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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Vertebrates > General
This book reviews all major models and hypotheses concerning the mechanisms supposed to underlie the process of navigation in vertebrates. It covers data on all major model groups of vertebrates studied in the context of animal navigation, such as migratory birds, homing pigeons, sea turtles, subterranean mammals and some migratory fish species. Some other - less studied - groups, e.g., whales, have also been touched. The first part of the book describes different sources of navigational information, with their specific navigational mechanisms known or supposed to be employed by animals for navigational goals. The second part discusses possible functions of these mechanisms in different vertebrates and in the context of different navigational tasks, ranging from short-range navigation, often performed by animals within as small an area as several square meters, to long-distance global-scale migrations performed by many birds and some sea turtles during their lifespan.
The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of compreh- sive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern auditory - search. The volumes are aimed at all individuals with interests in hearing research including advanced graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and clinical investigators. The volumes are intended to introduce new investigators to important aspects of hearing science and to help established investigators to better understand the fundamental theories and data in ?elds of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume presents a particular topic comprehensively, and each serves as a synthetic overview and guide to the literature. As such, the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals. The volumes focus on topics that have developed a solid data and conceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature.
This richly illustrated book clothes the skeletons of dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles with flesh, and shows how these fascinating animals evolved and probably lived. Expert author John L. Cloudsley-Thompson synthesizes current views on ecology, physiology and behaviour, and outlines the various hypotheses that have been proposed to explain their extinction. Numerous beautiful drawings of the animals and their environment illustrate this exciting monograph.
This volume presents the work of researchers at many sites spanning the East African Pliocene. The authors take a broad approach that seeks to compare paleoenvironmental and paleoecological patterns across localities and among various taxonomic groups. This volume aims to synthesize large amounts of faunal data, and to present the evolution of East African vertebrates in the context of environmental and climatic changes during the Pliocene.
The knowledge on the ecology of ungulates (orders Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla) inhabiting eastern Europe and northern and central Asia is of special importance for those interested in zoology, ecology, nature conservation, hunting and management. There are 26 species of ungulates 2 oE-169 DegreesW within the 22. 4 million km area, between 35-82 DegreesN and 20 and they occupy several vegetation zones from arctic deserts to the subtropics. In our opinion, the advancement of science can be retarded and general conclusions will be difficult to make, if the knowledge of the organisms inhabiting one sixth of the world'sland surface, covered by this vast region, is not included. The language barrier, as well as the lack of international accessibility of local publications, makes it difficult to make use of the great volume of scientific information gathered within the territory of the former USSR. The only complete ecological review of ungulates of the Soviet Union, Mammals of the Soviet Union, vol. 1. Ungulates, was published by V. G. Heptner, A. A. Nasimovich, and A. G. Bannikov in 1961 (in Russian, Heptner and Naumov 1961)and 1989(the English translation,Heptner and Naumov 1989). This excellent book does not, however, contain scientific contributions published after 1959. This is unfortunate, because during the foHowing40years,intense and highly qualified research on the ecology and behavior of ungulates was performed.
My interest in the behaviour and movements of birds of arid and semi-arid ecosystems began when my wife, Sue Milton, and I were Roy Siegfried, Director, at that time, of the Percy approached by Prof. FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, to set up a project to investigate granivory in the South African Karoo. Sue and I spent some time finding a suitable study site, setting up accommodations and an automatic weather station at Tierberg, in the southern Karoo near the village of Prince Albert, and planning projects. Among our first projects was a transect where we noted plant phe nology, measured seed densities on the soil surface, counted birds, observed ant activity, measured soil surface temperatures and col lected whatever climate data we could at 40 sites along a 200-km oval route. Along the way, we became interested in the marked presence and absence of birds at certain sites - abundant birds one day, and very few birds at the same site a month later. Subsequent counts along fixed transects through shrublands confirmed that a number of bird species were highly nomadic over short and long distances, locally and regionally, leading to speculation on how widespread these movements were in the arid ecosystems of the world."
Electroreception has become one of the most revealing areas in the study of the neural basis of behavior, and neurobiologists recognize it as a model sensory system for experimental study. Through studies of electroreception, researchers have gained extensive knowledge about a complete sensory system, from molecular biology to computation, communication, and behavior. The book Electroreception will examine the behavior, structure, and function of the electrosensory systems of fish and other vertebrates. As a comprehensive volume on the subject, the book will serve as both an introduction to the study of electroreception and a reference and review volume for researchers in related fields.
