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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > General
Despite their rich fossil history, there are only four surviving
species of sirenians or sea cows, the only fully aquatic
herbivorous mammals. The three species of manatees and the dugong
live in the coastal waters rivers and lakes of more than 80
tropical and subtropical countries and are all on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. This book examines sirenian conservation
biology through the lens of their behavioral ecology and ethology.
Sirenian feeding, diving, movement, social and reproductive
behaviors are reviewed by an international team of scientists from
eight countries, with an emphasis on data gathered in the past 15
years.
The latest volume in this highly regarded series covers current
advances in the fast-moving field of cell cycle research by
gathering reviews otherwise scattered throughout the literature.
Contributions encompass fields from cell and molecular biology to
biochemistry.
Housni Alkhateeb Shehada's "Mamluks and Animals: Veterinary
Medicine in Medieval Islam" is the first comprehensive study of
veterinary medicine, its practitioners and its patients in the
medieval Islamic world, with special emphasis on the Mamluk period
(1250-1517). Based on a large variety of sources, it is a history
of a scientific field that is also examined from social and
cultural perspectives. Horses, as well as birds of prey used for
hawking and falconry, were at the centre of the veterinary
literature of that period, but the treatment and cure of other
animals was not totally neglected. The Mamluk period is presented
here as the time when veterinary medicine reached its pinnacle in
medieval Islam and often even surpassed human medicine.
R. Fuller 1.1 DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS The history of
the probiotic effect has been well documented many times previously
(see e.g. Bibel, 1982; Fuller, 1992). The consumption of fermented
milks dates from pre-biblical times but the probiotic concept was
born at the end of the last century with the work of Metchnikoff at
the Pasteur Institute in Paris. In the century that has elapsed
since Metchnikoff's work, the probiotic concept has been accepted
by scientists and consumers throughout the world. Attempts to
refine the practice from the use of traditional soured milks to
preparations containing specific micro organisms have occupied the
thoughts and endeavours of scientists in many different countries.
But, in spite of the large amount of effort expended in attempting
to explain and define the effect, it has to be admitted that little
is known of the way in which probiotics operate. There are likely
to be several different mechanisms because it seems highly
improbable that a mode of action that explains resistance to
microbial infection will also hold true for improved milk
production or alleviation of lactose malabsorption."
In Britain, the name of Cadbury has been synonymous with chocolate
ever since John Cadbury opened his factory in 1831. This book,
written by Richard Cadbury (1835-99) under the pen name
'Historicus', was published in 1892. It describes the natural
history of the tropical American cocoa plant, its spread in
cultivation across the world, and the history of its use. He also
deals with the manufacturing process, as exemplified by the Cadbury
factory at Bournville, surrounded by the model housing and leisure
facilities which the family built for its workers. The processing
of cocoa beans into solid and drinking chocolate is described in
detail, with emphasis on the developments in machinery which
simplified production. A chapter deals with the importance of the
vanilla plant for flavouring, and an appendix gives guidance on the
cultivation of cocoa trees. This remains a fascinating account of
one of the world's most popular indulgences.
The VIIth International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases was held
in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from October 22 to 27, 1996. The venue
was the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rockies, a setting well known
worldwide for the scenic beauty and mountain grandeur. It was
perhaps presumptuous of the organizers to call this the seventh
Aspartic Proteinase Conference but it was felt that the meeting in
1982, organized by Tom Blundell and John Kay, was of an
international stature and covered topics sufficiently broad to
constitute a conference. Thus, there is a discontinuity in that the
Gifu Conference organized by Prof. Kenji Takahashi was the fifth
International Conference on Aspartic Proteinases. Officially, there
has not been a sixth Conference and if there is confusion, it is
the result of my desire to recognize the importance of the London
meeting. Banffhosted 106 scientists from 14 different countries.
There were 26 invited speak ers among the 44 oral presentations of
the 7 main sessions. In addition, there were 53 con tributed poster
presentations that spanned the whole range of interest in aspartic
proteinases.
Wildlife Conservation in Africa: A Scientific Approach presents
comprehensive management strategies for the consumptive and
non-consumptive utilization of wildlife across Sub-Saharan Africa.
It describes African economies that are currently dependent on
wildlife resources and prescribes strategies for conserving
biodiversity in both forests and animals in ecosystems across the
continent. The book covers the history and current status of how
Africa's culture, traditions, healthcare and food sources are woven
intricately around the local wildlife and resources. It is a
necessary resource for researchers and practitioners in wildlife
and ecological conservation, but is also useful for administrators
and managers of protected areas.
