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Imperiled Reef: The Fascinating, Fragile Life of a Caribbean Wonder
by Sandy SheehyThe beauty and drama of a world beneath the surface of the waves This book brings alive the richly diverse world of an underwater paradise: the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Stretching 625 miles through the Caribbean Sea along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, this reef is the second largest coral structure on the planet. Imperiled Reef searches out the breathtaking intricacies of this endangered ecological treasure. Research shows that the future of the reef is at risk, Sheehy explains. Looking closely at threats ranging from global warming to overfishing to irresponsible development, Sheehy draws attention to the inspiring efforts of nongovernmental agencies, scientists, and local communities who are working together to address these challenges. She includes practical actions individuals can take to protect this reef—as well as marine ecosystems everywhere. Celebrating a vast, submerged landscape that has too often been undervalued, Imperiled Reef is both a strong case for protecting an international marvel and a powerful message of hope for the world’s oceans.
The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle
by Shawn K. StoutDo you believe in impossible things? Cutie Grackle does. She has to. Otherwise, she&’ll never be more than a lonely 10 year old in a cursed family. Cutie Grackle is used to being different—she lives alone on a mountain with her feeble-minded uncle, and when she&’s not sucking pebbles to trick her stomach into feeling full, she&’s chatting with a weathered garden gnome for company. But having a flock of ravens follow you is more than just different. Cutie worries the birds are connected to the curse Uncle Horace tends to mutter about. And she&’s right. The ravens present her with a fortune from a cookie, and when she touches it she&’s pulled into a vision from her family&’s past. It involves the curse and her long-lost mother. The birds offer up a series of objects, each imbued with memories that eventually reveal Cutie must do what her mother could not: break the curse. Part outdoor survival adventure, part fantastical quest, Shawn K. Stout&’s The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle is a journey of hope, heart, and a willingness to believe in the impossible.
The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure
by Martin W. SandlerThe dead of an Arctic winter. Whaling ships full of men, stranded in ice. Follow three rescuers in a race against time--and all odds--in this heartpounding true adventure. Martin W. Sandler takes us on every step of their riveting journey, facing raging blizzards, killing cold, injured sled dogs, and setbacks to test the strongest of wills.
The Improbable Cat
by Allan AhlbergIt all begins when David's family takes in a stray kitten. At least that's what the creature appears to be. But David and his faithful dog, Billy, immediately sense something terribly amiss. Then indeed "something crazy--impossible--horrific" happens. . . .From the Hardcover edition.
Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution
by Jonathan B. LososA major new book overturning our assumptions about how evolution works Earth’s natural history is full of fascinating instances of convergence: phenomena like eyes and wings and tree-climbing lizards that have evolved independently, multiple times. But evolutionary biologists also point out many examples of contingency, cases where the tiniest change—a random mutation or an ancient butterfly sneeze—caused evolution to take a completely different course. What role does each force really play in the constantly changing natural world? Are the plants and animals that exist today, and we humans ourselves, inevitabilities or evolutionary flukes? And what does that say about life on other planets? Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology can tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science. He takes us around the globe to meet the researchers who are solving the deepest mysteries of life on Earth through their work in experimental evolutionary science. Losos himself is one of the leaders in this exciting new field, and he illustrates how experiments with guppies, fruit flies, bacteria, foxes, and field mice, along with his own work with anole lizards on Caribbean islands, are rewinding the tape of life to reveal just how rapid and predictable evolution can be. Improbable Destinies will change the way we think and talk about evolution. Losos's insights into natural selection and evolutionary change have far-reaching applications for protecting ecosystems, securing our food supply, and fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria. This compelling narrative offers a new understanding of ourselves and our role in the natural world and the cosmos.
The Improbable Shepherd
by Sylvia Jorrin Joshua Kilmer-Purcell"The lessons of Sylvia's farm are not just applicable for those who dream of living the rural life. They're universally instructive, and joyfully addictive." --Joshua Kilmer-Purcell, The Fabulous Beekman BoysIn this sequel to her popular first collection, Sylvia Jorrín returns with more vignettes -- along with personal photos, artwork, and recipes--from her life on thefarm to again inspire readers old and new. The Improbable Shepherd is a continuation of Sylvia's Farm, covering the past five years of her experiences on a rural sheep farm. This book brings readers closer to the world around them, and to recognize the simple, often hidden beauties it holds. Told in short vignettes and anecdotes, it is a journal of the continuing growth, persistence, and hope that each new day can bring.Nearly a decade after the publication of her first book, life on Sylvia Jorrin's farm continues to present our improbable shepherdess with new opportunities to appreciate the peace and unexpected joys that farm life brings despite too many tasks and too little time.The Improbable Shepherd immerses the reader fully in Sylvia's farm, echoing her own experiences living with the land and includes photos, and illustrations and Sylvia's personal recipes. Appealing to those who loved Sylvia's first book and want to return, as well as for all the newcomers who have yet to discover Sylvia's powerful prose and earnest message, The Improbable Shepherd will inspire you to follow your dreams, whatever they may be.