This volume contains the proceedings of the conference of the same name held in July 2006 at the University of Chester in the United Kingdom. It includes all the latest research on chemical communication relevant to vertebrates, particularly focusing on new research since the last meeting in 2003. Topics covered include the chemical ecology, biochemistry, behavior, olfactory receptors, and the neurobiology of both the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems of vertebrates.
The second edition of the book has sold over 3850 copies, making this our bestselling veterinary textbook. Day passed away in 2020 and Professor Brian Catchpole and Harm HogenEsch are the ideal authors to update this in his stead, actively teaching and researching in this field at the RVC, the UK's biggest veterinary college, and Purdue, a huge vet school in the US. The two new authors give this greater international coverage. The most accessible book on this topic for veterinary students: chapters are concise and informative, focused on the main message. It stands out among the competitor 'tomes' which are expensive and inaccessible, or are geared towards human (or mouse) immunology. In a nutshell, this book provides the essential immunological information specifically for vet students, but remains light and easy to read. Colour illustrations are effective, clear, simple and straight to the point, with nearly one illustration/schematic for each important section/paragraph. The clinical cases bring the material to life, while a short animation adds new practical application via the Support Materials tab on the Routledge website.
The function of vertebrate hearing is served by a surprising variety of sensory structures in the different groups of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This book discusses the origin, specialization, and functional properties of sensory hair cells, beginning with environmental constraints on acoustic systems and addressing in detail the evolutionary history behind modern structure and function in the vertebrate ear. Taking a comparative approach, chapters are devoted to each of the vertebrate groups, outlining the transition to land existence and the further parallel and independent adaptations of amniotic groups living in air. The volume explores in depth the specific properties of hair cells that allowed them to become sensitive to sound and capable of analyzing sounds into their respective frequency components. Evolution of the Vertebrate Auditory System is directed to a broad audience of biologists and clinicians, from the level of advanced undergraduate students to professionals interested in learning more about the evolution, structure, and function of the ear.
West Southwest: Vertebrate Life in Southern California celebrates an amazingly diverse fauna with description, evolutionary background, geographic insight, and ecological detail. Southern California is a vast region of very different habitats - all with an abundance of unique species of plants and animals and all within a day's drive. Southern California shares an evolutionary history with other areas of the Southwest, but it has its own identity. The book is not a field identification guide. Instead, the book provides the evolutionary history of species groups, details where the individual species occur and their habitat preferences, and how they avoid the perils of predation and human impact. Key Selling Features: Summarizes the evolutionary background and ecology of southern California's vertebrates: freshwater fish, amphibians, turtles, snakes, lizards, birds and mammals. Reviews the history of southern California's biotic communities from the coast to the deserts and their association with other areas of the Southwest. Discusses vertebrate design and how it affects performance and lifestyle. Extends and enhances the content of regional field identification guides. Includes 120 maps, figures and color plates.
West Southwest: Vertebrate Life in Southern California celebrates an amazingly diverse fauna with description, evolutionary background, geographic insight, and ecological detail. Southern California is a vast region of very different habitats - all with an abundance of unique species of plants and animals and all within a day's drive. Southern California shares an evolutionary history with other areas of the Southwest, but it has its own identity. The book is not a field identification guide. Instead, the book provides the evolutionary history of species groups, details where the individual species occur and their habitat preferences, and how they avoid the perils of predation and human impact. Key Selling Features: Summarizes the evolutionary background and ecology of southern California's vertebrates: freshwater fish, amphibians, turtles, snakes, lizards, birds and mammals. Reviews the history of southern California's biotic communities from the coast to the deserts and their association with other areas of the Southwest. Discusses vertebrate design and how it affects performance and lifestyle. Extends and enhances the content of regional field identification guides. Includes 120 maps, figures and color plates.
Regulation of the Early Development of the Nervous System by Growth Factors; P.F. Bartlett, et al. Polysialic Acid as a Regulator of CellCell Interactions during Muscle Innervation; U. Rutishauser. The O2A Cell Lineage; G. Levi, C. Agresti. Cell Fate in the Cerebral Cortex; J. Price. Hox Genes and the Development of the Branchial Region; P. Hunt, et al. A General Model of Cortical Histogenesis V.S. Caviness, Jr., T. Takahashi. The Use of Experimental Genetics to Study Pattern Formation in the Mammalian CNS; K. Herrup. Comparative and Cellular Aspects of Development of Connections in Cerebral Cortex; G.M. Innocenti. The Developing Mouse Whiskerpad; W. Ourednik, et al. Two Phases of Pattern Formation in the Developing Rodent Trigeminal System; S. Jhaveri, R. Erzurumlu. Andogen-Dependent Plasticity of a Neuromuscular System; C. Cracco, A. Vercelli. 7 additional articles. Index.
