Alien Reptiles And Amphibians

Author : Fred Kraus
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402089465
Total Pages : 571 pages
Book Rating : 4.66/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Alien Reptiles and Amphibians written by Fred Kraus and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-12-19 with total page 571 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Transportation of species to areas outside their native ranges has been a feature of human culture for millennia. During this time such activities have largely been viewed as beneficial or inconsequential. However, it has become increasingly clear that human-caused introductions of alien biota are an ecological disruption whose consequences rival those of better-known insults like chemical pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Indeed, the irreversible nature of most alien-species int- ductions makes them less prone to correction than many other ecological problems. Current reshuffling of species ranges is so great that the present era has been referred to by some as the “Homogocene” in an effort to reflect the unique mag- tude of the changes being made. These alien interlopers often cause considerable ecological and economic d- age where introduced. Species extinctions, food-web disruptions, community alte- tions, ecosystem conversion, changes in nutrient cycling, fisheries collapse, watershed degradation, agricultural loss, building damage, and disease epidemics are among the destructive – and frequently unpredictable – ecological and economic effects that invasive alien species can inflict. The magnitude of these damages c- tinues to grow, with virtually all environments heavily used by humans now do- nated by alien species and many “natural” areas becoming increasingly prone to alien invasion as well. Attention to this problem has increased in the past decade or so, and efforts to prevent or limit further harm are gaining wider scientific and political acceptance.

Author : Michael A. Smith
Publisher : Texas A&M University Press
ISBN 13 : 1623496659
Total Pages : 338 pages
Book Rating : 4.54/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Herping Texas written by Michael A. Smith and published by Texas A&M University Press. This book was released on 2018-10-12 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coiled beneath discarded trash or rocky slabs, basking along river edges, and tucked into rock cuts beside the highway, reptiles and amphibians constantly surround us. While many people go out of their way to avoid snakes or shudder at the thought of touching a toad, herpers take to the field armed with cameras, hooks, and notebooks hoping to come across a horned lizard, green tree frog, or even a diamondback rattlesnake. In Herping Texas: The Quest for Reptiles and Amphibians, Michael Smith and Clint King, expert naturalists and field herpers, take readers on their adventures across the state as they search for favorite herps and rare finds. Organized by ecoregion, Herping Texas describes some of the state’s most spectacular natural places, from Big Bend to the Big Thicket. Each chapter contains photographs of the various snakes, lizards, toads, and turtles Smith and King have encountered on their trips. Part nature travel writing and part guide to field herping, Herping Texas also includes a section on getting started, where the authors give readers necessary background on best field herping practices. A glossary defines herping lingo and scientific terms for newcomers, and an appendix lists threatened and endangered species at the state and federal level. Herping Texas promotes experiencing natural places and wildlife equipped with solid information and a responsible conservation ethic. Throughout their decades tracking herps, Smith and King have collected humorous anecdotes and fascinating facts about reptiles and amphibians. By sharing those, they hope to dispel some of the stigma and false ideas people have about these misunderstood animals.

Author : George R. Zug
Publisher : Univ of California Press
ISBN 13 : 0520955404
Total Pages : 388 pages
Book Rating : 4.00/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands written by George R. Zug and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2013-06-28 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pacific is not only the world’s largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galápagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas in a comparative context. But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific. The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.

Author : Walter E. Meshaka Jr.
Publisher : University Press of Florida
ISBN 13 : 0813065992
Total Pages : 303 pages
Book Rating : 4.91/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States written by Walter E. Meshaka Jr. and published by University Press of Florida. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first complete field guide to the exotic amphibians and reptiles established in the continental United States and Hawaiʻi, this volume covers 74 species that are not native to the country and 29 species that are native but occur beyond their original geographic range. Dispersed from their former habitats by human activity, many of these species are invasive in their new environments, causing ecological or economic harm. Ideal for naturalists of all levels, Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States details each species’ taxonomy, distribution, history, and ecology and portrays each one with vibrant photographs. Drawing on county-level distribution maps from 2,908 published records, this guide provides an in-depth understanding of local factors that drive the success of exotic species. It connects species-specific information to conservation issues as it explores human causes of exotic and invasive establishment. The book also includes eight invited essays which provide regional perspectives on scientific, economic, and management-related aspects of this phenomenon. As ecological pressures on native species and habitats increase, understanding the histories and roles of exotic species is becoming more and more important for conservation efforts. Providing practical identification skills and an awareness of the environmental impacts of these amphibians and reptiles, this indispensable guide equips readers to confront the unusual biodiversity crisis of exotic species.

