Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives


Book Description

Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives is an award-winning and groundbreaking exploration of the fundamental elements of the taxonomy, systematics, physiology, and ecology of sharks, skates, rays, and chimera. This edition presents current research as well as traditional models, to provide future researchers with solid historical foundations in shark research as well as presenting current trends from which to develop new frontiers in their own work. Traditional areas of study such as age and growth, reproduction, taxonomy and systematics, sensory biology, and ecology are updated with contemporary research that incorporates emerging techniques including molecular genetics, exploratory techniques in artificial insemination, and the rapidly expanding fields of satellite tracking, remote sensing, accelerometry, and imaging. With two new editors and 90 contributors from the US, UK, South Africa, Portugal, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India, Palau, United Arab Emirates, Micronesia, Sweden, Argentina, Indonesia, Cameroon, and the Netherlands, this third edition is the most global and comprehensive yet. It adds six new chapters representing extensive studies of health, stress, disease and pathology, and social structure, and continues to explore elasmobranch ecological roles and interactions with their habitats. The book concludes with a comprehensive review of conservation policies, management, and strategies, as well as consideration of the potential effects of impending climate change. Presenting cohesive and integrated coverage of key topics and discussing technological advances used in modern shark research, this revised edition offers a well-rounded picture for students and researchers.




Sharks and Rays of Borneo


Book Description

This full-color field guide is the result of a collaborative project between the governments of the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The first comprehensive reference on the sharks and rays of Borneo, it contains everything you need to know about recognizing and identifying the sharks, rays and chimaeras caught and marketed in Indonesia. Its user-friendly layout contains information on identifying features, size, distribution, local common names, habitat, biology and conservation status of 118 species. It is an essential reference for all shark and ray enthusiasts - including local fishers and consumers, fisheries and conservation officers and scientists.




An Illustrated Pocket Guide to the Sharks of the World


Book Description

Sharks are probably the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We all still have a lot to learn about these fascinating creatures, which are sadly more seriously threatened with extinction and in greater need of conservation and management action than any other major group of vertebrates. We have produced this guide not just because we and so many other people love sharks. It is also because their identification, whether of living animals, fishery catches or body parts sold at markets, is an essential tool to support shark conservation, fisheries management and international trade regulation, prevent further depletion of stocks, and enable their recovery. ● the first pocket guide to all 501 shark species ● all species illustrated and described ● handy, compact format with concise text ● a six-page guide to shark teeth identification ● an eight-page guide to the identification of the shark fins most commonly encountered in the fin trade Colour plates are by Marc Dando from the hugely acclaimed Sharks of the World: A Fully Illustrated Guide.




Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, Second Edition


Book Description

Virtually every area of research associated with sharks and their relatives has been strongly impacted by the revolutionary growth in technology. The questions we can now ask are very different than those reported even two decades ago. Modern immunological and genetic techniques, satellite telemetry and archival tagging, modern phylogenetic analysis, GIS, and bomb dating, are just a few of the techniques and procedures that have become a part of our investigative lexicon. A modern synthesis of the biology of Chondrichthyans, Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, Second Edition discusses significant advances in the development and application of new molecular techniques to the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among and between these groups. The book considers the effect of global changes on the status of sharks and their relatives, and how advances in technology and analytical techniques have changed not only how we approach problem solving and scientific investigations, but how we formulate questions. The book also introduces applications of new and novel laboratory devices, techniques, and field instruments. This second edition of the award winning and groundbreaking original exploration of the fundamental elements of the taxonomy, systematics, physiology, and ecology of sharks, skates, rays, and chimera, presents cohesive and integrated coverage of key topics and discusses technological advances used in modern shark research. Offering a well-rounded picture for students and researchers, and far above competitors in scope and research, this new volume holds a wealth of data on the current status of Chondrichthyan research and provides the basis and springboard for original research. Cover photo by Justin Gilligan




Rays of the World


Book Description

Rays are among the largest fishes and evolved from shark-like ancestors nearly 200 million years ago. They share with sharks many life history traits: all species are carnivores or scavengers; all reproduce by internal fertilisation; and all have similar morphological and anatomical characteristics, such as skeletons built of cartilage. Rays of the World is the first complete pictorial atlas of the world’s ray fauna and includes information on many species only recently discovered by scientists while undertaking research for the book. It includes all 26 families and 633 valid named species of rays, but additional undescribed species exist for many groups. Rays of the World features a unique collection of paintings of all living species by Australian natural history artist Lindsay Marshall, compiled as part of a multinational research initiative, the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life Project. Images sourced from around the planet were used by the artist to illustrate the fauna. This comprehensive overview of the world’s ray fauna summarises information such as general identifying features and distributional information about these iconic, but surprisingly poorly known, fishes. It will enable readers to gain a better understanding of the rich diversity of rays and promote wider public interest in the group. Rays of the World is an ideal reference for a wide range of readers, including conservationists, fishery managers, scientists, fishers, divers, students and book collectors.




