The Avian Migrant - John H. Rappole

The Avian Migrant
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Autor: John H. Rappole

 Wydawnictwo: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 9780231146784
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Oprawa: twarda
Stron: 464
Data wydania: ...
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The purpose of migration, regardless of the distance involved, is to exploit two or more environments suitable for survival or reproduction over time, usually on a seasonal basis. Yet individual organisms can practice the phenomenon differently, and birds deploy unique patterns of movement over particular segments of time. Incorporating the latest research on bird migration, this concise, critical assessment offers contemporary readers a firm grasp of what defines an avian migrant, how the organism came to be, what is known about its behavior, and how we can resolve its enduring mysteries. John H. Rappole's sophisticated survey of field data clarifies key ecological, biological, physiological, navigational, and evolutionary concerns. He begins with the very first migrants, who traded a home environment of greater stability for one of greater seasonality, and uses the structure of the annual cycle to examine the difference between migratory birds and their resident counterparts. He ultimately connects these differences to evolutionary milestones that have shaped a migrant lifestyle through natural selection. Rather than catalogue and describe various aspects of bird migration, Rappole considers how the avian migrant fits within a larger ecological frame, enabling a richer understanding of the phenomenon and its critical role in sustaining a hospitable and productive environment. Rappole concludes with a focus on population biology and conservation across time periods, considering the link between bird migration and the spread of disease among birds and humans, and the effects of global warming on migrant breeding ranges, reaction norms, and macroecology. This book is an important contribution to ongoing debates regarding migration, including the evolution of migration, the conservation of migratory birds, and the effect of migration on the life-history strategies of birds. -- Douglas Stotz, Field Museum of Natural History Not surprisingly, John H. Rappole's new book is the most comprehensive treatment of avian migration on the bookshelf, a culmination of his lifetime work. Anyone with an interest in birds will find The Avian Migrant easy to comprehend, and the professional will find the ideas presented forcefully and the coverage of little-known topics especially stimulating. Rappole pulls no punches, and his views are spelled out with uncommon clarity. -- Eugene S. Morton, Hemlock Hill Field Station There are many ways toward an understanding of the evolution of seasonal migration in birds. The Avian Migrant represents John H. Rappole's personal trail of intellectual discovery. The book takes us through a year in the life of a typical songbird migrant, signposting and critically evaluating models of explanation along the way. It is an engaging, well-written, and deep dialogue about what makes migrant birds tick. -- Theunis Piersma, University of Groningen

Książka "The Avian Migrant"
John H. Rappole