Integrated Population Models: Theory and Ecological Applications with R and JAGS is the first book on integrated population models, which constitute a powerful framework for combining multiple data sets from the population and the individual levels to estimate demographic parameters, and population size and trends. These models identify drivers of population dynamics and forecast the composition and trajectory of a population. Written by two population ecologists with expertise on integrated population modeling, this book provides a comprehensive synthesis of the relevant theory of integrated population models with an extensive overview of practical applications, using Bayesian methods by means of case studies. The book contains fully-documented, complete code for fitting all models in the free software, R and JAGS. It also includes all required code for pre- and post-model-fitting analysis. Integrated Population Models is an invaluable reference for researchers and practitioners involved in population analysis, and for graduate-level students in ecology, conservation biology, wildlife management, and related fields. The text is ideal for self-study and advanced graduate-level courses.

In the last decade nucleo-cytoplasmic transport has developed into one of the most active areas of research in cell biology and its significance for cell biology as a whole has been recognized. It has led to elucidation of the mechanisms of major cellular functions such as protein synthesis and cellular differentiation. It is also helping to bring about a synthesis of ultrastructural, biochemical, molecular biological and biophysical approaches to the study of cellular organization and function. These theoretical advances have been made possible chiefly by advances in technology - improved methods of gene manipulation and sequencing, of monoclonal antibody production and the use of protein chemistry, of microscopy and of cell manipulation, including microinjection methods. Developments in molecular biology, such as the search for sequence - specific DNA binding proteins and the identification of their binding domains, have also furthered advances in cell biology and these areas have become increasingly integrated with some well-established areas of biochemistry. This book aims to be an introduction, for senior undergraduates and postgraduate biologists, to the field of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport and its relevance to cell biology and seeks to use recent advances in the field to illustrate the process by which modern scientific progress occurs - the importance of developing techniques for formulating problems as well as answering them and the integration of different approaches leading to the evolution of novel concepts. The author assumes a basic general knowledge of molecular and cell biology and of biochemistry, but provides all the necessary background for discussion of recent advances and in the final chapters discusses the actual and potential contributions of the field of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport to cell biology.

Humans represent just one of many species that constitute the planet's biodiversity. Nevertheless, as the dominant species, humans have been the primary agent of the transformation of natural spaces. Therefore, the study of human interactions, biodiversity, and the environment that surrounds them is a basic tool for understanding the factors that bind human societies to natural resources. Within this context, ethnobiology is a promising discipline that can play a key role as a mediator of dialogue between different academic disciplines and traditional knowledge, a union essential in enabling contextualized and sustainable alternatives to exploitative practices and biodiversity management. Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology introduces the basic techniques and methods traditionally used in ethnobiology and ethnoecology. Comprised of 28 chapters, the book covers the different qualitative and quantitative aspects of ethnobiology research methods, as well as methods from natural and social sciences that will be useful to both beginners and senior researchers. Written by internationally renowned experts in the fields, Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology is a valuable resource for researchers and students interested in ethnobiology.

Based on the author's more than 40 years experience, Bacterial Growth and Form examines such important questions as what bacteria were, what they are, and what they do. Particular emphasis is placed on the ability of bacteria to establish their shapes as they grow and divide. By developing an understanding of the properties of these simple and early life forms, especially at the levels of physics and mathematics, the book provides insight into the mechanism used by bacteria to subvert physical forces to their own ends. A major consideration of this work is that prokaryotes do many of the same things that eukaryotes do, but with simpler equipment employed in an extremely sophisticated way. The book illustrates this point by closely examining the basic mechanismof hydrostatic or turgor pressure: how it functions for many of the mechanical purposes in the prokaryote, how it leads to mechanisms for resisting turgor pressure, and how it ultimately led to the development of exoskeletons and endoskeletons, and to the refinement of bacteria. Bacterial Growth and Form brings together biochemical, biophysical, and physiological principles in an authoritative, single-source volume. It provides researchers, and students in biophysics and microbiology with an indispensible reference and a new perspective into the biology of life.