Bones was originally published in 1936 and is still essential reading for anyone entering bone research. A classic in the field of skeletal development, biology, anatomy and anthropology, the book sets out in clear and lucid prose the experimental basis for our current notions on how intrinsic and extrinsic (largely mechanical) factors interact in initiating differentiation of cartilage and bone, in shaping the skeleton and in regulating its growth. It established the skeleton as a dynamic, responsive system of tissues, not just inert bones. The present edition, in the Cambridge Science Classics Series, includes an introductory essay by Professor B.K. Hall, who was the last of Professor Murray's Ph.D. students and who is himself distinguished for his work in the area. Brian Hall provides an overview of research during the half-century since Bones was first published, on major topics covered in the book - the origin of skeletal cells, cartilage morphogenesis, the formation of joints, the trajectory theory and bone structure, growth of cartilage and bone.
The student of biological science in his final years as an undergraduate and his first years as a graduate is expected to gain some familiarity with current research at the frontiers of his discipline. New research work is published in a perplexing diversity of publications and is inevitably concerned with the minutiae of the subject. The sheer number of research journals and papers also causes confusion and difficulties of assimilation. Review articles usually presuppose a back ground knowledge of the field and are inevitably rather restricted in scope. There is thus a need for short but authoritative introductions to those areas of modern biological research which are either not dealt with in standard introductory textbooks or are not dealt with in suffi cient detail to enable the student to go on from them to read scholarly reviews with profit. This series of books is designed to satisfy this need. The authors have been asked to produce a brief outline of their subject assuming that their readers will have read and remembered much of a standard introductory textbook on biology. This outline then sets out to provide by building on this basis, the conceptual framework within which modern research work is progressing and aims to give the reader an indication of the problems, both conceptual and practical, which must be overcome if progress is to be maintained."
Most previous publications on the classification of tapeworms (cestodes) have been based on compilations from the literature and are now dated. Thus there is a real need for up-to-date keys based on the re-examination of specimens and on a re-evaluation of the characters employed in cestode taxonomy. This book fulfils this need and provides keys to enable specialists and non-specialists to identify cestodes to generic level. The keys are dichotomous and are based largely on morphological characters. The authors have re-examined many specimens, including type specimens where possible. As a result, the keys reflect new ideas and have lead to reappraisals of cestode taxonomy, particularly at family and generic level, with many reallocations and synonymies. The authors include 19 international authorities from the UK, USA, Australia, Brazil, France, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. The book includes approximately 1,700 illustrations and is a standard work on tapeworm identification and will be indispensable for parasitologists.
In recent years a new field of study has arisen called developmental biology. The term developmental biology is really a new name for embryology; it is, however, used to denote the molecular approach to the study of developing systems. In this book we have tried wherever possible to blend the older information of classical embryology and in particular organogeny with the newer concepts of developmental biology. The original intention was to cover all the tissues of the body in this book. However, it soon became obvious that it was not possible to do this within one volume. Therefore we decided to have two general chapters, one on the basic concepts of cellular development and an other on the ageing of cells (this being considered part of the normal growth process). In addition to these two general chapters we have included chapters on some of the major tissues. These were chosen not just to illustrate the points made in the general chapters but because there is enough information available on the development of these tissues for the expert in that field to present a good, readable account. It is hoped that at a later date when more information is available, we will be able to extend this work, probably as several volumes, and to include the other tissues of the body which are not dealt with in this volume.