Before Henry William Dewhurst established himself in Bloomsbury,
where he lectured in 1827 8 on anatomy and physiology, he served as
a ship's surgeon and made a journey to Greenland and its
surrounding seas in 1824. During that time he was able to study the
large Arctic creatures that fascinated him, especially whales. In
the decade after his return, he prepared this thorough description
of polar sea life. Published in 1834, it includes many engraved
illustrations. Whales were of especial interest in this period,
owing to the use of their blubber in many household objects, and
Dewhurst also touches on the practice of whaling. His work was one
of the first studies to examine the different species of whales, as
well as dolphins and other marine life. It stands as an important
contribution to the development of Arctic zoology."
In the 'Advertisement' to this 1784 two-volume work, Thomas Pennant
(1726 98), zoologist and traveller, explains that his original
intention was to record the zoology of North America 'when the
empire of Great Britain was entire'. After the War of Independence,
he changed his focus to the zoology (and people, archaeology and
geology) of the Arctic regions of America, Europe and Siberia. The
content of the volumes, one of the earliest works of systematic
zoology published in Britain, is based on the writings of earlier
zoologists, information obtained by Pennant from his scientific
correspondents all over Europe and America, and his studies in
private museums and collections. It is embellished with engravings
of animals, birds, landscapes and artefacts. Volume 2 deals with
land and water birds, including some, such as the passenger pigeon,
which are now extinct. Other works by Thomas Pennant are also
reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection."
While not all metals in Soil----plant systems are inherently toxic,
particularly in low concentrations, there is an increasing
incidence of metal pollution from aerial fallout, spoils, wastes
and agricultural amendments including sewage sludge. Toxic Metals
in Soil----Plant Systems discusses the processes of trace--metal
cycling in contaminated ecosystems under conditions where their
concentrations become toxic through high loading rates, long--term
exposure or altered environmental conditions. Other environmental
and pedological concentration mechanisms are discussed, including
cation exchange and anion adsorption onto different soil materials.
The book is divided into two sections; the first part discusses the
sources and fates of metals in ecosystems, with an up--to--date
review of the processes which control metal speciation in soils,
metal uptake mechanisms, and plant responses to toxic metal
concentrations in soils. A clear understanding of these processes
and their interactions in soil is necessary before it is possible
to instigate amelioration and restoration programmes for
metal--contaminated land. In the second part of the book, a
selection of case studies are presented which discuss metal
toxicities and metal cycling in a range of different ecosystems,
including managed agricultural systems, deciduous woodland, upland
heather moorland, and tropical wetlands. In these studies a number
of current issues are addressed, including the setting of toxicity
thresholds for safe sewage sludge application to agricultural land,
the accumulation of soil metals over time in aerially impacted
systems, and metal transfers between ecosystem compartments, which
are of particular concern in food crops. Providing an integrated
view of toxic metals both in the soil and associated growing
plants, this book covers a wide range of topics including
agriculture, soil science, ecology and forestry and will be of use
to researchers and environmental consultants working in these
fields.
Nearshore hardbottom reefs of Florida's east coast are used by over
1100 species of fishes, invertebrates, algae, and sea turtles.
These rocky reefs support reproduction, settlement, and habitat
use, and are energy sources and sinks. They are also buried by
beach renourishment projects in which artificial reefs are used for
mitigation. This comprehensive book is for research scientists and
agency personnel, yet accessible to interested laypersons including
beachfront residents and water-users. An unprecedented collection
of research information and often stunning color photographs are
assembled including over 1250 technical citations and 127 figures.
These shallow reefs are part of a mosaic of coastal shelf habitats
including estuarine seagrasses and mangroves, and offshore coral
reefs. These hardbottom habitats are federally designated as
Essential Fish Habitats - Habitats of Particular Concern and are
important feeding areas for federally-protected sea turtles.
Organismal and assemblage responses to natural and man-made
disturbances, including climate change, are examined in the context
of new research and management opportunities for east Florida's
islands in the sand.
