A Field Guide to Wilson's Promontory


Book Description

A definitive guide to Wilson's Promontory, one of the world's premier national parks. The history, geology, fauna, and flora are covered comprehensively for the casual visitor, enthusiastic naturalist, and professional biologist, and includes: a concise account of the Prom's geological history and sites of geomorphological significance; an introduction to the intriguing history of human occupation and exploitation; complete descriptions of more than 400 plants, supported by detailed botanical illustrations and photographs; full accounts of almost 300 vertebrate and invertebrate animals, with full-colour photographs of key species; up-to-date listings of plants and animals known to occur on the Prom. This comprehensive and authoritative guide should be an essential item in the backpack, glove box, or on the bookshelf of everyone who visits the Prom or appreciates the diverstiy and beauty of Australia's wild places. Biologists David Meagher and Michele Kohout share a passion for the Prom. For several years they have explored every track in the park day and night, boated around most of its coastline, investigate little known and unrecorded species, and consulted leading experts in the geology, zoology, and botany of southern Australia. Their aim has been to produce a high-quality, authoritative field guide that is uesful to a wide range of people, and which stimulates further interest in research into the Prom's natural history.




Field Guide to the Seashores of South-Eastern Australia


Book Description

The types of plants and animals that live on seashores in temperate regions are similar around the globe, but many of the individual species in south-eastern Australia are found only in this region. Field Guide to the Seashores of South-Eastern Australia features colour photographs, descriptions and ecological notes for around 240 species of the more common plants and animals found on rocky, sandy and muddy shores along the coastline from Port Lincoln, South Australia, to the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, and Tasmania. This guide will allow beachgoers to learn interesting details about the plants and animals they come across, while also having sufficient scientific detail for natural history enthusiasts and biology students to develop their understanding of these shore ecosystems.




A Field Guide to the Mosses & Allied Plants of Southern Australia


Book Description

A richly illustrated, full-colour identification guide to almost 500 mosses, liverworts and hornworts in southern Australia. The book includes an introduction to the bryophytes, information on the collection, storage and naming of specimens, indentification keys, descriptions, thumb-nail anatomical sketches and more than 250 beautiful colour photographs.




Walks, Tracks and Trails of Victoria


Book Description

For the first time in a single volume, this book brings together more than 150 of the best walks, tracks or trails in Victoria, which can be walked, cycled or driven by the moderately fit individual. They are located in national and state parks, state forests, conservation reserves, historic parks and local government and public easements. Other routes follow state highways, old railways and gold routes, or pass bushranger haunts and back roads linking towns, historical and geological or geographical features. Most of the routes chosen do not require specialist navigation or bushcraft skills, and vary from a short 45 minutes on a boardwalk to four-day long-distance walking and camping. Walks, Tracks and Trails of Victoria covers the best the state has to offer, from deserts to coastal and mountain environments. It highlights the features of each location and encourages you to enjoy the experience at an informed level. Easy-to-interpret maps are included to help you navigate, and the book’s size makes it convenient to bring with you on your adventures.







The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia


Book Description

As fascinating as they are beautiful, butterflies are a pleasure to watch and an important group of invertebrates to study. This second edition of the award-winning book The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia is a fully updated guide to all butterfly species on Australia's mainland and remote islands. Written by one of Australia's leading lepidopterists, the book is stunningly illustrated with colour photographs, many of which are new, of each of the 435 currently recognised species. There is also a distribution map and flight chart for each species on the Australian mainland, together with information on similar species, variation, behaviour, habitat, status and larval food plants. The introduction to the book covers adult structure, higher classification, distribution and habitats, as well as life cycle and behaviour. A new chapter on collecting and preserving butterflies is included. There is also an updated checklist of all species, a glossary, a bibliography and indexes of common and scientific names.




Sponges


Book Description

We might think of sponges as bathroom objects but the real living animals are far more interesting. They come in all shapes and sizes, occur in all oceans of the world, and have amazing lives. Sponges have lived in our oceans for 600 million years. Ancient forms even built reefs bigger than the Great Barrier Reef. Today, sponges help clean our oceans, are experts are chemical warfare and can rebuild themselves after being torn apart. Some even live for 2000 years. There is still much to learn about the diversity and biology of sponges in southern Australian waters, with many species still waiting for formal scientific description. This guide introduces naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others to sponge species commonly encountered in southern Australia.




A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia


Book Description

A comprehensive guide to identifying all 379 species of mammals known in Australia. Provides concise and accurate details of the appearance, diagnostic features, distribution of habitat and key behavioural characteristics of all mammals known to have occurred in Australia or its waters since European settlement.