The standard electrocardiogram (ECG) is an indispensable, safe, and inexpensive test to assess dogs and cats with heart disease. This bestselling user-friendly book discusses the principles of electrocardiography, then systematically explores the evaluation of the ECG, including determination of heart rate, measurement of intervals, derivation of mean electrical axis, and criteria for atrial/ventricular enlargement or hypertrophy. At the core of this book is an extensive series of ECG cases for the reader to work through: practice makes perfect. New to this edition: Instructions on how to obtain an ECG A new chapter on the treatment of the most common clinically important ECG arrhythmias A second new chapter on 24-hour ECG (Holter) monitoring A handy one-page reference guide of important ECG values and diagrams, which can be downloaded from the book's webpage for easy reference 15 new ECG cases have been added to the original 46 cases, with a selection of advanced cases geared toward readers craving more challenging topics such as electrical cardioversion and pacemaker function. This updated edition will further aid veterinarians in their quest to better interpret the ECG. It provides information in an appealing, accessible, and easy to use format that fits with the busy lives of veterinary practitioners.
--- EMS (extra-mural studies) are an essential element of undergraduate veterinary education. Students must complete a minimum of 38 weeks EMS during their course, which should normally consist of 12 weeks pre-clinical and 26 weeks of clinical placements, a large portion of which takes place on farms. -- The highly illustrated approach allows readers to see the highlighted differences rather than try to imagine what cases look like and differentiate them from written descriptions. -- A repository of over 1000 10-second video clips accompanies the book, accessible to students on the farm with a smart phone. Each clip uniqeuly shows the animal's clinical presentation, internal disease/imaging and then healthy recovery -- There are a limited number of common conditions seen by vets in farm animal practice and an exhaustive list of all known diseases is not needed: textbooks often include such diseases for the benefit of an academic reviewer rather than student and general practitioner readers. -- This concise guide offers a breath of fresh air among the existing hefty expensive large animal medicine tomes on the market. --- Some comments from veterinary students on the proposal: "I firmly believe that this would be a very useful book and only wish that it existed already for my clinical EMS"; "There are currently several 'pocket books' for small animal medicine such as the Mini Vet guide but nothing for farm animals"; "Using a small animal 'quick', ring-bound, reference guide on EMS has been extremely useful, and it would be very beneficial to have a large animal alternative"; "The author's suggested use of high quality illustrations is what a student desperately needs. At the end of the day we need to be able to work out many diseases with similar symptoms - this book would provide that where may other current textbooks do not. I would support this new book, and hope it is released before I go into exams in the future - as it is what I currently need help within revision like so many other students. It is what the veterinary student dreams of having, and yet no one has produced it!"
The scientific understanding of arthropod phylogeny and evolution has changed significantly in recent decades. One of the most momentous alterations involved crustaceans, which are not a monophyletc group, but are part of a larger group along with insects: Pancrustacea. The old ideas surrounding crustacean evolution have served scientists well for many years; it is now time to turn toward new research by embracing the results derived from investigations conducted largely within this century. For example, new definitions have arisen from sources across several fields of study, and Frederick R. Schram and Stefan Koenemann have created a book that explores paleobiodiversity and the diversity of modern body plans. Developments within ontogenetic studies continue to generate remarkable insights into crustaceomorph evolution in regard to patterns of embryology and a revolution in the application of development genetics. Phylogeny techniques of analysis and new sources of data derived from molecular sequencing and genetic studies have forced scientists to consider new hypotheses concerning the interrelationships of all the pancrustaceans, both the crustaceomorphs and Hexapoda. Yet, some fossil groups still remain enigmatic (Thylacocephala). Despite this, research into fossils (even if incompletely understood) fills in gaps of our knowledge of paleobiodiversity, and it's useful for many things, including analyzing the origin and early evolution of Hexapoda. Evolution and Phylogeny of Pancrustacea demonstrates the use of multiple alternative hypotheses and other techniques through the well-executed presentation of diverse data sources involving Pancrustacea. Readers are left with clues to great mysteries, including the possible pathways of evolution within marine arthropods.
Chordates comprise lampreys, hagfishes, jawed fishes, and tetrapods, plus a variety of more unfamiliar and crucially important non-vertebrate animal lineages, such as lancelets and sea squirts. This will be the first book to synthesize, summarize, and provide high-quality illustrations to show what is known of the configuration, development, homology, and evolution of the muscles of all major extant chordate groups. Muscles as different as those used to open the siphons of sea squirts and for human facial communication will be compared, and their evolutionary links will be explained. Another unique feature of the book is that it covers, illustrates, and provides detailed evolutionary tables for each and every muscle of the head, neck and of all paired and median appendages of extant vertebrates. Key Selling Features: Has more than 200 high-quality anatomical illustrations, including evolutionary trees that summarize the origin and evolution of all major muscle groups of chordates Includes data on the muscles of the head and neck and on the pectoral, pelvic, anal, dorsal, and caudal appendages of all extant vertebrate taxa Examines experimental observations from evolutionary developmental biology studies of chordate muscle development, allowing to evolutionarily link the muscles of vertebrates with those of other chordates Discusses broader developmental and evolutionary issues and their implications for macroevolution, such as the links between phylogeny and ontogeny, homology and serial homology, normal and abnormal development, the evolution, variations, and birth defects of humans, and medicine.
