The first edition of the widely praised Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, published in 2005, led to numerous new marine protected area proposals and a number of notable conservation successes around the world.

In this completely revised and expanded second edition, new developments in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific are described, as well as future directions for High Seas protection. New sections show how to design and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) in an ever noisier ocean subject to climate change, increased shipping and hydrocarbon exploration. The process of protected area creation for cetaceans has been accelerated and more than 200 exciting new places are detailed in this edition. This book provides a route map for MPA managers, as well as countries, to meet the ambitious targets for highly protected MPA networks by 2012 and 2020.

Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is a key conservation tool and a springboard for worldwide change in human attitudes toward the world ocean where all life originated and where the majority of life on Earth still lives.

The first edition of the widely praised Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, published in 2005, led to numerous new marine protected area proposals and a number of notable conservation successes around the world.

In this completely revised and expanded second edition, new developments in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific are described, as well as future directions for High Seas protection. New sections show how to design and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) in an ever noisier ocean subject to climate change, increased shipping and hydrocarbon exploration. The process of protected area creation for cetaceans has been accelerated and more than 200 exciting new places are detailed in this edition. This book provides a route map for MPA managers, as well as countries, to meet the ambitious targets for highly protected MPA networks by 2012 and 2020.

Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is a key conservation tool and a springboard for worldwide change in human attitudes toward the world ocean where all life originated and where the majority of life on Earth still lives.

In this updated edition, award-winning author and whale researcher Erich Hoyt takes readers into the field for an intimate encounter with 93 species of cetaceans that make their homes in the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience and a comprehensive familiarity with the current revolution in cetacean studies, Hoyt provides unique insights into the life histories of whales. This new edition features descriptions of three new whale and dolphin species, along with the latest discoveries about cetacean biology and behaviour, from the physical differences and adaptations among the baleen and toothed whales to their highly intelligent hunting and feeding methods. Uncovered in fascinating detail are the courtship and mating practices, family relationships and the lifelong bonds among some family members. The symphonic composer of the whale world is the humpback whale, whose complex 30-minute songs reverberate across the liquid universe of the ocean. Current research reveals that blue, fin, bowhead and other whales also sing, mostly in tones below human hearing. Using sound for navigation, some whales hunt in deep, high pressure waters while others negotiate migrations across entire ocean basins. Thoroughly updated to reflect the latest findings, this book is perfect for anyone curious about the cetacean world. Budding whale students will gain insights on how to research whales, dolphins and porpoises as well as how to save at-risk species and their increasingly damaged habitat. Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises includes: detailed profiles of 93 current species of cetaceans (3 more than in the previous edition); the story of the newly discovered Sato’s beaked whale, a small black whale from the North Pacific related to the Baird’s beaked whale; fascinating sidebars that bring to life cetacean society and culture; an enlightening discussion of the differences between dolphins and porpoises; new information on the history and impact of whaling; illustrations of each species by renowned artist Uko Gorter, including the three new species named in the past five years; colour photographs by world-famous marine photographer Brandon Cole, among others.

Whale Rescue is the latest addition to the acclaimed "Firefly Animal Rescue" series. Written by an accomplished expert and illustrated with color photographs, this book is a solid reference on both whales and the ongoing efforts to protect them.

This book covers whale physiology, diet, lifespan, complex behaviors and habitats. Specific whale species covered in detail are: Gray whales Humpback whales Blue whales Sperm whales Right whales Orca whales.

Whale conservationists and their efforts to protect whale populations are profiled. Also addressed are the pros and cons of extreme measures used against illegal whalers, such as ramming whaling boats and destroying fishnets. A full list of organizations dedicated to protecting whales is provided for readers who want to help.

About the "Firefly Animal Rescue" series:

The "Firefly Animal Rescue" identifies endangered and threatened species and what is being done to protect them. Combining lively, accessible text and stunning color photographs, each book provides a detailed overview of the species, describing its characteristics, behavior, habits, physiology and more.

""These attractive books are a call to action... fascinating readable accounts."" - School Library Journal

""Succinct introductions to the science and practice of wildlife conservation... written in accessible, lively language."" - Booklist

Whale Rescue is the latest addition to the acclaimed "Firefly Animal Rescue" series. Written by an accomplished expert and illustrated with color photographs, this book is a solid reference on both whales and the ongoing efforts to protect them.

