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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals > Aquatic creatures > Sea & seashore life
The deep sea is the last, vast wilderness on the planet. For centuries, myth-makers and storytellers have concocted imaginary monsters of the deep, and now scientists are looking there to find bizarre, unknown species, chemicals to make new medicines, and to gain a greater understanding of how this world of ours works. With an average depth of 12,000 feet and chasms that plunge much deeper, it forms a frontier for new discoveries. The Brilliant Abyss tells the story of our relationship with the deep sea - how we imagine, explore and exploit it. It captures the golden age of discovery we are currently in and looks back at the history of how we got here, while also looking forward to the unfolding new environmental disasters that are taking place miles beneath the waves, far beyond the public gaze. Throughout history, there have been two distinct groups of deep-sea explorers. Both have sought knowledge but with different and often conflicting ambitions in mind. Some people want to quench their curiosity; many more have been lured by the possibilities of commerce and profit. The tension between these two opposing sides is the theme that runs throughout the book, while readers are taken on a chronological journey through humanity's developing relationship with the deep sea. The Brilliant Abyss ends by looking forwards to humanity's advancing impacts on the deep, including mining and pollution and what we can do about them.
Norfolk's Fragile Coast is a photographic journey from the unstable and spectacular cliffs of Sidestrand to the fossil rich beaches of East and West Runton, to bird reserves, marshes, expanses of sand, through the sailing and vacation areas of the Burnhams to the bleakness of Snettisham on the Wash. Claire Davies has captured this diversity, zooming in on the tiniest bird and out to the wild and spectacular expanses of coastline. This photographic project - mostly carried out through the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 - not only captures a constantly changing landscape with beautiful imagery - spectacular cliffs, fossil rich beaches, marshes, seascapes, birds, flora and fauna, parkland and countryside - but along with the accompanying narrative and diary notes, establishes an important record of a coast in all its variety at a moment of exceptional and unique timing.
A new addition to this successful series and a companion volume to My
First Book of Southern African Seashore Life, this book focuses on
creatures that are found within the sea environment, away from the
shore: fi shes; squid; sharks; rays; whales and dolphins; turtles;
seabirds, and other creatures found off-shore. It follows the series
model, with an illustrated introduction giving context to the subject,
and then each page featuring:
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Leave nothing but footprints
(Paperback)
Caroline Nieuwenhuis
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
This Poem book takes you on an underwater adventure to meet all sorts of characters under the sea! Swimming around and hvaing fun with new friends, one thing become clear.... There's too much plastic in our oceans! Something needs to be done.
Life Between the Tides
- In Search of Rockpools and Other Adventures Along the Shore
(Paperback)
Adam Nicolson
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R231 Discovery Miles 2 310 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2022 'A remarkable and powerful book, the rarest of things ... Nicolson is unique as a writer ... I loved it' EDMUND DE WAAL Few places are as familiar as the shore - and few as full of mystery and surprise. How do sandhoppers inherit an inbuilt compass from their parents? How do crabs understand the tides? How can the death of one winkle guarantee the lives of its companions? What does a prawn know? In Life Between the Tides, Adam Nicolson explores the natural wonders of the shoreline, from the extraordinary biology of its curious animals to the flow of our human history. This is an invitation to the water, where marvellous things wait an inch below the surface. Previously published as The Sea is Not Made of Water
Beneath British Seas
(Hardcover)
Alan James
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Rory Aqua Adventure Man
(Paperback)
Michelle Path
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R260 Discovery Miles 2 600 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Kings of Their Own Ocean
(Hardcover)
Karen Pinchin
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R486 Discovery Miles 4 860 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
This is a tale of human obsession, one intrepid tuna, the dedicated fisherman who caught and set her free, the promises and limits of ocean science and the big truth of how our insatiable appetite for bluefin transformed a cottage industry into a global dilemma. In 2004, an enigmatic charter captain named Al Anderson caught and marked one Atlantic bluefin tuna off New Englandās coast with a plastic fish tag. Fourteen years later that fish ā dubbed Amelia for her ocean-spanning journeys ā died in a Mediterranean fish trap, sparking Karen Pinchinās riveting investigation into the marvels, struggles, and prehistoric legacy of this remarkable species. Over his fishing career Al marked more than sixty thousand fish with plastic tags, an obsession that made him nearly as many enemies as it did friends. His quest landed him in the crossfire of an ongoing fight between a booming bluefin tuna industry and desperate conservation efforts, a conflict that is once again heating up as overfishing and climate change threaten the fishās fate. Kings of Their Own Ocean is an urgent investigation that combines science, business, crime, and environmental justice. As Pinchin writes, āas a global community, we are collectively only ever a few terrible choices away from wiping out any ocean species.ā Through her exclusive access and interdisciplinary, mesmerizing lens, readers will join her on boats and docks as she visits tuna hot spots and scientists from Portugal to Japan, New Jersey to Nova Scotia, and glimpse, as the author does, rays of dazzling hope for the future of our oceans.
