It is the first color-illustrated guide to cover 1,406 species in all 115 families that occur in the region--and the first new in-depth guide to the region in more than forty years. Lavishly illustrated with over 1,500 stunning color images by some of the best insect photographers in North America, the book features an engaging and authoritative text by noted beetle expert Arthur Evans.Extensive introductory sections provide essential information on beetle anatomy, reproduction, development, natural history, behavior, and conservation. Also included are tips on where and when to find beetles; how to photograph, collect, and rear beetles; and how to contribute to research. Each family and species account presents concise and easy-to-understand information on identification, natural history, collecting, and geographic range. Organized by family, the book also includes an illustrated key to the most common beetle families, with 31 drawings that aid identification, and features current information on distribution, biology, and taxonomy not found in other guides.An unmatched guide to the rich variety of eastern North American beetles, this is an essential book for amateur naturalists, nature photographers, insect enthusiasts, students, and professional entomologists and other biologists.Provides the only comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible full-color treatment of the region's beetlesCovers 1,406 species in all 115 families east of the Mississippi RiverFeatures more than 1,500 stunning color images from top photographersPresents concise information on identification, natural history, collecting, and geographic range for each species and familyIncludes an illustrated key to the most common beetle families

    In "Marine Mammals of British Columbia," John Ford distills the latest information on 31 species that live in or visit BC waters: 25 whales, dolphins and porpoises; 5 seals and sea lions; and the sea otter. He discusses their general biology, including how they feed, communicate and reproduce. Then he describes each species and summarizes information on distribution, habitat, social organization, conservation status and much more. The book includes identification keys, colour illustrations of animals and drawings of skulls. Maps show the sightings for each species in BC, and colour photographs help to identify species and show aspects of behaviour. "Marine Mammals of British Columbia" is volume 6 of the Royal BC Museum's The Mammals of British Columbia series. It is an indispensable field guide and reference book for naturalists, boaters and anyone interested in sea life.

    Comprehensive lists of minerals or fossils for each site and excellent color photos will help you know what to look for and to identify what you’ve found. Information on clubs, rock shops, museums, and special attractions are provided. Rockhounding Oregon is a must-have for anyone interested in collecting their own minerals, gems, and fossils in the region.

    It is a complete checklist whose taxonomy incorporates the most up-to-date information and an exhaustive methodology (Tobias et al. 2010) in an entirely systematic and consistent way. At the same time, it contains illustrations and distribution maps for every bird species in the world. This includes the original artwork from the HBW series, as well as hundreds of new illustrations, all in two compact volumes.

    Bumble Bees of North America is the first comprehensive guide to North American bumble bees to be published in more than a century. Richly illustrated with color photographs, diagrams, range maps, and graphs of seasonal activity patterns, this guide allows amateur and professional naturalists to identify all 46 bumble bee species found north of Mexico and to understand their ecology and changing geographic distributions.The book draws on the latest molecular research, shows the enormous color variation within species, and guides readers through the many confusing convergences between species. It draws on a large repository of data from museum collections and presents state-of-the-art results on evolutionary relationships, distributions, and ecological roles. Illustrated keys allow identification of color morphs and social castes.A landmark publication, Bumble Bees of North America sets the standard for guides and the study of these important insects.The best guide yet to the 46 recognized bumble bee species in North America north of MexicoUp-to-date taxonomy includes previously unpublished resultsDetailed distribution mapsExtensive keys identify the many color patterns of species

    It features introductory chapters on the native landscape and plant entries that detail the family, scientific and common name, flowering seasons, and size. This must-have guide is for hikers, nature lovers, plant geeks, and anyone who wants to know more about the many plants of the Pacific Northwest.Includes photographs and descriptions of 568 species of woody plantsCovers Oregon, Washington, northern California, and British ColumbiaIntroductory chapters discuss the ecoregions, habitats, and microhabitats of the Pacific NorthwestUser-friendly organization by leaf type

    The species (from Death Cap to Morel Mushrooms) are organized by shape, then by color, so you can identify them by their visual characteristics. Plus, with the Top Edibles and Top Toxics sections, you'll begin to learn which are the edible wild mushrooms. The information is accessible to beginners but useful for even experienced mushroom seekers.

    The result is the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and user-friendly guide to the island's remarkably diverse birdlife. The book covers all 673 species living or reported on Borneo, including all 59 endemic species. Each species is superbly illustrated in 141 color plates containing more than 2,000 full-color bird images, which provide multiple large views of each species, including most of the sexual variants and immature forms of polymorphic species. Each plate is accompanied by facing-page species descriptions covering taxonomy, size, call, range, distribution, habits, and status. Distribution is also shown with 567 detailed color thumbnail maps on facing pages. Other features include seven habitat plates, twelve regional maps showing Borneo's top 90 birding sites, fast-find identification plates to the birds of Kinabalu and other habitats, and a full overview of Borneo's vegetation, climate, and ecology. This is a guide that any outdoor visitor to the island will treasure.The most up-to-date, comprehensive, and user-friendly guide to the birds of BorneoFeatures handy, facing-page formatIllustrates and describes all 673 species, including 59 endemicsContains more than 2,000 superb full-color images, providing multiple large views of each species, and 567 color mapsDescribes and maps Borneo's top 90 birding sitesIncludes fast-find identification plates to the birds of Kinabalu and other habitatsProvides a full overview of Borneo's vegetation, climate, and ecology

    Small enough to carry in a backpack, this field guide provides a system for dividing the complex natural landscape of Michigan into easily understood and describable components called natural communities. Providing a new way to explore Michigan’s many environments, this book details natural communities ranging from patterned fen to volcanic bedrock glade and beyond. The descriptions are supplemented with distribution maps, vibrant photographs, and comprehensive lists of characteristic plant species. The authors suggest places to visit to further study each type of natural community and provide a comprehensive glossary of ecological terms, as well as a dichotomous key for aiding field identification. An invaluable resource, this book is meant to serve as a tool for those seeking to understand, describe, document, conserve, and restore the diversity of natural communities native to Michigan.

