Download or read book The New Natural History of Madagascar written by Steven M. Goodman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2022-11-15 with total page 2297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A marvelously illustrated reference to the natural wonders of one of the most spectacular places on earth Separated from Africa’s mainland for tens of millions of years, Madagascar has evolved a breathtaking wealth of biodiversity, becoming home to thousands of species found nowhere else on the planet. The New Natural History of Madagascar provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis available of this island nation’s priceless biological treasures. Now fully revised and expanded, this beautifully illustrated compendium features contributions by more than 600 globally renowned experts who cover the history of scientific exploration in Madagascar, as well as the island’s geology and soils, climate, forest ecology, human ecology, marine and coastal ecosystems, plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This invaluable two-volume reference also includes detailed discussions of conservation efforts in Madagascar that showcase several successful protected area programs that can serve as models for threatened ecosystems throughout the world. Provides the most comprehensive overview of Madagascar’s rich natural history Coedited by 18 different specialists Features hundreds of new contributions by world-class experts Includes hundreds of new illustrations Covers a broad array of topics, from geology and climate to animals, plants, and marine life Sheds light on newly discovered species and draws on the latest science An essential resource for anyone interested in Madagascar or tropical ecosystems in general, from biologists and conservationists to ecotourists and armchair naturalists

Download or read book Early Human Colonization of Remote Indian Ocean Islands and its Ecological Impacts written by Atholl John Anderson and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2022-06-14 with total page 165 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Systematics Morphology and Ecology of Rails Aves Rallidae of the Mascarene Islands with One New Species written by author 1 and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Abstract: Five species in five genera of extinct endemic rails have been described from the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues: the Mauritian Red Rail or Poule Rouge Aphanapteryx bonasia; Mascarene Coot or Poule d'eau Fulica newtonii; which occurred on Mauritius and Réunion; Réunion Wood Rail Dryolimnas augusti; Réunion Gallinule or Oiseaux bleu 'Porphyrio caerulescens'; and Rodrigues or Leguat's Rail Erythromachus leguati. All are known from fossil remains and/or from contemporary accounts and illustrations. A sixth species of rail Dryolimnas sp. nov. is described herein from fossils from Mauritius, but was not unequivocally previously reported in the contemporary literature. This paper provides an analysis of the Rallidae of the Mascarene Islands based on existing and newly discovered fossil remains, and details historical reports and accounts. Comprehensive osteological descriptions and synonymies are also included. Their ecology and extinction chronologies are interpreted from historical evidence. The relationships of Aphanapteryx and Erythromachus are unresolved, having clearly been isolated for a considerable time; the middle Miocene is the earliest their ancestors could have arrived on the Mascarenes, but this may have happened more recently. Mascarene derivatives of Fulica, Porphyrio and Dryolimnas are of much more recent origin, and appear to have originated in Africa or Madagascar. All terrestrial rails on Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues, were probable victims of cat predation following their historic introduction to the islands, whereas over-hunting by humans was probably the primary cause of extinction of 'Porphyrio caerulescens' on Réunion. The only extant rail on the Mascarenes today, the Madagascar race of Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus pyrrhorrhoa, is a recent arrival, having colonised Mauritius and Réunion after the extinction of Fulica newtonii. Keywords: Aves, Mascarene rails, Rallidae, Aphanapteryx, Erythromachus, Dryolimnas, Porphyrio, Gallinula, Leguatia, extinction, affinities, ecology, sexual dimorphism"--Page 3.

Download or read book The Dodo and the Solitaire written by Jolyon C. Parish and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most comprehensive book to date about these two famously extinct birds.

