Best of
Biology

2002

The Life of Mammals


David Attenborough - 2002
    Evolution, and Sir David Attenborough's 23-year sequence of books and BBC television 'Life' films, have culminated in the mammals and the explosion of awareness and intelligence. In the very short period of 100 million years - a mere blink in evolutionary time - the first mammals have arrived at world dominance.This came largely from hair and milk. Insulation and central heating made them adaptable to any surroundings. Care of the young led to learning and bigger brains. Otters, camels, lions, foxes and sheep, moles underground, whales at sea, bats in the air, polar bears, antelope, squirrels, mice, monkeys and man have exploited every habitat and every food source - the basis of this new narrative.David Attenborough has also evolved. In his 50 years of planning, writing and making television programmes of the first quality, he has constantly deepened his and our understanding of life on earth. This new book and its accompanying series of remarkable films in many ways crown his work. Vision, enthusiasm and the ability to share knowledge in an enthralling way - the gifts of an outstanding teacher.

Explain Pain


David S. Butler - 2002
    Lorimer Moseley is an evidence based book designed for therapists, patients and students. It answers the most common questions asked by pain sufferers: 'why do I hurt?' and 'what can I do for my pain?' Written in simple language that anyone can understand, it encourages patients to move better and research shows that they will have less pain once they have understood its underlying causes.

The Future of Life


Edward O. Wilson - 2002
    Yet it is so ravaged by human activity that half its species could be gone by the end of the present century. These two contrasting truths—unexpected magnificence and underestimated peril—have become compellingly clear during the past two decades of research on biological diversity.In this dazzlingly intelligent and ultimately hopeful book, Wilson describes what treasures of the natural world we are about to lose forever—in many cases animals, insects, and plants we have only just discovered, and whose potential to nourish us, protect us, and cure our illnesses is immeasurable—and what we can do to save them. In the process, he explores the ethical and religious bases of the conservation movement and deflates the myth that environmental policy is antithetical to economic growth by illustrating how new methods of conservation can ensure long-term economic well-being.The Future of Life is a magisterial accomplishment: both a moving description of our biosphere and a guidebook for the protection of all its species, including humankind.

Oxygen: The Molecule That Made the World


Nick Lane - 2002
    He shows how oxygen underpins the origin of biological complexity, the birth of photosynthesis, the sudden evolution of animals, the need for two sexes, the accelerated aging of cloned animals like Dolly the sheep, and the surprisingly long lives of bats and birds. Drawing on this grand evolutionary canvas, Oxygen offers fresh perspectives on our own lives and deaths, explaining modern killer diseases, why we age, and what we can do about it. Advancing revelatory new ideas, following chains of evidence, the book ranges through many disciplines, from environmental sciences to molecular medicine. The result is a captivating vision of contemporary science and a humane synthesis of our place in nature. This remarkable book will redefine the way we think about the world.

Medical Physiology [with Student Consult Online Access]


Walter F. Boron - 2002
    The most up-to-date and beautifully illustrated text on the market, it has a strong molecular and cellular approach, firmly relating the molecular and cellular biological underpinnings of physiology to the study of human physiology and disease. Contributions from leading physiologists ensure authoritative, cutting-edge information, and thorough and consistent editing have produced a readable and student-friendly text.The smart way to study!Elsevier titles with STUDENT CONSULT will help you master difficult concepts and study more efficiently in print and online! Perform rapid searches. Integrate bonus content from other disciplines. Download text to your handheld device. And a lot more. Each STUDENT CONSULT title comes with full text online, a unique image library, case studies, USMLE style questions, and online note-taking to enhance your learning experience.

Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA


Brenda Maddox - 2002
    Brenda Maddox tells a powerful story of a remarkably single-minded, forthright, and tempestuous young woman who, at the age of fifteen, decided she was going to be a scientist, but who was airbrushed out of the greatest scientific discovery of the twentieth century.

The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and the Search for Lost Species


Scott Weidensaul - 2002
    . . By turns harrowing and elegiac, thrilling and informative." —Michiko Kakutani, The New York TimesThree or four times an hour, eighty or more times a day, a unique species of plant or animal vanishes forever. And yet, every so often one of these lost species resurfaces. "Having adventures most of us can only dream about" (The Times-Picayune), Scott Weidensaul pursues stories of loss and recovery, of endurance against the odds, and of surprising resurrections.

Immunology


Thomas J. Kindt - 2002
    The first and only true textbook written by professors who teach the undergraduate course, it presents the most current concepts in an experimental context with clinical advances highlighted in boxes, supported by the kind of helpful pedagogical tools that other books do not provide.

Biology Of Transcendence


Joseph Chilton Pearce - 2002
    Recent research in the neurosciences and neurocardiology identifies the four neural centers of our brain and indicates that a fifth such center is located in the heart. This research reveals that the evolutionary structure of our brain and its dynamic interactions with our heart are designed by nature to reach beyond our current evolutionary capacities. We are quite literally, made to transcend. Pearce explores how this biological imperative drives our life into ever-greater realms of being--even as the cultural imperative of social conformity and behavior counters this genetic heritage, blocks our transcendent capacities, and breeds violence in all its forms. The conflict between religion and spirit is an important part of this struggle. But each of us may overthrow these cultural imperatives to reach unconflicted behavior, wherein heart and mind-brain resonate in synchronicity, opening us to levels of possibility beyond the ordinary.

