The introduction of the synthetic organochlorine, organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid pesticides by 1950's marked the beginning of the modern pesticides era and a new stage in the agriculture development. Evolved from the chemicals designed originally as warfare agents, the synthetic pesticides demonstrated a high effectiveness in preventing, destroying or controlling any pest. Therefore, their application in the agriculture practices made it possible enhancing crops and livestock's yields and obtaining higher-quality products, to satisfy the food demand of the continuously rising world's population. Nevertheless, the increase of the pesticide use estimated to 2.5 million tons annually worldwide since 1950., created a number of public and environment concerns. This book, organized in two sections, addresses the various aspects of the pesticides exposure and the related health effects. It offers a large amount of practical information to the professionals interested in pesticides issues.

The iconic and beautiful Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. With contributions from international experts, this timely and fully updated second edition of The Great Barrier Reef describes the animals, plants and other organisms of the reef, as well as the biological, chemical and physical processes that influence them. It contains new chapters on shelf slopes and fisheries and addresses pressing issues such as climate change, ocean acidification, coral bleaching and disease, and invasive species. The Great Barrier Reef is a must-read for the interested reef tourist, student, researcher and environmental manager. While it has an Australian focus, it can equally be used as a reference text for most Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

Volume 3 addresses depth-perception mechanisms other than stereopsis. It starts by reviewing monocular cues to depth, including accommodation, vergence, perspective, interposition, shading, and motion parallax. Constancies, such as the ability to perceive the sizes and shapes of objects as they move are reviewed. The ways in which different depth cues interact are discussed. One chapter reviews information used to perceive motion in depth. Pathologies of depth perception, including stereoanomalies and albanism are reviewed. Visual depth-perception mechanisms through the animal kingdom are reviewed together with a discussion of the evolution of stereoscopic vision. The next chapter describes how visual depth perception guides movements of the hand and body. The next three chapters review non-visual mechanisms of depth perception, including auditory localization, echolocation in bats and marine mammals, the lateral-line system of fish, electrolocation, and heat-sensitive sense organs. The volume ends with a discussion of mechanisms used by animals to navigate.