A Guide to Underwater Wildlife Video & Editing
(Paperback)
Jeff Goodman
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R665 Discovery Miles 6 650 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
The Last Sunset in the West
- Britain's Vanishing West Coast Orcas
(Hardcover)
Natalie Sanders
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days | |
Britain's waters are home to only one pod of orca, and they're heading rapidly towards extinction. In 2014, Dr Natalie Sanders joined the crew of the HV Silurian to seek out the West Coast Community of Orca and study them before we lose them forever. In The Last Sunset in the West, she discusses them as individuals while also exploring the many issues surrounding their lives. Her captivating account takes the reader from the Western Isles of Scotland to Vancouver Island and around the world, deep into the history of our relations with these beautiful and sentient creatures.
Sasol First Field Guide to Sharks, Whales & Dolphins of Southern Africa
(Paperback)
Sean Fraser
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Ships in 5 - 10 working days | |
Sasol First Field Guide to Sharks, Whales and Dolphins of Southern Africa provides fascinating insight into the sea creatures of the region. With the help of full-colour photographs or illustrations, distribution maps, and easy-to-read text, the young adult and budding naturalist will be able to identify the more common shark, whale and dolphin species found in southern Africa, discover where they live, and learn about their unique feeding and breeding habits.
Sea Journal
(Paperback)
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Winner Rubery Book Award; Highly Commended, British Book Design & Production Awards. This beautiful and unusual book brings together a year's wanderings along Britain's shores with compelling stories of their natural history, geology and evolution - from ancient myth to current science - and the author's striking contemporary photography. Whether paddling through the shallows, sheltering in a sea cave or crouching on a cliff in a hailstorm, we are taken on a journey of fascinating diversions. Against a backdrop of the shifting seasons, weather and tides, there are mermaid's purses, hag stones and by-the-wind sailors, alongside stories of wind-sellers and nineteenth century fossil hunters, the evolution of whales and Lego dragons lost at sea. As the threads draw together there is the sense that a walk on the beach, with all its chance finds and everyday wonders, stretches both back into the deep past and ahead into the uncertain future of our oceans. Above all, we are inspired to go out and explore for ourselves, reminded of the pleasures of discovery, and of looking and listening more closely.
Cape Cod Bay
- A History of Salt & Sea
(Paperback)
Theresa Mitchell Barbo; Foreword by Richard G Gurnon
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days | |
European explorers were captivated by the seemingly endless bounty of natural resources on Cape Cod Bay. One Englishman declared that the codfish were so thick one "could" walk on their backs. Early settlers quickly learned how to harness the bay's resources and excelled at shore whaling, shipping and salt making. But as these new industries flourished, the native Wampanoag, who helped the fledgling colony to take root, nearly vanished. Author Theresa Mitchell Barbo's skillful narrative weaves together the natural and cultural histories of the bay, highlighting some of the region's diverse milestones- from the drafting of the Mayflower Compact in 1620 to the establishment of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant 350 years later. "Cape Cod Bay: A History of Salt & Sea" inspires new appreciation for this storied and stunning seascape, and underscores the importance of new efforts to preserve the bay's unique ecosystem.
Voice of the Fish
- A Lyric Essay
(Paperback)
Lars Horn
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days | |
The Draw of the Sea
(Paperback)
Wyl Menmuir
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R272 Discovery Miles 2 720 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Wyl Menmuirās The Draw of the Sea is a beautifully written and deeply moving portrait of the sea and the people whose livelihoods revolve around it, examining the ephemeral but universal pull the sea holds over the human imagination. Since the earliest stages of human development, the sea has fascinated and entranced us. It feeds us, sustaining communities and providing livelihood, but it also holds immense destructive power that threatens to destroy all we have created. Ā It connects us to faraway places, offering the promise of new lands and voyages of discovery, but also shapes our borders, carving divisions between landmasses and eroding the very ground beneath our feet. In this lyrical meditation on what it is that draws us to the waters' edge, author Wyl Menmuir tells the stories of the people whose lives revolve around the coastline and all it has to offer. In twelve interlinked chapters, Menmuir explores the lives of local fishermen steeped in the rich traditions of a fishing community, the beachcombers who wander the shores in search of the varied objects that wash ashore and the stories they tell, and all number of others who have made their lives around the sea. In the specifics of these livelihoods and their rich histories and traditions, Wyl Menmuir captures the universal human connection to the oceanās edge. Into this seductive tapestry Wyl weaves the story of how the sea has beckoned, consoled and restored him. The Draw of the Sea is a meaningful and moving work into how we interact with the environment around us and how it comes to shape the course of our lives. As unmissable as it is compelling, as profound as it is personal, this must-read book will delight anyone familiar with the intimate and powerful pull which the sea holds over us.
