In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Tova Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her encounter with a Neohelix albolabris—a common woodland snail.

While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater understanding of her own place in the world.

Intrigued by the snail’s molluscan anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making, hydraulic locomotion, and courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer, offering a candid and engaging look into the curious life of this underappreciated small animal.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world can illuminate our own human existence, while providing an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.

This textbook provides the first overview of plant-animal interactions for twenty years focused on the needs of students and professors. It discusses a range of topics from the basic structures of plant-animal interactions to their evolutionary implications in producing and maintaining biodiversity. It also highlights innovative aspects of plant-animal interactions that can represent highly productive research avenues, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in a future career in ecology. Written by leading experts, and employing a variety of didactic tools, the book is useful for students and teachers involved in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses addressing areas such as herbivory, trophic relationships, plant defense, pollination and biodiversity.

This book compiles for the first time all the current information on the electronic monitoring of the feeding behavior of phytophagous true bugs. It includes state-of-the-art illustrations of feeding sites on the various plant structures, and examines how the different feeding strategies are related to the variable waveforms generated using the electropenetrography (EPG) technique. Further, the book describes the mouthparts and modes of feeding and discusses the physical and chemical damage resulting from feeding activities. Covering in detail all EPG studies developed and conducted using true bugs published to date, it explores the use of electronic monitoring of feeding coupled with histological analyses to improve strategies to control true bugs, from traditional chemical methods to gene silencing (RNAi).

The nature and diversity of presentations at the second International Conference on Insect Neurochemistry and Neurophysiology (ICINN--86) held at the University of Maryland on August 4-6. 1986, attest to the vital ity and broad scope of research in insect neuroscience. The present vol ume is a written account of the invited lectures, contributed papers, and posters presented at the conference, and as such, serves as a fair indica tor of the trends in current research in this field here and abroad. The principal portion of this book consists of seven review papers that were presented by invited speakers. Although the topics vary wide ly, they reflect on and emphasize the main theme of the conference, i. e., the nature and function of molecular messengers that communicate be meen the central nervous system and organs or tissues involved in the growth, development, reproduction, and behavior of insects. This empha sis is continued in the following three sections on neurochemistry, neuro physiology, and neuroanatomy, although no conscious effort was made by the organizers to highlight these particular fields of neuroscience. It is evident that the recent advances in both physical and chemical analyti cal techniques have made possible the acquisition of structurally defined probes, the long sought-after tools for unraveling the secrets of endogen ous communication. Each section of short papers derived from the oral and poster presentations at the conference is prefaced by an overview that highlights and summarizes the section's content."

Chitons form a peculiar and highly interesting class of molluscs, known with certainty to exist since the Ordovician, and widespread in all world seas to depths from 0 to over 7,000 m. In recent years taxonomists all over the world have much contributed to our knowledge of the chitons and their synonymy, so that the number of living species now amounts to some 800. The authors propose to not only compile all actual knowledge about the living chitons, but, where possible, a after a careful study of the type material, to systematically describe and illustrate every known -- or hitherto unknown -- species. In most cases the detailed figures are new and drawn by the senior author, P. Kaas. The "Monograph of Living Chitons" is planned to appear in ten volumes.

This book identifies all valid species belonging to the superfamily Mactroidea living in American waters, distributed across fourteen biogeographical provinces. It also provides an updated classification of the widely occurring Mactroidea superfamily, which comprises eight subfamilies grouped into four families: Mactridae (Lamarck, 1809); Anatinellidae (Deshayes, J.Gray 1853); Cardiliidae (Fischer, 1887) and Mesodesmatidae (J. Gray, 1840). The species included in this superfamily are known to have existed in North America since the Early Cretaceous.

Allen im Vorwort zu Band I und II angefuhrten Damen und Herren danke ich nochmals herzlich und ganz besonders auch wieder der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft fur ihre Hilfe. Ganz besonderen Dank auch wieder meiner lieben Frau, die mir unentwegt zur Seite stand und meinem lieben Freund Dr. Alfred KALTENBACH, der mir die Bearbeitung der Mantodea abnahm und sie vorzuglich durchfuhrte, und meinem verehrten Freund, Prof. Dr. Erwin SCHIMITSCHEK, Wien fur seine Hilfe, sowie meinen lieben Freunden Patricia HOLMES, Bir- mingham, und Michael SAMWAYS, London, fur die Durchsicht der englisc4en Manuskri ptteile. Weil sich die Gelegenheit bot in einer Sammlung Neotypen fur verschollene Typen einzusetzen, habe ich dies getan; naturlich nicht um des Neotypus willen, sondern um einwandfreies Vergleichs- material sicherzustellen, denn es hat sich doch wiederholt ergeben, dass seither als einwandfrei betrachtete Arten mit fortschreitender Untersuchungstechnik und Verhaltensstudien sich plotzlich in einige Arten aufspalten liessen. Selbstverstandlich habe ich mich zuvor in Rundschreiben an viele Kollegen in Europa nach dem Typenverbleib erkundigt und dann Neotypen von einem dem locus typicus moglichst nah liegendem Fundort eingesetzt. Wenn diese Neotypen nicht im- mer "Ausnahmefalle" im Interesse der Stabilitat der Nomenklatur waren, wie sie die "International Commission on Zoological Nomen- dature" vorschreibt, so geschah dies aus dem angefuhrten Grund; eines Tages mogen sie sich doch als nutzlich erweisen. Sie befinden sich alle samt allen Typen, Allotypen und Para typen mit meiner ganzen Sammlung im Museum d'Histoire Naturelle Geneve/Genf.