    Designed as a field companion, it supplements the standard field guides and provides much additional information. As well as detailed texts, the books include extensive illustrations of allrelevant ages and plummages of the species concerned.

    Over half of the world’s spider families live within the three contiguous Pacific Coast states—not surprising considering the wide variety of habitats, from mountain meadows and desert dunes to redwood forests and massive urban centers. This beautifully illustrated, accessible guide covers all of the families and many of the genera found along the Pacific Coast, including introduced species and common garden spiders. The author provides readers with tools for identifying many of the region’s spiders to family, and when possible, genus and species. He discusses taxonomy, distribution, and natural history as well as what is known of the habits of the spiders, the characters of families, and references to taxonomic revisions of the pertinent genera. Full-color plates for each family bring to life the incredible diversity of this ancient arachnid order.

    This guide is the ultimate companion for learning about the animals and plants in Wisconsin streams. A collaborative effort by dozens of biologists and ecologists, Field Guide toWisconsin Streams is accessible to anglers, teachers and students, amateur naturalists, and experienced scientists alike.             More than 1,000 images illustrate the species in this field guide. These images are augmented by detailed ecological and taxonomic notes, descriptions of look-alike species, and distribution maps. The guide identifies: • more than 130 common plants • all 120 fishes known to inhabit Wisconsin streams • 8 crayfishes • 50 mussels • 10 amphibians • 17 reptiles • 70 families of insects • other commonly found invertebrates. Best Regional General Interest Books, selected by the American Association of School Librarians Best Regional General Interest Books, selected by the Public Library Reviewers

    Following on the success of Dennis King’s earlier two titles, this impressive new guide features 578 species of fish and includes sections on anemones, starfish, snails, crabs and shrimps. Full-colour photographs and descriptive text for each species, along with useful and interesting information,make for easy identification. While focusing on southern Africa, the book is also applicable to the entire east coast of Africa, as well as the islands of the western Indian Ocean – Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, the Comoros and the Maldives.Indispensable for divers, snorkelers and rock-pool enthusiasts, as well as fishermen and marine aquarists.

    This book covers over 400 Australian bird watching sites conveniently grouped into the best birding areas, from one end of the country to the other. Each chapter begins with a brief description of the location, followed by a section on where to find the birds, which describes specific birdwatching sites within the location s boundaries, and information on accommodation and facilities. The book also provides a comprehensive "Bird Finding Guide," listing all of Australia s birds with details on their abundance and where exactly to see them."

    She collected fine and decorative arts (the Portland Vase was her most famous acquisition), but her great love was natural history, and shells in particular. Over the course of twenty years, she amassed the largest shell collection of her time,  which was sold after her death in a spectacular auction.   Beth Fowkes Tobin illuminates the interlocking issues surrounding the global circulation of natural resources, the commodification of nature, and the construction of scientific value through the lens of one woman’s marvelous collection. This unique study tells the story of the collection’s formation and dispersal—about the sailors and naturalists who ferried rare specimens across oceans and the dealers’ shops and connoisseurs’ cabinets on the other side of the world. Exquisitely illustrated, this book brings to life Enlightenment natural history and its cultures of collecting, scientific expeditions, and vibrant visual culture.

    A series of page tabs and icons, along with full colour photos, offers easy identification of wild plants.

    Based on field research, the book brings the amateur naturalist the latest information on animal gaits and the interpretation of scat.

    Renowned bird experts Richard Cannings, Tom Aversa, and Hal Opperman present a complete account for each of the hundreds of species that call this region home, including maps and gorgeous photographs by some of the top bird photographers in BC and the Pacific Northwest.You will learn to identify a vast array of bird species, from the Western Tanager to the Northern Pygmy Owl to the American Kestrel, and learn about their status, distribution, and habitat associations. With a wide territorial range that extends from British Columbia south to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of western Montana and Wyoming, this is the most complete and comprehensive guide of its kind on the market.

    In California Mushrooms, mycologist experts Dennis Desjardin, Michael Wood, and Fred Stevens provide over 1100 species profiles, including comprehensive descriptions and spectacular photographs. Each profile includes information on macro- and micromorphology, habitat, edibility, and comparisons with closely related species and potential look-alikes. Although the focus of the book is on mushrooms of California, over 90% of the species treated occur elsewhere, making the book useful throughout western North America. This complete reference covers everything necessary for the mushroom hunter to accurately identify over 650 species.

    Each mushroom is identified and presented with expert photography in this informative yet highly portable book. It is as visually impressive as it is easy to use, with many stunning full-page images to support the authoritative text.

    There are more than 300 species of native California grasses and they are found in almost every climate�from cool, wet forests to hot, dry deserts. Native grasses are also important in land restoration, as they improve soil quality, increase water infiltration, and recycle nutrients. Their deep roots can tap soil water, allowing them to stay green year-round and act as fire buffers around residences. Native grasses also provide vital habitat to many species of insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Despite all of this, grasslands remain one of the most underprotected of California's vegetation types, and native grasslands have undergone the greatest percentage loss of any habitat type in the state. Grasses are also among the most difficult plants to identify. Organized alphabetically, Field Guide to Grasses of California covers the more common native and naturalized grasses, and features over 180 color illustrations to help identify them.