Download or read book A Field Guide to the Non marine Molluscs of the Mascarene Islands written by Owen L. Griffiths and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lost Land of the Dodo written by Anthony Cheke and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 824 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mascarene islands in the southern Indian Ocean - Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues - were once home to an extraordinary range of birds and reptiles. Evolving on these isolated volcanic islands in the absence of mammalian predators or competitors, the land was dominated by giant tortoises, parrots, skinks and geckos, burrowing boas, flightless rails & herons, and of course (in Mauritius) the Dodo. Uninhabited and only discovered in the 1500s, colonisation by European settlers in the 1600s led to dramatic changes in the ecology of the islands; the birds and tortoises were slaughtered indiscriminately while introduced rats, cats, pigs and monkeys destroyed their eggs, the once-extensive forests logged, and invasive introduced plants from all over the tropics devastated the ecosystem. The now-familiar icon of extinction, the Dodo, was gone from Mauritius within 50 years of human settlement, and over the next 150 years many of the Mascarenes' other native vertebrates followed suit. The product of over 30 years research by Anthony Cheke, Lost Land of the Dodo provides a comprehensive yet hugely enjoyable account of the story of the islands' changing ecology, interspersed with human stories, the islands' biogeographical anomalies, and much else. Many French publications, old and new, especially for Réunion, are discussed and referenced in English for the first time. The book is richly illustrated with maps and contemporary illustrations of the animals and their environment, many of which have rarely been reprinted before. Illustrated box texts look in detail at each extinct vertebrate species, while Julian Hume's superb colour plates bring many of the extinct birds to life. Lost Land of the Dodo provides the definitive account of this tragic yet remarkable fauna, and is a must-read for anyone interested in islands, their ecology and the history of our relationship with the world around us.

Download or read book Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds written by Carter T. Atkinson and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-03-20 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds provides thorough coverage of major parasite groups affecting wild bird species. Broken into four sections covering protozoa, helminths, leeches, and arthropod parasites, this volume provides reviews of the history, disease, epizootiology, pathology, and population impacts caused by parasitic disease. Taking a unique approach that focuses on the effects of the parasites on the host, Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds fills a unique niche in animal health literature.

Download or read book Extinct Birds written by Julian P. Hume and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2017-08-24 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive review of the hundreds of bird species that have become extinct over the last 1,000 years of habitat degradation, over-hunting and rat introduction. Extinct Birds has become the standard text on this subject, covering both familiar icons of extinction as well as more obscure birds, some known from just one specimen or from travellers' tales. This second edition is expanded to include dozens of new species, as more are constantly added to the list, either through extinction or through new subfossil discoveries. The book is the result of decades of research into literature and museum drawers, as well as caves and subfossil deposits, which often reveal birds long-gone that disappeared without ever being recorded by scientists while they lived. From Great Auks, Carolina Parakeets and Dodos to the amazing yet almost completely vanished bird radiations of Hawaii and New Zealand via rafts of extinction in the Pacific and elsewhere, this book is both a sumptuous reference and astounding testament to humanity's devastating impact on wildlife.

Download or read book Extinct Birds of Hawai i written by Michael Walther and published by Mutual Publishing. This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extinct Birds of Hawai'i captures the vanishing world of unique bird species that has slipped away in the Islands mostly due to human frivolity and unconcern. Richly illustrated, including paintings by Julian P. Hume (many painted specifically for this volume), it enables us to enjoy vicariously avian life unique to Hawai'i that exists no longer. Extinct Birds of Hawai'i also sends a powerful message: Although Hawai'i is well-known for its unique scenic beauty and its fascinating native flora, fauna, bird and marine life, it is also called the extinction capital of the world. The Islands' seventy-seven bird species and sub-species extinctions account for approximately fifteen percent of global bird extinctions during the last seven-hundred years. On some islands over eighty percent of the original land bird species are now extinct. With the many agents of extinction still operating in the Islands' forests, Hawai'i's remaining native land birds are at a high risk of being lost forever. Many birdwatchers, nature lovers, and eco-tourists are unaware of the tremendous loss of species that has occurred in this remote archipelago. Extinct Birds of Hawai'i shows the bird life that has been lost and calls attention to the urgent need for preservation action.

Download or read book Mauritius written by Alexandra Richards and published by Bradt Travel Guides. This book was released on 2016-06-01 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Besides the renowned sun, sea and sand, the Mascarene Islands offer outdoor opportunities aplenty, such as cycling, mountain hiking and watersports, as well as beautiful wildlife and national parks. The guide offers information on what to see and do region-by-region

Download or read book A Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World written by Richard Howard and published by Oxford ; Toronto : Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1991 with total page 664 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book represents a complete revision of the authors' previous authoritative work. It incorporates all the significant changes to bird taxonomy that have occurred over the past six years and remains the only single-volume work to list subspecies. Ornithologists are constantly reviewing and revising the scientific and common names of the world's birds--combining and dividing established species and genera. Despite the fact that opinions will continue to vary on the details of avian classification, lists such as this provide a baseline reference to scientific and English names, taxonomy, and distribution for both the professional and amateur ornithologist and taxonomist. In the next decade, new studies using advanced groupings may establish new systematic groupings. The current list, by adding to and amending the classic listing of Peters and his successors, may well be the last and most finely developed list in the traditional mold and, therefore, a prime reference for years to come. Key Features * The most up to date list of the world's birds * Covers their distribution using traditional taxonomy * The only single-volume reference to include subspecies * Lists approximately 9,200 species and their subspecies * Thoroughly revised and updated

Download or read book World Atlas of Biodiversity written by Brian Groombridge and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Global biological diversity, ecosystem diversity.