Author : David Dudgeon
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1108882625
Total Pages : 517 pages
Book Rating : 4.20/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Freshwater Biodiversity written by David Dudgeon and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-05-21 with total page 517 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growing human populations and higher demands for water impose increasing impacts and stresses upon freshwater biodiversity. Their combined effects have made these animals more endangered than their terrestrial and marine counterparts. Overuse and contamination of water, overexploitation and overfishing, introduction of alien species, and alteration of natural flow regimes have led to a 'great thinning' and declines in abundance of freshwater animals, a 'great shrinking' in body size with reductions in large species, and a 'great mixing' whereby the spread of introduced species has tended to homogenize previously dissimilar communities in different parts of the world. Climate change and warming temperatures will alter global water availability, and exacerbate the other threat factors. What conservation action is needed to halt or reverse these trends, and preserve freshwater biodiversity in a rapidly changing world? This book offers the tools and approaches that can be deployed to help conserve freshwater biodiversity.

Author : Delivering Alien Invasive Species
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402082800
Total Pages : 421 pages
Book Rating : 4.01/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Handbook of Alien Species in Europe written by Delivering Alien Invasive Species and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-11-14 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biological invasions by alien (non-native) species are widely recognized as a significant component of human-caused global environmental change and the second most important cause of biodiversity decline. Alien species threaten many European ecosystems and have serious environmental, economic and health impacts. The DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe) project has now brought together all available information on alien species in Europe (terrestrial, aquatic and marine) and from all taxa (fungi, plants, animals). Thus for the first time, an overview and assessment of biological invasions in the Pan-European region is finally possible. The Handbook of Alien Species in Europe summarises the major findings of this groundbreaking research and addresses the invasion trends, pathways, and both economic as well as ecological impact for eight major taxonomic groups. Approximately 11.000 alien species recorded in Europe are listed, and fact sheets for 100 of the most invasive alien species are included, each with a distribution map and colour illustration. The book is complemented by a regularly updated internet database providing free additional information. With its highly interdisciplinary approach, DAISIE and its Handbook will be the basis for future scientific investigations as well as management and control of alien invasive species in Europe.

Author : Neil Cox
Publisher : IUCN
ISBN 13 : 9782831709123
Total Pages : 54 pages
Book Rating : 4.21/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Status and Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians of the Mediterranean Basin written by Neil Cox and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2006 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mediterranean-rim countries hold around 400 million people and 135 million of them live on the coast. A steady migration towards coastal areas, specifically in the south and east of the Mediterranean, is causing pressure on the coastal environment and, more importantly, on its biodiversity. In this second Mediterranean regional assessment, all the reptile and amphibian species existing within the region of study have been evaluated for their global conservation status. This assessment aims to assist in regional planning and to help identify internationally important sites for biodiversity. Like the first in the series, it also hopes to encourage development of a network of regional experts to enable future assessments and the continued updating of the baseline dataset.

Author : Joseph T. Collins
Publisher : Forest Service
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 82 pages
Book Rating : 4.23/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Amphibians, Reptiles and Turtles of the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas written by Joseph T. Collins and published by Forest Service. This book was released on 2011 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pocket guide

Author : Jeroen Speybroeck
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472925637
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.33/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Britain and Europe written by Jeroen Speybroeck and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-07-28 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The taxonomy and systematics of European reptiles and amphibians have changed a lot in recent years, yet there is no modern, up-to-date field guide available that comprehensively covers all the species. The last illustrated field guide to European reptiles and amphibians was first published 38 years ago, and remains oudated despite occasional reprints and new editions. This major new field guide addresses this deficiency. A total of 219 species are covered in detail, with a focus on identification and geographical variation; species texts also cover distribution, habitat and behaviour. Superb colour illustrations by talented artist Ilian Velikov depict every species and all major variations, and colour photographs are also included for most species. This groundbreaking new guide will become the definitive field reference for these two groups of animals. It includes: - Over 370 colour artworks and 200 colour photographs - 155 accurate and up-to-date distribution maps - Easy-to-use keys and tables to help with swift species identification

Author : Christopher Lever
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780198507710
Total Pages : 342 pages
Book Rating : 4.12/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Naturalized Reptiles and Amphibians of the World written by Christopher Lever and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes how the various alien reptiles and amphibians now living in the wild throughout the world were first introduced, how they subsequently became naturalized, their present distribution and status in those countries to which they were introduced, and their ecological and socio-economic impact on the native biota and local economies. Many species have had a more or less neutral impact, being neither beneficial nor harmful. However, several have had a positive ecological or socio-economic impact, while some such as the cane toad, have had an extremely destructive effect.The criteria for inclusion of a species are that it should have been imported from its natural range to a new country by human agency--either accidentally or deliberately--and that it should currently be established in the wild in self-maintaining and self-perpetuating populations unsupported by and independent of mankind.