Hawaii : The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide

by Beletsky, Les; Pratt, Doug

• ISBN13: 9780120848133
• ISBN10: 0120848139
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Academic Pr

Summary

People travel to Hawaii for sun, sand, and surf but increasingly spend parts of their trips hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, whale-watching, or snorkeling in the island's stunning national parks and nature reserves. Ecotravellers to the islands know that Hawaii is a special place biologically, harboring many native animal and plant species that occur nowhere else on Earth. Contained in this book is all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about the island's magnificent animal life. The author visited parks and preserves, discussed wildlife with local and international experts, and then selected his color illustrations from more than 300 of the islands' most common fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds (including essentially every Hawaiian bird). You will want to have this easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated book as a constant companion on your trip. Key Features * Provides identifying, location, and conservation information on frequently spotted animals * Gives up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of the families of animals to which the pictured species belong * Contains information on Hawaiian habitats and on the most common plants you will see, and on the underwater animals most divers and snorklers actually see * Gives brief descriptions of the state's national parks and nature reserves

Author Biography

Les Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and university lecturer

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Preface	xiv
Ecotourism and Hawaii	1	(7)
Why Visit Hawaii?	1	(1)
Hawaiian Tourism and Ecotourism	2	(1)
Ecotourism and Its Importance	3	(2)
How Ecotourism Helps	5	(1)
Ecotravel Ethics	6	(2)
Hawaii: Natural History, Geography, and Climate	8	(13)
Essentials of Hawaiian Natural History (or, What Every Ecotraveller Should Know About the Place)	8	(4)
The Main Hawaiian Islands: Geography and Features	12	(6)
Big Island	14	(1)
Kauai	15	(1)
Maui	16	(1)
Molokai	17	(1)
Oahu	17	(1)
Climate and Best Time to Visit	18	(1)
Midway Atoll	19	(2)
Habitats and Common Vegetation	21	(8)
Sarah Reichard
Remoteness	22	(1)
Geology	22	(1)
Climatic Extremes	23	(1)
Topography	23	(1)
Vegetation Types	23	(3)
Environmental Close-up 1. Lava Flows: When Volcanoes Alter the Real Estate Market	26	(3)
Matti Rossi
Parks, Preserves, and Getting Around	29	(23)
Getting Around in Hawaii	29	(2)
Descriptions of Parks, Preserves, and Other Eco-sites	31	(21)
Big Island	31	(5)
Kauai	36	(5)
Maui	41	(3)
Molokai	44	(3)
Oahu	47	(5)
Environmental Threats and Conservation	52	(18)
Environmental Threats	52	(7)
Background	52	(2)
Causes of Extinctions	54	(5)
Conservation Programs	59	(8)
Hawaiian Eco-history	59	(1)
Conservation in Practice	60	(5)
The Future	65	(2)
Environmental Close-up 2. Endemism: Political System Advocating the End of the World, or Something More Interesting?	67	(3)
How to Use This Book: Ecology and Natural History	70	(9)
What is Natural History?	70	(1)
What is Ecology and What Are Ecological Interactions?	70	(2)
How to Use This Book	72	(7)
Information in the Family Profiles	72	(5)
Information in the Color Plate Sections	77	(2)
Amphibians and Reptiles	79	(26)
Amphibians and Reptiles of Hawaii	79	(1)
Group Characteristics	80	(4)
Amphibians	80	(1)
Reptiles	81	(3)
Seeing Amphibians and Reptiles in Hawaii	84	(1)
Family Profiles	84	(16)
Toads	84	(3)
True Frogs	87	(2)
Poison-dart Frogs	89	(1)
Chameleons	90	(1)
Anolis Lizards	91	(2)
Skinks	93	(2)
Geckos	95	(2)
Turtles	97	(3)
Environmental Close-up 3. Hawaii: The Snake-less Society, and How it Got That Way	100	(5)
Birds	105	(58)
Introduction	106	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Birds	106	(1)
Features of Hawaiian Birds	107	(3)
Types of Birds	107	(1)
Of Seabirds and Land Birds, Natives and Aliens	108	(1)
Nectar-eaters: the Hawaiian Honeycreepers	109	(1)
Seeing Birds in Hawaii	110	(1)
Family Profiles	111	(47)
Seabirds I: Albatrosses and other Tube-nosed Seabirds	111	(3)
Seabirds II: Pelican Allies (Boobies, Tropicbirds, Frigatebird)	114	(3)
Seabirds III: Gulls and Terns	117	(2)
Marsh, Stream, and Water Birds	119	(3)
Ducks, Geese, and a Grebe	122	(3)
Raptors	125	(4)
Chicken-like Birds (Pheasants, Quail, and Turkey)	129	(2)
Shorebirds	131	(3)
Pigeons	134	(3)
Parrots	137	(1)
Crow, Thrushes, and Elepaio	138	(4)
Mocker, Myna, Skylark, and Meadowlark	142	(3)
White-eye, Bush-warbler, and Babblers	145	(2)
Cardinals and Bulbuls	147	(2)
Fringillid Finches (House Finch, Canaries) and House Sparrow	149	(2)
Hawaiian Honeycreepers	151	(5)
Estrildid Finches: Waxbills and Mannikins	156	(2)
Environmental Close-up 4. Restoring Palila and other Hawaiian Forest Birds: Understanding Problems and Developing Solutions	158	(5)
Paul Banko
Mammals	163	(24)
Mammals of Hawaii	163	(1)
Characteristics of Mammals	164	(1)
Seeing Mammals in Hawaii	165	(1)
Family Profiles	166	(18)
Bats, the Flying Mammals	166	(3)
Rodents, the Gnawing Undesirables	169	(3)
Mongooses	172	(2)
Ungulates, the Hoofed Mammals	174	(3)
Seals	177	(2)
Whales and Dolphins	179	(5)
Environmental Close-up 5. Spinners in Paradise: Sleepy Dolphins and Pesky People	184	(3)
Bernd Wursig
Underwater Hawaii	187	(10)
Richard Francis
Introduction	187	(2)
Habitats	189	(1)
Invertebrate Life	190	(1)
Vertebrate Life	191	(6)
Insects and Other Arthropods	197	(6)
Pete Oboyski
Origins	197	(1)
Biodiversity	198	(1)
Adaptation	199	(1)
Charismatic Microfauna (or, Pretty Little Bugs and Spiders)	199	(1)
Butterflies	200	(1)
Alien Insects	201	(1)
Conservation	202	(1)
References and Additional Reading	203	(2)
Habitat Photos	205	(10)
Identification Plates	215	(170)
WCS Conservation Work in North America	385	(4)
WCS Membership Information	389	(2)
Species Index	391	(12)
General Index	403