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Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species

Michael Lannoo (ed.)

This book documents a major environmental crisis: rapidly declining amphibian populations and the developmental problems that are increasingly prevalent within many amphibian species. Horror stories ... More

This book documents a major environmental crisis: rapidly declining amphibian populations and the developmental problems that are increasingly prevalent within many amphibian species. Horror stories on this topic have been featured in the scientific and popular press over the past fifteen years, invariably asking what amphibian declines are telling us about the state of the environment. Are declines harbingers of devastated ecosystems or simply weird reflections of a peculiar amphibian world? This compendium — presenting new data, reviews of current literature, and comprehensive species accounts — reinforces what scientists have begun to suspect: that amphibians are a lens through which the state of the environment can be viewed more clearly. And, that the view is alarming and presages serious concerns for all life, including that of our own species. The first part of this work consists of more than fifty essays covering topics from the causes of amphibian population declines to conservation, surveys and monitoring, and education. The second part consists of species accounts describing the life history and natural history of every known amphibian species in the United States.Less

Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, Including Its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cortes

L. Grismer

The Baja California peninsula is home to many forms of life found nowhere else on earth. This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true ... More

The Baja California peninsula is home to many forms of life found nowhere else on earth. This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true biological frontiers of North America. This book is a guide to the amphibians and reptiles of a fascinating and remote region. The culmination of a quarter century of fieldwork on the Baja peninsula and an exploration of more than one hundred of its islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés, this book gives information on the identification, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy of each species of amphibian and reptile found there. Preliminary accounts of the life history of many of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes are reported here for the first time, and several species that were almost unknown to science are illustrated. The book also contains new data on species distribution and on the effect of the isolated landscape of the peninsula and its islands on the evolutionary process.Less

Birds of the Salton Sea: Status, Biogeography, and Ecology

Michael Patten

The Salton Sea, California's largest inland lake, supports a spectacular bird population that is among the most concentrated and most diverse in the world. Sadly, this crucial stopover along the ... More

The Salton Sea, California's largest inland lake, supports a spectacular bird population that is among the most concentrated and most diverse in the world. Sadly, this crucial stopover along the Pacific Flyway for migratory and wintering shorebirds, landbirds, and waterfowl is dangerously close to collapse from several environmental threats. This book describes the birds of Salton Sea, more than 450 species and subspecies in all. Synthesizing data from many sources, including observations from their long-term work in the area, the authors' species accounts discuss each bird's abundance, seasonal status, movement patterns, biogeographic affinities, habitat associations, and more. The book also includes general information on the region's history and biogeography.Less

A Checklist of Host-Parasite Interactions of the Order Crocodylia

Marisa Tellez

Records of parasitism in crocodilians date back to the early 1800s, distributed among published works, unpublished manuscripts, and international parasite catalogs. It is possible that parasites of ... More

Records of parasitism in crocodilians date back to the early 1800s, distributed among published works, unpublished manuscripts, and international parasite catalogs. It is possible that parasites of crocodilians are highly host specific, resulting in a relationship that began over two hundred million years ago. Analyzing parasite-host specificity, geographic distribution, and taxonomy can provide otherwise cryptic details about crocodilian ecology and evolution, as well as their local food web dynamics. This information may also be useful for implementing improved conservation tactics for both crocodilians and their habitat. As climate change, anthropogenic conflict, and environmental pollution endanger crocodilian ecosystems, there is a need for organized information on crocodile, alligator, caiman, and gharial infectious diseases. This is the first checklist of crocodilians and their parasites. I trust this compilation will encourage further studies that incorporate ecology, parasitology, phylogeography, coevolution, and immunology to bring insight to crocodilian life history, evolution, and conservation. Additionally, this information may encourage veterinarians, biologists, and ecologists to expand studies of other reptilian-parasite systems, and it may improve our understanding of human impacts on ecosystems.Less

Common Spiders of North America

Richard A. Bradley

Spiders are fascinating animals that exhibit remarkably varied and complex behavior. Contrary to popular belief, they are mostly harmless, and many are beneficial to humans. Spiders occur in all ... More

