Worms, protozoa, and other terrifying parasites, capable even of mind control. Author calls them the real drivers of evolution.

Author and science writer Robert M. Sapolsky offers answers to various questions that are at once intriguing and perhaps seemingly unrelated. How do imperceptibly small differences in the environment change one's behavior? What do the mating rituals of prairie dogs tell us about ourselves? Why don't we try new things as we age? How does stress shrink our brains? How does ecology shape human theology? How is the battle of the sexes conducted at the cellular level? "Monkeluv" has all the answers!

From the bestselling author of The Clockwork Universe and The Writing of the Gods , an “utterly delightful…hugely entertaining” ( Air Mail ) book about the eccentric Victorians who discovered dinosaur bones, leading to a whole new understanding of human history. In the early 1800s the natural world was a safe and cozy place, or so people believed. But then a twelve-year-old farm boy in Massachusetts stumbled on a row of fossilized three-toed footprints the size of dinner plates—the first dinosaur tracks ever found. Soon, in England, scientists unearthed enormous bones that reached as high as a man’s head. Outside of myths and fairy tales, no one had even imagined that creatures like three-toed giants had once lumbered across the land—nor dreamed that they could all have vanished, hundreds of millions years ago. In Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party , celebrated storyteller and historian Edward Dolnick leads us through a compelling true adventure as the paleontologists of the early 19th century puzzled their way through the fossil record to create the story of dinosaurs we know today. The tale begins with Mary Anning, a poor, uneducated woman who had a sixth sense for finding fossils buried deep inside cliffs; moves to William Buckland, an eccentric geologist who filled his home with specimens and famously pieced together a prehistoric scene from the fossil record inside a cave; and then on to the controversial Richard Owen, the era’s best-known scientist, and the one who coined the term “dinosaur.” “Exuberant” ( Kirkus Reviews ), entertaining, erudite, and featuring an unconventional cast of characters, Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party tells the story of how the accidental discovery of prehistoric creatures upended humanity’s understanding of the world and its own place within it.

Inspired by the wonder of his own parental experiences, former psychoanalyst and New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Masson offers a remarkable look at one of the most fulfilling roles in the animal world: fatherhood. In The Evolution of Fatherhood , he explores the extraordinary dedication and behavior of nature's most outstanding dads. Discover the male emperor penguin incubating his egg through Antarctic blizzards, prairie dog dads teaching their pups vital life skills through play, and the South American tamarin monkey who actively "coaches" his mate through labor. Learn why wolves make devoted fathers, while their close relatives, dogs, often don't display the same level of paternal care. With captivating writing and impeccable research, Masson celebrates the unique and often surprising role males play in the lives of their young. He contrasts these heroes with nature's less involved fathers--like lions, langurs, and bears--and challenges the notion that paternal care is purely biological. Masson passionately demonstrates that for many animals, fatherhood is a profound, all-encompassing emotional experience. Compelling and inspirational, The Evolution of Fatherhood is a book that will forever change how you perceive parenthood, family bonds, and the rich emotional lives of the animals who share our world.

How do we understand the world? While some look to the heavens for intelligent design, others argue that it is determined by information encoded in DNA. Science serves as an important activity for uncovering the processes and operations of nature, but it is also immersed in a social context where ideology influences the questions we ask and how we approach the material world. Biology Under the Influence: Dialectical Essays on the Coevolution of Nature and Society breaks from the confirms of determinism, offering a dialectical analysis for comprehending a dynamic social and natural world. In Biology Under the Influence , Richard Lewontin and Richard Levins provide a devastating critique of genetic determinism and reductionism within science while exploring a broad range of issues including the nature of science, biology, evolution, the environment, pubic health, and dialectics, They dismantle the ideology that attempts to naturalize social inequalities, unveil the alienation of science and nature, and illustrate how a dialectical position serves as a basis for grappling with historical developments and a world characterized by change. Biology Under the Influence brings together the illuminating essays of two prominent scientists who work to demystify and empower the public's understanding of science and nature.

