This book was written by twenty-nine professionals with the often unwilling cooperation of 357 Alaskan sea otters -- the most photogenic and probably the most vulnerable of the mammalian victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.It is divided into three sections covering a broad range of concerns, from how best to capture a sea otter, through tests and suggested treatments, to considerations governing release of rehabilitated animals. Experts also discuss facility design, volunteer training, and personnel safety issues.Although its contents are useful for a variety of people from policymakers to veterinarians, Emergency Care and Rehabilitation of Oiled Sea Otters aims chiefly at helping rehabilitators, representatives of the oil industry, and government agents conduct successful rehabilitation efforts. The book contains the best available information on the subject; nothing else even comes close.
AAP Prose Award Finalist 2018/19 For three decades, this book has been acknowledged as the most respected scientific reference specifically devoted to marine mammal medicine and health. Written by approximately 100 contributors who are recognized globally as leaders in their respective fields, the CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Third Edition continues to serve as the essential guide for all practitioners involved with marine mammals including veterinarians, technicians, biological researchers, students, managers, keepers, curators, and trainers. The 45 chapters provide essential information for the practitioner on pathology, infectious diseases, medical treatment, anesthesia, surgery, husbandry, health assessment, species-specific medicine, medically pertinent anatomy and physiology, and global health concerns such as strandings, oil spills, and entanglements of marine mammals. Covers all aspects of marine mammal veterinary practice Written by internationally acknowledged experts Adds new chapters on Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Ethics, Oil Spill Response, Health Assessments, Whale Entanglement Response, Dive Response, and Biotoxins Richly illustrated in color throughout the new edition including updated anatomical drawings and extensive photographs of ocular lesions Provides guidance to websites that regularly present updated information and images pertinent to current marine mammal medicine such as imaging and stranding network contacts Discusses ethics and animal welfare. The book guides the reader through the veterinary care of cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears. In addition to summaries of current knowledge, chapters provide information on those digital resources and websites which present the latest information as it emerges in the field. The CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Third Edition gives a call to action for scientists to experiment with new endeavors to engage and inspire current and future generations to care for marine mammals and the marine environment, and work together to find solutions. As the most trusted reference for marine mammal conservation medicine and for marine mammal medical facilities around the world, this book needs to be in your library.
CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition is the only handbook specifically devoted to marine mammal medicine and health. With 66 contributors working together to craft 45 scientifically-based chapters, the text has been completely revised and updated to contain all the latest developments in this field. Building upon the solid foundation of the previous edition, the contents of this book are light-years ahead of the topics presented in the first edition. See what's new in the Second Edition: Marine mammals as sentinels of ocean health Emerging and resurging diseases Thorough revision of the Immunology chapter Diagnostic imaging chapters to illustrate new techniques Quick reference for venipuncture sites in many marine mammals Unusual mortality events and mass strandings New topics such as a chapter on careers Wider scope of coverage including species outside of the United States and Canada Filled with captivating illustrations and photographs, the Handbook guides you through the natural history of cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears. Prepared in a convenient, easy-to-use format, it is designed specifically for use in the field. Covering more than 40 topics, this one-of-a-kind reference is packed with data. The comprehensive compilation of information includes medicine, surgery, pathology, physiology, husbandry, feeding and housing, with special attention to strandings and rehabilitation. The CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition is still a must for anyone interested in marine mammals.
Sea otters are good indicators of ocean health. In addition, they are a keystone species, offering a stabilizing effect on ecosystem, controlling sea urchin populations that would otherwise inflict damage to kelp forest ecosystems. The kelp forest ecosystem is crucial for marine organisms and contains coastal erosion. With the concerns about the imperiled status of sea otter populations in California, Aleutian Archipelago and coastal areas of Russia and Japan, the last several years have shown growth of interest culturally and politically in the status and preservation of sea otter populations. Sea Otter Conservation brings together the vast knowledge of well-respected leaders in the field, offering insight into the more than 100 years of conservation and research that have resulted in recovery from near extinction. This publication assesses the issues influencing prospects for continued conservation and recovery of the sea otter populations and provides insight into how to handle future global changes. - Covers scientific, cultural, economic and political components of sea otter conservation - Provides guidance on how to manage threats to the sea otter populations in the face of future global changes - Highlights the effects that interactions of coastal animals have with the marine ecosystem
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or polyarenes, are one of the largest and most structurally diverse class of organic molecules known. High percentages of polyarenes, representing a wide range of molecular sizes and structural types, are present in coal tars and petroleum residues. The major sources of PAHs are crude oil, coal and oil shale. The fuels produced from these fossil sources constitute the primary source of energy for the industrial nations of the world, and the petrochemicals from these raw materials are the basis of the synthetic fibre and plastics industries. PAHs are however, widespread pollutants and their impact on the environment and human health must be monitored and controlled. This book will review and assess our scientific understanding of the ecological exposure and effects PAHs have in different environments and habitats. It will accomplish this by taking the recipients of the pollution in the environment as starting points and working its way back through pathways to access what is required for our understanding of effects and rationale for control. Although this book will concentrate on ecological exposure of PAHs, the general impacts of PAHs on human populations will be touched upon. It is thought to be the first book to focus on the ecological aspects of PAHs.
"Captivating. . . . a full portrait of this adorable and ecologically important animal." —Publishers Weekly A science journalist travels the Pacific Coast in search of sea otters in this entertaining and inspiring book on the importance and history of this charismatic endangered species Sea otters—the adorable, furry marine mammals often seen floating on their backs holding hands—reveal the health of the coastal ecosystem along the Pacific Ocean. Once hunted for their prized fur in the 18th and 19th centuries, these animals nearly went extinct. Only now, nearly a century after hunting ceased, are populations showing stable growth in some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas, feeding on sea urchins, clams, crab, and other crustaceans. When they are present, kelp beds are thick and healthy, providing homes for an array of sea life. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp disappears along with all the creatures that live in the beds. Now, thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in California, Washington, and Alaska. In this hopeful book, science writer Todd McLeish embarks on an epic journey along the Pacific Coast—traveling from California to Alaska—to track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea otters, and reveals how conservationists brought them back from the brink of extinction.
Completely revised and updated with 18 new chapters, this second edition includes contributions from over 75 international experts. Also, a Technical Review Board reviewed all manuscripts for accuracy and currency. Focusing on toxic substance and how they affect the ecosystems worldwide, the book presents methods for quantifying and measuring ecotoxicological effects in the field and in the lab, as well as methods for estimating, predicting, and modeling in ecotoxicology studies. This is the definitive reference for students, researchers, consultants, and other professionals in the environmental sciences, toxicology, chemistry, biology, and ecology - in academia, industry, and government.
Provides a scientific basis for the cleanup and for the assessment of oil spills Enables Non-scientific officers to understand the science they use on a daily basis Multi-disciplinary approach covering fields as diverse as biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, oceanography and toxicology Covers the science of oil spills from risk analysis to cleanup and through the effects on the environment Includes case studies examining and analyzing spills, such as Tasman Spirit oil spill on the Karachi Coast, and provides lessons to prevent these in the future
