Feed your fascination with sharks! This complete resource enlightens readers on the biology, ecology, and behavior of sharks with approachable explanations and more than 250 stunning color illustrations. Studies of shark biology have flourished over the last several decades. An explosion of new research methods is leading to a fascinating era of oceanic discovery. Shark Biology and Conservation is an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the diversity, evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology, anatomy, and conservation of sharks. Written in a style that is detailed but not intimidating by world-renowned shark specialists Dan Abel and Dean Grubbs, it relays numerous stories and insights from their exciting experiences in the field. While explaining scientific concepts in terms that non-specialists and students can understand, Abel and Grubbs reveal secrets that will illuminate even the experts. The text provides readers with a robust and wide range of essential knowledge as it * introduces emerging as well as traditional techniques for classifying sharks, understanding their behavior, and unraveling the mysteries of their evolution; * draws on both established shark science and the latest breakthroughs in the field, from molecular approaches to tracking technologies; * highlights the often-neglected yet fascinating subject of shark physiology, including heart function, sensory biology, digestion, metabolic performance, and reproduction; * addresses big picture ecological questions like "Which habitats do sharks prefer?" and "Where do sharks migrate and for what purpose?"; * describes the astonishing diversity of sharks' adaptations to their environment; * discusses which shark conservation techniques do and don't work; and * comments on the use and misuse of science in the study of sharks. Enhanced by hundreds of original color photographs and beautifully detailed line drawings, Shark Biology and Conservation will appeal to anyone who is spellbound by this wondrous, ecologically important, and threatened group, including marine biologists, wildlife educators, students, and shark enthusiasts.
Daniel C. Abel is a retired college professor and coauthor of books on environmental sustainability and sharks. R. Dean Grubbs is the associate director of research and a full research faculty member at the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory. Tristan L. Guttridge is a behavioral ecologist who specializes in shark behavior. He runs the non-profit Saving the Blue, which researches threatened sharks and rays and provides educational opportunities to connect people with ocean wildlife. Joshua K. Moyer specializes in the comparative anatomy, ecomorphology, and evolution of elasmobranch fishes. He is a lecturer at Yale University and a curatorial affiliate at the Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Introduction, Evolution, Diversity, and Classification 1. Introduction 2. Evolution of Sharks 3. Diversity of Sharks Part II: Adaptational Biology: How Sharks Work 4. Functional Anatomy of Sharks 5. Sensory Biology 6. Reproduction 7. Circulation, Respiration, and Metabolism 8. Thermal Physiology, Osmoregulation, and Digestion Part III: Ecology and Behavior 9. Ecology 10. Behavior and Cognition Part IV: Fisheries, Climate Change, and Other Human Impacts 11. Fisheries 12. Climate Change and Other Human Impacts Appendix: Conservation: Efforts to Protect Sharks and Rays Index
Feed your fascination with sharks! This complete resource enlightens readers on the biology, ecology, and behavior of sharks with approachable explanations and more than 250 stunning color illustrations.
Authors write for two reasons: an overwhelming compulsion to tell a story, or to fill a void. Abel and Grubbs are uniquely motivated by both factors. They have written a much-needed story that they have been presenting to classes for more than twenty years. Read this story. It is flawless. --John F. Morrissey, coauthor of Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life, praise for the first edition My shelves are crammed with shark literature, from classic scientific texts to children's books, tall stories from fishermen, identification guides, and more, but none of these volumes are as comprehensive, accessible, and amusing as this book. It is hard to stop reading long enough to write: 'This is a classic--order your first edition copy NOW!' --Sarah Fowler, OBE, coauthor of Sharks of the World: A Fully Illustrated Guide, praise for the first edition The latest book on shark biology and conservation, written by two of the most experienced shark biologists in the business. Covering a wide range of topics, this book is both highly entertaining and informative. I was surprised at how much I learned despite my many years of shark research. --Yannis P. Papastamatiou, Florida International University, praise for the first edition Written in a disarming, jargon-free style, this book is highly accessible to a broad audience. At the same time, this is an authoritative, carefully researched text. It builds on the substantial experience of two highly regarded research biologists with a passion for elasmobranchs, and for communicating what they know about these animals in a straightforward way. --Gavin J. P. Naylor, Florida Program for Shark Research, praise for the first edition