Elephantoms: Tracking the Elephant


Lyall Watson - 2002
    This "entertaining and enchanting" work (Washington Post Book World) chronicles how Watson's fascination grew into a lifelong quest to understand the nature and behavior of this impressive creature.From that moment on, Watson's fascination grew into a lifelong obsession with understanding the nature and behavior of this impressive creature. Around the world, the elephant—at once a symbol of spiritual power and physical endurance—has been worshipped as a god and hunted for sport."Watson's insights and speculations are dazzling, but what lends them power is his extraordinary knowledge of evolutionary biology and animal behavior, ethnography and South African history" (Wade Davis, National Geographic Society). "Like a shaman, Watson conjures up the spirit of the massive beast" (Publishers Weekly), documents the animal's wide-ranging capabilities to remember and to mourn, and reminds us of its rich mythic origins, its evolution, and its devastation in recent history. Part meditation on an elusive animal, part evocation of the power of place, Elephantoms presents an alluring mix of the mysteries of nature and the wonders of childhood.

Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants


William Cullina - 2002
    Written in lively, informative language and illustrated with more than two hundred photographs, William Cullina's book is a comprehensive reference to almost one thousand native woody plants. An invaluable guide for naturalists, restorationists, nursery owners, landscape architects, and designers as well as gardeners, it points out that ecological gardening offers specific benefits to the individual as well as the environment. Even more than wildflowers, native trees, shrubs, and vines are essential to providing the food and shelter that attract birds and insects to the garden. And plants that are native to an area are far easier to grow and maintain than ordinary cultivated garden plants. The author's acclaimed companion volume on wildflowers, GROWING AND PROPAGATING WILDFLOWERS, was called "an inspired effort, beautifully written and loaded with useful information" by Robert G. Breunig, director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Along with that volume, NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND VINES provides a definitive reference to the native plants of the temperate North American continent. And because Cullina writes from personal experience with the plants in his books, he offers information that is considerably more helpful (and more interesting) than the facts one finds in most plant references.

Birds of Georgia Field Guide


Stan Tekiela - 2002
    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Georgia. This book features 140 species of Georgia birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

Reef Creature Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas


Paul Humann - 2002
    Suitable for identifying the weird and wonderful crabs, lobsters, shrimps, jellies, sponges, tunicates and mollusks that inhabit the reefs, this edition includes 220 photos of shells, camouflaged crabs, and a collection of nudibranchs and the most outrageous octopus discovered in the Caribbean.

The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey


Spencer Wells - 2002
    Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races?Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the revolutionary science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. Replete with marvelous anecdotes and remarkable information, from the truth about the real Adam and Eve to the way differing racial types emerged, The Journey of Man is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind.

Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation


Olivia Judson - 2002
    It explains all this and much more. It discloses the best time to have a sex change, how to have a virgin birth, when to seduce your sisters or eat your lover. Quirky and brilliant, it takes as its starting point all creatures great and small worried about their bizarre sex lives, and the letters they write to the wise Dr Tatiana, the only agony aunt in all creation with a prodigious knowledge of both natural history and evolutionary biology.

Animal Eyes


Michael F. Land - 2002
    Taking diversity of optical mechanisms as a framework, it also discusses aspects of structure and function of eyes, including visual ecology, design philosophy, properties of light critical to vision, factors in eye adaptation and capabilities of a wide variety of eye types.

The New Nature


Tim Low - 2002
    

A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina


Richard D. Porcher - 2002
    Although relatively small in size, the Palmetto State hosts a remarkable variety of wildflower species, from the trillium and bloodroot that brighten its forests to heliotrope and common toadflax that dot the state's roadsides and fields. With color photographs (all by Richard D. Porcher) and extensive descriptions of more than 680 species, A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina offers a complete and indispensable reference for finding and appreciating these natural treasures.Employing the same innovative approach Richard D. Porcher used in Wildflowers of the Carolina Lowcountry, he and Douglas A. Rayner simplify the task of identification by grouping species according to habitat. For each species identified, Porcher and Rayner include interesting facts--many of which are not widely known or readily available--about rarity, suitability for garden cultivation, and origin of common and scientific names.Of added interest, the botanists share itineraries for more than fifty wildflower expeditions and short essays on a variety of topics, including carnivorous plants, Carolina bays, native orchids, medicinal plants and folk remedies, poisonous plants, edible plants, and the role of fire in natural communities.

Wildlife of East Africa


Martin B. Withers - 2002
    Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.Each species is illustrated with a photo and a detailed entry on the facing page; the text is commendably rich for such a compact guide. This information enables the particular animal or plant to be identified by such traits as size, plumage or pelage, color, and shape. An opening section on wildlife photography provides helpful tips on the best type of camera, film, and lenses to use, techniques, and codes of conduct. Wildlife of East Africa is a must for anyone considering a first-hand look at, or simply daydreaming of, the elegant, enormous, or exotic wildlife of East Africa. Covers the main parks and reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, plus surrounding countries 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower--from ostriches to elephants, leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes Full-color photographs and detailed entries describing each species Written and illustrated by wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in East Africa for more than 20 years Tips on wildlife photography, techniques, and codes of conduct

Natural Selection and Social Theory: Selected Papers


Robert Trivers - 2002
    For Natural Selection and Social Theory, he has selected eleven of his most influential papers, including several classic papers from the early 1970s on the evolution of reciprocal altruism, parent-offspring conflicts, and asymmetry in sexual selection, which helped to establish the centrality of sociobiology, as well as some of his later work on deceit in signalling, sex antagonistic genes, and imprinting. Trivers introduces each paper, setting them in their contemporary context, and critically evaluating them in the light of subsequent work and further developments. The result is a unique portrait of the intellectual development of sociobiology, with valuable insights for evolutionary biology, anthropology, and psychology.

American Kestrels in Modern Falconry


Matthew Mullenix - 2002
    An expanded 3rd edition with new illustrations, bibliography and appendices. Long awaited by hundreds of falconers and a must-have for anyone contemplating or practicing gamehawking with this common and beautiful species. Mullenix thoroughly covers every aspect from natural history, trapping, equipment, weathering, entering, to diet, conditioning, accidents and illnesses. He makes the case that American Kestrels of all ages, origins, sizes and both sexes prove equally capable of regularly catching House Sparrows, Starlings and occasionally larger birds. Hard cover. 139 pp.

