Category: Collection
Book of the Week: Plant-Animal Communication
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
Plant-Animal Communication
by H. Martin Schaefer and Graeme D. Ruxton
What?
A summary of all the latest research on this poorly understood but significant area of ecological and evolutionary research. 
Why?
The literature on the subject is wide-ranging and of interest to a diverse section of the scientific community, and here Schaefer and Ruxton provide a much-needed synthesis of the latest research in sensory ecology, plant physiology, evolution and the behavioural sciences as applicable to plant-animal communication.
Table of Contents
Preface
- Communication and the Evolution of Plant-Animal Interactions
- Animal Sensory Ecology and Plant Biochemistry
- Animals as Seed Dispersers
- Visual Communication in Fleshy Fruits
- Evolutionary Ecology of Non-Visual Fruit Traits
- Flower Signals and Pollination
- The Potential for Leaf Colouration to Communicate to Animals
- Plant Crypsis, Aposematism, and Mimicry
- Chemical Communication by Plants about Herbivores Sensory Aspects of Carnivorous Plants
- Final Thoughts
Glossary
References
Index
Who?
H. Martin Schaefer is Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Freiburg. His main research interests are the sensory ecology of plant-animal interactions in the three fields covered in this book, seed dispersal, plant defence and carnivory.
Graeme D. Ruxton is Professor of Theoretical Ecology at the University of Glasgow. His main research interests are in sensory ecology and how one species can exploit the senses of another.
Introducing Anima Mundi – Adventures in Wildlife Photography
ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography is a FREE quarterly wildlife and nature travel and photography online magazine.
ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography is available as a FREE fully interactive 100+ page, widescreen pdf and is published over the internet four times a year in January, April, July and October.
ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography is published in cooperation with X-RAY MAGAZINE, the largest and best-ranked dive periodical of its kind in the world.
Each issue of ANIMA MUNDI features extensive, 50-page long, fully illustrated articles about prime wildlife photography locations worldwide, with field-tested, user-friendly information about trip destinations, local facilities, guides and specialized tour operators.
You will also find in-depth features about all sorts of fascinating wildlife – both terrestrial and marine – plus interactive videos and links, wildlife photographers personal galleries, book reviews, field equipment and techniques tips and a lot more.
NHBS have worked with Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, the creators of Anima Mundi, for the last few years as distribution agents for their publishing company, Nautilus Publishing. These three great books have been long-term best-sellers, and are available now from NHBS:
A Diver’s Guide to Reef Life
A Diver’s Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife
A Diver’s Guide to the Art of Underwater Photography
Here Andrea talks about the Anima Mundi project, and his passion for wildlife photography:
What inspired you to create Anima Mundi?
Nature and wildlife have always been a great love of mine. Together with my wife Antonella I’ve written a dozen or more coffee-table books and guidebooks about topside and marine life – we have focused on underwater photography during the past 20 years – but gathering material for such endeavours and working on them during our twice-a-year holidays abroad and weekends at home was becoming quite a chore as we both had an office job. So after 30 years we finally quit our jobs and decided to devote ourselves fully to what we love best. ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography allows me to be my own boss, to make my own creative choices and to follow my own path. Besides, it’s free for everybody to download and enjoy and it will stay so in the future, so we don’t have to worry about compromises – we can make our own choices and freely offer our own field-tested opinion. I’m having the time of my life! We’re not aiming to compete with any other magazine in the line as we’re freely following our own creativity – however I felt a hands-on magazine about wildlife photography and travelling could actually fill a void, as most others are glossy and expensive but also rather devoid of practical, independent advice for those interested in following our footsteps. In this respect ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography isn’t only eye candy for the armchair traveller but also offers sensible, practical information regarding local conditions, travel agencies and facilities to the wildlife and nature photographer.
Tell us about your background in wildlife photography and natural history
We started about 30 years ago – we were very young and inexperienced then of course, but we soon realized that to put together a fully exhaustive feature about a National Park, or even a single species, a lot of time was needed – weeks, if not months – and being both with a company job we couldn’t afford such long holidays. It was heartbreaking seeing our hard-earned tiger photos flatly refused by an editor simply because there were no images of them mating, rearing their cubs or taking down their prey. So we turned our attention to scuba diving and underwater photography, where there was less competition (and also more fun for us!). If one is focused and disciplined enough, the coral reef environment offers fantastic photo opportunities even for the brief duration of a two-week trip, and we were soon able to visit some amazing locations and bring home some very good shots. We built up quite a reputation – I was the first ever to photograph properly both an Oceanic Whitetip and an Oceanic Thresher shark in the wild, and we were awarded the coveted World Grand Prize for the Best Book About the Sea in 2004 at the Antibes International Festival of the Underwater Image with our coffee-table volume Oceani Segreti.
