Timelines of Nearly Everything


Book Description

This book takes readers back and forth through time and makes the past accessible to all families, students and the general reader and is an unprecedented collection of a list of events in chronological order and a wealth of informative knowledge about the rise and fall of empires, major scientific breakthroughs, groundbreaking inventions, and monumental moments about everything that has ever happened.




The Scientific Basis for Conserving Forest Carnivores


Book Description

This cooperative effort by USDA Forest Service Research and the National Forest System assesses the state of knowledge related to the conservation status of four forest carnivores in the western United States: American marten, fisher, lynx, and wolverine. The conservation assessment reviews the biology and ecology of these species. It also discusses management considerations stemming from what is known and identifies information needed. Overall, we found huge knowledge gaps that make it difficult to evaluate the species' conservation status.










Reproductive Sciences in Animal Conservation


Book Description

This second edition emphasizes the environmental impact on reproduction, with updated chapters throughout as well as complete new chapters on species such as sharks and rays. This is a wide-ranging book that will be of relevance to anyone involved in species conservation, and provides critical perspectives on the real utility of current and emerging reproductive sciences. Understanding reproductive biology is centrally important to the way many of the world’s conservation problems should be tackled. Currently the extinction problem is huge, with up to 30% of the world’s fauna being expected to disappear in the next 50 years. Nevertheless, it has been estimated that the global population of animals in zoos encompasses 12,000 – 15,000 species, and we anticipate that every effort will be made to preserve these species for as long as possible, minimizing inbreeding effects and providing the best welfare standards available. Even if the reproductive biology community cannot solve the global biodiversity crisis for all wild species, we should do our best to maintain important captive populations. Reproductive biology in this context is much more than the development of techniques for helping with too little or too much breeding. While some of the relevant techniques are useful for individual species that society might target for a variety of reasons, whether nationalistic, cultural or practical, technical developments have to be backed up by thorough biological understanding of the background behind the problems.




The Great American Biotic Interchange


Book Description

South American ecosystems suffered one of the greatest biogeographical events, after the establishment of the Panamian land bridge, called the “Great American Biotic Interchange” (GABI). This refers to the exchange, in several phases, of land mammals between the Americas; this event started during the late Miocene with the appearance of the Holartic Procyonidae (Huayquerian Age) in South America and continues today. The major phases of mammalian dispersal occurred from the Latest Pliocene (Marplatan Age) to the Late Pleistocene (Lujanian Age). The most important and richest localities of Late Miocene-Holocene fossil vertebrates of South America are those of the Pampean region of Argentina. There are also several Late Miocene and Pliocene localities in western Argentina and Bolivia. Other important fossils have been collected in localities of Pleistocene age outside Argentina: Tarija (Bolivia), karstic caves of Lagoa Santa and the recently explored caves of Tocantins (Brasil), Talara (Perú), La Carolina (Ecuador), Muaco (Venezuela), and Cueva del Milodon (Chile), among others. The book discusses basic information for interpreting the GABI such as taxonomic composition (incorporating the latest revisions) at classical and new localities for each stage addressing climate, environments, and time boundaries for each stage. It includes the chronology and dynamics of the GABI, the integration of South American mammalian faunas through time, the Quaternary mammalian extinctions and the composition of recent mammalian fauna of the continent.




Tectonics, Metallogeny, and Discovery


Book Description

This summary report commences with a brief metallogenic overview of the northern Pacific Rim, with particular attention paid to the world-class Mesozoic and Cenozoic ore deposits that define the region's premier metallogenic provinces. This is followed by a summary of the relative attractiveness of the region's various mining jurisdictions, as recorded by recent exploration activity.







Knives 2015


Book Description

Stunning handmade knives in full-on color! Showcasing fine artistry isn't a difficult job. Unlike museum curators, the knife book editors, designers and publishers don't even need to display the items in a well-lit room. The pages of Knives 2015 come alive with the most utilitarian, artistic, unique and exquisite blades from around the world. The world's finest edges--whether everyday carry pieces, hunters, bowies, belt and boot knives, camp knives, flipper folders or highly embellished works of art--find a home in the 35th edition of the Knives annual book. And each is accompanied by complete specifications, descriptions and editorial comments. Add in a comprehensive Custom Knifemaker Directory, including email addresses, websites, phone numbers, specialties and technical information, and you can see why collectors and enthusiasts own every volume of this coveted book. Engrossing feature articles delve into frame-lock folders, blunt tips on tall ships, knives disguised as other items, survival knives, "A Sword for a Warrior King" and plenty more World's most complete Custom Knifemaker Directory The latest trends in handmade knives State-of-the-art engraving, scrimshaw, jewel inlay, sculpting and carving More knives, articles, information, trend-setting innovations and state-of-the-art embellishments than any other book on the market!