Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America
Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America

Author: Klaus Malling Olsen

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2010-09-30

Total Pages: 607

ISBN-13: 1408135280

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This eagerly awaited guide offers the most comprehensive treatment ever published on the gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. A total of 43 species is treated, and every species is described in considerable detail, with a full description of each plumage and racial variation. Gulls are intelligent, versatile, opportunistic, and ecological generalists. As such, they exploit a variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, take a wide range of food, and are often extremely abundant. They are also great wanderers, with several American species regularly appearing in Western Europe and vice versa. As well as identification criteria, this book includes an up-to-date assessment of the range and status of every species, together with information on patterns of vagrancy. This important guide is published at a critical time in the development of dull taxonomy. The large, white-headed forms occurring in the region comprise a superspecies complex, with the precise relationships between the various components still under considerable debate. A thorough illustrative and textual treatment of the group is much needed, and this book provided the most complete overview of the complex. The text is complemented not only by superb colour paintings by Hans Larrson, but also by a large selection of colour photographs, sourced from some of the finest bird photographers in the world. This is the essential reference to a fascinating and endlessly challenging group of birds.

Reproductive Biology of South American Vertebrates
Reproductive Biology of South American Vertebrates

Author: William C. Hamlett

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1461228662

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South America is one of the few areas of the world that includes vast areas of as yet undisturbed natural habitats. These areas are home to as many as half the world's species of plants and animals. Many of the animals inhabit ing these areas are of direct and immediate economic importance, while others are of unknown potential value. With economic development of these areas, there is a coincident disruption of natural habitats that have a direct impact on the reproductive capabilities of the affected species. Re production is central to the survival of all species and, regardless of the environmental stresses imposed on them, scientific attention must be fo cused on reproductive biology as a way to deal with these pressures. It is vitally important to gather as much research data as possible on the repro ductive biology of the species on this continent in order to provide gov ernmental agencies and scientists with the most accurate information on which to base decisions regarding development. This volume is intended to draw attention to these pressing matters by gathering a wide representation of scientists actively engaged in reproduction research relating to South American vertebrates. It is intended that this volume will serve as a re source for individuals and organizations interested in reproductive biology and species survival. An additional benefit is that economically important species, as well as potentially important ones such as sharks, will be dis cussed.

Behavior of Marine Animals
Behavior of Marine Animals

Author: Joanna Burger

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-21

Total Pages: 526

ISBN-13: 1468429884

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The maJonty of the chapters in this volume are structured to include a balance between literature review, original data, and synthesis. The research approaches taken by the authors are generallyof two kinds. One centers on the long-term, in-depth study of a single species in which many aspects of its natural history are examined in detail. The other is a comparative one which involves investigating particular questions by examining species or by comparing groups of species that may include taxonomic andjor ecological affinities. Most of the chapters concern obvious aspects of breeding behavior including habitat selection, the effects of age on breeding, communication, mating systems, synchrony of breeding activities, development of behavior, prefledging parental care, and postfledging parental care. Of these topics, many relate directly to the advantages and disadvantages of coloniality-a conspicuous behavior pattern in marine birds. As such, they provide para.picuou for the further study of coloniality and the social behaviorof many other animals. Other important areas of marine bird breeding behavior (such as courtship behavior, antipredator behavior, information transfer) have not been included because of space limitations. Since man's encroachment on the seashore and continental shelf poses certain threats to marine birds, a volume elucidating various aspects of their biology has multiple uses. As weil as being of value to ornithologists, the volume should be useful to managers involved with coastal planning.