The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State: Identification, Natural History, and Conservation

Book Description

This is the first guide yet produced to the amphibians and reptiles of New York State, a large and heavily populated state that hosts a surprisingly diverse and interesting community of amphibians and reptiles. This much needed guide to the identification, distribution, natural history and conservation of the amphibians and reptiles of New York State fill a long-empty niche. The book is the first comprehensive presentation of the distributional data gathered for the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project. With more than 60,000 records compiled from 1990-1999, this extraordinary and up-to-date database provides a rich foundation for the book. This volume provides detailed narratives on the 69 species native to New York State. With a heavy emphasis on conservation biology, the book also includes chapters on threats, legal protections, habitat conservation guidelines, and conservation case studies. Also included are 67 distribution maps and 62 pages of color photographs contributed by more than 30 photographers. As a field guide or a desk reference, The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State is indispensable for anyone interested in the vertebrate animals of the Northeast, as well as students, field researchers and natural resource professionals.

Customer Reviews:

Finally .......2007-04-02

This Book is long overdue for those of us who had to consult with the online herp atlas everytime we needed to find out if a species had been recorded in a certain county. This book is set up and flows very nicely with excellent pictures and species accounts, habitat descriptions, counties of occurance, and so on. I have been very impressed already with this book and how much easier it will make things when I need New York based data for site evaluations and habitat assessment. This book is very informative and well written and my hats off to the authors for compiling all of the data used and keeping it readible. This book is an invaluable resource and is cheap enough to keep it accessible to everyone. A must have for anyone in NY that is interested in herps, some of the information is also valid for surrounding states.

Turtle Summer: A Journal for My Daughter

Average customer rating:

Children love it
Teach the Children
A spectacular book for outdoor education!
A delightful idea - scrapbooking at the seashore!
Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Turtle Summer: A Journal for My Daughter
Mary Alice Monroe
Manufacturer: Sylvan Dell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Swimming Lessons (STP - Mira)
The Land of Mango Sunsets: A Novel
The Beach House
Sweetgrass
The Four Seasons

ASIN: 0977742350

Book Description

This is a companion book to Mary Alice Monroe's adult novel, Swimming Lessons, (Mira), the sequel to The Beach House. In the novel, the readers witness a young mother, Toy, writing a journal for her daughter, Little Lovie. Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter is the journal Toy is writing. Using original photographs, this scrapbook journal explains the nesting cycle of sea turtles and the natural life along the southeastern coast, including local shore birds, shells, and the sea turtle hospital. Adults and children will enjoy the images, information and journal with or without the novel.

Customer Reviews:

Children love it.......2007-10-09

We gave the book to our Grandaughter, who is a first-grade teacher, and the children absolutely loved it.
It was an excellent introduction to conservancy of species.

Teach the Children.......2007-08-24

Turtle Summer is an excellent book for teaching children about the great loggerhead turtles and the people who care about the turtles and help take care of them.

A spectacular book for outdoor education!.......2007-06-05

The perfect "nature awareness" book! The format of appearing like a scrapbook is captivating. I used this in my 4th grade classroom... much to my students' delight. They loved it! If you plan on going to the beach this summer, especially in the southeast, it is a must!
Ms. Monroe also has some adult novels that are terrific! The Beach House

A delightful idea - scrapbooking at the seashore!.......2007-05-23

Turtle Summer, a Journal for my Daughter

This book presents a charming idea for a parent and child: to keep a nature scrapbook. Mary Alice Monroe has written and illustrated this enchanting journal of a mother and daughter's summer surveillance for loggerhead sea turtles on their beach. While watching the turtle nests, they observe and sketch nature's other offerings at the seashore. Like a family photo album, it is an intimate book.

Photographer Barbara J. Bergwerf teamed with Mary Alice Monroe to add exceptional and informative photos, including one of Carolina from the previous Sylvan Dell book, Carolina's Story: Sea Turtle's Get Sick Too! This is a splendid mixture of photos, drawing, and text. Children, ages 4 - 9 will relate to this book and its activities, hopefully clamoring to create a similar journal with their siblings and parents.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles.......2007-05-10

Turtle Summer is an outstanding book which can be enjoyed by all ages, even though it is geared for children. The text is very accurate having been written by bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe and the pictures are something to behold. Barb Bergwerf is a superb photographer. Turtle Summer will be a book you will treasure and one you will want to give to all your friends who are interested in nature and our environment. It is a wonderful learning tool for children, too!

Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles

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Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles

Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur

ASIN: 0801886112

Book Description

The smallest of the sea turtles, olive and Kemp's ridleys are the only marine turtles to exhibit mass-nesting behavior, known as arribadas. This fascinating phenomenon, during which one could literally walk shell-to-shell across a beach, is considered one of the most amazing wonders of nature.

In Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles, Pamela T. Plotkin brings together the world's experts on the genus Lepidochelys to present the first comprehensive, book-length examination of these fascinating animals. Featuring the writings of noted experts including Peter C. H. Pritchard, Jack Frazier, Rene Márquez-M., and Donna J. Shaver, the volume synthesizes over a half century of research. With chapters focused on evolution, development, genetics, physiology, reproduction, migration, and conservation, this book combines a wealth of knowledge and describes an agenda for further research.

An integral part of oceanic ecosystems, ridleys present challenges for conservation. Olive ridleys are abundant in some areas and declining in others, whereas Kemp's ridleys are endangered but slowly recovering. Both face beach-based threats and are prone to capture by commercial fisheries. Here Plotkin and her colleagues reveal the nature of these species and the steps needed to make sure they remain a permanent part of the marine environment.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology and Conservation

Average customer rating:

An indispensable addition

The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology and Conservation
Peter C. H. Pritchard
Manufacturer: Krieger Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

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Diamonds in the Marsh: A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin
Turtles of the World
The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles (Enviromental Science)
Guide And Reference to the Amphibians of Eastern And Central North America (North of Mexico)
Tales from the Thebaide

ASIN: 1575242753
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Product Description

Pritchard's monograph on the alligator snapping turtle, one of the world's most impressive, dangerous, and celebrated turtles, was first published in 1989. The initial small print run quickley sold out and has become a valuable rare book. This reprint edition duplicates the text of the original, but also includes a major new section outlining progress that has been made on the science and conservation of this species in the last 17 years.

Customer Reviews:

An indispensable addition.......2006-10-04

Originally published in 1989 and out of print for several years, the Krieger Publishing Company's new reprint of zoologist Peter Pritchard's classic monograph, "The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology And Conservation", is an informed and informative introduction to one of nature's most impressive, dangerous, and famous of the turtle species. This new edition of "The Alligator Snapping Turtle" is enhanced with a major new section detailing the zoological progress made on the science and conservation of this species over the last seventeen years and is therefore a fully up-to-date, profusely illustrated treatise that includes the Snapping Turtle's geographic distribution, diet, reproduction cycle, natural history, exploitation and captivity, population status and trends, and so much more. With the addition of a comprehensive Index, a list of supplemental material, Reviews and Responses, Protection and Legislation, and more, "The Alligator Snapping Turtle" is an indispensable addition to professional and academic library Biology and Natural Science reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading list of turtle enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists in particular.

The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles (Enviromental Science)

Average customer rating:

This title does belong on the shelf
An important new book in herpetological conservation

The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles (Enviromental Science)
Don Moll , and Edward O. Moll
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Diamonds in the Marsh: A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin
Turtles of the World
LIFE HIST ECOL SLIDER TURTLES PB
The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology and Conservation
North American Box Turtles: A Natural History (Animal Natural History Series)

ASIN: 0195102290

Book Description

The underlying theme of this book is that a widespread, taxonomically diverse group of animals, important both from ecological and human resource perspectives, remains poorly understood and in delcine, while receiving scant attention from the ecological and conservation community. This volume proposes a comprehensive overview of the world's river turtles' ecology, conservation, and management. It begins with a categorization of taxa which inhabit flowing water habitats followed by information on their evolutionary and physical diversity and biogeography. Within the framework of ecology, the authors discuss the composition of river turtle communities in different types of lotic habitats and regions, population dynamics, movements, reproductive characteristics and behavior, predators, and feeding relationships. In a conservation and management section, the authors identify and evaluate the nature and intensity of factors which threaten river turtle survival--almost all of which involve direct human exploitation or indirect effects of human induced habitat alteration and degradation. They then list and evaluate the various schemes which have been proposed or employed to halt declines and restore populations, and make recommendations for future management plans for specific species and regions. In closing, they state their viewpoint concerning future research directions and priorities, and an evaluation of future prospects for survival of the world's river turtle species.