Biology and Ecology of Venomous Stingrays


Book Description

This comprehensive book provides first-hand information on the diversity, biology, and ecology of venomous stingrays of freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems. Each year thousands of injuries to swimmers and surfers are reported, with 750 to 1,500 stingray injuries reported each year in the US alone. As more vacationers spend their leisure time exploring coasts and tropical reefs, often in isolated areas without immediate access to advanced health care, there will be greater potential for stingray injuries. A thorough understanding about the diversity of stingrays of marine and freshwater ecosystems and their injuries and envenomations would largely improve the public health community’s ability to better manage and to prevent stingray injuries. This volume fills that gap. With over 200 photos and illustrations, this book shows the characteristics of venomous stingray families along with other profile information, such as common name, geographical distribution, diagnostic features, reproduction, predators, parasites, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s conservation status. Importantly, it includes valuable information on stingray injuries, envenomation, and medical management. This volume will be very informative for students of fisheries science, marine biology, aquatic biology, and environmental sciences, and will become a standard reference for marine professionals, health practitioners, and college and university libraries, and as a helpful on-board




Dangerous Fishes of the Eastern and Southern Arabian Peninsula


Book Description

This book is devoted to the dangerous fishes found offshore the eastern and southern Arabian Peninsula. It covers information about the main groups of dangerous fish species i.e., biting and predator fish group, venomous stinging fish, electric shock fish, harmful stinging fish, and poisonous fish. In the latter group, the book gives details about fishes that cause several types of toxicities to human. The purpose of this book is to thoroughly introduce life, nature and methods of dangerous fishes in order to form awareness about their danger and to take the proper preventive steps. It will appeal to researchers, scholars, divers, the sea coast visitors and students of marine biology as it is highly informative and carefully presented. This book is the first of its kind for the Arabian region in particular and the Middle East in general.




Fish Physiology: Euryhaline Fishes


Book Description

The need for ion and water homeostasis is common to all life. For fish, ion and water homeostasis is an especially important challenge because they live in direct contact with water and because of the large variation in the salt content of natural waters (varying by over 5 orders of magnitude). Most fish are stenohaline and are unable to move between freshwater and seawater. Remarkably, some fishes are capable of life in both freshwater and seawater. These euryhaline fishes constitute an estimated 3 to 5% of all fish species. Euryhaline fishes represent some of the most iconic and interesting of all fish species, from salmon and sturgeon that make epic migrations to intertidal mudskippers that contend with daily salinity changes. With the advent of global climate change and increasing sea levels, understanding the environmental physiology of euryhaline species is critical for environmental management and any mitigative measures. This volume will provide the first integrative review of euryhalinity in fish. There is no other book that focuses on fish that have the capacity to move between freshwater and seawater. The different challenges of salt and water balance in different habitats have led to different physiological controls and regulation, which heretofore has not been reviewed in a single volume. - Collects and synthesizes the literature covering the state of knowledge of the physiology of euryhaline fish - Provides the foundational information needed for researchers from a variety of fields, including fish physiology, conservation and evolutionary biology, genomics, ecology, ecotoxicology, and comparative physiology - All authors are the leading researchers and emerging leaders in their fields




DNA Barcoding and Molecular Phylogeny


Book Description

This book presents a comprehensive overview of DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny, along with a number of case studies. It discusses a number of areas where DNA barcoding can be applied, such as clinical microbiology, especially in relation to infection management; DNA database management; and plant -animal interactions, and also presents valuable information on the DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny of microbes, algae, elasmobranchs, fishes, birds and ruminant mammals. Furthermore it features unique case studies describing DNA barcoding of reptiles dwelling in Saudi Arabian deserts, genetic variation studies in both wild and hatchery populations of Anabas testudineus, DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny of Ichthyoplankton and juvenile fishes of Kuantan River in Malaysia, and barcoding and molecular phylogenetic analysis of indigenous bacteria from fishes dwelling in a tropical tidal river. Moreover, since prompt identification and management of invasive species is vital to prevent economic and ecological loss, the book includes a chapter on DNA barcoding of invasive species. Given its scope, this book will appeal not only to researchers, teachers and students around the globe, but also to general readers.