Patterns of Distribution of Amphibians


Book Description

Sweet, University of California, Santa Barbara; Michael J. Tyler, University of Adelaide, Australia; Zhao Er-Mi, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Peoples Republic of China




The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians


Book Description

Consisting of more than six thousand species, amphibians are more diverse than mammals and are found on every continent save Antarctica. Despite the abundance and diversity of these animals, many aspects of the biology of amphibians remain unstudied or misunderstood. The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians aims to fill this gap in the literature on this remarkable taxon. It is a celebration of the diversity of amphibian life and the ecological and behavioral adaptations that have made it a successful component of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Synthesizing seventy years of research on amphibian biology, Kentwood D. Wells addresses all major areas of inquiry, including phylogeny, classification, and morphology; aspects of physiological ecology such as water and temperature relations, respiration, metabolism, and energetics; movements and orientation; communication and social behavior; reproduction and parental care; ecology and behavior of amphibian larvae and ecological aspects of metamorphosis; ecological impact of predation on amphibian populations and antipredator defenses; and aspects of amphibian community ecology. With an eye towards modern concerns, The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians concludes with a chapter devoted to amphibian conservation. An unprecedented scholarly contribution to amphibian biology, this book is eagerly anticipated among specialists.




Biology of Amphibians


Book Description

Now reissued in paperback with an updated preface by the authors, Biology of Amphibians remains the standard work in its field.




The Conservation and Biogeography of Amphibians in the Caribbean


Book Description

An expansive and detailed review of the biology of Caribbean amphibians, considering their threats, conservation and outlook in a changing world. Amphibians are the group of vertebrates undergoing the fastest rate of extinction; it is urgent that we understand the causes of this and find means of protecting them. This landmark illustrated volume brings together the leading experts in the field. As well as offering an overview of the region as a whole, individual chapters are devoted to each island or island-group and the measures used to protect their amphibians through legislation or nature reserves. The biological background of insular biogeography, including its methods, analysis and results, is reviewed and applied specifically to the problems of Caribbean amphibians – this includes a re-examination of patterns and general ideas about the status of amphibians in the Anthropocene. The Conservation and Biogeography of Amphibians in the Caribbean offers an important baseline against which future amphibian conservation can be measured in the face of climate change, rising sea level and a burgeoning human population. Covers over 300 species.




The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica


Book Description

World renowned for its biological diversity and model conservation system, Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles, from the golden toad to the scorpion lizard and the black-headed bushmaster. Jay M. Savage has studied these fascinating creatures for more than forty years, and in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica he provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of their biology and evolution ever produced. Savage begins with detailed discussions of the natural and cultural history of Costa Rica, setting the stage for a detailed treatment of each of the 396 species of amphibians and reptiles that may be found there. Each species account synthesizes and analyzes everything that is known about the animal's anatomy, behavior, geographic distribution, systematics, and evolutionary history and provides keys for identifying amphibians and reptiles in the field. In addition to distribution maps and systematic and morphological illustrations, the book includes color photographs of almost every known species, many taken by the distinguished nature photographers Michael and Patricia Fogden. Because Costa Rica has played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the study of tropical biology as well as in the development of ecotourism and ecoprospecting, and because more than half of the amphibians and reptiles in Costa Rica are also found elsewhere in Central America, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica will be an essential book for a wide audience of nature lovers, naturalists, ecotourists, field biologists, conservationists, and government planners.




Chaos in Real Data


Book Description

Chaos in Real Data studies the range of data analytic techniques available to study nonlinear population dynamics for ecological time series. Several case studies are studied using typically short and noisy population data from field and laboratory. A range of modern approaches, such as response surface methodology and mechanistic mathematical modelling, are applied to several case studies. Experts honestly appraise how well these methods have performed on their data. The accessible style of the book ensures its readability for non-quantitative biologists. The data remain available, as benchmarks for future study, on the worldwide web.




Cusco Amazónico


Book Description

"Assays of assemblages of amphibians and reptiles provide important information on community structure in the tropics. These ectothermic organisms are highly responsive to slight differences in the environment and to seasonal differences, such as patterns of rainfall. Most species seem to have rather restricted home ranges; therefore, data gathered in a restricted area provide much better insight into the requirements of, and potential interactions among, the species in the assemblage."--from the IntroductionThe rainforests in the southwestern part of the Amazon Basin in southeastern Peru are home to scores of amphibians and reptiles. Cusco Amazónico is a richly illustrated and comprehensive account of the lives of 151 of these species. William E. Duellman's masterpiece of community ecology includes descriptions of the physical environment and vegetation found in this unique habitat along with syntheses of abundance, mass, feeding, reproductive guilds, and daily and seasonal patterns of activity. Identification keys in English and Spanish precede detailed and illustrated species accounts. Tadpoles of many frogs are described and illustrated.Cusco Amazónico will become a standard reference for herpetologists, tropical biologists, biogeographers, ecologists, and conservationists and stands on its own as a portrait of an animal community in a unique bioregion. The illustrations include 236 color photographs, 121 charts and graphs, 16 maps, 42 line drawings, 2 halftones, and 56 sets of audiospectrograms and waveforms. There are 71 tables.




Cave Biodiversity


Book Description

"This book describes the evolution and diversity of the fauna that dwell in caves. Covering both vertebrates and invertebrates, the edited volume brings together ichthyologists, entomologists, ecologists, herpetologists, conservationists, and explorers to provide a nuanced picture of life beneath the earth's surface"--




Sexual Segregation in Ungulates


Book Description

"This book is about the differing spatial distribution of males and females in species of hooved mammals. This behavior, wherein males and females live separately for long periods of time, has been observed in many species, but the causes of it remain uncertain"--




Women in Wildlife Science


Book Description

The first book to address the challenges and opportunities for women, especially from underrepresented communities, in wildlife professions. Women in Wildlife Science is dedicated to the work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of wildlife conservation and management. Editors Carol L. Chambers and Kerry L. Nicholson have collaborated with a diverse group of contributors to review the history, analyze the status, and celebrate the achievements of women in wildlife science. They share proven models and proposals for new methods to increase the inclusion of women in wildlife professions based on an intersectional framework. Centering perspectives from LGBTQ, BIPOC, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities, Women in Wildlife Science is a groundbreaking and vitally important book. Covering academic and professional spheres, the book lays bare the challenges women face entering and excelling in the field of wildlife conservation and management, illustrated by personal stories of struggle and victory, and grounded in peer-reviewed scientific literature unavailable anywhere else. In order to move the discourse around diversity in the wildlife profession forward, the team of contributors Chambers and Nicholson have assembled tackle pivotal issues, from recruitment into academic programs to hiring practices and supporting career advancement in federal, state, local, tribal, and private sectors. Opening with the stories of wildlife's founding women, and a concise presentation of facts and figures clarifying recent trends and the current state of women in the field, the heart of the book is then dedicated to sharing practical advice about how to increase, recognize, and encourage women's contributions. Each chapter includes original exercises constructed to help administrators, educators, managers, allies, and mentors move intentions into action. Focused attention is given to mentoring early career professionals, Indigenous women, and Women of Color. Women in Wildlife Science is a pragmatic guide to ensuring a more diverse, just, and equitable future for a workforce dedicated to preserving not just wildlife but the very fabric of the natural world.