Undersea Journey
(Hardcover)
Jeffrey Rotman
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Treasury Of Folklore: Seas and Rivers
- Sirens, Selkies and Ghost Ships
(Hardcover)
Dee Dee Chainey, Willow Winsham
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Ships in 5 - 10 working days | |
Enthralling tales of the sea, rivers and lakes from around the globe.
Folklore of the seas and rivers has a resonance in cultures all over
the world. Watery hopes, fears and dreams are shared by all peoples
where rivers flow and waves crash. This fascinating book covers English
sailor superstitions and shape-shifting pink dolphins of the Amazon,
Scylla and Charybdis, the many guises of Mami Wata, the tale of the
Yoruba River spirit, the water horses of the Scottish lochs, the
infamous mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, and much more.
Accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations, popular authors Dee Dee
Chainey and Willow Winsham explore the deep history and enduring
significance of water folklore the world over, from mermaids, selkies
and sirens to ghostly ships and the fountains of youth.
With this book, Folklore Thursday aims to encourage a sense of
belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.
Interesting Shells
(Hardcover)
Andreia Salvador
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R328 Discovery Miles 3 280 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Shells are exoskeletons of living creatures and have fascinated humans for millennia. Interesting Shells presents portraits of beautiful specimens from the Natural History Museum's vast collections, each accompanied by a caption explaining their unique characteristics - whether biological, historical or geographical.
Big Pacific
- Passionate, Voracious, Mysterious, Violent
(Hardcover)
Rebecca Tansley
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days | |
The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of Earth's surface--more than all of the planet's landmasses combined. It contains half of the world's water, hides its deepest places, and is home to some of the most dazzling creatures known to science. The companion book to the spectacular five-part series on PBS produced by Natural History New Zealand, Big Pacific breaks the boundaries between land and sea to present the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants as you have never seen them before. Illustrated in full color throughout, Big Pacific blends a wealth of stunning Ultra HD images with spellbinding storytelling to take you into a realm teeming with exotic life rarely witnessed up close--until now. The book is divided into four sections, each one focusing on an aspect of the Pacific. "Passionate Pacific" looks at the private lives of sea creatures, with topics ranging from the mating behaviors of great white sharks to the monogamy of wolf eels, while "Voracious Pacific" covers hunting and feeding. In "Mysterious Pacific," you will be introduced to the Pacific's more extraordinary creatures, like the pufferfish and firefly squid, and explore some of the region's eerier locales, like the turtle tombs of Borneo and the skull caves of Papua New Guinea. "Violent Pacific" examines the effects of events like natural disasters on the development of the Pacific Ocean's geography and the evolution of its marine life. Providing an unparalleled look at a diverse range of species, locations, and natural phenomena, Big Pacific is truly an epic excursion to one of the world's last great frontiers. Five-part series on PBS: *Big Pacific will air Wednesdays on PBS, June 21-July 19, 2017
Ocean, Exploring the Marine World
(Hardcover)
Phaidon Editors; Introduction by Anne-Marie Melster
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Ships in 5 - 10 working days | |
Experience the force, mystery, and beauty of the ocean and seas through more than 300 images - featuring underwater photography, oceanographic maps and scientific illustrations, as well as paintings, sculptures and popular films. Oceanography and art collide in this visual celebration of humans' relationship with the marine world. From early nautical cartography, scientific illustrations and astounding maps of the ocean floor to ancient Roman mosaics, Japanese woodblock prints and pop-culture ephemera Ocean takes readers across continents and cultures, spanning more than 3,000 years of history. Vivid, full-page images reveal prehistoric marine creatures and fossils, mysterious flora and fauna, mythical creatures of the deep and surfing icons of today. Explore the diverse groups of fish and coral on the Great Barrier Reef, jellyfish from the deepest location on Earth and life in the polar waters of the Arctic and Antarctic. Learn about the dangers facing our planet's oceans due to climate change activity and the dedicated efforts of conservationists to benefit our underwater ecosystems. Developed with a panel of marine biologists, research scientists, conservationists, photographers, museum curators and experts from organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Ocean illustrates Sylvia Earle's observation: 'Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea. Featured artists, designers, explorers, photographers and other creators include: Mary Anning, Brian Skerry, Jacques Cousteau, David Doubilet, Sylvia Earle, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Katsushika Hokusai, Esther Horvath, NASA, SebastiĆ£o Salgado, Vincent van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, Eileen Agar, Edward Burtynsky, Ray Eames, Ernst Haeckel, Kerry James Marshall, Greg Lecoeur, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Catherine Opie.