Impronte Sulla Sabbia: Il Viaggio Di Un Elefante Thunder (Collezione/Serie Thunder: Il viaggio di un elefante Serie letteraria #2)
by Erik Daniel Shein Melissa DavisUn piccolo elefante, una gigantesca avventura… La ricerca dell’avventura offrirà a Thunder più occasioni di quante potesse aspettarsi. Non avrebbe mai immaginato di ritrovarsi ancora una volta solo, ma le impronte lasciate da sua madre sulla sabbia gli faranno da guida per trovare la sua strada e cominciare una nuova vita. Durante il viaggio stringerà nuove amicizie: Razor, un leone scontento, Dash, una genetta molto veloce e Archie una lucertola loquace. Incontrerà anche due stravaganti gorilla di nome Harold e Neville. Poi Thunder visiterà di nuovo le grotte, dove si riappacificherà con i suoi vecchi amici. Insieme uniranno le forze per salvare la situazione e far sì che Thunder ritrovi la pace interiore.
Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach
by Madonna Benjamin Courtney Lynd Daigle Derek Donkin Anne Marie Anne Marie Lily N. Edwards-Callaway Wendy K Fulwider Camie Heleski Hubert J. Karreman David Main Amy McLean David J Mellor Siobhan Mullan Bernard Rollin Jeffrey Rushen Jan Shearer Kevin Stafford Janice Swanson Kurt Vogel Helen Whay Tina Widowski Jennifer Woods Steven Yik Upinder Kaur Richard M. Voyles Shawn DonkinCompletely revised, updated and with four new chapters on sustainability, new technologies, precision agriculture and the future of animal welfare, the third edition of this highly successful textbook: · Is edited by an outstanding world expert on animal welfare. · Emphasizes throughout the importance of measuring conditions that compromise welfare, such as lameness, heat stress, body condition, and bruises during transport. · Combines scientific information with practical recommendations for use on commercial operations. · Reviews practical information on livestock handling, euthanasia, slaughter, pain relief, and assessments of abnormal behavior. Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach remains essential reading for students and practitioners of ethology, animal and veterinary science, veterinary medicine, as well as those working directly with farm animals and committed to improving their welfare.
Improving Animal Welfare
by Temple GrandinNew legislation on animal welfare standards has created the need for welfare programmes to be implemented on farms, during transportation, and in slaughter plants. While there is a wealth of information on animal behaviour, ethics and factors effecting welfare, there is little to guide veterinarians and managers in evaluating animal welfare and improving it. This textbook aims to help those working with animals to apply practical methods for improving welfare, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application. Drawing on the editor's extensive experience in teaching and auditing, and contributions from international experts, this book provides a guide to practical evaluation and auditing of welfare problems, emphasizing the importance of measuring conditions that compromise welfare. Key Features Written by a leading authority on the subject with contributions from industry experts Provides a strongly practical review of the topic and how to apply research where it makes a difference Ideal guide for veterinarians and veterinary students and welfare auditing and officer training, and students in animal sciences
Improving Animal Welfare
by David Mellor David Main Jennifer Woods Temple Grandin Kevin Stafford Jeff Hill Bernard Rollin Camie Heleski Janice Swanson Amy Mclean Lily Nowell Edwards Anne De Passillé Jeffrey Rushen Jan Shearer Helen Whay Tina WidowskiBy taking an entirely practical approach, this textbook aims to help those working with animals to apply methods for improving welfare, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application. This book provides a guide to practical evaluation and auditing of welfare problems for farmed animals, emphasizing the importance of measuring conditions that compromise welfare such as lameness, or the use of electric goads. This second edition is fully updated with new literature, new, up to date coverage of pain management, and the addition of a new chapter on animal welfare in organic farming systems.
Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach
by Anne De Passillé Lily Nowell Edwards Camie Heleski Jeff Hill David Main Amy McLean David Mellor Bernard Rollin Jeffrey Rushen Jan Shearer Kevin Stafford Janice Swanson Helen Whay Tina Widowski Jennifer WoodsBy taking an entirely practical approach, this textbook aims to help those working with animals to apply methods for improving welfare, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application. This book provides a guide to practical evaluation and auditing of welfare problems for farmed animals, emphasizing the importance of measuring conditions that compromise welfare such as lameness, or the use of electric goads. This second edition is fully updated with new literature, new, up to date coverage of pain management, and the addition of a new chapter on animal welfare in organic farming systems.
Improving Food Safety Through a One Health Approach
by Eileen R. ChoffnesGlobalization of the food supply has created conditions favorable for the emergence, reemergence, and spread of food-borne pathogens-compounding the challenge of anticipating, detecting, and effectively responding to food-borne threats to health. In the United States, food-borne agents affect 1 out of 6 individuals and cause approximately 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths each year. This figure likely represents just the tip of the iceberg, because it fails to account for the broad array of food-borne illnesses or for their wide-ranging repercussions for consumers, government, and the food industry-both domestically and internationally. A One Health approach to food safety may hold the promise of harnessing and integrating the expertise and resources from across the spectrum of multiple health domains including the human and veterinary medical and plant pathology communities with those of the wildlife and aquatic health and ecology communities. The IOM's Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop on December 13 and 14, 2011 that examined issues critical to the protection of the nation's food supply. The workshop explored existing knowledge and unanswered questions on the nature and extent of food-borne threats to health. Participants discussed the globalization of the U. S. food supply and the burden of illness associated with foodborne threats to health; considered the spectrum of food-borne threats as well as illustrative case studies; reviewed existing research, policies, and practices to prevent and mitigate foodborne threats; and, identified opportunities to reduce future threats to the nation's food supply through the use of a "One Health" approach to food safety. Improving Food Safety Through a One Health Approach: Workshop Summary covers the events of the workshop and explains the recommendations for future related workshops.
In a Dog's Heart: What Our Dogs Need, Want, and Deserve--and the Gifts We Can Expect in Return
by Jennifer ArnoldWhat our dogs need to live a good life, and why we must come through for them Over the two decades she has spent raising and training service dogs for people with disabilities, Jennifer Arnold has come to a unique and profound understanding of the human-dog bond. Though it may seem simple and instinctive, the friendship and devotion we share with our pets is a wondrous evolutionary development. Our two species have come to rely on each other for protection, companionship, comfort, and happiness--needs and benefits that go both ways. Yet when we step outside our designated roles and take on practices that require us to display dominance over our canine charges, we misread cues and misinterpret behavior, sometimes with disastrous results. Conversely, when communication between dog and keeper is clear and based on kindness and a willingness to see things through a dog's eyes, the payoff for both dog and owner is tremendous. When respect and care are brought together, we come to know the inalienable goodness in a dog's soul.As the founder of Canine Assistants, Arnold has implemented and advanced a methodology--Choice Teaching--that pairs scientific and behavioral knowledge about dogs with gentle incentive and encouragement to extraordinary effect. But she does not consider herself a dog trainer; rather, she sees herself as a relationship expert who improves the connection between humans and dogs and in the process betters the quality of life for both. In a Dog's Heart offers Arnold's offers her best practices and useful tips that range over a dog's whole life, including: * how to choose the puppy that's destined for you from a bustling litter and what you need to have on hand before you bring that puppy home; * what to stock in your doggie first-aid kit;* how to keep your pet safe from dangers at home and in the outside world;* the challenges and rewards of adopting an older dog;* how to help your dog overcome anxious behavior, from separation anxiety to thunderstorm phobia;* when to recognize that it's time to let go. As in her bestselling first book, Through a Dog's Eyes, Arnold illustrates what she's learned through captivating and moving stories drawn from her experience. We learn about Grace, a black Lab who was rescued after she was thrown from a truck and delivered to Canine Assistants emaciated, dehydrated, and with a broken pelvis. As Grace recovered she displayed an usual gift for scent detection and now spends her days sniffing out bombs on the Israeli border. We meet Casper, a Lab-golden mix who works full-time at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta, a best friend to kids undergoing cancer treatment, and a buddy ready to offer comfort as needed to the doctors on staff. We also discover the myriad ways in which dogs improve our lives--and what they need and deserve from us in return.From the Hardcover edition.