The standard electrocardiogram (ECG) is an indispensable, safe, and inexpensive test to assess dogs and cats with heart disease. This bestselling user-friendly book discusses the principles of electrocardiography, then systematically explores the evaluation of the ECG, including determination of heart rate, measurement of intervals, derivation of mean electrical axis, and criteria for atrial/ventricular enlargement or hypertrophy. At the core of this book is an extensive series of ECG cases for the reader to work through: practice makes perfect. New to this edition: Instructions on how to obtain an ECG A new chapter on the treatment of the most common clinically important ECG arrhythmias A second new chapter on 24-hour ECG (Holter) monitoring A handy one-page reference guide of important ECG values and diagrams, which can be downloaded from the book's webpage for easy reference 15 new ECG cases have been added to the original 46 cases, with a selection of advanced cases geared toward readers craving more challenging topics such as electrical cardioversion and pacemaker function. This updated edition will further aid veterinarians in their quest to better interpret the ECG. It provides information in an appealing, accessible, and easy to use format that fits with the busy lives of veterinary practitioners.
Harvest of Fish and Wildlife: New Paradigms for Sustainable Management unites experts in wildlife and fishery sciences for an interdisciplinary overview of harvest management. This book presents unique insights for embracing the complete social-ecological system to ensure a sustainable future. It educates users on evolutionary and population dynamics; social and political influences; hunter and angler behavior; decision processes; impacts of regulations; and stakeholder involvement. Features: Written by twenty-four teams of leading scientists and managers. Promotes transparent justification for fishing and hunting regulations. Provides examples for integrating decision making into management. Emphasizes creativity in management by integrating art and science. This book appeals to population biologists, evolutionary biologists and social scientists. It is a key resource for on-the-ground managers and research scientists developing harvesting applications. As the book's contributors explain: "Making decisions that are robust to uncertainty...is a paradigm shift with a lot of potential to improve outcomes for fish and wildlife populations." -Andrew Tyre and Brigitte Tenhumberg "Temporal shifts in system states...must somehow be anticipated and dealt with to derive harvest policies that remain optimal in the long term." -Michael Conroy "Proactive, effective management of sportspersons...will be essential in the new paradigm of harvest management." -Matthew Gruntorad and Christopher Chizinski
Walk near woods or water on any spring or summer night and you will
hear a bewildering (and sometimes deafening) chorus of frog, toad,
and insect calls. How are these calls produced? What messages are
encoded within the sounds, and how do their intended recipients
receive and decode these signals? How does acoustic communication
affect and reflect behavioral and evolutionary factors such as
sexual selection and predator avoidance?
This volume examines cells set aside during development for use later in ontogeny or in adult life. There is no single term for such cells. The cells explored fall within several major categories - stem cells, set-aside cells (in echinoderm larvae), imaginal discs in insects such as Drosophila, meristems (plants), blastemata (regeneration in amphibians), neoblasts (regeneration in planarians). The book compares and contrasts these cell types and the environments (niches) in which they operate with the aim of unravelling any relationships between them, between their activation in development, and in their evolution. Key Features Explores the nature of deferred-use cells in evolutionary and developmental context. Reviews the mechanisms of development of set-aside cells, such as stem cells, meristems, and imaginal discs. Provides phylogenetic overview of different types of deferred-use cells. Compares and contrasts different theories on the origin of deferred-use cells. Related Titles Calegari, F. & C. Waskow, eds. Stem Cells: From Basic Research to Therapy (ISBN 978-1-4822-0775-0) Cabral, J. M. S. & C. L. da Silva, eds. Bioreactors for Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation (ISBN 978-1-4987-9590-6) Kong, H., A. J. Putnam, & L. B. Schook, eds. Stem Cells and Revascularization Therapies (ISBN 978-1-4398-0323-3) Schaffer, D., J. D. Bronzino, & D. R. Peterson, eds. Stem Cell Engineering: Principles and Practices (ISBN 978-1-4398-7204-8) |
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