The story of how Africa’s mammals have helped shape the continent’s landscapes over time to support an amazing diversity of lifeAfrica is home to an amazing array of animals, including the world’s most diverse assortment of large mammals. These include the world’s largest terrestrial mammal, the African elephant, which still roams great swathes of the continent alongside a host of other well-known large mammals with hooves such as hippopotamuses, giraffes, rhinocer...

This revised edition of a book first published in 2010 supplements the original account of the 116 bat species then known to be found in Southern and Central Africa with an additional eight newly described species.The chapters on evolution, biogeography, ecology and echolocation have been updated, citing dozens of recently published papers. The book covers the latest systematic and taxonomic studies, ensuring that the names and relationships of bats in this new edi...

All the information researchers, students, and practitioners need to conducted innovative, state-of-the-art research on small mammals.Rodents and insectivores constitute the vast majority of mammals on our planet, yet we often overlook the importance of this group. As seed dispersers, prey species, and disease regulators, these animals are critical to the functioning of our ecological systems. While considerable material exists that describes these species, there h...

The Ecology of Sulawesi is a comprehensive ecological survey of one of Indonesia's least populated and most diverse islands.It is hoped that it will prove useful to resource managers, ecologists, environmental scientists and local government personnel, and be enlightening to Sulawesi's inhabitants and visitors.Sulawesi is one of the least-known islands of Indonesia, and wise environmental management, including the proper assessment of environmental...

Originally published in 1981, Living Shores was for many years the standard reference for marine science students but was also embraced by a popular market for its fascinating insights into marine and coastal habitats and the life they support. After a long absence, this classic has been revived and thoroughly reworked to incorporate the many dramatic changes that our oceans and coasts have undergone over the past few decades. This book is the fi rst of a two volume set, and examines the d...

There are more coral species in deep, cold-waters than in tropical coral reefs. This broad-ranging treatment is the first to synthesise current understanding of all types of cold-water coral, covering their ecology, biology, palaeontology and geology. Beginning with a history of research in the field, the authors describe the approaches needed to study corals in the deep sea. They consider coral habitats created by stony scleractinian as well as octocoral species. The importance of corals ...

Hippos are unusual in being genuinely amphibious. This has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life.Following a general introduction, there is a detailed description of hippo anatomy and physiology, including facts about their skin structure and physiology.Subsequent chapters are devoted to their social biology and ecology, including descriptions of their breeding and feeding ecology. Several extraordinary instances of carnivory, including a...

Praise for the first edition:With deft prose and engaging anecdotes, Mr. Orenstein takes us skillfully through a vast amount of information....[his] treatment is nothing short of masterly.--Science Books and FilmsAbounds with excellent color photographs. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.-- Library JournalThe remarkable adaptations of turtles, tortoises and terrapins have helped them su...

The Ecology of Sumatra distills for the first time the information found in nearly 1,500 scholarly works relevant to an understanding of the full range of natural and man-made ecosystems on the island-many of them available only in Dutch, German or Indonesian. It was originally prepared by a team working at the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES) at the University of North Sumatra to supplement existing documents. This new version is aimed at general readers and i...

Australian Saltmarsh Ecology presents the first comprehensive review of the ecology and management of Australian saltmarshes. The past 10 years in particular have seen a sustained research effort into this previously poorly understood and neglected resource. Leading experts in the field outline what is known of the biogeography and geomorphology of Australian saltmarshes, their fish and invertebrate ecology, the use of Australian saltmarshes by birds and insectivorous bats, and the particular...

***SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING**LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE*Shortlisted for Waterstones’s “Book of the Year 2022”One of:The New Yorker’s “The Best Books of 2022 So Far”Telegraph’s “50 best books of 2022”Sapiens for natural history: a stirring, eye-opening journey into deep time, from the Ice Age to the first appearance of microbial life 550 million ...

This thorough revision of the classic Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals brings this authoritative book right up-to-date. Articles describe every species in detail, based on the very latest taxonomy, and a host of biological, ecological and sociological aspects relating to marine mammals. The latest information on the biology, ecology, anatomy, behavior and interactions with man is provided by a cast of expert authors – all presented in such detail and clarity to support both marine mammal spe...