Overview

Weighing as much as 2,000 pounds and reaching lengths of over seven feet, leatherback turtles are the world's largest reptile. These unusual sea turtles have a thick, pliable shell that helps them to withstand great depths-they can swim more than one thousand meters below the surface in search of food. And what food source sustains these goliaths? Their diet consists almost exclusively of jellyfish, a meal they crisscross the oceans to find. Leatherbacks have been declining in recent decades, and some predict they will be gone by the end of this century. Why? Because of two primary factors: human redevelopment of nesting beaches and commercial fishing. There are only twenty-nine index beaches in the world where these turtles nest, and there is immense pressure to develop most of them into homes or resorts. At the same time, longline and gill net fisheries continue to overwhelm waters frequented by leatherbacks. In The Leatherback Turtle, James R Spotila and Pilar Santidrian Tomillo bring together the world's leading experts to produce a volume that reveals the biology of the leatherback while putting a spotlight on the conservation problems and solutions related to the species. The book leaves us with options: embark on the conservation strategy laid out within its pages and save one of nature's most splendid creations, or watch yet another magnificent species disappear.

Full Product Details

Author:   James R. Spotila (Drexel University) ,  Pilar Santidrián Tomillo
Publisher:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Imprint:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.703kg
ISBN:  

9781421417080

ISBN 10:   1421417081
Pages:   246
Publication Date:   25 December 2015
Recommended Age:   From 17
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors Preface Part I: Biology Chapter 1. Introduction: Phylogeny and Evolutionary Biology of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 2. Phylogeny, Phylogeography, and Populations of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 3. Diving Behavior and Physiology of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 4. Anatomy of the Leatherback Turtle Part II: Life History and Reproduction Chapter 5. Reproductive Biology of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 6. Nesting Ecology and Reproductive Investment of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 7. Egg Development and Hatchling Output of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 8. Sex Determination and Hatchling Sex Ratios of the Leatherback Turtle Part III: Population Status and Trends Chapter 9. Leatherback Turtle Populations in the Atlantic Ocean Chapter 10. Leatherback Turtle Populations in the Pacific Ocean Chapter 11. Leatherback Turtle Populations in the Indian Ocean Part IV: From Egg to Adulthood Chapter 12. Leatherback Turtle Eggs and Nests, and Their Effects on Embryonic Development Chapter 13. Leatherback Turtle Physiological Ecology: Implications for Bioenergetics and Population Dynamics Chapter 14. Movements and Behavior of Adult and Juvenile Leatherback Turtles Chapter 15. Relation of Marine Primary Productivity to Leatherback Turtle Biology and Behavior Part V: The Future of the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 16. Warming Climate: A New Threat to the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 17. Impacts of Fisheries on the Leatherback Turtle Chapter 18. Conclusion: Problems and Solutions Index

Reviews

Despite the dire issues facing the Leatherback, the book shows tremendous respect for its subject and a genuine, educated commitment to save the remarkable Leatherback. American Reference Books Annual

Author Information

James R. Spotila is the L. Drew Betz Chair Professor of Environmental Science at Drexel University and director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. The founding president of the International Sea Turtle Society and chairman of the board of The Leatherback Trust, he is the author of Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation and Saving Sea Turtles: Extraordinary Stories from the Battle against Extinction. Pilar Santidrian Tomillo is a Marie Curie Fellow at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies and the research director of The Leatherback Trust.

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