Joseph F. Merritt – författare

The Biology of Small Mammals is the first exploration of the lives of small mammals undertaken in decades. Mammalogist Joseph F. Merritt offers an engaging, in-depth discussion about a diverse array of small mammals, from the rare Kitti's hog-nosed bat of Southeast Asia to the bizarre aye-aye of Madagascar to the familiar woodchuck of North America. Small mammals include those mammals weighing under five kilograms (approximately eleven pounds). Merritt introduces the various species that fall under this heading, then follows with chapters that cover such topics as behavior, modes of feeding, locomotion, habitat use, reproduction, and coping with heat loss. Animals of this size face different physiological and ecological challenges than larger mammals. Merritt describes in rich detail how mammals across the globe have adapted to compensate for their small stature, showing how they contribute to and survive in diverse environments in many fascinating ways. For example, arctic foxes, weighing just 3 to 4.3 kilograms, are champion survivors in the cold.They cope with their harsh environs by decreasing activity, seeking shelter in temporary dens and snow burrows, growing a lush winter fur, and undergoing complex physiological changes to insulate themselves from chilling temperatures. Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Biology of Small Mammals provides a valuable and updated reference on nature's more diminutive creatures.

This review of Pennsylvania's conservation efforts is the first book to focus exclusively on the state's vertebrates of concern. The 133 species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals discussed in this book are Pennsylvania's most vulnerable terrestrial vertebrates. Each species is described in a full account that details basic biology and includes photographs and range maps. The accompanying narratives focus on conservation priorities, research needs, and management recommendations. Featuring information compiled from a broad array of sources and by contributors who are recognized authorities on their respective species, this volume is a model for wildlife conservation across much of the northeastern United States. A road map that reveals the Keystone State's most sensitive species and what can be done to manage and conserve these important natural resources, Terrestrial Vertebrates of Pennsylvania is a valuable tool for wildlife managers, conservationists, and naturalists.

A completely revised and updated edition of the leading mammalogy textbook, featuring color photographs throughout and a new streamlined structure for enhanced use in courses.There are more than 6,400 species in the class Mammalia, including the blue whale—the largest animal that has ever lived—and the pygmy shrew, which weighs little more than a dime. Such diversity among mammals has allowed them to play critical roles in every ecosystem, whether marine, freshwater, alpine, tundra, forest, or desert. Reflecting the expertise and perspective of five leading mammalogists, the fifth edition of Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology significantly updates taxonomy, adds a new introductory chapter on the science of mammalogy, and highlights several recently described species. To enhance its appeal to students, textual material has been reduced, consolidated, and streamlined without sacrificing breadth or depth of coverage. The fifth edition includes• for the first time, stunning color photographs throughout• chapters rearranged and grouped to best reflect phylogenetic relationships, with updated numbers of genera and species for each family• updated mammalian structural and functional adaptations, as well as ordinal fossil histories• recent advances in mammalian phylogeny, biogeography, social behavior, and ecology, with 12 new or revised cladograms reflecting current research findings• new breakout boxes on novel or unique aspects of mammals • new work on female post-copulatory mate choice, cooperative behaviors, group defense, and the role of the vomeronasal system• discussions of the current implications of climate change and other anthropogenic factors for mammalsMaintaining the accessible, readable style for which Feldhamer and his coauthors are well known, this new edition of Mammalogy is the authoritative textbook on this amazingly diverse class of vertebrates.