This book documents analyses of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur
nesting sites of the Lameta Formation at Jabalpur, Districts Dhar
and Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh; Districts Kheda and Panchmahal
(Gujarat); and the Pisdura, Dongargaon and Pavna sectors in the
Chandrapur Districts of Maharashtra, which are exposed in India
along an east-west and central axis. In this work, special emphasis
has been given to the dinosaur nesting sites of the east-central
Narbada River region, including its regional geology. The work was
undertaken to provide detailed information concerning dinosaur
eggs, eggshell fragments, nests and clutches found in the Lameta
Formation of peninsular India. Prior to the present work there had
been no detailed review of systematic work on the taxonomy, and of
micro- and ultrastructural studies of dinosaur eggs and eggshells
from the Lameta Formation. The study documents the field and
laboratory investigations that facilitated the reconstruction of
the morphotaxonomy, models for the burial pattern of eggs and
eggshells, taphonomic implications,and the palaeoenvironmental
context and palaeoecological conditions during the Late Cretaceous
at the time of the extrusion of the Deccan traps, which may have
been partly responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. The
need to follow a parataxonomic classification for Indian dinosaur
eggs and eggshell types is very apparent, and this book addresses
this aspect in some detail. The emphasis on the application of
parataxonomic schemes is based on the description of new oospecies
and their comparison with previously known forms. The present work
has led to the recovery of numerous nests, many collapsed eggs and
hundreds of dinosaur eggshell fragments from the localities
situated near the east, west and central Narbada River regions. It
will be of interest to academics and professional palaeontologists,
and all students of dinosaurs.
Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Zoo's Small Mammal
House with this high-interest STEAM book! Along the way, learn how
zookeepers designed a habitat for the black-footed ferret, an
animal once thought to be extinct. You'll also learn about the many
factors the keepers take into consideration when designing zoo
enclosures. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian
Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM
topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM
challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students
step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM
career connections with career advice from Smithsonian employees
working in STEAM fields. This STEAM book is ideal for ages 6-8 and
is especially appealing to reluctant readers.
Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) began his career as an apprentice to the
engraver and businessman Ralph Beilby (1743-1817). Having entered
into a partnership and illustrated more than eighty small books for
children, they decided to work together on this natural history,
with Beilby drafting the descriptions and Bewick providing wood
engravings and textual revisions. It was first published in 1790,
cementing Bewick's reputation as an engraver of the natural world.
Although by the end of 1797 the partnership had foundered, the book
ran to seven editions and sold some 14,000 copies. Its aim was to
describe and depict the domestic animals that 'so materially
contribute to the strength, the wealth, and the happiness of this
kingdom', and also provide entries on more exotic species, such as
monkeys and big cats. Beginning with horses and cattle, this
reissue of the first edition also includes an index of animals.
This textbook provides a collection of case studies in
paleoanthropology demonstrating the method and limitations of
science. These cases introduce the reader to various problems and
illustrate how they have been addressed historically. The various
topics selected represent important corrections in the field, some
critical breakthroughs, models of good reasoning and experimental
design, and important ideas emerging from normal science.
This book proposes a new way to think about evolution. The author
carefully brings together evidence from diverse fields of science.
In the process, he bridges the gaps between many different--and
usually seen as conflicting--ideas to present one integrative
theory named ONCE, which stands for Organic Nonoptimal Constrained
Evolution. The author argues that evolution is mainly driven by the
behavioral choices and persistence of organisms themselves, in a
process in which Darwinian natural selection is mainly a
secondary--but still crucial--evolutionary player. Within ONCE,
evolution is therefore generally made of mistakes and mismatches
and trial-and-error situations, and is not a process where
organisms engage in an incessant, suffocating struggle in which
they can't thrive if they are not optimally adapted to their
habitats and the external environment. Therefore, this unifying
view incorporates a more comprehensive view of the diversity and
complexity of life by stressing that organisms are not merely
passive evolutionary players under the rule of external factors.
This insightful and well-reasoned argument is based on numerous
fascinating case studies from a wide range of organisms, including
bacteria, plants, insects and diverse examples from the evolution
of our own species. The book has an appeal to researchers,
students, teachers, and those with an interest in the history and
philosophy of science, as well as to the broader public, as it
brings life back into biology by emphasizing that organisms,
including humans, are the key active players in evolution and thus
in the future of life on this wonderful planet.
ONE OF USA TODAY'S "20 SUMMER BOOKS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS" In the
bestselling tradition of works by such authors as Susan Orlean and
Mary Roach, a New York Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist
explores why so many people-including herself-are obsessed with
horses. It may surprise you to learn that there are over seven
million horses in America-even more than when they were the only
means of transportation-and nearly two million horse owners.