This book covers whale physiology, diet, lifespan, complex behaviors and habitats. Specific whale species covered in detail are: Gray whales Humpback whales Blue whales Sperm whales Right whales Orca whales.

Whale conservationists and their efforts to protect whale populations are profiled. Also addressed are the pros and cons of extreme measures used against illegal whalers, such as ramming whaling boats and destroying fishnets. A full list of organizations dedicated to protecting whales is provided for readers who want to help.

About the "Firefly Animal Rescue" series:

The "Firefly Animal Rescue" identifies endangered and threatened species and what is being done to protect them. Combining lively, accessible text and stunning color photographs, each book provides a detailed overview of the species, describing its characteristics, behavior, habits, physiology and more.

""These attractive books are a call to action... fascinating readable accounts."" - School Library Journal

""Succinct introductions to the science and practice of wildlife conservation... written in accessible, lively language."" - Booklist

A timely update on a beloved classic. When Erich Hoyt’s Orca: The Whale Called Killer was first published in 1981, little was known about Orcinus orca. The largest member of the dolphin family was then considered too dangerous to approach in the wild. That all changed when Erich Hoyt and his colleagues spent seven summers in the 1970s following these intelligent, playful creatures in the waters off northern Vancouver Island. Working alongside other researchers keen to understand the life history of the killer whale, Hoyt’s group helped to dispel the negative mythology about orcas while uncovering the intimate details of their social behaviour. This revised fifth edition includes Hoyt’s original account, plus exciting new chapters that bring readers up to date on the revolution in public awareness and orca research that has taken place. Hoyt’s youthful adventures turned into his life’s work. Now a world-renowned expert on whales and dolphins, he shares orca wisdom along with stories gleaned from decades of additional field study in the Russian Far East as well as return trips to Canada’s West Coast to visit with the descendants of the killer whales he encountered 45 years ago.

This is a close-up look at the world of ants. Erich Hoyt recounts observations from an ant expedition to the tropical jungle with Edward O. Wilson. He introduces ants who harvest crops, raise insects as livestock, build roads and bridges, embark on nuptial fights and go to war.

When people hear the word “migration,� they think of animals that move from a feeding area to a breeding area and back each year. But the greatest migration on Earth happens twice every night. The movement is largely vertical and performed by plankton followed by predatory fish, squid, octopus and other species that have acquired a taste for plankton. The migration starts deep in the waters of the ocean at sunset. As they move, the plankton nibble on plant plankton and other tasty morsels in the water and, eventually, some on each other. The feeding ends just before dawn when the plankton retreat to the depths of the ocean to hide during the day until the next evening, when they migrate back up the water column. In Planktonia, Erich Hoyt invites readers to dive into the dazzling nighttime ocean. Countless microscopic plankton — larval creatures such as ornate ghost pipefish, left-handed hermit crabs and bony-eared assfish — ascend to the upper waters to feed, returning to the depths before sunrise. These tiny planktonic creatures are delicate and beautiful; some look terrifying; and most look nothing like the creatures they will become as adults. This great vertical migration attracts larger adult creatures, too, from the solitary 6-inch (15 cm) bigfin reef squid and the fierce and hungry 6½ foot (2 m) female blanket octopus, which is up to 40,000 times heavier than her male mate. Everyone comes here for the midnight feast, and they are all ravenously hungry. Chapters in this book include: Hawai’i: From Bluewater to Blackwater; Awesome Anilao; The Gulf Stream Procession of Life; Blackwater White Sea; Precious Life of Plankton; Blackwater Unlimited; From Blackwater Passion to Protection. All life in the ocean depends on plankton. Plankton plays a key role in sequestering carbon against climate change. The great nightly vertical migration highlights the importance of protecting not only ocean species but also ecosystems that embrace ocean processes from the depths of the sea to surface waters.