The Seaweed Collector's Handbook
- From Purple Laver to Peacock's Tail
(Paperback, Main)
Miek Zwamborn; Translated by Michele Hutchison
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R327 Discovery Miles 3 270 | Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
Seaweed is so familiar and yet its names - pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack - are largely unknown to us. In this short, exquisitely illustrated portrait, the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of its history, culture and use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney Islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. Seaweed troubled Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic, intrigued von Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea and inspired artists from Hokusai to Matisse. Covering seaweed's collection by Victorians, its adoption into fashion and dance and its potential for combating climate change, and with a fabulous series of recipes based around the 'truffles of the sea', this is a wonderful gift for every nature lover's home.
Ocean
- Endangered
(Hardcover)
Russell Arnott, Celine Van Weelden; Foreword by Maya Plass
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days | |
All our seas feed into one true ocean, interconnected and interdependent. Producing over half of the world's oxygen, our planet's ocean is a natural and vital wonder. As well as supporting a vast array of life, it plays a crucial role in regulating our weather and climate and it supplies us with food, medicine, recreation and a means of transport. Now it is under threat from many sides, such as overfishing, climate change and pollution to name a few. From the still waters of the Caribbean coastlines to the choppy North Sea, the Polar regions to the coral reefs, this book celebrates the essential ecosystems of our ocean around the world, providing a pictorial record of this wondrous world that needs our protection.
Curious Creatures on our Shores
(Hardcover)
Chris Thorogood
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days | |
This veritable marine treasure trove of a book is richly illustrated by the author, with fifty of the most beautiful, easily encountered, and sometimes astonishing marine organisms found on British coasts, from seemingly exotic seahorses and starfish, to peculiar sea-potatoes and sea lemons. Together, these characterful critters paint a colourful picture of life between the tides: starfish that, upon losing an arm, can grow a new one; baby sharks hatching from their fancifully named 'mermaid' purses'; ethereal moon jellyfish pulsating in the current and, on some seabeds, even coral. Beachcombing, overturning a boulder or simply parting the strands of seaweed in a rock pool offer a glimpse into a thriving underwater world of curious creatures. Inspired by the Oxford University of Natural History's exceptionally rich zoology collections, which contain millions of specimens amassed from centuries of expeditions, this book tells the story of life on the seashore.
Great British Marine Animals
(Paperback, 4th edition)
Paul Naylor
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R707 Discovery Miles 7 070 | Ships in 9 - 15 working days | |
Great British Marine Animals is a colourful photographic guide to fish and invertebrate life in the seas around Britain. It helps identify a wide range of species and has a special focus on their behaviour with many spreads and sequences of stunning underwater photos to show them going about their busy lives. Beautiful sea anemones lash out with superbly armed tentacles, seemingly invincible crabs shed their armour suits to grow (some decorate them afterwards!), limpets argue with each other, versatile sea slugs recycle defensive weapons from their prey, starfish exert huge forces to pull open their victims while fish can build nests, clean each other or sometimes change sex when the situation demands - to list just a few examples! The extraordinarily sophisticated cuttlefish is given ten pages to show a range of its amazing skills, while the complex social life of the tompot blenny gets nine that even includes a panel of recognised individuals. This expanded 4th edition is much the biggest upgrade so far, containing 930 high quality underwater photographs (compared to 600 in the 3rd edition) and detailing 320 species (up from 280) in 432 pages (up from 320). The book is organised by animal groups and species but has a special additional 'behaviour index' to highlight their wonderfully diverse strategies and habits. It appeals to all ages and levels of knowledge.