The Lost Constellations


Book Description

Casual stargazers are familiar with many classical figures and asterisms composed of bright stars (e.g., Orion and the Plough), but this book reveals not just the constellations of today but those of yesteryear. The history of the human identification of constellations among the stars is explored through the stories of some influential celestial cartographers whose works determined whether new inventions survived. The history of how the modern set of 88 constellations was defined by the professional astronomy community is recounted, explaining how the constellations described in the book became permanently “extinct.” Dr. Barentine addresses why some figures were tried and discarded, and also directs observers to how those figures can still be picked out on a clear night if one knows where to look. These lost constellations are described in great detail using historical references, enabling observers to rediscover them on their own surveys of the sky. Treatment of the obsolete constellations as extant features of the night sky adds a new dimension to stargazing that merges history with the accessibility and immediacy of the night sky.







Pet bird diseases and care


Book Description

This book provides fundamental information on pet birds, menaces, and advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of menaces. It is the only book covering all species of pet birds, menaces and their individual management. The handful of related books available worldwide are largely outdated and focus on a single species or breed of pet bird. The book encompasses the history of bird keeping, common breeds of birds, their nutritional requirements, list of zoonotic diseases transmitted by birds and guideline for their prevention. It covers infectious, non-infectious clinical and metabolic diseases, and toxicity in detail with a special focus on the history of diseases, etiology, affected hosts, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment. Separate chapters detail relevant diagnostic techniques, management and care practices, including updated information. The book offers an invaluable guide for students and teachers in the field of (avian) veterinary medicine, scientists/research scholars working in related fields, and avian medicine practitioners, as well as all those progressive bird owners who want to know the basics of their care and management.




DNA barcoding: a practical tool for fundamental and applied biodiversity research


Book Description

DNA barcoding has become a well-accepted and popular tool for the identification of species and the detection of cryptic taxonomic diversity. As such, it has a tremendous potential for a wide variety of applications in taxonomy, agronomy, conservation biology, forensics etc. Therefore, several countries, institutions and organizations have launched DNA barcoding projects in the context of the international ?Consortium for the Barcode of Life? (CBOL) initiative. Also Belgium has done so with the establishment of the FWO research community ?Belgian Network for DNA barcoding?. In 2012, this network organized the ?Third European Conference for the Barcode of Life? (ECBOL3) in Brussels. During this event a call was made to publish a collection of papers under the thematic title ?DNA barcoding: a practical tool for fundamental and applied biodiversity research?. With the financial support of the EC project ?ViBRANT? (Virtual Biodiversity Research and Access Network for Taxonomy), 21 papers were bundled to form this special ?ZooKeys? issue with the aim to present various applications, advantages and limitations of DNA barcoding. Hence, it is the editors? hope that this issue provides a modest, but timely, contribution to the already vast literature on DNA barcoding.




Bird Migration across the Himalayas


Book Description

The first reference to demonstrate how birds survive the high-altitude Central Asian Flyway and the threats to this unique migration.







Breeding Oilseed Crops for Sustainable Production


Book Description

Breeding Oilseed Crops for Sustainable Production: Opportunities and Constraints presents key insights into accelerating the breeding of sustainable and superior varieties. The book explores the genetic engineering/biotechnology that has played a vital role in transforming economically important traits from distant/wild species to cultivated varieties, enhancing the quality and quantity of oil and seed yield production. Integrated nutrient management, efficient water management, and forecasting models for pests diseases outbreaks and integrated pest and pest management have also added new dimensions in breeding for sustainable production. With the rise in demand, the scientific community has responded positively by directing a greater amount of research towards sustainable production both for edible and industrial uses. Covering the latest information on various major world oil crops including rapeseed mustard, sunflower, groundnut, sesame, oilpalm, cotton, linseed/flax, castor and olive, this book brings the latest advances together in a single volume for researchers and advanced level students. - Describes various methods and systems to achieve sustainable production in all major oilseed crops - Addresses breeding, biology and utilization aspects simultaneously including those species whose information is not available elsewhere - Includes information on modern biotechnological and molecular techniques and production technologies - Relevant for international government, industrial and academic programs in research and development




An Introduction to Nematology


Book Description

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.