In a Jar
by Deborah MarceroHere's a marvelous picture book, charmingly written and beautifully illustrated, about the power of memory and the magic of friendship.Llewellyn, a little rabbit, is a collector. He gathers things in jars--ordinary things like buttercups, feathers, and heart-shaped stones. Then he meets another rabbit, Evelyn, and together they begin to collect extraordinary things--like rainbows, the sound of the ocean, and the wind just before snow falls. And, best of all, when they hold the jars and peer inside, they remember all the wonderful things they've seen and done. But one day, Evelyn has sad news: Her family is moving away. How can the two friends continue their magical collection--and their special friendship--from afar?
In a Minute, Mama Bear (Mama and Bella Bear)
by Rachel BrightRachel Bright's In a Minute, Mama Bear is the first in a new series following Mama Bear and Bella Bear, from the author and illustrator of the #1 Publishers Weekly bestseller Love Monster.Mama Bear is all ready to start her busy day: there are errands to run, classes to get to, and lots more to do. Mama is raring to go! But toddler Bella is lagging behind. So Mama Bear decides to throw the to-do list out the window and spend the day playing and relaxing in the park with Bella Bear—and together they find that sometimes, when things don’t go as planned, they can still have a whole lot of fun.
In a Perfect Ocean: The State Of Fisheries And Ecosystems In The North Atlantic Ocean (The State of the World's Oceans #1)
by Jay Maclean Daniel PaulyRecent decades have been marked by the decline or collapse of one fishery after another around the world, from swordfish in the North Atlantic to orange roughy in the South Pacific. While the effects of a collapse on local economies and fishing-dependent communities have generated much discussion, little attention has been paid to its impacts on the overall health of the ocean's ecosystems.In a Perfect Ocean: The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean presents the first empirical assessment of the status of ecosystems in the North Atlantic ocean. Drawing on a wide range of studies including original research conducted for this volume, the authors analyze 14 large marine ecosystems to provide an indisputable picture of an ocean whose ecology has been dramatically altered, resulting in a phenomenon described by the authors as "fishing down the food web." The book provides a snapshot of the past health of the North Atlantic and compares it to its present status; presents a rigorous scientific assessment based on key criteria; considers the factors that have led to the current situation; describes the policy options available for halting the decline; and offers recommendations for restoring the North Atlantic. This is the first in a series of assessments by the world's leading marine scientists, entitled "The State of the World's Oceans." In a Perfect Ocean: The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean is a landmark study, the first of its kind to make a comprehensive, ecosystem-based assessment of the North Atlantic Ocean, and will be essential reading for policymakers at the state, national, and international level concerned with fisheries management, as well for scientists, researchers, and activists concerned with marine issues or fishing and the fisheries industry.
In a Pig's Eye
by Judie Wolkoff[From the front dust jacket flap:] Maisie Blumm and Glenda Jax are best friends--even while they aren't speaking. Which is often. They are both fourth graders at Fairview School in Deer Creek, Connecticut, and each is the owner of the world's most dearly-loved dog. So what if Glenda's Snookums looks like a "hairy mouse", granddaughter of a dustmop (Maisie's opinion). So what if Maisie's Oxie must be a mix of squirrel and baboon, and flea-brained besides (ask Glenda). Girls--and dogs, too--share some hilarious good times. For example, there is the afternoon when Lloyd Blumm is downtown buying a record and Maisie and Glenda can finally sneak a look to see if his room really is booby-trapped. (He's rigged up something! And the reason for that is a small item which appeared in The Poppin Road Gazette about the incredible condition of the "pig sty" he calls his bedroom. The publishers of the paper--Maisie and Glenda--have gone too far in their "DID YOU KNOW?" gossip column, and now Lloyd has declared war). Other good times include the heroic results of the great balloon send-off and the unexpected ending of the Deer Creek Dog Show, when Oxie and Snookums compete head to head for blue ribbons. But wait! All ends well... or does it? Only best friends forgive, forget and survive a crisis laughing.
In Alligator's Hole
by Buffy Silverman Diane BlasiusDuring the rainy season in the marshlands, Alligator has almost nothing to eat. When the dry season comes, Alligator digs a hole in the pond and waits for the animals to return. Without Alligator and her hole, there would be far fewer animals living in the marsh.
