The Ecotraveller's Wildlife Guide... | Buy

This title contains all the information needed to find, identify, and learn about Alaska's animal and plant life. It also includes descriptions of Alaska's most frequently visited parks and reserves. This title contains color illustrations of more than 320 of Alaska's most common invertebrates, insects, amphibians, fishes, birds, and mammals. It contains information for identifying and locating these animals as well as their ecology, behavior, and conservation. The book also details the most common plants a traveler would encounter. Alaska is easy to carry, entertainingly written, and contains up-to-date information. Key Features * Identifying and location information on the most frequently seen animals; * Up-do-date information on the ecology, behavior and conservation of the animals; * Information on Alaska's habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter; * Brief description of Alaska's most frequently visited parks and reserves

Dennis Paulson has been studying wildlife for over 40 years, as a university professor and researcher, adult-education teacher, nature tour leader, photographer and worldwide traveller. Les Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and university zoology teacher.

Foreword

ix

Preface

xiii

Ecotourism: Travel for the Environmentally Concerned

1

(5)

What Ecotourism Is and Why It's Important

1

(2)

The History of Ecotourism

3

(1)

Ecotravel Ethics

3

(3)

Alaska: Ecotourism, Geography, and Habitats

6

(11)

A Brief Eco-history of Alaska

6

(2)

Geography and Climate

8

(5)

The Bering Strait Connection

8

(1)

The Structure of Alaska

9

(3)

Climatic Regions

12

(1)

Habitats and Vegetation

13

(4)

Tundra

13

(1)

Coniferous and Mixed Forest

14

(1)

Deciduous Forest/Riparian Woodland

14

(1)

Forest Edge/Shrub Thicket

15

(1)

Open Habitats Other Than Tundra

15

(1)

Freshwater

15

(1)

Marine

15

(2)

Parks and Reserves: Brief Descriptions and Getting Around

17

(16)

Getting to Alaska and Getting Around the State

17

(1)

Descriptions of Parks, Reserves, and other Eco-sites

18

(15)

Southeastern Alaska

18

(4)

Southcentral Alaska

22

(3)

Central Alaska

25

(2)

Southwestern Alaska

27

(2)

Western Alaska

29

(1)

Northern Alaska

30

(3)

Environemental Threats and Conservation in Alaska

33

(9)

Changing Viewpoints about Animals

33

(1)

Wildlife Management

34

(1)

Overfishing

35

(1)

Oil Exploration, Pipelines, and Oil Spills

36

(2)

Logging

38

(1)

Problems to Come

38

(1)

The Great Value of National Lands

39

(1)

Ecotourism and Conservation

40

(2)

How to Use This Book: Natural History and Ecology

42

(10)

What is Natural History?

42

(1)

What is Ecology?

42

(2)

How to Use This Book

44

(8)

Information in the Family Profiles

44

(4)

Information in the Color Plate Section

48

(4)

Insects

52

(13)

General Characteristics and Natural History

52

(1)

Seeing Insects in Alaska

53

(1)

Family Profiles

54

(9)

Dragonflies

54

(3)

Flies

57

(2)

Butterflies

59

(4)

Why Are There Both Caterpillars and Butterflies?

63

(2)

Marine Invertebrates

65

(17)

General Characteristics and Natural History

65

(1)

Seeing Marine Invertebrates in Alaska

66

(1)

Family Profiles

67

(12)

Cnidarians - Jellyfish and Anemones

67

(3)

Worms

70

(2)

Mollusks

72

(2)

Crustaceans

74

(3)

Echinoderms

77

(2)

Life in the Intertidal Zone

79

(3)

Fishes

82

(13)

General Characteristics and Natural History

82

(1)

Seeing Fishes in Alaska

83

(1)

Family Profiles

84

(9)

Salmon and Trout

84

(3)

Other Freshwater and Anadromous Fishes

87

(3)

Marine Fishes

90

(3)

The Miracle of the Salmon

93

(2)

Amphibians

95

(9)

General Characteristics and Natural History

95

(2)

Seeing Amphibians in Alaska

97

(1)

Family Profiles

98

(6)

Salamanders

98

(1)

Toads

99

(2)

True Frogs

101

(3)

Birds

104

(76)

Birds: Animals to Watch

105

(1)

General Characteristics and Natural History

106

(1)

Seeing Birds in Alaska

107

(1)

Alaska's Seabirds

108

(1)

Family Profiles

109

(67)

Loons and Grebes

109

(3)

Tube-nosed Birds

112

(3)

Cormorants

115

(2)

Waterfowl

117

(4)

Raptors

121

(4)

Chickenlike Birds

125

(3)

Cranes

128

(1)

Shorebirds

129

(5)

Jaegers, Gulls, and Terns

134

(4)

Puffins and Their Relatives

138

(2)

Owls

140

(3)

Hummingbirds

143

(2)

Kingfishers

145

(2)

Woodpeckers

147

(2)

Flycatchers

149

(2)

Larks and Pipits

151

(2)

Swallows

153

(2)

Crows and Jays

155

(3)

Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Creepers

158

(2)

Wrens and Dippers

160

(3)

Kinglets and Arctic Warbler

163

(1)

Thrushes

164

(2)

Miscellaneous Perching Birds

166

(2)

Warblers

168

(3)

Sparrows

171

(2)

Finches

173

(3)

How do Birds and Mammals Survive at High Latitudes?

176

(2)

Advantages of Colonial Nesting

178

(2)

Mammals

180

(43)

General Characteristics and Natural History

180

(2)

Seeing Mammals in Alaska

182

(1)

Family Profiles

183

(37)

Shrews and Bats

183

(5)

Rabbits and Pikas Rodents

188

(3)

Larger Rodents

191

(3)

Smaller Rodents - Mice, Voles, and Lemmings Carnivores

194

(3)

Wolves and Foxes

197

(3)

Bears

200

(3)

Seals and Sea Lions

203

(3)

Weasels

206

(3)

Cats

209

(3)

Hoofed Animals

212

(2)

Whales and Dolphins

214

(6)

Mammal Population Cycles

220

(3)

References and Additional Reading

223

(2)

Habitat Photos

225

(14)

Identification Plates

239

(172)

WCS Conservation Work in North America

411

(8)

WCS Membership Information

419

(2)

Species Index

421

(9)

General Index

430

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