Download or read book Field Guide to the Birds of Chile written by Daniel E. Martínez Piña and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-03-04 with total page 623 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The definitive guide to the birds of Chile. With its diverse range of habitats, Chile is one of the top birding destinations in South America and supports an interesting range of breeding and visiting birds, including the Chilean Tinamou, Juan Fernandez Firecrown and a number of other endemic species. This comprehensive field guide covers all of the species recorded in Chile, including vagrants; all are illustrated in superb detail, and feature every major plumage variation. Concise species accounts describe key identification features, status, range, habitat and voice, and accurate distribution maps are also provided for every species. Together, these elements make this the essential field guide to the birds of this fascinating and beautiful region.

Download or read book The Behaviour Population Biology and Physiology of the Petrels written by John Warham and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 1996-06-10 with total page 623 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over a lifetime's work with the group, John Warham has firmly established himself as one of the foremost experts on these birds. In this book he completes the major survey started in his earlier work, The Petrels: Their Ecology and Breeding Systems. The text is comprehensive, well illustrated, and fully referenced.Together with the earlier, companion volume, this encyclopedic treatment presents an amazingly detailed, yet accessible introduction to this important, much-studied bird family, for the biologist, the conservation manager, and the dedicated amateur ornithologist.Key Features* Authored by an authoritative expert in the field* Explores an important, model group of birds* Appeals to a conservation interest

Download or read book Evolutionary Biology written by Max K. Hecht and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-08 with total page 453 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fifteen volumes and one supplement have now appeared in the series known as Evolutionary Biology. The editors continue to seek critical reviews, original papers, and commentaries on controversial topics. It is our aim to publish papers primarily of greater length and depth than those normally published by society journals and quarterlies. The editors make every attempt to solicit manuscripts on an international scale and to see that no facet of evolutionary biology-classical or modern-is slighted. Manuscripts should be sent to anyone of the following: Max K. Hecht, Department of Biology, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367; Bruce Wallace, Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; Ghillean T. Prance, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458. The Editors vII Contents 1. Patterns of Neotropical Plant Species Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Alwyn H. Gentry Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Sites and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sample Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Identifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Structural Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Community Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Floristic Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Dispersal Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Pollination Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Appendix. Sites and Communities Studied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 2. Evolution on a Petri Dish: The Evolved fJ-Galactosidase System as a Model for Studying Acquisitive Evolution in the Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ••. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Barry G. Hall Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Approaches to Molecular Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 The Descriptive Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 The Experimental Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Mechanisms for the Acquisition of New Genetic Material. . . . . 97 The EBG System a s a Model for Acquisitive Evolution . . . . . . . 98 The Unevolved Enzyme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Download or read book Biogeography and Ecology in New Zealand written by G. Kuschel and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 708 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Passenger Pigeon written by Errol Fuller and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2014-09-15 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A haunting, beautifully illustrated memorial to this iconic extinct bird At the start of the nineteenth century, Passenger Pigeons were perhaps the most abundant birds on the planet, numbering literally in the billions. The flocks were so large and so dense that they blackened the skies, even blotting out the sun for days at a stretch. Yet by the end of the century, the most common bird in North America had vanished from the wild. In 1914, the last known representative of her species, Martha, died in a cage at the Cincinnati Zoo. This stunningly illustrated book tells the astonishing story of North America's Passenger Pigeon, a bird species that—like the Tyrannosaur, the Mammoth, and the Dodo—has become one of the great icons of extinction. Errol Fuller describes how these fast, agile, and handsomely plumaged birds were immortalized by the ornithologist and painter John James Audubon, and captured the imagination of writers such as James Fenimore Cooper, Henry David Thoreau, and Mark Twain. He shows how widespread deforestation, the demand for cheap and plentiful pigeon meat, and the indiscriminate killing of Passenger Pigeons for sport led to their catastrophic decline. Fuller provides an evocative memorial to a bird species that was once so important to the ecology of North America, and reminds us of just how fragile the natural world can be. Published in the centennial year of Martha’s death, The Passenger Pigeon features rare archival images as well as haunting photos of live birds.