In Colt Blood (Nattie Gold Mystery #3)
by Jody Jaffe"She's pure gold," raves The Philadelphia Inquirer about redheaded Carolina journalist and inspired snoop Natalie Gold--"spunky, quirky, and lots of fun." Now Nattie's mixing it up with a crazy passel of filthy rich Southerners, a horse-whispering beauty, and one grisly murder ... In Colt Blood. When Nattie's boss at the Charlotte Commercial Appeal orders her to find a local horse whisperer to interview, she knows just the person: yellow-haired New Age belle Sarah Jane Lowell, one of the gifted few who claims to have a psychic connection to horses. She not only talks to them, she hears what they answer. Unfortunately, before Nattie can set up a meeting, Sarah Jane vanishes along with her newfound friend: Nattie's eccentric father. Disturbingly, their sudden disappearance coincides with the brutal murder of Fuzzy McMahon, whose bludgeoned body was found at the very stable where Nattie was supposed to meet Sarah Jane. True, Fuzzy was less than popular, but who would stoop to such a bloody act of violence? Although suspicion has fallen on dark-horse candidate Sarah Jane, Nattie's splitting her money between two other front-runners: blacksmith Bobby McMahon, Fuzzy's redneck of a husband, and his tiresome cousin, Jason Sukon, who can only gain by her death--specifically millions of dollars. A sophisticated tale of reckless romance and irretrievable violence, In Cold Blood goes beyond murder to explore the mysteries of fear, love, lust, and hate. And as always, when it comes to the manners and morals of the New South, mystery author Jody Jaffe gets it right every time.
‘In Considerable Variety’: Introducing The Diversity Of Australia's Insects
by Tim R. NewThe book introduces basic entomology, emphasising perspectives on insect diversity important in conservation assessment and setting priorities for management, as a foundation for managers and others without entomological training or background. It bridges the gap between photographic essays on insect identification and more technical texts, to illustrate and discuss many aspects of taxonomic, ecological and evolutionary diversity in the Australian insect fauna, and its impacts in human life, through outlines of many aspects of insect natural history.
In Defense of the World’s Most Despised Species: Why we love some species but hate most, and why it matters
by Ernest SmallSome animals and plants injure or kill millions of people annually, others cause trillions of dollars in property damage and loss. Such harmful species are understandably hated. However, the vast majority of the planet’s millions of species are disliked simply because of how they look and act. This bias is endangering numerous species that play important roles in maintaining both the natural ecosystems and the human economies of the world. In Defense of the World’s Most Despised Species examines the psychological motivations that lead people to make judgments about the attractiveness of species, noting the overwhelming importance of visual cues. It describes in considerable detail the physical and behavioral traits of species that lead us to love or hate them. Full color illustrations throughout present beautiful, charming animals and plants, species that seem loathsome, behavior of people in relation to such divergent species and their characteristics, and numerous explanatory diagrams of relevant biological and psychological phenomena. The aim of this book is to give readers insights into how we humans arrive at biased judgments and to promote the welfare of valuable, albeit sometimes unlovable animals and plants that consequently suffer from discrimination. Many of the ugliest, most disgusting, and feared species, such as vultures, toads, hyenas, sharks, spiders, and even the vast majority of cockroaches, in reality are some of our most valuable friends. Features Theme of the book – human preferences for and against species – is novel, scarcely examined to date. Multidisciplinary analysis, especially psychology, biological conservation science, and ecology, as well as philosophy, agriculture, urban planning, human health, and law. Text is accessible, user-friendly, concise, and well-organized, making numerous complex topics comprehensible, readable not only by specialists, but also by students and the educated layperson. Includes over 2,000 high-quality, entertaining, and informative color figures.
In Dog We Trust: Independence, Thrills, and Dignity With My Seeing Eye Dogs
by Sue W. MartinIn Dog We Trust: Independence, Thrills, and Dignity With My Seeing Eye Dogs
In The Forest
by Michèle DufresneThis informational text features quality, full-page photographs of animals that live in the forest.
In The Frame
by Dick FrancisDick Francis, the bestselling master of mystery and suspense, takes you into the thrilling world of horse racing.Charles Todd, a renowned painter of horses, is shocked when he turns up at his cousin Donald’s house for a weekend visit to find his cousin’s young wife dead on the floor and Donald the police’s prime suspect. Determined to prove Donald’s innocence, Todd trails a series of clues from England to Australia to New Zealand, only to realise someone is trailing him. Someone with every intention of taking him out of the picture for good...Praise for Dick Francis‘Few match Francis for dangerous flights of fancy and pure inventive menace’ Boston Herald‘[The] master of crime fiction and equine thrills’ Newsday‘Each Francis novel seems to be his best.’ Sunday Oklahoman
In Good Faith (The Horseshoe Trilogies #4)
by Lucy DanielsJosie is happy that Faith has found a home with Jill Atterbury. Jill hasn't been able to ride a horse since she was injured in a car accident, but little by little she takes up riding again on Faith. As Josie moves into a new home and settles into a new life, her visits with Jill and Faith teach her about difficult transitions.