The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers


American Horticultural Society - 2002
    Simply the definitive full-color reference to the horticulture of North America, AHS Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers contains more than 8,000 plant profiles, over 4,250 photographs, and practical advice on everything from cultivation, pests, and diseases, to plant selection and identification

The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California


Bruce G. Baldwin - 2002
    Based on The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California, the Desert Manual incorporates new illustrations for more than two hundred desert taxa, revised keys to identification, updated distributional information, and 128 color photographs. This guide will allow easier identification of California's fascinating desert plants than would be possible in a manual with broader geographic coverage.As in The Jepson Manual, detailed descriptions and illustrations of plant characteristics are provided, along with information on native versus alien status, habitats, elevation, endangerment, toxicity, weed status, horticultural requirements, and flowering times. Introductory sections on the desert setting and vegetation offer the reader a broad context and new perspectives for appreciating the more than twenty five hundred plant species included in the Manual. For amateur and professional botanists alike, the Desert Manual will prove to be an invaluable companion in California's spectacular Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, and southern Great Basin environments, including the White Mountains.

Oxford Handbook Of General Practice


Chantal Simon - 2002
    It includes hands-on advice and allows rapid access to information to help with any day-to-day problems which might arise in general practice.The general practice section has been revised to include the new General Medical Services contract and appraisal and revalidation. There are new chapters on complementary medicine, chronic disease management and elderly care and increased emphasis on evidence based medicine, sports medicine and practice in a multicultural society. Pointers to further information for GPs and advice and support for patients, which can be easily accessed from the GP surgery, are included throughout.The layout of the handbook has been redesigned with the use of colour-coding to aid quick reference and additional flow charts, tables and diagrams have been included to make information easier to access.It is the essential handbook for all practising GPs, GPs in training, medical students and allied health professions.

Life in the Universe


Jeffrey O. Bennett - 2002
    It has been developed specifically for emerging courses in astrobiology, though it can also be used for introductory astronomy.

Gulls of the Americas


Steve N.G. Howell - 2002
    This new authoritative reference guide covers the 36 species of gulls that occur in North and South America, contains 1,160 photographs illustrating the many plumages gulls display as they mature, and provides descriptions by two of North America's top gull experts.

Molecular Driving Forces: Statistical Thermodynamics in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Nanoscience


Ken A. Dill - 2002
    It shows how the complex behaviors of molecules can result from a few simple physical processes, and a central theme is how simple models can give surprisingly accurate insights into the workings of the molecular world.Written in a clear and reader-friendly style, the book gives an excellent introduction to the subject for novices. It should be useful to those who want to develop their understanding of this important field, seeing how physical principles can be applied to the study of modern problems in the chemical, biological, and materials sciences.

In Praise of Plants


Francis Hallé - 2002
    This scholarly yet fun book examines the qualities that make plants unique, so different from animals. Experienced in both the academic and in-the-field sides of science, the opinionated Hallé delightfully makes the case that plants differ so profoundly from animals that questions are raised about the meaning of individuality and the nature of life and death.

Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard


John Himmelman - 2002
    He tells how to attract moths with lights and bait, when and where to observe them, and how best to photograph these tiny subjects. Entertaining personal anecdotes and short profiles of some of the country's foremost mothers add human interest.

Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights


Steven M. Wise - 2002
    As Steven Wise continues his exploration of animal cognition along the evolutionary spectrum -- from apes to dolphins, parrots, elephants, dogs, and even honeybees -- he finds astonishing answers to the big question in animal rights today: Where do we draw the line? The law has firm criteria for personhood and Wise shows how certain non-human animals meet those criteria. Readers will be enthralled as they follow Wise's firsthand investigations of the work of the world's most famous animal experts: in Kenya with Cynthia Moss and the touchingly affectionate elephant families of Amboseli, in the mountains of Uganda with Richard Wrangham and the chimpanzees of the Kibale Forest, at MIT with Irene Pepperberg and her amazing and witty gray parrot, Alex, and in the California sanctuary where Penny Paterson has spent two decades learning about the skills and vivid personality of Koko the gorilla. In many cases, Wise was even able to sustain an extended conversation with these extraordinary creatures. Steven Wise is the world's foremost expert on the legal rights of animals and has devoted his life to litigating, writing, and working on their behalf. No one with a shred of curiosity about animals, about rights, or about justice will want to miss this book. A Merloyd Lawrence Book

In the Kingdom of Gorillas: The Quest to Save Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas


Bill Weber - 2002
    Poaching was rampant, but it was loss of habitat that most endangered the gorillas. Weber and Vedder realized that the gorillas were doomed unless something was done to save their forest home. Over Fossey's objections, they helped found the Mountain Gorilla Project, which would inform Rwandans about the gorillas and the importance of conservation, while at the same time establishing an ecotourism project -- one of the first anywhere in a rainforest -- to bring desperately needed revenue to Rwanda.In the Kingdom of Gorillas introduces readers to entire families of gorillas, from powerful silverback patriarchs to helpless newborn infants. Weber and Vedder take us with them as they slog through the rain-soaked mountain forests, observing the gorillas at rest and at play. Today the population of mountain gorillas is the highest it has been since the 1960s, and there is new hope for the species' fragile future even as the people of Rwanda strive to overcome ethnic and political differences.

The Killers Within: The Deadly Rise Of Drug-Resistant Bacteria


Michael Shnayerson - 2002
    These bacteria are everywhere: in and on our bodies, in homes, schools, hospitals, crowded airplanes, day-care centers. And, as The Killers Within makes frighteningly clear, so far the bacteria are winning.

Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists


Gerry P. Quinn - 2002
    The text begins with a revision of estimation and hypothesis testing methods, before advancing to the analysis of linear and generalized linear models. The chapters include such topics as linear and logistic regression, simple and complex ANOVA models, log-linear models, and multivariate techniques. The main analyses are illustrated with many examples from published papers and an extensive reference list to both the statistical and biological literature is also included. The book is supported by a web-site that provides all data sets, questions for each chapter and links to software.

The PMDD Phenomenon: Breakthrough Treatments for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Extreme Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)


Diana L. Dell - 2002
    But women who suffer from it and those involved in their lives have already been all too familiar with it. Not simply PMS, PMDD causes more extreme symptoms and can be debilitating. To add to the difficulties, many women are still told that it's all in their heads. Even among professionals, debate continues about how to classify the problem. Just as consumer books did for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, this breakthrough book will help increase public awareness that the problem is real and that treatments do exist. Dr. Diana Dell, a well-respected researcher in women's health and past president of the American Medical Women's Association, presents the first book to explain PMDD and offer hope for overcoming it. As a board-certified practitioner in both Ob/Gyn and Psychiatry, she is uniquely qualified to help women cope with the physical and psychological aspects of the condition. The book provides case studies, helps the reader to evaluate whether she has the condition, and explains the spectrum of treatm

IGCSE Biology


D.G. Mackean - 2002
    This new edition, complete with CD-ROM, continues to provide comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of the core and supplementary topics specified in the IGCSE Biology syllabus.

An Introduction to Genetic Engineering


Desmond S.T. Nicholl - 2002
    The book retains many of the features of the original edition and still offers a concise technical introduction to the subject of genetic engineering. It is divided into three main sections: basic molecular biology, methods of gene manipulation, and modern applications of genetic engineering. Applications covered in the book include genomics, protein engineering, gene therapy, cloning, transgenic animals and plants, and bioethics. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering is essential reading for undergraduate students of biotechnology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

The Dog in Action: A Study of Anatomy and Locomotion as Applying to All Breeds


McDowell Lyon - 2002
    Written in 1950, this was the first book to thoroughly analyze, illustrate and explain the under-the-skin workings of the dog.

Patch Clamping: An Introductory Guide To Patch Clamp Electrophysiology


Areles Molleman - 2002
    Patch Clamping aims to cover the basic principles and practical applications of this important technique. Starting with a review of the history of patch clamping, the text then goes on to cover the basic principles, platforms, equipment and environmental control, and will also include coverage of preparation types, recording modes and analysis of results.This book will explain the basic principles and practical application of patch clamp electrophysiology Written in a non-technical style to ensure its broad appeal to novice users Takes a practical approach This self-contained guide provides everything a practising patch clamp electrophysiologist needs to know to master this technique, including an overview of membrane biophysics, standard experimental design, data analysis, and technical concerns

The Structure of Evolutionary Theory


Stephen Jay Gould - 2002
    Next, he examines the three critiques that currently challenge this classic Darwinian edifice: that selection operates on multiple levels, from the gene to the group; that evolution proceeds by a variety of mechanisms, not just natural selection; and that causes operating at broader scales, including catastrophes, have figured prominently in the course of evolution.Then, in a stunning tour de force that will likely stimulate discussion and debate for decades, Gould proposes his own system for integrating these classical commitments and contemporary critiques into a new structure of evolutionary thought.In 2001 the Library of Congress named Stephen Jay Gould one of America's eighty-three Living Legends--people who embody the quintessentially American ideal of individual creativity, conviction, dedication, and exuberance. Each of these qualities finds full expression in this peerless work, the likes of which the scientific world has not seen--and may not see again--for well over a century.

Ecological Stoichiometry: The Biology of Elements from Molecules to the Biosphere


Robert W. Sterner - 2002
    That fact underpins the developing field of ecological stoichiometry, the study of the balance of chemical elements in ecological interactions. This long-awaited book brings this field into its own as a unifying force in ecology and evolution. Synthesizing a wide range of knowledge, Robert Sterner and Jim Elser show how an understanding of the biochemical deployment of elements in organisms from microbes to metazoa provides the key to making sense of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.After summarizing the chemistry of elements and their relative abundance in Earth's environment, the authors proceed along a line of increasing complexity and scale from molecules to cells, individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. The book examines fundamental chemical constraints on ecological phenomena such as competition, herbivory, symbiosis, energy flow in food webs, and organic matter sequestration. In accessible prose and with clear mathematical models, the authors show how ecological stoichiometry can illuminate diverse fields of study, from metabolism to global change.Set to be a classic in the field, Ecological Stoichiometry is an indispensable resource for researchers, instructors, and students of ecology, evolution, physiology, and biogeochemistry. From the foreword by Peter Vitousek: ? [T]his book represents a significant milestone in the history of ecology. . . . Love it or argue with it--and I do both--most ecologists will be influenced by the framework developed in this book. . . . There are points to question here, and many more to test . . . And if we are both lucky and good, this questioning and testing will advance our field beyond the level achieved in this book. I can't wait to get on with it.

COSMOS: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe, Vol. 1


Alexander von Humboldt - 2002
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

The Restless Northwest: A Geological Story


Hill Williams - 2002
    One of the attractions of the Northwest is its varied terrain, from the volcanic Cascade Range to the flood-scoured scablands of eastern Washington and the eroded peaks of the northern Rockies. These vast differences are the result of a collision of the old and the new. The western edge of Idaho was once the edge of ancient North America; as eons passed, a jumble of islands, minicontinents, and sediment piled up against the old continental edge, gradually extending it west to the present coastline. Figuring out how and when these various land forms came together to create the Northwest took much geological detective work. Unlike many geology books that focus on rocks, The Restless Northwest emphasizes the human drama of geology. The narrative is sprinkled with firsthand accounts of people involved in the exciting geological discoveries made in recent years. Hill Williams uses an informal conversational style to explain complex processes to a general readership. He enlivens the story of long-ago geologic events with fascinating asides on everything from enormous undersea tube worms to the Willamette meteorite, the largest ever found in the United States. Interested readers will discover much about Pacific Northwest geology without getting bogged down in an overabundance of details and scientific terms.

Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary Approach


A. Rus Hoelzel - 2002
    Each chapter, written by experts in their field, will provide an up-to-date review and present the major discoveries and innovations in the field. Important technical advances such as satellite telemetry and time-depth-recorders will be described in boxes.

Matter of Mind: A Neurologist's View of Brain-Behavior Relationships


Kenneth M. Heilman - 2002
    In Matter of Mind, one of the leading figures in behavioral and cognitive neurology uses patient vignettes and other examples from his rich professional life to show just how much knowledge about brain functions such as reading, writing, language, control of emotions, skilled movement, perception, attention, and motivation has been gained from the study of patients with diseases of or damage to the brain. No knowledge of neurology or neuroscience is required to understand the book, which is intended for neurological patients and their families. It will also be of interest to professionals who study the brain or treat patients with brain damage including neuropsychologists, neurologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, physiatrists, speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, and their students and trainees.

The Human Genome


Carina Dennis - 2002
    It offers the exciting prospect of fresh insights into our collective history, our shared identity and our individuality, and opens up important possibilities for the identification, treatment and prevention of disease. Not since Crick and Watson's seminal paper on the structure of DNA has a scientific publication been greeted with so much public expectation for a new understanding of the basis of life itself. In this illustrated account, written and compiled by Carina Dennis and Richard Gallagher of Nature, the genome project is made accessible for a general readership. It offers an introduction to the basic biology and techniques, a guide to the main players and events in the history of genetic science, and a range of viewpoints on its impact and reception around the world, in addition to the full text of the research paper itself.

Nature's Flyers: Birds, Insects, and the Biomechanics of Flight


David E. Alexander - 2002
    Alexander's fascination with the many animals and plants that have harnessed the air is evident in Nature's Flyers: Birds, Insects, and the Biomechanics of Flight, a detailed account of our current scientific understanding of the primary aspects of flight in nature.Instead of relying on elaborate mathematical equations, Alexander explains the physical basis of flight with sharp prose and clear diagrams. Drawing upon bats, birds, insects, pterosaurs, and even winged seeds, he details the basic operating principles of wings and then moves progressively through more complex modes of animal flight, including gliding, flapping, and maneuvering. In addition to summarizing the latest thinking about flight's energy costs, Alexander presents a holistic view of flight and its ramifications as he explores the ecology and evolution of flying animals, addressing behaviorally important topics such as migration and navigation. With somewhat surprising answers, the author then concludes his study by examining the extent to which natural flight has been inspiring or instructive for the architects of human flight—airplane designers and engineers.

A History of the Life Sciences


Lois N. Magner - 2002
    The author discusses cell theory, embryology, physiology, microbiology, evolution, genetics, and molecular biology; the Human Genome Project; and genomics and proteomics. Covering the philosophies of ancient civilizations to modern advances in genomics and molecular biology, the book is a unique and comprehensive resource.

How Pathogenic Viruses Work


Lauren M. Sompayrac - 2002
    The Book Is Composed Of Nine Lectures Covering The Essential Elements Of Virus-Host Interactions With Descriptive Graphics, Helpful Mnemonic Tactics For Retaining The Concepts, And Brief Lecture Reviews. This Is An Ideal Text For Medical, Science, And Nursing Students Who Want A Review, Or Simple Explanation, Of Virology.

AHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers


Christopher Brickell - 2002
    Since 1922, they have provided America's gardeners with the highest quality gardening and horticultural education possible.

Cell Biology (Revised Reprint)


Thomas D. Pollard - 2002
    Its overriding theme is that cellular structure, function, and dysfunction ultimately result from specific macromole�cular interactions. The text takes readers from an explanation of the hardware of molecules and cells to an understanding of how these structures function in the organism in both healthy and diseased states. An exquisite art program allows readers to better visualize the molecular structures.

Led Zeppelin


Neal Preston - 2002
    Neal Preston's collection of Led Zeppelin insider shots are some of the most revealing and entertaining ever seen, taken at the private jets, at the recording sessions, and at the aftershows, and his record of the band at their peak reverberates loudly enough to reach both serious Zeppelin fans and the casually curious.

Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe


Jordi Agustí - 2002
    It is also a journey through space, following the migrations of mammal species that evolved on other continents and eventually met to compete or coexist in Cenozoic Europe. Finally, it is a journey through the complexity of mammalian evolution, a review of the changes and adaptations that have allowed mammals to flourish and become the dominant land vertebrates on Earth.With the benefit of recent advances in geological and geophysical techniques, Jordi Agust? and Mauricio Ant?n are able to trace the processes of mammalian evolution as never before; events that hitherto appeared synchronous or at least closely related can now be distinguished on a scale of hundreds or even dozens of thousands of years, revealing the dramatic importance of climactic changes both major and minor. Evolutionary developments are rendered in magnificent illustrations of the many extraordinary species that once inhabited Europe, detailing their osteology, functional anatomy, and inferred patterns of locomotion and behavior. Based on the latest research and field work, Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids transforms our understanding of how mammals evolved and changed the face of the planet.

Other End Of The Microscope: The Bacteria Tell Their Own Story, A Fantasy


Elmer W. Koneman - 2002
    - Features clever sketches of a variety of microbes that provide information on their internal structure, niches and habitats, physiology, modes of survival, association with human diseases, and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, all from the bacterial point of view. - Offers new insights into the activities of this hidden world, where microbes can ultimately protect themselves against virtually any natural or human-invented adversity. - Educates scientists, students and teachers, and the science-interested lay public.