Customer Reviews:

This title does belong on the shelf.......2005-10-10

of every individual with an investment or interest in freshwater turtle biology and conservation. "The Ecology, Exploitation, and Conservation of River Turtles" is a nice extension of the entry on the topic these authors contributed in Michael Klemens' "Turtle Conservation" (Smithsonian, 2000).

The outlay of the book is very functional, the many research references made are well-chosen, and the tone of the text intersperses encouragement for change and hope throughout. It must be noted that exploitation and conservation measures are much more heavily discussed than is ecology, which is even less uniform across the species covered than the former two aspects. Case studies do figure heavily in this book, which makes it somewhat biased towards species considered, but this can only be expected due to the paucity of literature on actual implementations (for direct river turtle exploitation and conservation).

The third chapter alone, which features major river turtle guilds of the world, is worth the purchase price in and of itself. The functional summarization-nature of this book, as with the previous title of paralleled nature noted above, will likely cause it to remain an important volume for decades to come.

One star was subtracted in this review, mostly to get your attention. The "technical" reason is because of the confusion that will potentially be created in lieu of the authors attempting to make the work more accessible. Scientific names and "common" English names are used interchangeably. In most cases, the scientific name is given once in company of the common name, and then the common name is used through the remainder of the book. For a work of this nature that deals with many species foreign and cryptic enough to elude use of common English names (which, in many cases, are so similar from one species to the next as to cause confusion - Mexican mud, Mexican rough-footed mud, Mexican giant musk, etc.), it would have been far simpler for the sake of clarity to have stuck with scientific names throughout, regardless of the dificulty in pronunciations and seeming lack of characterization. That minor, personal opinion-rooted shortcoming aside, the book's delivery mandates its inclusion in the book list of every individual concerned with this topic.

An important new book in herpetological conservation.......2005-03-09

Don Moll and Ed Moll's book has a welcome focus on freshwater turtles-the great majority, after all, of the world's turtle species live in freshwater-and is further focused on those species that inhabit the medium to large rivers where many of the world's most spectacular species and most diverse assemblages are found. Unfortunately, as this book makes all too clear, these species are among those most endangered, both by direct exploitation and by anthropogenic modification of their habitats. As the authors point out, the global decline in river turtle species is just as dire a situation as the much-ballyhooed global decline in amphibians, only in the case of turtles there is less uncertainty about the underlying causes. The brothers Moll bring extensive experience with river-dwelling turtle faunas to their effort. In addition to having both worked many years with turtles in the Midwestern United States, Don Moll has worked with sliders in Costa Rica and narrow-headed softshells in Thailand, while Ed Moll has been most active in his work with various Asian species, in particular the river terrapin, which figures prominently in this book. Some of their experiences form the basis for the "profiles" that begin each chapter, short entertaining vignettes on river turtle assemblages of the past and the present. The book begins with an introduction to the major riverine turtle assemblages of the world, a nice complement to past geographic reference works like John Iverson's 1992 book of range maps, in that turtle biologists now have a source to consult to quickly identify the species that co-occur in any of the major rivers of the world. A short chapter on exploitation of turtle populations in traditional societies is followed by a much lengthier chapter on current trends in exploitation of turtles for meat and other uses. Overexploitation of Asian, South American, and North American species is extensively covered, while information on African species is notably sparser, although perhaps not due to fault of the authors. The next chapter, on indirect threats to river turtles, focuses on alterations to rivers and their catchment basins that cause declines in native fauna, but also includes a short section on the role of exotic species in altering river turtle habitats. The book concludes with a thoughtful analysis of in situ and ex situ conservation techniques that are being applied to river turtles around the world. The authors describe a conservation philosophy that emphasizes the primacy of the former while still finding accessory roles for the latter. Overall, the book is an engaging and thoughtful look at the current conservation status of turtles in medium and large rivers, with much information not readily available in other sources. It is bound to be referenced frequently in coming years by workers in freshwater turtle ecology and conservation.

Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation

Average customer rating:

EVERYTHING You need to know about Sea Turtles
Superb book
Beautiful and educational
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtle Lovers: Your Book Has Arrived!

Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
James R. Spotila
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Sea Turtles: An Ecological Guide
Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur
Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean
Sea Turtles (Worldlife Library)
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II

ASIN: 0801880076

Book Description

For more than a hundred million years, sea turtles have been swimming in the world's oceans. These magnificent, long-lived creatures spend their lives in the water, coming ashore to lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the baby turtles leave the nest and enter a dangerous world of storms and predators. The females will return to the same beach to lay their own eggs when they reach maturity a decade later. Today, there are seven species of sea turtle: the grass--eating green turtle; the sea sponge--eating hawksbill; the olive ridley; the Kemp's ridley, which is the smallest species; the loggerhead; the flatback of Australia; and the giant leatherback. Having escaped the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, these ancient reptiles today face new dangers that threaten their survival: pollution, hunting, and the destruction of their nesting grounds. Will this century be the last to witness their majesty? Will succeeding generations live in a world devoid of their graceful presence?

Marine biologist James R. Spotila has spent much of his life unraveling the mysteries of these graceful creatures and working to ensure their survival. In Sea Turtles, he offers a comprehensive and compelling account of their history and life cycle based on the most recent scientific data -- and suggests what we can do now to save them. From the Kemp's ridley, which nests on a single beach on Mexico's Gulf Coast, to the nomadic leatherback, which can weigh up to a ton and is in the most imminent danger of extinction, Spotila offers a vivid description of their diets and mating habits, and the conservation efforts being made on their behalf. Illustrated with stunning color photographs by the world's leading nature photographers, Sea Turtles will inform and inspire readers of all ages everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

EVERYTHING You need to know about Sea Turtles.......2007-05-23

I purchased this book for my High School Freshman as a Honors Lit non-fiction book project. She made a beautiful powerpoint presentation and Website with quizzes. This book was fabulous. At first I thought it would be a tough kind of informational book to read, but it was not! It was written in layman terms and easy to read. The pictures are nothing less than gorgeous. There is so much information packed in this book it was hard to decide what to leave out! Also this book would be a beautiful coffee table book because the quality and pictures are wonderful. There was plenty of information about conservation and even though my daughter has always loved turtles now she is an activist and has joined a save the sea turtles foundation. This book was a godsend and a pleasure to read.

Superb book.......2006-11-05

This book is full of fantastic photos and a wealth of detailed information. A must for anybody interested in sea turtles.

Beautiful and educational.......2006-07-30

This book is beautiful. From one of the top sea turtle conservationists. It covers almost everything there is to know about sea turtles. The diagrams of turtle anatomy really help to understand these creatures. It is also great that Spotila profiles some of the dedicated conservationists working to protect the turtles. The pictures are stunning. The books large pages do the pictures and the turtles justice. After reading the book, you feel as if you have been initiated into the world of sea turtles. And, an added bonus, a portion of the royalties will be donated to Leatherback Trust. In short, if you like sea turtles, buy this book.

Sea Turtles.......2006-02-22

I am a biologist and found this book filled with inspiration because it offered so many ways we all can help with saving the sea turtles. I plan to do my part, how about you?

Sea Turtle Lovers: Your Book Has Arrived!.......2005-09-10

James Spotila has produced one of those "labor of love" books that belongs on the shelf or coffee table of anyone who has ever enjoyed viewing a sea turtle.