The human body contains many specialized tissues that are capable of fulfilling an incredible variety of functions necessary for our survival. This volume in the Human Cell Culture Series focuses on mesenchymal tissues and cells. The in vitro study of mesenchymal cells is perhaps the oldest form of human cell culture, beginning with the culturing of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts have long been generically described in the literature, arising from many tissue types upon in vitro cell culture. However, recent studies, many enabled by new molecular biology techniques, have shown considerable diversity in fibroblast type and function, as described within this volume. Mesenchymal tissue types that are described within include bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, muscle, adipose tissue, and skin (dermis). The proper function of these tissues is predominantly dependent upon the proper proliferation, differentiation, and function of the mesenchymal cells which make up the tissue. Recent advancements in primary human mesenchymal cell culture have led to remarkable progress in the study of these tissues. Landmark experiments have now demonstrated a stem cell basis for many of these tissues, and, furthermore, significant plasticity and inter-conversion of stem cells between these tissues, resulting in a great deal of contemporary excitement and controversy. Newly-developed mesenchymal cell culture techniques have even lead to novel clinical practices for the treatment of disease.

Nitrogen fixation is currently of great practical importance because the use of nitrogenous fertilizers has resulted in unacceptable levels of water pollution and the fact that these fertilizers are becoming steadily less economic both in cash terms and in utilization of fossil fuels for their manufacture. This book aims to present new findings in the field of nitrogen fixation and to reflect the influence on the subject of recent developments in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetic engineering and other biotechnologies. The book includes quantitative aspects of the subject, but the many practical difficulties for accurate field assessment of nitrogen fixation and its contribution to nitrogen cycles means that many assessments are either in conflict with each other or must be accepted as tentative. Although this book is concerned essentially with how nitrogen-fixing organisms function and why they are of practical importance, rather than with details of laboratory or field techniques, an appendix deals with the main methods of measurement of nitrogen fixation and some of the problems that must be faced.

This two-volume work is a testament to the abiding interest and human fascination with ammonites. We offer a new model to explain the morphogenesis of septa and the shell, we explore their habitats by the content of stable isotopes in their shells, we discuss the origin and later evolution of this important clade, and we deliver hypotheses on its demise. The Ammonoidea produced a great number of species that can be used in biostratigraphy and possibly, this is the macrofossil group, which has been used the most for that purpose. Nevertheless, many aspects of their anatomy, mode of life, development or paleobiogeographic distribution are still poorly known. Themes treated are biostratigraphy, paleoecology, paleoenvironment, paleobiogeography, evolution, phylogeny, and ontogeny. Advances such as an explosion of new information about ammonites, new technologies such as isotopic analysis, tomography and virtual paleontology in general, as well as continuous discovery of new fossil finds have given us the opportunity to present a comprehensive and timely "state of the art" compilation. Moreover, it also points the way for future studies to further enhance our understanding of this endlessly fascinating group of organisms.

This text is an overall view of nematology because I believe the science should be treated as a unified discipline. The differences in the biological habits of nematodes do not justify the separation of plant nematologists and animal nematologists, since the separation is not a reflection of any difIerences inherent to nematodes. Therefore, the book is arranged with a format that in the beginning chapters illustrates the similarities and se- quence of development of morphological characters among nematodes regardless of their biological habits. The later chapters illustrate the in- tegration of the evolutionary development of the parasitie habit from related free-living forms. Nematology is probably the last major discipline to establish its inde- pendence from the parent science of zoology. This natural evolvement of nematology has occurred because of the overwhelming accumulation of sophisticated information and research that reflects the unique relation- ships of nematodes to other forms of plant and animal life as weH as their relationships in other facets of the environment. N ematodes are inverte- brate animals that, like insects, are unusual in their great numbers and varieties, their smaH size (generally microscopic), their high degree of internal organization, and their virtually ubiquitous distribution. They oc- cupy almost every ecological niehe, often causing disease of humans, other animals, and plants. These activities often result in debility, death, or in the impairment and loss of food supply with consequent loss to producers and consumers.

The study of coelenterates is now one of the most active fields of invertebrate zoology. There are many reasons for this, and not everyone would agree on them, but certain facts stand out fairly clearly. One of them is that many of the people who study coelenterates do so simply because they are interested in the animals for their own sake. This, however, would be true for other invertebrate groups and cannot by itself explain the current boom in coelenterate work. The main reasons for all this activity seem to lie in the considerable concentration of research effort and funding into three broad, general areas of biology: marine ecology, cellular-developmental biology and neurobiology, in all of which coelenterates have a key role to play. They are the dominant organisms, or are involved in an important way, in a variety of marine habitats, of which coral reefs are only one, and this automatically ensures their claims on the attention of ecologists and marine scientists. Secondly, the convenience of hydra and some other hydroids as experimental animals has long made them a natural choice for a variety of studies on growth, nutrition, symbiosis, morphogenesis and sundry aspects of cell biology. Finally, the phylogenetic position of the coelenterates as the lowest metazoans having a nervous system makes them uniquely interesting to those neurobiologists and behaviorists who hope to gain insights into the functioning of higher nervous systems by working up from the lowest level.