Now a major motion picture starring Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Tim Blake Nelson, John Krasinski, and Vinessa Shaw—an account of the dramatic rescue of three gray whales trapped under the ice in Alaska in 1988. Set in Cold War–era 1988, Freeing the Whales tells the real story behind the remarkable, bizarre, and oftentimes uproarious event that mesmerized the world for weeks. On October 7, an Inuit hunter near Barrow, Alaska, found three California Gray whales imprisoned in the Arctic ice. In the past, as was nature's way, trapped whales always died. Not this time. Tom Rose, who was covering the event for a Japanese TV station, compellingly describes how oil company executives, environmental activists, Inupiat people, small business people, and the U.S. military boldly worked together to rescue the whales. He also tells the stories of some of the more than 150 international journalists who brought the story to the world's attention. The rescue was followed by millions of people around the world as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev joined the forces of their two nations to help free the whales.

This easy-to-read handbook provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on lichens. The structure of lichens and their dual nature is explained, as well as the physiology of interaction of the symbionts. The way lichens reproduce and their ecology is included, with methods for cultivating them and their isolated symbionts. Extremely useful as a text of lichenology, this handbook will benefit students of lichenology and allied fields, those interested in symbiotic associations and ecology, and teachers of biology, botany, and ecology courses.

Hanski, a leading thinker in metapopulation ecology, studies checkerspot butterfly populations in Finland. Ehrlich, one of the leading ecologists and conservation biologist, investigates checkerspot butterfly populations in California. This book reports on and synthsizes the major long-term research of both workers' careers on the population biology of checkerspot butterflies.

A collection of essays and transcripts of interviews and speeches by Earth First!er Judi Bari who survived first a 1990 car-bombing that left her paralyzed, then subsequent implication in her own attack, in spite of clear motives and death-threats from others. These articles and essays provide a history of Earth First!'s work and internal struggles, the involvement of the timber corporations, Richard Held (of COINTELPRO fame) and the FBI in discrediting Earth First!, as well as Bari's own complex relationship with the organization and some of its tactics. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Abundant fish along North America's West Coast Coast have nurtured rich and diverse cultures for centuries. But today millions of sockeye salmon routinely seem to disappear from the Fraser River, chinook salmon populations are collapsing, the abalone fishery is one of several that has been shut down and oolichan populations are in dramatic decline. At the same time, biodiversity is being lost as the remaining stocks are concentrated into fewer populations. Will the Pacific fishery go the way of the Atlantic fishery? How can it be better managed? And what can be done to ensure its long-term sustainability? In Dead Reckoning, award-winning journalist Terry Glavin attempts to answer these troublesome questions. He begins at Byrne Creek, a local stream that shaped his boyhood world, then takes us up the Fraser River, where Coyote once assigned fishing rights and techniques, and out onto the high seas. It is later than we think - but not too late, says Glavin. In precise, highly visual and moving prose, he presents concrete alternatives for fishing communities on the West Coast and around the globe, and introduces us to some of the fishers, biologists and average citizens who are working to conserve and restore the world's great fisheries today.

Recipient of the ECI Prize in 1993 for terrestrial ecology. Reviews and analyses the essential aspects of modern ecological research and its bearing on society and on related sciences. The author deplores that many ecologists are not doing enough to motivate society into counteracting the increasing degradation of our environment. Hence, he outlines and discusses what, in his opinion, research ecologists should do to avoid the world's plunge towards ecocatastrophe.

This unique book is the first of its kind to explore the diversity of interactions between insects and birds. A group of international experts enthusiastically agreed to contribute to the four sections of the book following the success of an Entomological Club Conference on Insect and Bird Interactions. The first section covers population management issues, discussing effects on birds highly relevant to the planting of large areas of GM crops, new opportunities for increasing biodiversity in farming landscapes, and the novel aspect of managing insects by exploiting birds as biological control agents. This is followed by a section discussing the effects of insecticides on bird populations, and includes a contribution from the RSPB, as well as a re-appraisal of the effects of DDT on raptors. Next, the foraging behaviour of birds on insects is discussed, with chapters also on ‘warning’ coloration in insects and learning by birds. The first chapter in this section is unusual in having been written by an ophthalmologist and covers colour vision in birds, more specifically ultraviolet vision in relation to insect coloration. Finally, the authors look at insects that are parasites of birds or feed on the detritus in nests, and review the ecology and evolution of the co-adaptation of insect ectoparasites with birds. Insect and Bird Interactions is unparalleled in scope and coverage and will be of interest to entomologists, ornithologists, and ecologists alike.