Spiders are fascinating animals that exhibit remarkably varied and complex behavior. Contrary to popular belief, they are mostly harmless, and many are beneficial to humans. Spiders occur in all terrestrial habitats and are an ecologically important group of small predators. They are a crucial component of every food web, collectively consuming millions of insect prey every day. Their webs are well suited to capturing prey, yet are also among the most beautiful of natural objects. This book provides curious naturalists with the tools to locate, identify, study, and appreciate spiders. North America has a rich fauna of spiders, including more than 3,700 species. Many of these spiders are small and inconspicuous; some are large and colorful. This book provides a comprehensive guide to all 68 families of spiders in North America and provides illustrations for 469 commonly encountered species. Identification hints and a brief description of the distribution and habits of each species are provided. There is a concise, illustrated introduction to the features of spider anatomy that are important for understanding spider relationships.Less

Evolution and Systematics of the Atlantic Tree Rats, Genus Phyllomys (Rodentia, Echimyidae), With Description of Two New Species

Yuri Leite

This study focuses on the Atlantic Forest tree rats of the genus Phyllomys (Rodentia: Echimyidae), one of the most poorly understood mammal genera inhabiting the coastal rain forests Brazil, the most ... More

This study focuses on the Atlantic Forest tree rats of the genus Phyllomys (Rodentia: Echimyidae), one of the most poorly understood mammal genera inhabiting the coastal rain forests Brazil, the most threatened lowland tropical forest in the world. The author summarizes their distribution, ecology, and evolution using a combination of morphological and molecular analyses; describes two new species; and provides the first systematic revision of the genus, which was originally described in 1839.Less

The Evolutionary History and a Systematic Revision of Woodrats of the Neotoma lepida Group

James Patton

This book details the evolutionary history of the desert woodrat complex (lepida group, genus Neotoma) of western North America. The analyses include standard multivariate morphometrics of museum ... More

This book details the evolutionary history of the desert woodrat complex (lepida group, genus Neotoma) of western North America. The analyses include standard multivariate morphometrics of museum specimens coupled with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and microsatellite loci. The work also traces the spatial and temporal diversification of this group of desert-dwelling rodents, revising species boundaries and delineating subspecies considered valid.Less

Giant Pandas: Biology and Conservation

Donald Lindburg (ed.)

The much-loved giant panda, a secretive denizen of the dense bamboo forests of western China, has become an icon worldwide of progress in conservation and research. This book, written by an ... More

The much-loved giant panda, a secretive denizen of the dense bamboo forests of western China, has become an icon worldwide of progress in conservation and research. This book, written by an international team of scientists and conservationists including Chinese researchers whose work has not previously been available in English, tells the story of how the giant panda returned from the brink of extinction. It presents current panda research and places the species in its biological, ecological, and political contexts. More than a progress report on a highly endangered species, the book details the combination of scientific understanding, local commitment, and government involvement that has been brought into play and asks what more needs to be done to ensure the panda's survival. It is divided into four parts—Evolutionary History of the Giant Panda, Studies of Giant Panda Biology, Pandas and Their Habitats, and Giant Panda Conservation. The book combines the latest findings from the field and the laboratory together with panel and workshop summaries from a recent international conference. Taken together, the chapters highlight how international cooperation has led to better management in the wild and in captivity. The book also shows how concepts such as buffer zones, links between forest fragments, multiple-use areas, and cooperation with local people who have a stake in the resources have been key to the panda's survival.Less

Human Impacts on Seals, Sea Lions, and Sea Otters: Integrating Archaeology and Ecology in the Northeast Pacific

Todd Braje (ed.)

For more than 10,000 years, Native Americans from Alaska to southern California relied on aquatic animals such as seals, sea lions, and sea otters for food and raw materials. Archaeological research ... More

For more than 10,000 years, Native Americans from Alaska to southern California relied on aquatic animals such as seals, sea lions, and sea otters for food and raw materials. Archaeological research on the interactions between people and these marine mammals has made great advances recently and provides a unique lens for understanding the human and ecological past. Archaeological research is also emerging as a crucial source of information on contemporary environmental issues as we improve our understanding of the ancient abundance, ecology, and natural history of these species. This interdisciplinary volume brings together archaeologists, biologists, and other scientists to consider how archaeology can inform the conservation and management of pinnipeds and other marine mammals along the Pacific Coast.Less

Iguanas: Biology and Conservation

Allison Alberts (ed.)

