Beginning a new series, a handbook of information about the 16 species of bats in British Columbia, Canada, with an emphasis on identification, distribution, natural history, and conservation of these unique mammals. Includes an identification key, maps, and bandw drawings of each species, plus general information on the bat life cycle and the study of bats. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Honorable Mention, Popular Science, 2012 PROSE Awards, Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers The only mammals capable of true flight, bats are among the world’s most fascinating creatures. This accessible guide to the forty-seven species of bats found in the United States and Canada captures and explains the amazing diversity of these marvels of evolution. A wide variety of bat species live in the United States and Canada, ranging from the California leaf-nosed bat to the Florida bonneted bat, from the eastern small-footed bat to the northern long-eared bat. The authors provide an overview of bat classification, biology, feeding behavior, habitats, migration, and reproduction. They discuss the ever-increasing danger bats face from destruction of habitat, wind turbines, chemical toxicants, and devastating diseases like white-nose syndrome, which is killing millions of cave bats in North America. Illustrated species accounts include range maps and useful identification tips. Written by three of the world’s leading bat experts and featuring J. Scott Altenbach's stunning photographs, this fact-filled and easy-to-use book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of bats in the U.S. and Canada.
Hoofed mammals (ungulates) are the most abundant large mammals in the world. They are also plentiful in British Columbia, which is home to nine wild native species: moose, elk, caribou, bison, mountain goat, two species of deer and two of sheep. There are also several introduced species. In Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia, David Shackleton presents a comprehensive summary of the most up-to-date information on these ungulates. In the well-illustrated introduction, he discusses their evolution and biology, survival adaptations, and social organization. He also covers conservation issues, tracking, and taxonomy. In the species accounts, he describes each species and subspecies and discusses their natural history: habitat, diet, behaviour, reproduction, life expectancy, and mortality factors, and predators. Each account includes a distribution map and data on taxonomy, recent population estimates, conservation status, and traditional aboriginal use. Excellent illustrations and two keys help identify each species by its external features or its skull. Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia is the third of six handbooks on the mammals of British Columbia, a Royal B.C. Museum project to update and expand the classic treatment by Ian McTaggart-Cowan and Charles Guiguet, The Mammals of British Columbia, last revised in 1965.
This extravagantly illustrated handbook features the work of famed nature photographer Merlin D. Tuttle and in-depth profiles of megabats and microbats.
Since 1994, this handbook has been the definitive source for bat house information. This new edition updates the original bat house plans and includes a new "rocket box" design, along with mounting suggestions, tips for experimentation, and more.
Butterflies are found everywhere in British Columbia. Written for butterfly watchers, butterfly gardeners, naturalists, and biologists, Butterflies of British Columbia will provide years of enjoyment for the butterfly enthusiast. The Butterflies of British Columbia � provides the most complete coverage of species and subspecies of any North American regional or continental butterfly book � covers 187 species and 264 subspecies of butterflies, as well as 9 additional hypothetical species � provides descriptions of identifying features, immature stages, larval foodplants, biology and life history, range and habitat, and conservation status for each species � describes 11 new subspecies � includes introductory chapters covering the history, zoogeography, conservation, morphology, ecology, and biology of butterflies in BC and adjacent areas � is lavishly illustrated with over 1,200 colour photographs and over 200 distribution maps � includes a glossary of butterfly terms and a bibliography of over 750 citations.
Rodents are the world's most numerous and diverse group of mammals. British Columbia is home to 45 species, from the tiny Western Harvest Mouse to the large and toothy Beaver, from the ubiquitous rats and squirrels to the endangered Vancouver Island Marmot. Just 7 species of lagomorphs inhabit BC: 5 rabbits and hares, and 2 pikas. Most people regard these small mammals as pests or vermin, but we cannot overlook their importance to the province's ecosystems. Because of their abundance, rodents and lagomorphs are vital prey species for raptors and mammalian carnivores. Burrowing species play an important role in aerating soils. Some rodents, such as chipmunks, voles and flying squirrels, are also important in forest ecosystems because they consume truffles or underground fungi and disperse their spores on the forest floor. In Lagomorphs and Rodents of British Columbia, David Nagorsen summarizes the most up-to-date information on these mammals. He discusses their general biology, including ecology, diet, anatomy, conservation and relations with humans. Illustrated keys aid in identification of the 52 species inhabiting the province. For each species, the author describes its natural history, identifying characteristics, taxonomy and conservation status in the province. Each species account is accompanied by illustrations and a distribution map.
Along the coast between Vancouver Island and Alaska lies 250 miles of forested island and inlets. Ian and Karen McAllister spent seven years photographing and mapping this forgotten wild ecosystem. Their informative text and remarkable photographs (including some of the most extraordinary images of wild bears ever published) present a complete picture of this unique area. 150 color photos.
