Sea turtles : a complete guide to their biology, behavior, and conservation /

Sea turtles are unique; they are also among the most endangered animals on earth, and this book shows just how they reached both of these points. Spotila (Drexel Univ.) covers everything from their evolutionary history to the perils they now face from fishing gear; topics are illustrated with beautiful color photographs and figures. The author is both a leading authority on sea turtles and a talented writer; his passion for the subject is apparent on every page. He is especially effective at integrating the biology and behavior of the animals with their conservation needs. Numerous sidebars provide additional details on topics such as nest temperature sex determination (one of the author's many discoveries and a prime example of the importance of basic research to recovery programs); others highlight the work of various scientists and conservationists throughout the world. A complete index and listing of source literature make this book useful as a reference. The historical and species accounts are laced with fascinating anecdotes, and they carry a hopeful message for the future of sea turtles, if humans do their part. All royalties from the sale of the book go toward sea turtle conservation. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels. G.C. Jensen University of Washington

Sea turtles are among the planet's most ancient inhabitants, arising during the Triassic period some 220 million years ago and not changing much since. As they spend their lives at sea, only coming ashore to nest, much of what has been learned about the physiology and behavior of sea turtles has been discovered fairly recently with the advent of modern scientific equipment. Spotila, a longtime sea turtle researcher, distills what is known about these mysterious ocean wanderers into this beautifully illustrated new treatise. He writes with an informative and chatty narrative flow, covering his research and that of other scientists in chapters on the biology, evolution, life cycle, and conservation of sea turtles. Each of the seven species, ranging from the well-known green turtle to the mysterious flatback, receives its own chapter detailing diet, behavior, range, and nesting beaches. Sidebars throughout the text go into more detail on techniques such as radio-tagging turtles. The author is eloquent in his appeal for the conservation of sea turtles. The best single book on the subject. --Nancy Bent Copyright 2004 Booklist

With its conversational writing style and exciting first-hand stories about researching giant sea turtles on rain-soaked tropical beaches, this beautiful illustrated reference should appeal to both students of marine biology and those with a causal interest in the sciences. Each of the seven kinds of sea turtle?from the 80-pound Kemp?s Ridleys to the 2000-pound Leatherback?receives its own chapter, and sidebars highlight the contributions of individual scientists. Other chapters are devoted to the sea turtle?s biology, history, life cycle and conservation. Photos range from magnificent underwater tableaus and stunning close-ups of cute, inquisitive young hatchlings to stark but accurate reflections of the dangerous world these underwater reptiles inhabit. Spotila, a professor of environmental science at Drexel University and founder of the International Sea Turtle Society, makes useful connections throughout to help readers better understand the sea turtle?s biology, contrasting them with humans, dinosaurs and other animals (?Green turtles literally fly through the water using their front flippers to provide both lift and thrust just like the wing of a bird?). But the book?s primary emphasis is on conservation. As Spotila writes, ?these beautiful swimmers have survived for 110 million years and yet are threatened with extinction after only a few centuries of exposure to humans.? Informative and entertaining, this guide will raise readers? awareness of the plight of these extraordinary animals and may even motivate some to take part in Spotila?s conservation efforts. (Nov. 30) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.