“Erich Hoyt captures the excitement and beauty of recent advances (in ocean science). With lavish photos and engaging, accurate prose, he takes readers on a journey of wonder through the ocean’s layers and around the planet, shedding light on extraordinary lives. The deeper you go, the less we know — only a few hundred of the thousands of species that live in the abyss have been photographed. Hoyt’s book showcases why we must do more to safeguard life in the sea.� —BBC Wildlife magazine. “There is exquisite beauty down below, but also a rich array of monsters. Hoyt brings learning and passion to the task of unveiling the most bizarre habitat on the planet.� —Geographical magazine. In this updated third edition of Creatures of the Deep, award-winning nature and science writer Erich Hoyt gives readers a glimpse of the amazing variety of creatures found in the deepest parts of the ocean. Weaving together details from the latest scientific research about sharks, giant squid, dragonfish, huge tube worms, clams and tiny microbes of the deep-sea vents, Hoyt embarks on a magical journey roaming across the abyssal plains and descending into deep-sea trenches more than 6,000 metres down. Hoyt unravels the complex predator-prey relationships, from “killer� copepods to battles between giant squid and sperm whales, presenting compelling portraits of animals that are superbly adapted denizens of a dark high-pressure world. There are life forms, independent of sunlight and photosynthesis, which flourish around the hot, sulphurous deep-sea vents in the magnificent rift valley of the mid-ocean ridge, the world’s longest mountain range. Surviving in conditions that appear to be close to the very soup of primordial Earth, these microbes have become the basis for the latest research into Earth’s origins. Fully illustrated with fantastic underwater imagery. Published to coincide with the start of the UN Decade for Ocean Science (2021-2030).

Marine researchers are discovering new ocean creatures every day, especially at its deepest depths. From the author of Creatures of the Deep, Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises and other books about the ocean and the animals that live there, comes a new title about some of the most unusual marine life forms. The book organizes the creatures into three parts based on where they live in the ocean. Each part has representatives from the various marine animal classes (e.g., fish, crustaceans, jellyfish and siphonophores, squids, tunicates and other invertebrates). Informative captions accompany the 90 gorgeous photographs of otherworldly creatures. Part 1: Surface Waters of the Ocean at Night: The Blackwater Vertical Migrators. In images taken by dedicated blackwater photographers Linda Ianniello and Susan Mears, these mostly larval creatures haunt the near-surface waters making vertical migrations every night to feed. Part 2: Middle to Deep Dark Waters: Masters of the Language of Light. In this perpetual night, survival is a matter of being able to understand and process light signals, some in different colours, some flashing, some faint - the most sophisticated use of bioluminescence on Earth. The sea creatures here are small with big eyes and even larger mouths with extraordinarily sharp teeth; Photographer David Shale travelled with BBC Blue Planet and other expeditions to photograph these deep sea creatures, while photographers Solvin Zankl, Alexander Semenov and others brought their own dedication to expeditions in the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Part 3. The Continental Shelf to the Abyssal Plain: The Bottom Dwellers. This bottom of the sea has fewer fish, and is populated by such alien-like creatures as no-eyed or tripod fish, sea cucumbers, as well as basket stars, crabs, and worms with species varying by depth and location. The introduction to each part of the book describes what makes the ocean waters at that depth unique, and why it is home to specific types of sea life. The photographs were taken in the ocean by expert divers and submariners, most of whom are both scientists and underwater photographers. The images display the creatures vividly against a background as black as the ocean depths.

A Wonderful Journey into the Insect World through Literature, Science, Art, and Popular Culture Aristotle on metamorphosis

• Alfred Russel Wallace on the rare butterflies of the Malay Archipelago
• Jean-Henri Fabre on the art of the dung beetle
• Dave Barry on naming the U.S. Official National Insect
• Charles Darwin on seagoing insects
• William Beebe on an army ant invasion
• Kevin Kelly on bee—and human—swarming
• Jonathan Schell on postnuclear insect survival
• Gary Larson on when insects take over
• May Berenbaum on maggots and murderers
• Henry David Thoreau on race wars among the ants
• Thomas Eisner on stealth bugs
• David George Gordon on appreciating the lowly cockroach
• Maurice Maeterlinck on the queen-bee’s wedding
• Edward O. Wilson on insect societies

…plus many other essays, illustrations, cartoons, screenplays, poems, recipes, tales, and observations on insect life.