Up to now these poorly understood gentile reptiles have been exploited to near extinction. Hopefully now the new understanding that these are wonderful sea creatures that deserve protection and respect is here to stay. Mr. Spotila's book will make a turtle lover out of anyone and I hope that it is widely read and becomes that classic natural history book on the 7 species of sea turtle that it should be.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Status and Conservation in Florida

Average customer rating:

A wealth of information on specialized biological investigations in Florida's uplands, wetlands, rivers, and estuarine systems

Amphibians and Reptiles: Status and Conservation in Florida

Manufacturer: Krieger Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1575242516
Release Date: 2005-06-01

Product Description

For the first time a broad cross-section of distinguished researchers come together to address the conservation of Florida's rich but imperiled herpetofauna. The 27 contributions represent original research, essays, and reviews that identify contemporary threats to amphibians and reptiles and to the system that supports them. In the Synthesis of the book, Meshaka and Babbitt draw from these works and from prior discussions with the contributors to provide consensus regarding the most important threats facing the conservation of Florida's herpetofauna and proffer clear courses of action to ensure a viable future for this segment of Florida's natural legacy. Ultimately, the reader will see convincingly that conservation of Florida amphibians and reptiles can be achieved at several levels. Readable in style, contemporary in subject matter, this work is a snapshot of the present and a blueprint for the future of conservation action in Florida.

Customer Reviews:

A wealth of information on specialized biological investigations in Florida's uplands, wetlands, rivers, and estuarine systems.......2005-11-14

Jointly compiled and edited by Walter E. Meshaka Jr. (Zoology and Botany, State Museum of Pennsylvania) and Kimberly J. Babbit (Department of Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire), Amphibians And Reptiles: Status And Conservation In Florida is a compendium of articles of Floridian herpetofauna. From "The Florida Herpetofauna in a Changing Environment" by Walter Meshaka and Ray E. Ashton, to "The Value of Dead Tree Bases and Stumpholes as Habitat for Wildlife" by D. Bruce Means, to "The Conservation of Box Turtles on Public Lands in Florida" by C. Kenneth Dodd and Marian L. Griffey, Amphibians And Reptiles presents a wealth of information on specialized biological investigations in Florida's uplands, wetlands, rivers, and estuarine systems. Also included are three ground-breaking articles addressing issues in the commerical harvesting and Florida's herpetofauna, and two excellent pieces on exotic species and the Floridian herpetofauna. Concluding this outstanding collection is a "Synthesis" summary. Enhanced with a bibliography of cited literature and an appendices ("County Records of Native Amphibian and Reptile Species in Florida), Amphibians And Reptiles is a welcome and seminal contribution to herpetofauna in general, and Floridian amphibians and reptile wildlife in particular.

Average customer rating:

LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES
Bolten Ab
Manufacturer: Smithsonian
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

The Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II
Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
Sea Turtles: An Ecological Guide
Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur
Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean

ASIN: 1588341364

Book Description

The world's leading sea turtle biologists explore the biology of a species threatened with extinction.

Book Description

This volume sets out to provide an overview of recent research on all aspects of amphibian ecology and behaviour and to illustrate its application to practical conservation measures for this major group of animals. Its broad scope makes it of relevance to students of general biology, ecology and conservation, but also to professionals in industries and agencies involved with environmental issues and nature conservation.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive.......2001-06-25

This comprehensive book is written by one of the worlds most prominent herpetologists and it certainly shows! Very practical and well written book covering aspects of amphibian conservation, including the Global Amphibian Decline. Highly recommended.

Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Book
fascinating and heartbreaking
An Honest, Inside Account about the Fate of the Sea Turtle
Mysterious Waters....
Compelling Read About Fate of Sea Turtles and the Oceans

Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean
Osha Gray Davidson
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
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Sea Turtles (Worldlife Library)

ASIN: 1586481991
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Book Description

"An elegant eco-cautionary tale wrapped in a scientific mystery." --Publishers Weekly.

Sea turtles have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. But now, suddenly, the turtles are dying, ravaged by a mysterious plague that some biologists consider the most serious epidemic now raging in the natural world. Perhaps most important, sea turtles aren't the only marine creatures falling prey to deadly epidemics. Over the last few decades diseases have been burning through nearshore waters around the world with unprecedented lethality.