Acclaimed journalist and avid equestrian Sarah Maslin Nir is one of
them; she began riding horses when she was just two years old and
hasn't stopped since. Horse Crazy is a fascinating, funny, and
moving love letter to these graceful animals and the people
who-like her-are obsessed with them. It is also a coming-of-age
story of Nir growing up an outsider within the world's most elite
inner circles, and finding her true north in horses. Nir takes
readers into the lesser-known corners of the riding world and
profiles some of its most captivating figures. We meet Monty
Roberts, the California trainer whose prowess earned him the
nickname "the man who listens to horses," and his pet deer; George
and Ann Blair, who at their riding academy on a tiny island in
Manhattan's Harlem River seek to resurrect the erased legacy of the
African American cowboy; and Francesca Kelly, whose love for an
Indian nobleman shaped her life's mission: to protect an endangered
Indian breed of horse and bring them to America. Woven into these
compelling character studies, Nir shares her own moving personal
narrative. She details her father's harrowing tale of surviving the
Holocaust, and describes an enchanted but deeply lonely upbringing
in Manhattan, where horses became her family. She found them even
in the middle of the city, in a stable disguised in an old
townhouse and in Central Park, when she chased down truants as an
auxiliary mounted patrol officer. And she speaks candidly of how
horses have helped her overcome heartbreak and loss. Infused with
heart and wit, and with each chapter named after a horse Nir has
loved, Horse Crazy is an unforgettable blend of beautifully written
memoir and first-rate reporting.
This volume provides a compilation of methods that will aid
researchers studying virology, immunology, and vaccinology of this
devastating disease of swine. Written in the format of the highly
successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter
includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials
and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls,
and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and
cutting-edge, African Swine Fever Virus: Methods and Protocols aims
to be a foundation for future studies and to be a source of
inspiration for new investigations in the field.
The polyphyletic Protozoa have explored the possibility of
performing almost all metazoan functions with a few subcellular
organelles. Their unicellularity and structural simplicity have (i)
limited diversity to 32,950 species, (ii) restricted spatial
distribution to aquatic habitats (94%, against 15% in Metazoa),
(iii) demonstrated the ubiquitous dominance of clonality, (iv)
reduced sexualization in 50% species, (v) facilitated the use of
vegetative gametes in 40% species and (vi) secondary loss of sex in
10% species. With the fastest multiplication rates, i.e. once every
6-60 hours, they occur in high densities of 105-106 cell/ml. Their
diverse and complicated life cycles are described in 30 types.
Being risky, the cycle involves two hosts in < 2,000 parasitic
species and injective transmission mode by sanguivorous insects and
ticks in < 300 species. Their radial symmetry has accelerated
diversity more than in radially symmetric less speciose Porifera
(8,553 species), Cnidaria (10,856) and Echinodermata (7,000). In
them, diversity is decelerated in the following descending order:
symmetry > clonality > hermaphroditism > motility.
Motility ranges from 2-3 m for Rhizopoda to 400-2,000 m for
Ciliophora. Not surprisingly, 6,800 species of arcellinids,
filosians and formainifers are testated or shelled. Within 1,229
sessile species, the peritrichid and suctorian ciliates are better
adapted to coloniality. Unlike those of many Metazoa, the protozoan
cyst is a dynamic stage, in which clonal or sexual reproduction
occurs. Over 81% protozoans encyst, as it ensures (i) 90% survival
during unfavorable conditions (against 15 in 12% non-encysted
protozoans), (ii) genome transfer through generations, (iii)
dispersal into new habitats and (iv) transmission to new hosts.
Their mean body size ranges from 2 m to 2 mm - a range over
1,000-times - only 8% aquatic metazoans cover a similar size range.
In comparison to 77% macrophagy in Metazoa, only 46% protozoans are
macrophagous predators. Within motile microphagy, protozoans filter
3-2 times smaller food particle at 50% cheaper clearance cost. This
efficiency has expanded microphagy to 15% in protozoans, against 3%
in Metazoa. Hence, their turnover rate in trophic dynamics is twice
faster than that of metazoans. Foraminifers serve as ecological
sensitive indicators in petroleum exploration and rise in sea
level. For the first time, incidences of clonality and meiosis as
well as symbiosis and parasitism have been shown to hint at the
origin and evolution of different protozoan taxonomic groups during
the geological past.
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