The 40 or so species of beach-loving plovers (genus Charadrius) comprise a diverse group of shorebirds found around the world. Most of these species are challenged by changing climates and other human-related development activities, yet they provide key insights into basic ecological and evolutionary processes. The expert international contributors take a comparative approach, presenting examples from many worldwide plover studies and synthesizing the group’s most pressing and important topics. The book further presents an emphasis on full life-cycle biology, including the importance of examining migratory connectivity issues, even for non-migratory plovers. Color pages were planned and approved for some pages in this volume, but due to a printing error some copies have incorrectly been released with these pages printed in black and white. Replacement copies with the correct color in place can be obtained upon request by contacting [email protected]. CRC Press extends apologies to any customers affected by this error and for the inconvenience caused. Key Features Serves as a fundamental resource for conservation practitioners Detailed overview of a widely distributed group of shorebirds Authored by renowned specialists who present theoretical and applied perspectives Emphasis on comparative and synthetic approach in all chapters Related Titles McComb, B. et al. Monitoring Animal Populations and Their Habitats: A Practitioner’s Guide (ISBN 978-0-4291-3827-0). Garvey, J. E. & M. R. Whiles. Trophic Ecology (ISBN 978-1-4987-5846-8). Dewdney, A. K. Stochastic Communities: A Mathematical Theory of Biodiversity (ISBN 978-1-1381-9702-2).

Whale sharks are the largest of all fishes, fascinating for comparative studies of all manner of biological fields, including functional anatomy, growth, metabolism, movement ecology, behavior and physiology. These gentle ocean giants have captured the interest of scientists and the imagination of the public, yet their future is uncertain. The conservation status of whale sharks was upgraded to Endangered on the IUCN Red List and the species faces a range of intense threats from human activities. Can these iconic living animals, who have survived for millions of years, survive us? Written by the world’s leading experts in whale shark biology, ecology, and conservation, Whale Sharks: Biology, Ecology and Conservation is the first definitive volume about the world's biggest fish. Chapters include discussions of satellite-linked tags, used to track whale shark movements; genetic sequencing, to examine evolutionary adaptations; even the use of underwater ultrasound units to investigate the species’ reproduction. The editors hope that by collating what is known, they can make it easier for future researchers, conservationists, and resource managers to fill some of the remaining knowledge gaps, and provide the information they need to join the team. As you work your way through this book, we hope that you will develop a sense of awe and marvel at all of our good fortune to share the ocean, and the planet, with this utterly extraordinary species.

Shorebirds are model organisms for illustrating the principles of ecology and excellent subjects for research. Their mating systems are as diverse as any avian group, their migrations push the limits of endurance, and their foraging is easily studied in the open habitats of estuaries and freshwater wetlands. This comprehensive text explores the ecology, conservation, and management of these fascinating birds. Beginning chapters examine phylogenetic relationships between shorebirds and other birds, and cover shorebird morphology, anatomy, and physiology. A section on breeding biology looks in detail at their reproductive biology. Because shorebirds spend much of their time away from breeding areas, a substantial section on non-breeding biology covers migration, foraging ecology, and social behavior. The text also covers shorebird demography, population size, and management issues related to habitat, predators, and human disturbances. Throughout, it emphasizes applying scientific knowledge to the conservation of shorebird populations, many of which are unfortunately in decline.

Molt is an important avian life history event in which feathers are shed and replaced. The timing, duration, seasonality, extent and pattern of molt follows certain strategies and this book reviews and describes these strategies for nearly 190 species based on information gathered from a 30-year study of Central Amazonian birds. Most species accounts are illustrated with several color photos focusing on wing and tail feather molt, molt limits, and how to use these patterns to accurately age birds. Published in collaboration with and on behalf of the American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series is a rich source of life history information for ornithologists working on tropical birds.

Carp are the backbone of a growing aquaculture industry. They facilitate scientific progress as a model species in laboratories, cause concern for ecosystem managers as an invasive species, and mesmerize anglers as big game. In addition, ornamental koi carp fascinate hobby breeders. Biology and Ecology of Carp covers all these facets of this freshw

This book is a bridge between ecological paradigms – organismal/community approaches to food web dynamics and ecosystem-level approaches to production. The unification of organismal, community, and ecosystem approaches in ecology is emerging due to the growing availability of new techniques for assessing trophic interactions and their implications for ecosystems. Trophic Ecology is a formal text for both newcomers to the discipline as well as seasoned professionals looking for new ideas and refreshers on old topics. A wide range of topics are explained including autotrophy, heterotrophy, omnivory, decomposition, foraging behavior and theory, trophic cascades, bioenergetics, and production. The audience is upper-level undergraduate students and entry-level graduate students interested in autecological, organismal approaches to ecology, community and ecosystem ecology. It is also a reference text for instructors teaching upper-division courses, providing examples from the literature, quantitative approaches to teach, and new hypotheses yet to be fully tested by ecologists.

Population Genomics With R presents a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of population genomics. The methods treated cover a large number of topics from traditional population genetics to large-scale genomics with high-throughput sequencing data. Several dozen R packages are examined and integrated to provide a coherent software environment with a wide range of computational, statistical, and graphical tools. Small examples are used to illustrate the basics and published data are used as case studies. Readers are expected to have a basic knowledge of biology, genetics, and statistical inference methods. Graduate students and post-doctorate researchers will find resources to analyze their population genetic and genomic data as well as help them design new studies. The first four chapters review the basics of population genomics, data acquisition, and the use of R to store and manipulate genomic data. Chapter 5 treats the exploration of genomic data, an important issue when analysing large data sets. The other five chapters cover linkage disequilibrium, population genomic structure, geographical structure, past demographic events, and natural selection. These chapters include supervised and unsupervised methods, admixture analysis, an in-depth treatment of multivariate methods, and advice on how to handle GIS data. The analysis of natural selection, a traditional issue in evolutionary biology, has known a revival with modern population genomic data. All chapters include exercises. Supplemental materials are available on-line (http://ape-package.ird.fr/PGR.html).