Ausser all den bereits im 1. Band angefuhrten Damen und Herren habe ich heute herzlich zu danken In addition to all the la dies and gentlemen mentioned in the Ist volume it is a pleasure to acknowledge the gratitude that I owe now to Prof. Dr. R. AGENJO, Madrid, H. BIERMANN, Ueberau, Prof Dr. F. CAPRA, Genua, Dr. F. CHL.\DEK, Brunn, Prof. Dr. M. DESCAMPS, Paris, Prof. Dr. v. M. DIRSH, London, Dr. N. DONSKOFF, Paris, Dr. H. ENGEL, Freiburg i.Br., Prof Dr. A. FABER, Tubingen, Dr. A. GALVAGNI, Rovereto, Prof. Dr. A. GOIDANICH, Torino, Prof. Dr. K. GUNTHER, Berlin, Dr. K. K. GUNTHER, Berlin, G. HANGAY, Budapest, Dr. B. HAUSER, Genf, Frau Dr. D. v. HELVER SEN, Freiburg i.Br., Dr. B. HOLLDOBLER, Frankfurt/Main, D. HOLLIS, London, J. HUXLEY, London, prof Dr. W. JACOBS, Dietenheim, Prof. Dr. c. A. w. JEEKEL, Amsterdam, Prof Dr. R. KINZELBACH, Mainz, Dr. G. KRUSEMAN, Amsterdam, Senora v. LLORENTE, Madrid, Miss J. MARSHALL, London, Prof. Dr. K. MULLER, Messaure/Schweden, P. und I. NOLL, Kaufering, Mag. A. NORDMANN, Helsinki, H. und L. OBERBAUER, Munchen, Prof Dr. M. PENER, Jerusalem, Dr. A. VOJNITS, Budapest, Senora I. WEIDNER V da. DE ZAR CO, Madrid."

It is widely acknowledged that life has adapted to its environment, but the precise mechanism remains unknown since Natural Selection, Descent with Modification and Survival of the Fittest are metaphors that cannot be scientifically tested. In this unique text, invertebrate and vertebrate biologists illuminate the effects of physiologic stress on epigenetic responses in the process of evolutionary adaptation from unicellular organisms to invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively. This book offers a novel perspective on the mechanisms underlying evolution. Capacities for morphologic alterations and epigenetic adaptations subject to environmental stresses are demonstrated in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. Furthermore, the underlying cellular-molecular mechanisms that mediate stress for adaptation will be elucidated wherever possible. These include examples of 'reverse evolution' by Professor Guex for Ammonites and for mammals by Professor Torday and Dr. Miller. This provides empiric evidence that the conventional way of thinking about evolution as unidirectional is incorrect, leaving open the possibility that it is determined by cell-cell interactions, not sexual selection and reproductive strategy. Rather, the process of evolution can be productively traced through the conservation of an identifiable set of First Principles of Physiology that began with the unicellular form and have been consistently maintained, as reflected by the return to the unicellular state over the course of the life cycle.

Offering an example for transnational cooperation and successful reduction of a neglected tropical disease, this volume shows how Chinese scientists and local physicians controlled schistosomiasis in Zanzibar. Over a four-year study, local medical specialists and the population of Zanzibar were taught how to diagnose the parasitosis caused by flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma. Furthermore, methods to eliminate the disease and prevent new infections were established. The developed control system will avoid repeated increase of human schistosomiasis, which is still prevalent in the tropics and subtropics. Rural populations and poor communities lacking access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation are most affected. This book is a blueprint of activities urgently needed to combat schistosomiasis in countries with low medical impact. The strategies outlined are particularly relevant to parasitologists and professionals in public health, physicians, medical personnel and also governmental, healthcare and pharmaceutical institutions.

