A Natural History of Amphibians - Rilegato

Stebbins, Robert C.; Cohen, Nathan W.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0691032815 ISBN 13: 9780691032818

Casa editrice: Princeton Univ Pr, 1995

Riassunto

This is a book for all readers who want to learn about amphibians, the animal group that includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. It draws on many years of classroom teaching, laboratory experience, and field observation by the authors. Robert Stebbins and Nathan Cohen lead readers on a fascinating odyssey as they explore some of nature's most interesting creatures, interspersing their own observations throughout the book.A Natural History of Amphibians can serve as a textbook for students and independent learners, as an overview of the field for professional scientists and land managers, and as an engaging introduction for general readers.

The class Amphibia contains more than 4,500 known living species. New species are being discovered so rapidly that the number may grow to more than 5,000 during our lifetimes. However, their numbers are being rapidly decimated around the globe, largely due to the encroachment of humans on amphibian habitats and from growing human-caused environmental pollution, discussed at length in the final chapter. The authors focus our attention on the "natural history" of amphibians worldwide and emphasize their interactions with their environments over time: where they live; how they reproduce; how they have been affected by evolutionary processes; what factors will determine their destinies over time. Through the experienced eyes of the authors, who are skilled observers, we come to see and understand the place of amphibians in the natural world around us.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

"This fine book helps us to appreciate amphibians more fully and provides vital scientific information that may help us to protect them. . . . Although amphibians are but one piece of the biodiversity crisis, this book may become a model for those who champion the preservation of threatened species of all kinds."--Andrew R. Blaustein, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

"Conveys the authors' enthusiasm for studying the natural history of a fascinating group of animals. The illustrations are superb [and the] line drawings are a delight. . . . A major contribution."--Kentwood D. Wells, The Quarterly Review of Biology

'[P]rofessional zoologists and serious amateurs. . . will find it a really useful, and enjoyable, work of reference."--Nicholas Gould, International Zoo News

"This book ... seems likely to replace Duellman and Trueb's Biology of Amphibians as the standard text for students and researchers."--Chris Mattison, New Scientist

Contenuti:

	Preface
	Acknowledgments
1	Introduction	3
2	Skin	10
3	Breathing	17
4	Limbs and Locomotion	26
5	Tail	33
6	Nose and Chemoreception	37
7	Eyes and Vision	42
8	Food Habits	54
9	Ears and Hearing	67
10	Voice	76
11	Temperature Characteristics	89
12	Body Water Regulation	102
13	Protection against Predators	110
14	Home Range and Movements	121
15	Territorial Behavior and Fighting	126
16	Homing and Migration	131
17	Reproduction	140
18	Parental Care	195
19	Contributions of Amphibians to Human Welfare	205
20	Declining Amphibians	210
	Literature Cited	253
	Index	301

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Princeton Univ Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0691032815
• ISBN 13: 9780691032818
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 316