Denying Evolution: Creationism, Scientism, and the Nature of Science


Massimo Pigliucci - 2002
    It presents a truly "balanced" treatment, not in the sense of treating creationism as a legitimate scientific theory (it demonstrably is not), but in the sense of dividing the blame for the controversy equally between creationists and scientists—the former for subscribing to various forms of anti-intellectualism, the latter for discounting science education and presenting science as scientism to the public and the media. The central part of the book focuses on a series of creationist fallacies (aimed at showing errors of thought, not at deriding) and of mistakes by scientists and science educators. The last part of the book discusses long-term solutions to the problem, from better science teaching at all levels to the necessity of widespread understanding of how the brain works and why people have difficulties with critical thinking.

Introduction to Conservation Genetics


Richard Frankham - 2002
    The text is presented in an easy-to-follow format with main points and terms clearly highlighted. Each chapter concludes with a concise summary, which together with worked examples, problems and answers, emphasize the key principles covered. Text boxes containing interesting case studies and other additional information enrich the content throughout. Over 100 beautiful pen and ink portraits of endangered species help bring the material to life.

Cybernetics & Human Knowing: A Journal of Second-Order Cybernetics, Autopoiesis and Cyber-Semiotics (Volume 9, No.2, 2001) - Francisco J. Varela 1946-2001


Jeanette Bopry - 2002
    For details see table of contents.

Computational Cell Biology


Christopher P. Fall - 2002
    It is not meant as a complete overview of modeling or of particular models in cell biology. Rather, we use selected biological examples to motivate the concepts and techniques used in computational cell biology. This is done through a progression of increasingly more complex cellular functions modeled with increasingly complex mathematical and c- putational techniques. There are other excellent sources for material on mathematical cell biology, and so the focus here truly is computer modeling. This does not mean that there are no mathematical techniques introduced, because some of them are absolutely vital, but it does mean that much of the mathematics is explained in a more intuitive fashion, while we allow the computer to do most of the work. The target audience for this text is mathematically sophisticated cell biology or neuroscience students or mathematics students who wish to learn about modeling in cell biology. The ideal class would comprise both biology and applied math students, who might be encouraged to collaborate on exercises or class projects. We assume as little mathematical and biological background as we feel we can get away with, and we proceed fairly slowly. The techniques and approaches covered in the ?rst half of the book will form a basis for some elementary modeling or as a lead in to more advanced topics covered in the second half of the book.

Smithsonian Book of Giant Pandas


Susan Lumpkin - 2002
    The first step in attempting to ensure a future for giant pandas is understanding both their history and their current relationship with people. Susan Lumpkin and John Seidensticker present this multi-photographed, resonant natural history, sharing their personal experiences of working with giant pandas in the United States and China. The authors begin by examining the intertwined relationship between giant pandas and people, exploring how these striking animals became icons of goodwill between nations. Looking further back in time, the authors examine the fossil record to trace the evolution of giant pandas, explaining how their strict diet of bamboo has shaped their past and will continue to shape their future in the wild. The rim of the Sichuan Basin in central China - home of the giant panda - is a wonder of biodiversity; a sampling of the region's animals and plants is followed by a history of the environmental changes caused by humans.

Martini's Atlas Of The Human Body


Frederic H. Martini - 2002
    Like the Applications Manual, this new 128-page Atlas is packaged free with every new copy of the text and is referenced at appropriate points in the text. The Atlas, which includes more than new 60 anatomical photos by award-winning biomedical photographer Ralph Hutchings, is packaged with the new 3-D Anatomy CD-ROM.

The Calcium Factor: The Scientific Secret of Health and Youth


Robert R. Barefoot - 2002
    The Scientific Secret of Health & Youth.

White Crow: The Life and Times of the Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov, 1859-1919


Jamie H. Cockfield - 2002
    This unique study provides insight into the last six decades of tsarist Russia through the experiences of the odd ball member of the clan. An historian and a biologist, the Grand Duke made major contributions in both these fields. A political liberal, he fought tirelessly for reform from within the system. His reformist views made him a pariah within his own family, and contemporary recognition of his accomplishments came more from abroad than at home.Entering the military, as all Romanovs did, the Grand Duke eventually became hostile toward it and was in fact the only family member ever to formally leave military service. He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Berlin and Moscow and even won election to the French Academy--one of only two Russians to do so. As the political situation in Russia worsened, he urged the tsar to implement reforms, and he even participated in discussions of a palace coup. Exiled to Vologda after the Communist seizure of power, he was later imprisoned by the police and shot in January 1919.

Analysis of Ecological Communities


Bruce McCune - 2002
    

Spiking Neuron Models: Single Neurons, Populations, Plasticity


Wulfram Gerstner - 2002
    It focuses on phenomenological approaches rather than detailed models in order to provide the reader with a conceptual framework. The authors formulate the theoretical concepts clearly without many mathematical details. While the book contains standard material for courses in computational neuroscience, neural modeling, or neural networks, it also provides an entry to current research. No prior knowledge beyond undergraduate mathematics is required.

Sense and Nonsense: Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour


Kevin N. Laland - 2002
    It offers a battery of methods that can be used to help us understand human behavior. Nevertheless, the legitimacy of this exercise is at the center of a heated controversy that has raged for over a century. Many evolutionary biologists, anthropologists and psychologists have taken these evolutionary principles and tried using them to explain a wide range of human characteristics, such as homicide, religion and sex differences in behavior. Others, however, are sceptical of these interpretations. Moreover, researchers disagree as to the best ways to use evolution to explore humanity, and a number of schools have emerged. Sense and Nonsense provides an introduction to the ideas, methods, and findings of five such schools, namely, sociobiology, human behavioural ecology, evolutionary psychology, memetics, and gene-culture co-evolution. Carefully guiding the reader through the mire of confusing terminology, claim and counter-claim, and polemical statements, Laland and Brown provide a balanced, rigorous analysis that scrutinizes both the evolutionary arguments and the allegations of the critics. This is a book that will be make fascinating reading for popular science readers, undergraduate and postgraduate students (for example, in psychology, anthropology and zoology), and to experts on one approach who would like to know more about the other perspectives. Having completed this book the reader will feel better placed to assess the legitimacy of claims made about human behavior under the name of evolution, and to make judgements as to what is sense and what is nonsense.