Virtually undeveloped one hundred years ago, Israel, the promised "land of milk and honey," is in ecological disarray. In this gripping book, Alon Tal provides--for the first time ever--a history of environmentalism in Israel, interviewing hundreds of experts and activists who have made it their mission to keep the country's remarkable development sustainable amid a century of political and cultural turmoil.The modern Zionist vision began as a quest to redeem a land that bore the cumulative effects of two thousand years of foreign domination and neglect. Since then, Israel has suffered from its success. A tenfold increase in population and standard of living has polluted the air. The deserts have bloomed but groundwater has become contaminated. Urban sprawl threatens to pave over much of the country's breathtaking landscape. Yet there is hope. Tal's account considers the ecological and tactical lessons that emerge from dozens of cases of environmental mishaps, from habitat loss to river reclamation. Pollution in a Promised Land argues that the priorities and strategies of Israeli environmental advocates must address issues beyond traditional green agendas.

Research on bacterial adhesion and its significance is a major field involving many different aspects of nature and human life, such as marine science, soil and plant ecology, most importantly, the biomedical field. The adhesion ofbacteria to the food industry, and human tissue surfaces and implanted biomaterial surfaces is an important step in the patho genesis of infection. Handbook 0/ Bacterial Adhesion: Principles, Methods, and Applications is an outgrowth of the editors' own quest for information on laboratory techniques for studying bacte rial adhesion to biomaterials, bone, and other tissues and, more importantly, a response to significant needs in the research community. This book is designed to be an experimental guide for biomedical scientists, biomaterials scientists, students, laboratory technicians, or anyone who plans to conduct bacterial adhesion studies. More specifically, it is intended for all those researchers facing the chal lenge of implant infections in such devices as orthopedic prostheses, cardiovascular devices or catheters, cerebrospinal fluid shunts or extradural catheters, thoracic or abdominal catheters, portosystemic shunts or bile stents, urological catheters or stents, plastic surgical implants, oral or maxillofacial implants, contraceptive implants, or even contact lenses. It also covers research methods for the study of bacterial adhesion to tis sues such as teeth, respiratory mucosa, intestinal mucosa, and the urinary tract. In short, it constitutes a handbook for biomechanical and bioengineering researchers and students at all levels.

"Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica" by Philip Henry Gosse is a classic of ornithology and natural history, showcasing the diverse avian life of the Caribbean island. This beautifully illustrated volume provides a detailed pictorial record of Jamaica's birds, meticulously documented by the author. A treasure for bird enthusiasts and those fascinated by the natural world, this book offers a glimpse into the ecology of Jamaica through stunning illustrations and insightful observations. Focusing on the unique bird species native to the region, "Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica" remains a valuable resource for understanding the island's biodiversity and a testament to the enduring appeal of natural history illustration. A perfect addition for anyone interested in birds, the Caribbean, or the history of scientific illustration. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The existence of coherent excitations in active biological systems has been established in recent years. The present book aims at presenting a survey on the many features that such ex citations can exhibit. This does not mean that a "theory of biology" has been established but it implies that such a theory will make use of such excitations. It is hoped that the present book will help in this direction. April 1988 H. Frohlich Contents Theoretical Physics and Biology H. Frohlich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . Theory of Non-linear Excitations F. Kaiser (With 9 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Structures, Correlations and Electromagnetic Interactions in living Theory and Applications E. Del Giudice, S. Doglia, M. Milani and G. Vitiello. . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Resonant Cellular Effects of Low Intensity Microwaves W. Grundler, U. J entzsch, F. Keilmann and V. Putterlik (With 14 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 . . . . . . . The Influence of Low Intensity Millimetre Waves on Biological Systems F. Kremer, L. Santo, A. Poglitsch, C. Koschnitzke, H. Behrens and L. Genzel (With 17 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Metastable States of Biopolymers J. B. Hasted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Physical Aspects of Plant Photosynthesis F. Drissler (With 25 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Emission of Radiation by Active Cells J. K. Pollock and D. G. Pohl (With 6 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Physiological Signalling Across Cell Membranes and Cooperative Influences of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields W. R. Adey (With 7 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 The Interaction of living Red Blood Cells S. Rowlands (With 2 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 The Genetic Code as Language F. Frohlich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 . . . . . .