This book offers an account of the latest research on the evolution, behavioral ecology, and conservation of the highly visible and increasingly endangered Iguana, much loved by professional ... More

This book offers an account of the latest research on the evolution, behavioral ecology, and conservation of the highly visible and increasingly endangered Iguana, much loved by professional herpetologists and hobbyists alike. It begins with an introduction by noted iguana biologist Dr. Gordon Burghardt that examines the state of iguana research—past, present, and future—with an emphasis on social behavior. Three major sections follow, each opening with a synthesis, which survey the current status and likely future direction of investigations in the pertinent area. The first section focuses on different aspects of the taxonomic and morphological diversity of iguanas and includes a complete checklist of species. In the second section, chapters address the behavior and ecology of iguanas and provide evidence that both may be far more complex than previously appreciated. The third and final section, highlighting the threats facing iguana populations today, describes the broad array of innovative conservation strategies that will be needed to help ensure their survival.Less

International Advances in the Ecology, Zoogeography, and Systematics of Mayflies and Stoneflies

F. R.Hauer and Anthony Welch (eds)

The purpose of this book is to encourage and facilitate focused research, and provide a forum for scholarly exchange about the status of Mayfly and Stonefly science. Professor John Brittain, whose ... More

The purpose of this book is to encourage and facilitate focused research, and provide a forum for scholarly exchange about the status of Mayfly and Stonefly science. Professor John Brittain, whose research is focused on freshwater entomology, especially egg development and life-cycle strategies of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, presents a chapter reflecting on the quality of mayflies as good indicators of global warming and the quality of streams and lakes. Professor Emeritus Andrew Sheldon, whose interests have encompassed community and population ecology of aquatic animals over a span of more than 40 years, especially insects and fishes, explores topics of scale and hierarchy and the ecology of Plecoptera, discussing how studies emphasizing scale and perspective reveal the importance of stoneflies to ecosystems. Other topics cover a broad base of disciplines including morphology, physiology, phylogeny, taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. The chapters have been compiled into three sections: Ecology, Zoogeography, and Systematics.Less

Introduction to Horned Lizards of North America

Wade Sherbrooke

This book features detailed species accounts; gives information on horned lizard biology, ecology, and evolution; and describes the role of these reptiles in mythology, culture, and art. It covers ... More

This book features detailed species accounts; gives information on horned lizard biology, ecology, and evolution; and describes the role of these reptiles in mythology, culture, and art. It covers the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and includes all species of horned lizards.Less

Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity

Eric Pianka

From tiny to gigantic, from drab to remarkably beautiful, from harmless to venomous, lizards are spectacular products of natural selection. This book provides a comprehensive reference on lizards ... More

From tiny to gigantic, from drab to remarkably beautiful, from harmless to venomous, lizards are spectacular products of natural selection. This book provides a comprehensive reference on lizards around the world. It covers species evolution, diversity, ecology, and biology. The authors of this book have studied and photographed members of almost all lizard families worldwide, and they bring to the book a deep knowledge based on extensive first-hand experience with the animals in their natural habitats. Part One explores lizard lifestyles, answering such questions as why lizards are active when they are, why they behave as they do, how they avoid predators, why they eat what they eat, and how they reproduce and socialize. In Part Two the text takes us on a tour of the world's manifold lizard species, beginning with iguanians, an evolutionary group that includes some of the most bizarre lizards, the true chameleons of Africa and Madagascar. We also meet the glass lizard, able to break its tail into many highly motile pieces to distract a predator from its body; lizards that can run across water; and limbless lizards, such as snakes. Part Three gives an unprecedented global view of evolutionary trends that have shaped present-day lizard communities and considers the impact of humans on their future.Less

Malformed Frogs: The Collapse of Aquatic Ecosystems

Michael Lannoo

The widespread appearance of frogs with deformed bodies has generated much press coverage over the past decade. Frogs with extra limbs or digits, missing limbs or digits, or misaligned appendages ... More

The widespread appearance of frogs with deformed bodies has generated much press coverage over the past decade. Frogs with extra limbs or digits, missing limbs or digits, or misaligned appendages raise an alarming question: “Are deformed humans next?” Taking a fresh look at this disturbing environmental problem, this book provides a balanced overview of the science behind the malformed frog phenomenon. Bringing together data from ecology, parasitology, and other disciplines, the author considers the possible causes of these deformities, tells which frogs have been affected, and addresses questions about what these malformations might mean to human populations. Featuring high-quality radiographic images, the book suggests that our focus should be on finding practical solutions, a key component of which will be controlling chemical, nutrient, and pesticide runoff into wetlands.Less

Mammalian Diversification: From Chromosomes to Phylogeography

Eileen Lacey (ed.)