Encyclopedia of Evolution, Volume 2


Mark Pagel - 2002
    

Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry


Stanley E. Manahan - 2002
    The third edition has been thoroughly updated and expanded to reflect recent advances in important areas of research, including toxicogenetics and toxic effects on various body systems. Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry, Third Edition begins by outlining the basic concepts of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry needed to understand the topics in the book. The author then presents an overview of environmental chemistry so that you can understand the remainder of the material covered within that framework. He also discusses biodegradation, bioaccumulation, and biochemical processes that occur in water and soil. The new chapter on toxic effects considers toxicities to the endocrine and reproductive systems, and the section on xenobiotics analysis deals with the determination of toxicants and their metabolites in blood and other biological materials. The chapter on the genetic aspects of toxicology discusses the ways in which chemical damage to DNA can cause mutations, cancer, and other toxic effects on specific body systems, and it considers the role of genetics in determining individual susceptibilities to various toxicants. Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry, Third Edition retains the basic information and structure that made the first two editions popular with students and industry professionals, while enhancing the usefulness of the book and modernizing it in important areas. Review questions and supplementary references at the end of each chapter round out the third edition of this bestselling work.

Science: A History


John Gribbin - 2002
    From Galileo, tried by the Inquisition for his ideas, to Newton, who wrote his rivals out of the history books; from Marie Curie, forced to work apart from male students for fear she might excite them, to Louis Agassiz, who marched his colleagues up a mountain to prove that the ice ages had occurred. Filled with pioneers, visionaries, eccentrics and madmen, this is the history of science as it has never been told before. 'Gripping and entertaining ... Wonderfully and pleasurably accessible' Independent on Sunday 'Tremendous ... moves me to bestow a reviewer's cliche I long ago vowed never to use: a tour de force' Spectator 'A magnificent history ... enormously entertaining' Daily Telegraph 'A splendid book ... demolishes innumerable myths and exposes the factual roots of some of science's well known tales (for example, Galileo never dropped weights of different sizes from Pisa's leaning tower)' Economist 'We experience his subjects' triumphs and failures as if we knew them personally ... I found myself whizzing through the pages' Sunday Telegraph John Gribbin is one of today's greatest writers of popular science and the author of bestselling books, including In Search of Schroedinger's Cat, Stardust, Science: A History and In Search of the Multiverse. Gribbin trained as an astrophysicist at Cambridge University and is currently Visiting Fellow in Astronomy at the University of Sussex.

Principles Of Regenerative Medicine


Anthony Atala - 2002
    Principles of Regenerative Medicine discusses the latest advances in technology and medicine for replacing tissues and organs damaged by disease and of developing therapies for previously untreatable conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and renal failure.

Instant Notes in Bioinformatics


D.R. Westhead - 2002
    The book begins by describing data generation and databases. Following this it takes us to the newer bioinformatics problems associated with structures, expression, proteomics, interactions and pathways. The important areas in bioinformatics are covered to encourage easy learning and revision.

The Nature of Diversity: An Evolutionary Voyage of Discovery


Daniel R. Brooks - 2002
    Yet many areas of biology have moved from a focus on evolution to much narrower perspectives.Daniel R. Brooks and Deborah A. McLennan argue that it is impossible to comprehend the nature of life on earth unless evolution—the history of organisms—is restored to a central position in research. They demonstrate how the phylogenetic approach can be integrated with ecological and behavioral studies to produce a richer and more complete picture of evolution. Clearly setting out the conceptual, methodological, and empirical foundations of their research program, Brooks and McLennan show how scientists can use it to unravel the evolutionary history of virtually any characteristic of any living thing, from behaviors to ecosystems. They illustrate and test their approach with examples drawn from a wide variety of species and habitats.The Nature of Diversity provides a powerful new tool for understanding, documenting, and preserving the world's biodiversity. It is an essential book for biologists working in evolution, ecology, behavior, conservation, and systematics. The argument in The Nature of Diversity greatly expands upon and refines the arguments made in the authors' previous book Phylogeny, Ecology, and Behavior.

Reasoning in Biological Discoveries: Essays on Mechanisms, Interfield Relations, and Anomaly Resolution


Lindley Darden - 2002
    Collected together and richly illustrated, Darden's essays represent a groundbreaking foray into one of the major problems facing scientists and philosophers of science. Divided into three sections, the essays focus on broad themes, notably historical and philosophical issues at play in discussions of biological mechanism; and the problem of developing and refining reasoning strategies, including interfield relations and anomaly resolution. Darden summarizes the philosophy of discovery and elaborates on the role that mechanisms play in biological discovery. Throughout the book, she uses historical case studies to extract advisory reasoning strategies for discovery. Examples in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology reveal the process of discovery in action.

Butterflies of Cascadia: A Field Guide to All the Species of Washington, Oregon, and Surrounding Territories


Robert Michael Pyle - 2002
    This easy to use, comprehensive resource and field guide for the butterflies of the Northwest includes author essays, beautiful illustrations, color photos, drawings and maps.