We also did a Reef Life and a Sharks guide, and then of course we published our best-sellers, A Diver’s Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife, A Diver’s Guide to Reef Life and a Diver’s Guide to the Art of Underwater Photography. To be honest I’ve lost count of the books we’ve done or the translations they received – but now I’ve finally been unable to resist the call of digital publishing! Make no mistake, I consider myself a glorified amateur – I’ve never attended a formal course in photography or biology, but I take what I do very seriously, and I’m proud to say our writings and images are considered quite valuable by some very serious biologists and taxonomists. Some were even used to name new species. It’s all about passion, and being happy with what one is doing!
What are some of your favourite places to visit?
We find beauty and interest everywhere. For scuba diving, the Red Sea 30 years ago used to be marvelous, and then we moved to Borneo first and Raja Ampat in West Papua later. These I would say are the underwater destinations we love most. Borneo and Raja Ampat in particular are at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the epicenter of marine biodiversity – it’s pretty amazing what one sees there, but it’s also heartbreaking seeing the damage which is being done to the marine environment. During the past 30 years we’ve seen marine life plummet everywhere. That – and the onslaught of age! – has convinced us to go back to topside photography. South East Asia, India and Sri Lanka, Central and Southern America, Eastern and South Africa and even poor battered old Europe can offer some fantastic encounters, but of course one must know where to look and with whom to go.With the end of the civil war now Sri Lanka can be safely visited again at last, North-Eastern Poland was a fantastic surprise for us and now Costa Rica and Ecuador are beckoning, not to mention Africa, of course. There’s a whole world out there, and to those who know how to look it’s still full of beauty and surprises. ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography was created for exactly that – to freely share beauty and information with those who care, at no cost at all. Sustainable ecotourism – such as that for wildlife photography – can really help locally, and I’m firmly convinced the free global sharing of information would solve a lot of the world’s problems. Then again, I have always been a lover of science fiction and fantasy…
What advice do you have for keen wildlife photographers who are interested in breaking into the professional market?
Well, I don’t really feel I am in the best of positions to offer advice – as I have never considered myself a true full-time professional. Anyway, I am firmly convinced that the first and most important thing to do is to learn about one’s subjects, being thoroughly conversant with their life habits, their behaviour, their habitat and so on. So my advice is read and read, and learn as much as you can – know your subjects, become your subjects, this will double the chances of a good shot and will also double the enjoyment. I’m also a keen proponent of strictly disciplined behaviour in the field – silent stalking, perfect camouflage, absolutely no manipulation or staging and so on. It’s like playing at cowboys and indians again, but it does work! But seriously – if you know what you are doing and you are disciplined and motivated enough – you’ll be able to publish something sooner or later, if that is what you really consider important. Of course you also have to be a good photographer, and that is half practice and half sheer instinct, a natural quality. But reading and learning constantly helps a lot in getting better!
And who/what have been your greatest inspirations, in terms of photographers, or books you have read?
Oh, my idols – when I was young I desperately wanted to learn diving and explore the oceans after the late Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his incredibly influential television documentary series, The Man and the Sea…the man started it all, all my underwater work I owe to him. I can still hear the title music ringing in my years – after 40 years! Later on I also found inspiration in the works by David Doubilet, Doug Perrine and Howard Hall, among others. In topside photography I have always greatly admired the work of Frans Lanting, Steve Bloom, David Hemmings and Nick Brandt – but they’re in an alltogether different league, pure artistic genius at work! I also like a lot of Andy Rouse‘s recent work – but there’s so many incredibly good nature and wildlife photographers out there nowadays, the digital age has opened so many doors – just think of ANIMA MUNDI – Adventures in Wildlife Photography, it’s a channel open to anybody which would have been simply unthinkable until a few years ago.