This book combines a series of research papers with more informal recollections of James L. Patton, who served as Curator of Mammals in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and as Professor of ... More

This book combines a series of research papers with more informal recollections of James L. Patton, who served as Curator of Mammals in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and as Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1969 until 2001. As a curator and a member of the Berkeley faculty, Patton made an indelible mark on vertebrate evolutionary biology. In addition to significantly advancing studies of mammalian evolutionary genetics, systematics, and phylogeography, he was instrumental in shaping the careers of vertebrate biologists throughout the Americas. This book brings to life both the career and personality of this evolutionary biologist.Less

Moths of Western North America

Jerry Powell

Philip Myers (ed.)

Insects boast incredible diversity, and this book treats an important component of the western insect biota that has not been summarized before: moths and their plant relationships. There are about ... More

Insects boast incredible diversity, and this book treats an important component of the western insect biota that has not been summarized before: moths and their plant relationships. There are about 8,000 named species of moths in the western North America region, and although most go unnoticed by the public, many attract attention when their larvae create economic damage: eating holes in woolens, infesting stored foods, boring into apples, damaging crops and garden plants, or defoliating forests. In contrast to previous North American moth books, this volume discusses and illustrates about 25% of the species in every family, including the tiny species, making it the most comprehensive book in its field. With this approach it provides access to microlepidoptera study for biologists as well as amateur collectors. About 2,500 species are described and illustrated, including virtually all moths of economic importance, summarizing their morphology, taxonomy, adult behavior, larval biology, and life cycles.Less

Phylogenetic Relationships within Heliodinidae and Systematics of Moths Formerly Assigned to Heliodines Stainton (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea)

Yu-Feng Hsu

Ronald Carter and William Hayes (eds)

Heliodinids are tiny, brightly colored dayflying moths. This book proposes phylogenetic relationships among genera of Heliodinidae using parsimony and character compatibility, and describes and ... More

Heliodinids are tiny, brightly colored dayflying moths. This book proposes phylogenetic relationships among genera of Heliodinidae using parsimony and character compatibility, and describes and illustrates 45 North and Central species (25 newly named) assigned to five genera (two new, two exhumed from synonymy). Larval host plants are recorded for 33 species (14 newly discovered), about 45% of the known fauna; 90% of these are specialists on Caryophyllales, primarily Nyctaginaceae.Less

Phylogeny and Evolution of the Mollusca

Winston Ponder (ed.)

This book brings together thirty-six experts on the evolution of the Mollusca to provide an up-to-date review of its evolutionary history. The Mollusca are the second largest animal phylum and boast ... More

This book brings together thirty-six experts on the evolution of the Mollusca to provide an up-to-date review of its evolutionary history. The Mollusca are the second largest animal phylum and boast a fossil record of over 540 million years. They exhibit remarkable anatomical diversity and include the bivalves (scallops, oysters, and clams), gastropods (limpets, snails, and slugs), and cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, and octopus). This study treats each major taxon and supplies general information as well as overviews of evolution and phylogeny using data from different sources—morphological, ultrastructural, molecular, developmental, and from the fossil record.Less

The Quintessential Naturalist: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Oliver P. Pearson

Douglas Kelt and Deborah Kaspin (eds)

Oliver P. Pearson's studies on mammalian biology remain standard reading for ecologists, physiologists, taxonomists, and biogeographers. Reflecting this, the papers gathered here continue to expand ... More

Oliver P. Pearson's studies on mammalian biology remain standard reading for ecologists, physiologists, taxonomists, and biogeographers. Reflecting this, the papers gathered here continue to expand our understanding of the ecology and evolution of subterranean mammals, and of ecology, taxonomy, and biogeography of Neotropical mammals, a group that was central to the latter half of Pearson's career.Less

Sensory Evolution on the Threshold: Adaptations in Secondarily Aquatic Vertebrates

J. G. M. Thewissen (ed.)

From crocodiles and penguins to seals and whales, this synthesis explores the function and evolution of sensory systems in animals whose ancestors lived on land. Together, the chapters explore the ... More

From crocodiles and penguins to seals and whales, this synthesis explores the function and evolution of sensory systems in animals whose ancestors lived on land. Together, the chapters explore the dramatic transformation of smell, taste, sight, hearing, balance, mechanoreception, magnetoreception, and electroreception that occurred as lineages of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals returned to aquatic environments. Each chapter integrates data from fields including sensory physiology, anatomy, paleontology, and neurobiology. A one-stop source for information on the sense organs of secondarily aquatic tetrapods, this book sheds new light on both the evolution of aquatic vertebrates and the sensory biology of their astonishing transition.Less