This volume contains the papers presented in the NATO Advanced Research Workshop "Activation of Hormone and Growth Factor Receptors: Molecular Mechanisms and Consequences" held in Nafplion, Greece on September 25-30, 1988. The objective of NATO ARW is to assess the state of-the-art in a given scientific area and to formulate recommendations for future research in emerging areas of science by promoting international scientific contacts. In the Nafplion meeting this objective was reached by an international group of speakers, senior Greek scientists and graduates involved in relevant research areas. The Workshop was made possible by the generous support of the Scientific Council of NATO. We thank Drs. G. Sinclair and L.V. daCunha, Directors of the NATO ARW's and ASI's (Advanced Study Institutes) respectively, for their wholehearted support and advice. The International Union of Biochemistry awarded additional travel grants leading to increased international participation. Furthermore, the Secretariat of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Culture and Sciences and the National Hellenic Research Foundation contributed financially and by supporting personnel. We sincerely thank all these organizations for their support. Our heartful thanks are also extended to the Mayor of the Municipality of Nafplion, Mr.

Parasites evolve under selective pressures which are different from those acting on free-living organisms. The aim of this textbook is to present these pressures and to show how they have shaped the ecology of parasites over evolutionary time. Broad theoretical concepts are explained simply and clearly and illustrated throughout with example organisms. The book will be an invaluable text for advanced undergraduate biologists who are studying evolutionary biology, ecology, population biology, parasitology and evoluationary ecology. It will also prove to be a valuable reference to postgraduate students and researchers in the same fields.

An identification handbook containing descriptions of 974 species of non-gilled fungi in 277 genera and figures of 543 of them. There are two major keys to genera and a key to the species in each genus that contains more than one species. The fungi described and illustrated can nearly all be found in Great Britain. The book aims to stimulate interest in groups of fungi which have hitherto attracted relatively few workers. Resupinate fungi, club fungi, jelly fungi, brackets, earth stars, puffballs and so on are not difficult to identify with a little practice and many of them flourish and sporulate freely during the winter months and thus it is possible to study mycology all year round if all groups are studied. In this book measurements, except where otherwise stated, are in thousandths of a millimetre. Terms which may be unfamiliar are explained in the glossary and for quick reference genera in the two main sections are arranged in alphabetical order.

Recently there have been many advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of development and regular breakthroughs are being made in the field of tumour cell targeting. Both these areas of research are coming together in terms of their perception of programmed cell death. A broad introduction of the biological significance of cell death is followed by a major review of the significance of physiological cell death in tumours and the factors that influence it. The volume includes a consideration of the role and functions of lymphokines and their bearing on tumour cell targeting and cell killing. The interleukins, interferons and tumour necrotic factor (TNF) are presented in terms of their functional significance rather than in a sequential or systematic manner. This volume concentrates on the bases of biological or programmed cell death. Aspects of necrosis are, however, of necessity covered in comparative and technical terms. The central section on cell death in tumours is followed by a resume of the techniques employed in demonstrating cell death and this section closes with an appendix giving practical details of selected methods. It is hoped that the book may help potential research workers focus not only on the underlying molecular biology of programmed cell death but also provide impetus for the development of appropriate therapeutic regimes in tumour research.

'Living in Corfu was rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas’

It is 1935 and the Durrells have escaped the leaden summer skies of Bournemouth to arrive ‘like a troupe of medieval tumblers’ on the sun-drenched island of Corfu for a new life. Gerald Durrell’s beloved portrayal of his chaotic family – beatific Mother, Roger the dog, diet-obsessed Margo, book-loving Lawrence and gun-wielding Leslie – as well as his own adventures with a burgeoning menagerie of beasts, birds and insects (including an owl called Ulysses), is a timeless account of an idyllic childhood and an uproarious portrait of the English abroad.