Green Anoles: From the Experts at Advanced Vivarium Systems


Philippe De Vosjoli - 2002
    These tiny, neat little lizards with the intense black eyes have suffered the fate of goldfish, as they’ve been marketed by pet shops as cheap, easy care, insect-eating reptiles. In order to keep green anoles thriving in their vivaria, pet owners must approach their husbandry with care and respect: Philippe de Vosjoli’s Green Anoles provides the precise information necessary to reach that goal. The book begins with a chapter about the characteristics and behavior, natural history, and anatomy of green anoles, all of which is critical information for a keep to better understand the needs of his or her pet. As pets, green anoles are best kept in their vivaria and not handled, so the setup of a beautifully landscaped vivarium with proper lighting, heat, humidity, ventilation, and substrate is key. This Advanced Vivarium Systems title offers complete information about housing, feeding and nutrition, diseases and disorders, and breeding as well as how to set up naturalistic vivaria for one or more anoles or a community of anoles and compatible species. The chapter on other anoles recommends some very attractive species for the beginning lizard keeper to expand his anole family, such as the brown anole, big-headed anole, Cuban (or knight) anole, and Jamaican anole. The finale chapter on compatible species includes descriptions and photographs of a half dozen interesting options, such as the flying gecko, pigmy skink, and green tree frog. Resources and index included.

Fauna Britannica: Natural History * Myths & Legend * Folklore * Tales & Traditions


Stefan Buczacki - 2002
    Over 3,000 entries range from common snails and earthworms to deer and the golden eagle, with information on each species detailing: history, folklore, habitat, characteristics.

Essential Psychopharmacology of Antipsychotics and Mood Stabilizers


Stephen M. Stahl - 2002
    This new book covers the many dimensions of psychosis, particularly as associated with schizophrenia, and examines the role of dopamine in psychosis along with the various theories about the causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of schizophrenia. New material includes discussion of a promising new agent, aripiprazole, the first in a new class of dopamine stabilizers; the use of anticonvulsant agents to treat manic psychosis as well as being used as adjuncts to more traditional antipsychotic treatments for psychosis and schizophrenia; and the newest atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. CME self-assessment tests are included.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants


Russell L. Jones - 2002
    Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, and Russell L. Jones, with contributions from more than 50 world-renowned scientists. With over 1,400 pages, 1,100 full-colour original drawings and 500 photographs this work qualifies, in the words of the Science reviewer, as: "an essential reference for practicing plant biologists and for the increasing number of scientists from other disciplines who are entering the field of plant biology. To exploit fully the wealth of new information provided by the genome projects and to integrate the metabolic, regulatory, and signal transduction pathways of complex organisms, biologists will require a solid command of biochemistry and physiology. For this reason, the publication of Biochemistry Molecular Biology of Plants could not have come at a more opportune and auspicious time." This book is meticulously organised and richly illustrated, useful both for teaching and for reference. The multi-authored work provides a contemporary view of its subject, including molecular biology, cell biology, and plant physiology, integrated around the themes of: * compartmentation * cell reproduction * energetics * metabolism * developmentRead the words of the reviewer in CELL: "The great strength of this book is that it has integrated its three major components (molecular biology, cell biology, and plant biochemistry) in each of the 24 chapters, resulting in a comprehensive analysis of a multitude of specific topics."Who should buy this spectacular text? * Plant biologists and scientists in related fields * Professors in departments of plant biology, plant biochemistry, plant physiology, and related fields * Graduate and upper-level undergraduate students of plant biology * Researchers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agribusiness industries Images are available directly from the ASPB web site at http: //www.aspb.org/publications/biotext/

Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural World [With CD]


Bernie Krause - 2002
    Learn how to tune in to nature's biophonies, or creature symphonies; how to use simple microphones to hear more; and how to record, mix, and play with sounds you gather. Keep it simple or launch yourself into a new creative field. Whether you're an amateur naturalist, novice field recordist, musician, want to create your own natural sound library, or just want to gain further appreciate of the natural world, this is the book for you. Bernie Krause, a professional field recordist and bioacoustician, shares his expertise in exploring nature's sonic landscapes. Wild Soundscapes comes with a full-length CD, narrated by Krause, sampling a variety of natural sounds: the crashing sea, the singing of ants, the bugling of Yellowstone elk, the plop of falling Costa Rican crabs, and more. With the help of this CD, Krause demonstrates techniques and tricks for field recording success.

Conservation Biology


Andrew S. Pullin - 2002
    In particular, the fundamental problems of habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat disturbance and the non-sustainable exploitation of species in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are explored. The methods that have been developed to address these problems from the most traditional forms of conservation to new approaches at genetic to landscape scales are then discussed, showing how science can be put into practice.

Worldviews, Religion, and the Environment: A Global Anthology


Richard C. Foltz - 2002
    Presenting a global conceptual landscape in part one with selections that focus on the spiritual and environmental crises associated with modernity, this volume, with typical skillful editing in part two, distills all of the major world religions' perspectives-Eastern, Western, and newly emerging-on contemporary ecological issues. Part three rounds out this extraordinary collection of insights with an exploration of other cross-cutting motifs in today's enviro-cultural criticism, including radical environmentalism, ecofeminism, ecojustice, and the rising voice of the Global South.

Infinite Tropics: An Alfred Russel Wallace Anthology


Andrew Berry - 2002
    Andrew Berry’s anthology rescue’s Wallace’s legacy, showing Wallace to be far more than just the co-discoverer of natural selection. Wallace was a brilliant and wide-ranging scientist, a passionate social reformer and a gifted writer. The eloquence that has made his The Malay Archipelago a classic of travel writing is a prominent feature too of his extraordinarily forward-thinking writing on socialism, imperialism and pacifism. Wallace’s opinions on women’s suffrage, on land reform, on the roles of the church and aristocracy in a parliamentary democracy, on publicly funded education—to name a few of the issues he addressed—remain as fresh and as topical today as they were when they were written.

The Earth's Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics, and Change


Vaclav Smil - 2002
    He explains the workings of its parts and what is known about their interactions. With essay-like flair, he examines the biosphere's physics, chemistry, biology, geology, oceanography, energy, climatology, and ecology, as well as the changes caused by human activity. He provides both the basics of the story and surprising asides illustrating critical but often neglected aspects of biospheric complexity.