Bumblebees are familiar and charismatic insects, occurring throughout much of the world. They are increasingly being used as a model organism for studying a wide range of ecological and behavioural concepts, such as social organization, optimal foraging theories, host-parasite interactions, and pollination. Recently they have become a focus for conservationists due to mounting evidence of range contractions and catastrophic extinctions with some species disappearing from entire continents (e.g. in North America). Only by improving our understanding of their ecology can we devise sensible plans to conserve them. The role of bumblebees as invasive species (e.g. Bombus terrestris in Japan) has also become topical with the growing trade in commercial bumblebee nests for tomato pollination leading to establishment of non-native bumblebees in a number of countries.
Since the publication of the first edition of the book, there have been hundreds of research papers published on bumblebees. There is clearly a continuing need for an affordable, well-illustrated, and appealing text that makes accessible all of the major advances in understanding of the behaviour and ecology of bumblebees that have been made in the last 30 years.

The original stimulus which started KENNETH SPENCER on a study of the Agro myzid flies was an invitation, which he accepted, to translate from the German the monograph on Leaf Miners by Professor E. M. HERING. From this developed nearly 20 years of collaboration until Professor HERING's death in 1967. Dr. SPENCER has himself described over 600 new species in the family, many of which he collected and reared from known host plants during his extensive travels to all the five main continents. Largely as a result of his work, the number of species known in Britain has increased from 90 in 1945 to 313 today. He is thus uniquely qualified to write this book about the hundred and fifty or so species which are regularly associated with cultivated plants. Much of the taxonomic detail provided here will be of value primarily to specialists; but with the help of a microscope and the botanical host list (Chapter 2) and the numerous illustrations (mostly prepared by ANN SPENCER) those in agri cultural institutes and elsewhere should now be able to identify the majority of species found attacking crops in any part of the world."

Enter a hidden world of snail killers, silly names and crazy sex in The Secret Life of Flies. Entomolologist Erica McAlister dispels many common misconceptions and reveals how truly amazing, exotic and important these creatures really are. From hungry herbivores and precocious pollinators to robberflies, danceflies and the much maligned mosquito, McAlister describes the different types of fly, their unique and often unusual characteristics, and the unpredictable nature of their daily life. She travels from the drawers of wonder at the Natural History Museum, to piles of poo in Ethiopia, via underground caves, smelly latrines and the English country garden. She discovers flies without wings, rotating genitalia and the terrible hairy fly, while pausing along the way to consider today's key issues of conservation, taxonomy, forensic entomology and climate change. Combining her deep knowledge and love of flies with a wonderful knack for storytelling, Erica McAlister allows us to peer - amazed and captivated - into the secret life of flies.

This is the first book devoted to the epidemiology or epizootiology of insect pathogens. All aspects of the subject are covered, including general principles, concepts and definitions, strategies and methods for research, modeling, factors that influence epizootics, area-wide patterns of disease, all the groups of disease, and practical aspects, such as enhancing disease in pest species, controlling it in beneficial insects or in insect rearing. Material not readily found elsewhere is provided, such as modeling entomopathogen epizootics, general reviews of the epizootiology of various pathogen groups, consideration of microbial control from an epizootiological point of view and a general review of epizootiology in prevention of insect disease. The book offers the most comprehensive bibliography of this subject anywhere, in a well illustrated format.

This book contains excellent reviews on significant topics in crustacean neurobiology, introductory texts for classroom usage, examples for exciting original research, an account of a new research strategy and a new concept for teaching the principles of neuroscience, all written by renowned scientists from all over the world. In short, exciting reading for every neurobiologist.

Advances in Insect Physiology, Volume 57, provides readers with the latest interdisciplinary reviews on the topic. It is an essential reference source for invertebrate physiologists, neurobiologists, entomologists, zoologists and insect chemists, with this new release focusing on the Ecology and evolution of social insect cognition, Fly foregut and transmission of microbes, and Hormonal regulation of insect feeding behaviors, among other topics.

In the spring of 2013 the cicadas in the North Eastern United States emerged from their seventeen year cycle - the longest gestation period of any animal. In listening to cicadas, as well as other humming, clicking, and thrumming insects, Bug Music is the first book to consider the radical notion that we humans got our idea of rhythm, synchronization, and dance from the world of insect sounds that surrounded our species over the millions of years over which we evolved. Completing the trilogy he began with Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song, David Rothenberg explores a unique part of our relationship with nature and sound - the music of insects that has provided a soundtrack for humanity throughout the history of our species.

In medical and health care the scientific method is little used, and statistical software programs are experienced as black box programs producing lots of p-values, but little answers to scientific questions. The pocket calculator analyses appears to be, particularly, appreciated, because they enable medical and health professionals and students for the first time to understand the scientific methods of statistical reasoning and hypothesis testing. So much so, that it can start something like a new dimension in their professional world. In addition, a number of statistical methods like power calculations and required sample size calculations can be performed more easily on a pocket calculator, than using a software program. Also, there are some specific advantages of the pocket calculator method. You better understand what you are doing. The pocket calculator works faster, because far less steps have to be taken, averages can be used. The current nonmathematical book is complementary to the nonmathematical "SPSS for Starters and 2nd Levelers" (Springer Heidelberg Germany 2015, from the same authors), and can very well be used as its daily companion.