content issues, applications and implementation, genera-specific chapters, technology-related questions involved in the behavioral management of NHPs, and a concluding section. Primate behavioral management is a topic that has recently generated a considerable number of primary publications in the scientific literature, mostly with an applied focus. Similarly, there are many primary publications currently available that address more basic issues related to the understanding of primate behavior. One of the principal goals of the HPBM is to highlight and synthesize basic science advances that can be adapted and applied to enhance the behavioral management of captive NHPs.

Sphingolipids are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes none only as signalling molecules but also as key structural components regulating the lateral organisation of cellular membranes. In this book, exciting new approaches that open a window to further characterise sphingolipid-enriched domains in cell membranes during both physiological and pathological processes are reviewed. Furthermore, sphingolipids (SLs) are especially important in the central nervous system (CNS) where they are a necessary structural component of membranes of brain cells or signalling molecules. Ceramides are the core constituent of most sphingolipids. The authors review the possible sources of ceramides in the central nervous system (CNS) and present information about recent preclinical clinical trials of therapies targeting the ceramide pathway in the brain. Data about significant alteration in levels of ceramides in brain cells during the development of different neurodegenerative disease are also discussed, such as in with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease multiple sclerosis, cerebral ischemia, Gaucher's and Farber's disease.

Although bats and dolphins live in very different environments, are vastly different in size, and hunt different kinds of prey, both groups have evolved similar sonar systems, known as echolocation, to locate food and navigate the skies and seas. While much research has been conducted over the past thirty years on echolocation in bats and dolphins, this volume is the first to compare what is known about echolocation in each group, to point out what information is missing, and to identify future areas of research.
"Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins" consists of six sections: mechanisms of echolocation signal production; the anatomy and physiology of signal reception and interpretation; performance and cognition; ecological and evolutionary aspects of echolocation mammals; theoretical and methodological topics; and possible echolocation capabilities in other mammals, including shrews, seals, and baleen whales. Animal behaviorists, ecologists, physiologists, and both scientists and engineers who work in the field of bioacoustics will benefit from this book.

"The Physiology of Cladocera "is a much-needed summary of foundational information on these increasingly important model organisms. This unique and valuable summary is based on the world's literature, including Russian research not widely available until now. It offers systematically arranged data on the physiology of Cladocera, assisting with explanation of their life and distribution, as well as discussion on directions of future research. Special expert contributions in genetics, immunology, and cytology round out the physiological chapters and provide comprehensive insight into the state of knowledge of Cladocera and its underlying mechanisms.

Cladocera crustaceans make up a significant part of the natural communities and biological productivity of fresh waters. In recent decades, they have become globally studied for many purposes, including systematics, genetic, molecular, ecological and evolutionary biology studies. They are also used as "sentinel" organisms for assessing water quality and the environment. In addition, the genome of Daphnia (a genus within Cladocera) was recently sequenced and published, giving this system a much wider exposure. It has also led to a rapidly growing awareness of the importance of understanding physiological processes as they relate to evolutionary and ecological genomics and ecogenomic toxicology.

Despite the increasing use of Cladocera in research and study, physiological background information on these creatures is fragmentary. Hundreds of unconnected publications have been accumulated on their physiology, and a synthesis and general representation of the literature has been much needed for the many researchers working with this organism. "The Physiology of Cladocera "stands alone as a valuable and comprehensive offering in this area for many researchers and students.
Collects and synthesizes from the worldwide literature the state of knowledge of cladoceran physiologyForward-looking perspective incorporates information from the emerging technological worlds of genomics, cytology, chemical communication, and immunologyProvides foundational information on Cladocera physiology for researchers in various fields, including conservation and evolutionary biology, genomics, ecology, ecotoxicology, and comparative physiology

This book is intended to give readers a "quick look" at metabolic and endocrine physiology. Emphasis is placed on instructional figures, flow diagrams and tables, while text material has been held to a minimum. In general, the endocrine system is first defined and described, and then each endocrine gland is discussed separately. Where appropriate, common endocrine disorders have also been included. This text concisely elucidates the endocrine mechanisms responsible for maintaining homeostatic control of important physiologic variables, and to assist the reader in understanding common pathophysiologic deviations from normal. Over 360 multiple-choice questions gauge the reader's capacity to effectively understand the subject material. This new edition contains six new chapters covering: hormone disposition, measurement and secretion; bovine, equine and rodent estrus cycles; primate menstrual cycle; male reproductive system; testosterone, estrogen and progesterone; comparative aspects of endocrinology. Learning objectives have been added at the beginning of each chapter and all of the questions are new.