What is happening to the sea turtle, and how can it be stopped? In this fascinating scientific detective story, Osha Gray Davidson tracks the fervent efforts of the extraordinary and often quirky scientists, marine biologists, veterinarians, and others racing against the clock to unravel a complicated biological and environmental puzzle and keep the turtles from extinction. He follows the fates of particular turtles, revealing their surprisingly distinct personalities and why they inspire an almost spiritual devotion in the humans who come to know them. He also explores through vivid historical anecdotes and examples the history of man's relationship to the sea, opening a window onto the role played by humans in the increasing number of marine die-offs and extinctions.

Beautifully written, intellectually provocative, Fire in the Turtle House reveals how emerging diseases wreaking havoc in the global ocean pose an enormous, direct threat to humanity. This is science journalism at its best.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Book.......2006-01-04

Well I have to say after receiving this book yesterday at 6pm I was done reading it by midnight. I just couldn't put the book down. The writing is so good and the flow of the book so steady, that as a reader you can't help but remain on the edge of your seat. The other nice thing about this book is that while the subject matter is complex, it is presented in a way understandable to all. HIGHLY recommended.

fascinating and heartbreaking.......2005-12-13

I loved this book, and not just because I am a lifelong turtle nut. I couldn't put this book down although at times it made me cry. Great storytelling, intelligent without being dry, and I wanted to tell everyone I know to read it. A must read for anyone into turtles, marine biology and oceanography, ecology, commercial fishing, commercial agriculture, veterinary medicine, and medical research.

"It all rolls into one, and nothing comes for free" -Robert Hunter

An Honest, Inside Account about the Fate of the Sea Turtle.......2004-03-04

I knew that sea turtles were endangered or threatened but never really investigated the reasons why. I found this book while perusing the book store and it caught my attention so I bought it and read it.
The book is well written and speaks to a non-biologist audience. It simply tells of the authors investigations into the reasons that they think the sea turtles are dying off at an alarming rate. It left me with my mouth gaping open and wondering why more people are not educated about the plight of this species.
While reading, the author makes you feel a part of their experiences, as if you were scuba diving with these creatures.
If the data from this book is any indication of the plight of the Earth's oceans, it is a very scary thought of what may be to come.
I recommend this book for ANYONE who is inquisitive about the hype surrounding "our dying oceans". It gives a detailed account of the afflictions affecting sea turtles and what we are trying to do to save them. The problem appears to go way beyond this mysterious virus. The book made me cry and get angry at the same time. We need to find out what is happening and target the source.
In the preface of the paperback edition, the author makes this statement: "If I could coin a blessing for a new world, it would be this: May your children swim in an ocean full of turtles." Amen to that Osha Gray Davidson.

Mysterious Waters...........2004-02-20

Unequivocally, I loved this book! Parts biological mystery, turtle evolution, naturalist history and love story to the sea, it's wrapped up in very engaging prose. It made me fall in love with the creatures!! And apparently I'm not the only one...

In a book I read last year, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," the authors' dedicated the book to a green sea turtle!! It read:

"To the green sea turtle who twenty-five years ago bumped the bottom of a boat in Key West, Florida, scaring a little girl. Those tears and this book are for you and your descendants."

Here's hoping that turtle's descendants will STILL be around in another 25 years! But the more people who read this book, the more attention these endangered animals will deservedly get.

Compelling Read About Fate of Sea Turtles and the Oceans.......2004-02-12

Fire In the Turtle House is a thorough, investigative account of many dedicated marine biologist, scientists, and turtle lovers trying to figure out how and why green sea turtles have become afflicted with fibropamillomatosis. The virus is killing off the specie in untold numbers and will lead to their extinction. By the reading the book not only did I learn about sea turtles, and how they live and breed, but I got an enormous education in marine biology and how the ocean is a precious habitat for these creatures. The author helped me understand by giving specific examples as to how man is contributing to the ocean's decline and thus sea life's decline. This isn't a diatribe on man but a well thought out provocative look at a very important topic told so that everyone can understand. There is a quote in the book by Arthur C. Clarke that says that our planet should not of been called Earth but perhaps "Oceana." Very true when most of the planet is made up of water, as are we. My eyes have been open to the truth of this statement after reading Fire in the Turtle House.

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