Related titles:
Great Barrier Reef by David Doubilet
Successful Underwater Photography by Brian Skerry and Howard Hall
Life: A Journey Through Time by Frans Lanting and Christine Eckstrom
Spirit of the Wild by Steve Bloom
A Shadow Falls by Nick Brandt
Tigers: A Celebration of Life by Andy Rouse
Browse books on wildlife photography techniques
Set yourself up for wildlife photography with some top quality hides and clothing, trail cameras and travel gear
Book of the Week: The Norfolk Bird Atlas
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
The Norfolk Bird Atlas: Summer and Winter Distributions 1999-2007
by Moss Taylor and John H Marchant
What?
A survey of Norfolk’s breeding and wintering avifauna.
Why?
As with all their projetcs, the BTO have produced this excellent survey with conservation in mind. A huge undertaking, it has involved the work of over 300 observers. Not only does it document the distribution in Norfolk of the all the different bird species, it also assesses their abundance. It also highlights the changes since previous atlases – for instance, the new breeding colonists such as the Mediterranean Gull, the Little Egret and the Goosander.
In-depth charts and figures, deft analysis by the authors, and beautiful full-colour photography and illustrations give this substantial volume wide appeal and an enduring and deserved place on any ornithologists bookshelf.
Who?
Moss Taylor has had a lifelong interest in ornithology and has 50 years experience as a bird ringer. He has been involved with previous BTO atlas projects and served on several BTO committees, and was the instigator and co-ordinator of the fieldwork on which The Norfolk Bird Atlas is based, as well as being an active participant. His previous books include The Birds of Norfolk and Collins Identifying Birds by Colour.
John Marchant joined the BTO in 1973. Bird surveys occupy a major part of his paid and personal time. He has served on the BOU Records Committee and the British Birds Rarities Committee, for which he is archivist. He has written many scientific papers and reports, and among the books he has co-authored is Population Trends in British Breeding Birds.
Book of the Week: Great British Marine Animals
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
Great British Marine Animals, 3rd Ed.
by Paul Naylor
What?
A photographic guide to the fishes, crustaceans, molluscs and other resident animals of the waters around the British Isles.
Why?
This is the third edition of this best-selling guide to the creatures that roam the British coastal seas. Accessible and clear, with detailed photography by the author, this is the perfect companion for those who enjoy exploring these waters and their residents. Previous editions have been very popular with the diving community, and this new edition takes a closer look at rock pool life which should broaden its appeal to those who like to appreciate sea-life while remaining on solid ground.
New features of the 3rd edition include:
- 240 new photographs
- 30 extra species (making 280 in total)
- An expanded introduction showing a selection of habitats and some of the typical animals that live in them
- A joint foreword by The Wildlife Trusts and the Marine Conservation Society
- Unusual action shots of cuttlefish hunting, a commensal ragworm feeding with its hermit crab host, sunstars and starfish spawning, gobies attacking a large sea anemone, a sea slug’s defences in operation and many more…
Who?
Paul Naylor has been snorkelling and diving around the coast of Britian for 35 years, and photographing the resident animals for 25 years. Paul is actively involved in education, from schools to governmental organisations, on the subject of our marine fauna. He has a doctorate in marine biology and is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society.
Visit Paul’s website for more information and to view image galleries
Book of the Week: Garden Bird Confidential
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
Garden Bird Confidential
by Dominic Couzens
What?
An insider’s guide to what’s really going on with the birds in your garden.
Why?
Garden Bird Confidential profiles 60 of Europe’s regular garden birds. It includes the usual identification information – voice, habitat, breeding etc., but takes it a stage further. The ‘confidential’ section for each species presents fascinating nuggets of scientific research from the last 40 years. For example, it was recently discovered that great tits had developed a taste for roosting bats in a cave in Hungary; that the blackcap’s song rate can be related to the safekeeping of its nest; and that some bird species, such as the dunnock, have found breeding success in an arrangement of tense polygamy. Colour photography abounds, including some lovely full-page portraiture.
Who?
Dominic Couzens is a leading nature writer and lecturer who has been writing about wildlife for over 20 years. He is the author of several successful books including Top 100 Birding Sites of the World, Atlas of Rare Birds and The Secret Lives of Garden Birds. Dominic has appeared on BBC television and regularly contributes to leading magazines including BBC Wildlife Magazine, Birdwatching and Birds, the magazine of the RSPB.
Book of the Week: Conservation Biogeography
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
Conservation Biogeography
by Richard J Ladle and Robert J Whittaker
What?
An authoritative key volume for students and researchers in this developing field.
Why?
