Overview

Bats are highly charismatic and popular animals that are not only fascinating in their own right, but illustrate most of the topical and important concepts and issues in mammalian biology. This book covers the key aspects of bat biology, including evolution, flight, echolocation, hibernation, reproduction, feeding and roosting ecology, social behaviour, migration, population and community ecology, biogeography, and conservation. This new edition is fully updated and greatly expanded throughout, maintaining the depth and scientific rigour of the first edition. It is written with infectious enthusiasm, and beautifully illustrated with drawings and colour photographs.

Full Product Details

9780199207121

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Reviews

`Review from previous edition A valuable addition to the bat library of enthusiasts and professionals, this book gives up-to-date discussions on the special features of bats world-wide and their place in a modern biological context ... this is a good fresh look at fascinating aspects of bat biology and behaviour.' Bat News `a useful reference for everyone from professional biologists to persons simply interested in learning more about the biology of bats ... I greatly enjoyed reading this book; it is an excellent contribution to the literature on the biology of bats. In addition to providing a useful account of the biology of the world's bats, the author has used bats to demonstrate how basic biological processes also shape the rest of our natural world. I believe this book is a valuable reference for bat enthusiasts ... and I highly recommend it to anyone interest in the biology of mammals.' Journal of Mammalogy `The book is richly illustrated with drawings, graphs and tables that augment information presented in the text. The wealth of unanswered questions about bats emerges from the book, making it easy for student readers to see and appreciate the opportunities that bats present to a variety of biologists. This is an excellent book from one end to the other and I highly recommend it to students and colleagues. It is a book that meets its stated goal ... to use bats to illustrate processes and concepts in biology. When it comes to ecology and behaviour, he has more than succeeded ... Bravo!' Journal of Animal Ecology `Not a casual coffee-table book and not a beginner's guide, this book is aimed at students ... it is a surprisingly readable, yet highly scientific, description of bat flight ... If you want to take an active part in bat conservation, you'll be much better informed by this book.' Crispin Scott, Wildlife `this book provides an up-to-date and accurate picture of how bats spend their lives and will be an indispensable reference work for both professional and amateur naturalists' Ethology Ecology & Evolution `...this is an excellent book for people with a genuine interst in bats...This will be an essential reference for bat enthusiasts...' Neil Willcox, Scottish Wildlife `...interesting and readable book...Altringham's conversational writing style makes the book very readable, and he is genuinely fascinated by his topic...an interesting and enjoyable reference for students and scientists with an interest in bats.' Ecology & Evolution `This book on the natural history and biology of bats is aimed primarily at zoology students but will also appeal to many amateur naturalists...The book is well illustrated and well referenced.' Aslib Book Guide

Review from previous edition A valuable addition to the bat library of enthusiasts and professionals, this book gives up-to-date discussions on the special features of bats world-wide and their place in a modern biological context ... this is a good fresh look at fascinating aspects of bat biology and behaviour. Bat News a useful reference for everyone from professional biologists to persons simply interested in learning more about the biology of bats ... I greatly enjoyed reading this book; it is an excellent contribution to the literature on the biology of bats. In addition to providing a useful account of the biology of the world's bats, the author has used bats to demonstrate how basic biological processes also shape the rest of our natural world. I believe this book is a valuable reference for bat enthusiasts ... and I highly recommend it to anyone interest in the biology of mammals. Journal of Mammalogy The book is richly illustrated with drawings, graphs and tables that augment information presented in the text. The wealth of unanswered questions about bats emerges from the book, making it easy for student readers to see and appreciate the opportunities that bats present to a variety of biologists. This is an excellent book from one end to the other and I highly recommend it to students and colleagues. It is a book that meets its stated goal ... to use bats to illustrate processes and concepts in biology. When it comes to ecology and behaviour, he has more than succeeded ... Bravo! Journal of Animal Ecology Not a casual coffee-table book and not a beginner's guide, this book is aimed at students ... it is a surprisingly readable, yet highly scientific, description of bat flight ... If you want to take an active part in bat conservation, you'll be much better informed by this book. Crispin Scott, Wildlife this book provides an up-to-date and accurate picture of how bats spend their lives and will be an indispensable reference work for both professional and amateur naturalists Ethology Ecology & Evolution ...this is an excellent book for people with a genuine interst in bats...This will be an essential reference for bat enthusiasts... Neil Willcox, Scottish Wildlife ...interesting and readable book...Altringham's conversational writing style makes the book very readable, and he is genuinely fascinated by his topic...an interesting and enjoyable reference for students and scientists with an interest in bats. Ecology & Evolution This book on the natural history and biology of bats is aimed primarily at zoology students but will also appeal to many amateur naturalists...The book is well illustrated and well referenced. Aslib Book Guide

Author Information

John Altringham is Professor of Animal Ecology and Conservation at the University of Leeds, UK, where he has been since 1989. He completed his BSc at the University of York, and his PhD at St. Andrews University, where he returned as a research fellow from 1983-1989. During his career he has travelled widely, studying animals as varied as tuna fish and tarantulas before focusing on bat ecology and conservation. He has published over 100 scientific papers, numerous book chapters, and two previous books: Bats: Biology and Behaviour (OUP, 1996), and British Bats (Harper Collins, 2003). He is also a regular advisor and contributor to BBC Natural History Unit productions for TV and radio, and is a member of a number of conservation advisory groups, including the Nature Conservation Panel of the National Trust. John lives on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales with his wife, Kate, and two children, Alex and Anne.

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