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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 for...
Researchers are still identifying micro-organisms that cause new diseases in humans. A basic factor in the emergence of these diseases is the role played by animals, which act as a reservoir for certain viruses. In favourable conditions, such viruses can cross the species barrier and infect humans. The book takes a close look at two families of virus: orthomyxoviridae and paramyxoviridae, which have infected many species of vertebrates and are responsible for zoonosis. The two main parts of the book describe how the viruses operate, how they spread and the risk factors for humans. In addition to a specific and detailed study of these two micro-organisms, the book highlights the fascinating history of such diseases, their emergence, development and disappearance. They have occurred throughout human history, underscoring the role of the environment and the way it changes, often as a result of human intervention. Sponsored by the Mérieux Foundation and written by leading international specialists, this book provides first-class information about these new viruses.
The most comprehensive book to date about these two famously extinct birds.
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Just who was the Przewalski after whom Przewalski's horse was named? Or Husson, the eponym for the rat Hydromys hussoni? Or the Geoffroy whose name is forever linked to Geoffroy's cat? This unique reference provides a brief look at the real lives behind the scientific and vernacular mammal names one encounters in field guides, textbooks, journal articles, and other scholarly works. Arranged to mirror standard dictionaries, the more than 1,300 entries included here explain the origins of over 2,000 mammal species names. Each bio-sketch lists the scientific and common-language names of all species named after the person, outlines the individual's major contributions to mammalogy and other branches of zoology, and includes brief information about his or her mammalian namesake's distribution. The two appendixes list scientific and common names for ease of reference, and, where appropriate, individual entries include mammals commonly -- but mistakenly -- believed to be named after people. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is a highly readable and informative guide to the people whose names are immortalized in mammal nomenclature.
Despite it's unmistakable striped coat, the tiger remains a mysterious being, glimpsed fleetingly before it melts into its dense habitat. This richly illustrated work brings us close to Asia's iconic big cat, revealing how it lives and how it interacts with others of its own kind. It also considers the threats to the tiger and its habitat, and examines the measures being taken to save this magnificent creature from extinction.
The action plan for the conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe was prepared for the Large Carnivore Initiative in Europe, a voluntary organisation supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The plan was discussed and endorsed in the framework of the Council of Europe's Wildlife Convention (Bern Convention). It contains valuable information on the status of the species and useful recommendations and guidelines for its conservation and management
"A milestone in diaspora studies, this collection will be useful for students of sociology, anthropology, history, politics, globalization, migration, transnationalism, and postcolonial studies."--BOOK JACKET.