The authors of Conservation Biogeography are both associated with the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford where the nascent field was formally defined in 2005. They state their aim in the preface as “[…]to expand the scope and agenda of conservation biogeography, to identify critical gaps and weaknesses, and to provide an introduction to the toolbox of concepts and methods – and thereby to produce a broad-based text for university courses and programmes.”
After defining the field, the chapters work their way through the impact of social values on conservation, biodiversity mapping and its processes, planning considerations, island biogeography, invasions and homogeneity, and the volume ends with discussions on the future prospects and challenges associated with the biogeographical approach to global conservation management.
Who?
Richard J. Ladle was the founding Director of Oxford University’s MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management. Since 2009 he has been working in Brazil as an international conservation consultant and science writer. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the Federal University of Alagoas, teaching and doing research on diverse and interdisciplinary aspects of conservation, biogeography and ecology.
Robert J. Whittaker is the current Academic Director of the MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management, and holds the title of Professor of Biogeography in the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford. He is a founding member and past President (2009–2010) of the International Biogeography Society. He is currently editor-in-chief of the Journal of Biogeography. He has a long-standing interest in island biogeography, patterns and processes controlling diversity, and the application of biogeography to conservation.
Book of the Week: Lives of Conifers
Continuing our weekly selection of the very best titles available through NHBS:
Lives of Conifers: A Comparative Account of the Coniferous Trees
by Graham R. Powell
What?
A detailed account of the life cycle of conifers, and an analysis of their ecological and environmental importance.
Why?
This is a comprehensive reference work, by an expert in tree growth and morphology. The author has published over 40 refereed papers and more than 20 technical reports and handbooks during his 34-year career in the faculty of forestry and environmental management.
As well as being authoritative on the growth of conifers, this volume introduces the reader to environmental considerations and the reliance of humankind on the conifers.
Lives of Conifers is extensively illustrated throughout (see images below), with detailed comparative sequences of morphological portraiture, stylish diagrammatic representations of anatomical features and many informative charts and figures. The chapters follow the stages of the life-cycle and there is an extensive glossary.
Who?
Graham R. Powell is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at the University of New Brunswick, Canada
The Metropolitan Field Guide reviews Crow Planet
“This book cleverly manages to blend personal stories with the natural history of crows and the wilderness of the city in a very entertaining read. No matter whether you’re a naturalist, urbanite, suburbanite or already an urban naturalist, this book will undoubtedly introduce you to some idea you never considered before.” More…
Read the full review of Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness at The Metropolitan Field Guide. It’s one of our favourite wildlife blogs – an excellent resource on urban wildlife and ecology.
Five reasons to use a Batcorder
EcoObs’ Batcorder is the first of a new generation of autonomous bat recording devices designed to produce higher quality recording and automated identification. The key benefits of the Batcorder system are:
1 .Save time and reduce costs
By automatically analysing bat calls, the Batcorder will save you significant amounts of time. The exceptional quality of recordings made by the Batcorder means you can be more certain of correctly identifying a species either automatically or manually. Automatic species identifications can be carried out in a few minutes (watch our short video to see the process in action).
2. Higher quality recordings
The unique omni-directional microphone, as well as the reduction in echoes from the main body of the unit, ensure a clear picture of bat activity at the recording site. The sensitive bat call trigger ensures that the vast majority of recordings made by the Batcorder are from bats. Recordings of other sounds (crickets, rustling leaves, water, wind and wind turbine movements) are under most circumstances not recorded at all.
3. Consistent results
In contrast to other bat detectors, each Batcorder and its microphone are calibrated for a fixed sensitivity. Thus, the comparison of bat activity recorded at different locations is guaranteed to be unbiased.
4. Flexible autonomous use
The Batcorder is a weatherproof autonomous recording device designed to be left in the field for multiple nights. It has a typical battery life of 6-10 nights (based on the level of activity at the site), and space for 30,000 calls (when using a 32GB SDHC card). A special Wind Turbine Extension Kit allows continuous deployments in excess of 30 days to minimise the need to access the in situ Batcorder.
5. Designed by bat workers
The entire Batcorder System has been designed by bat workers for bat workers. It’s user-friendly with an intuitive powerful call management system, allowing you to download, analyse, catalogue and search for calls easily. You don’t need to go on a training course to get started with the Batcorder.
The Batcorder is distributed in the UK & Ireland by NHBS. If you’d like to find out more, please contact Dr Adrian Gude, NHBS Wildlife Equipment Specialist.