New Titles

 

1) Schou, Jens Christian et al.. Aquatic Plants of Northern and Central Europe including Britain and Ireland. 2023. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 746 pages. Price: $115.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The first comprehensive guide to the aquatic plants of the region.

     Beneath the surface of bodies of freshwater—springs, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes—there is a world of plants of great variety and beauty, a realm that is often poorly known and understood. Correctly identified, these plants can tell us much about the character and condition of the habitats in which they live. A collaboration of Danish, German, and British field botanists specializing in freshwater plants, this guide presents all of the known aquatic plants of Northern and Central Europe, including Britain and Ireland, as well as many marginal and wetland species.

     This is the first comprehensive guide to the identification of the region’s 410 species and hybrids of both native and non-native ferns and flowering plants that are dependent upon freshwater wetlands. Following the latest taxonomy, the book features 358 plates in pen and ink, more than 1,400 colour photographs, illustrated keys, distribution maps and detailed descriptions. The introduction gives an overview of evolution, anatomy and morphology, ecology, eco-physiology, research traditions and more, and the book also includes guidelines for working with aquatic plants.

• The first comprehensive guide to the region’s aquatic plants
• Covers all 410 known species
• Features 358 illustrated plates, more than 1,400 colour photographs, distribution maps, detailed descriptions and much more

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with a serious interest in aquatic plants of the region!

 

 

2) Newton, Ian. The Migration Ecology of Birds (2nd Edition). 2023. Academic Press. Hardbound: ‎ 707 pages. Price: $175.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The Migration Ecology of Birds, Second Edition covers all aspects of this absorbing subject, including migratory processes, problems of navigation and vagrancy, timing and physiological control of migration, large-scale movement patterns, the effects of recent climate change, the problems that migrants face, and the factors that limit their populations. This book provides a thorough and in-depth review of the state of the science, with the text supplemented by abundant tables, maps and diagrams. Written by a world-renowned avian ecology and migration researcher, this book reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe.

       This book represents the most updated and detailed review of bird migration, its evolution, ecology and bird physiology. Written in a clear and readable style, it will appeal not only to migration researchers in the field and ornithologists, but to anyone with an interest in this fascinating subject.

• Features updated and trending ecological aspects, including various types of bird movements, dispersal and nomadism, and how they relate to food supplies and other external conditions
• Contains numerous tables, maps, diagrams, a glossary, and a bibliography of more than 3,000 up-to-date references
• Written by an active researcher with a distinguished career in avian ecology, including migration research

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in bird migration!

 

 

3) Cardoso, Goncalo C. et al. (editors). The Canary: Natural History, Science and Cultural Significance. 2023. Academic Press. Paperback: 297 pages. Price: $150.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The Canary: Natural History, Science and Cultural Significance covers the ecology, evolution and conservation of the canary and related species, along with the history and cultural significance of the domestic canary worldwide and various scientific disciplines in which canaries have played a key role as a model species. The book synthesizes the multiple ways in which the canary and its relatives have been, and continue to be, an important scientific model in diverse areas and have influenced human culture. Each chapter is written by international experts in areas such as biogeography, animal behavior, evolutionary ecology, conservation, neurobiology, genetics, or ethnology.

     In covering this eclectic array of topics, while always focusing on the canary and its close relatives, this book uses the immense appeal of the canary as a vehicle to present notions of ecology, evolution, biodiversity conservation, and so on, to a wide audience.

• Details all aspects of Crithagra and Serinus canaries as well as relatives like crossbills
• Structured to begin with more accessible topics like natural history, domestication, and conservation
• Closes with discussions of more specialized topics like evolution, neurobiology, behavior and genomics

 RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in Canaries.

 

 

4) Hauber, Mark E.. Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives. 2023. University of Chicago Press. Hardbound: 151 pages. Price: $18.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: An hourly guide that follows twenty-four birds as they find food, mates, and safety from predators.

 
      From morning to night and from the Antarctic to the equator, birds have busy days. In this short book, ornithologist Mark E. Hauber shows readers exactly how birds spend their time. Each chapter covers a single bird during a single hour, highlighting twenty-four different bird species from around the globe, from the tropics through the temperate zones to the polar regions. We encounter owls and nightjars hunting at night and kiwis and petrels finding their way in the dark. As the sun rises, we witness the beautiful songs of the “dawn chorus.” At eleven o’clock in the morning, we float alongside a common pochard, a duck resting with one eye open to avoid predators. At eight that evening, we spot a hawk swallowing bats whole, gorging on up to fifteen in rapid succession before retreating into the darkness.
 
      For each chapter, award-winning artist Tony Angell has depicted these scenes with his signature pen and ink illustrations, which grow increasingly light and then dark as our bird day passes. Working closely together to narrate and illustrate these unique moments in time, Hauber and Angell have created an engaging read that is a perfect way to spend an hour or two—and a true gift for readers, amateur scientists, and birdwatchers.

RECOMMENDATION: Tony Angell's artwork highlights this book! 

 

 

 

5) Toiati, Luigi. The History of Science Fiction and Its Toy Figurines. 2023. Pen and Sword Military. Hardbound: 515 pages. Price: $59.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Luigi Toiati guides the reader on a nostalgic walk through science fiction in all its various forms, and describes the figurines and brands associated with it.

         Science fiction, as the name suggests, is the combination of science and fantasy. In addition to a literary form, it also encompasses film, TV, comics, toys and our beloved toy astronauts, or other figures such as aliens, monsters and other playable genres.

         The term science fiction was coined by publisher Hugo Gernsbach around the first decades of the last century to refer to the predominantly 'space' adventures covered in his magazines. Space invaded radio, cinema, TV, and consequently for a long time toy figurines were predominantly space-related, later evolving into other themes.

          This lavishly illustrated book covers both the history of literary science fiction, following in the footsteps of contemporary official criticism, and toy figurines inspired by science fiction. You will also find several other themes, such as the link between science fiction figures and cinema, radio, TV, comics, and more.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in Sci-Fi toys!