Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands: the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide (Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide: Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands)

Book Description

Ecotravellers to Ecuador want to experience tropical forests and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of exotic wildlife, such as toucans and parrots, monkeys and anteaters, frogs and toads, and crocodiles and snakes. On the Galápagos Islands, curious visitors want to see with their own eyes the exotic, unique, and tame wildlife that stimulated Charles Darwin to formulate the theory of evolution. This book provides the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Ecuador's magnificent animal and plant life. The authors, professional biologists, selected for color illustrations more than 500 of Ecuador's most common insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals--the species you are most likely to see. In one easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated book, you will have as constant companion on your journey, information on identification, behavior, habitats, common plants, and parks and reserves in the region.

Key Features
* Includes identifying and location information on the most frequently spotted animals
* Up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of these animals
* Information on Ecuador's habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter
* Brief descriptions of the region's most frequently visited parks and reserves

Customer Reviews:

Great for Ecotourist.......2007-08-10

This book was one used by my guide during a recent trip to the Ecuadorian
Selva. I purchased it on my return home and transfered my field notes to the pages with the appropriate birds and animals I had the pleasure to see. I have enjoyed reading the addition info the book provides and it will help preserve my experience for myself and others.

Excellent Color Plates with a thorough, yet readable text.......2002-06-29

A layman needs a good guide when on tour of a new territory, whether that be a museum, a literary genre, or a country's heritage. In David Pearson's and Les Beletsky's 485 page ECUADOR and its GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, they present a book that is as good a guide as a layman could hope for, not just for exploring Ecuador or its Galapagos Islands, but for getting to know much of the fauna of Amazonian Latin America. The text is professionally written, yet down to earth and not infrequently humorous. The famous entomologist J. Henri Fabre once wrote, "Others again have reproached me with my style, which has not the solemnity, nay, better, the dryness of the schools. They fear lest a page that is read without fatigue should not always be the expression of the truth. Were I to take their word for it, we are profound only on condition of being obscure." This approach to scientific writing - being informative without being pedantic - allows writers like Pearson and Beletsky to fill the reader's heart with wonder while still often bringing a smile to his/her face.

With Ecuador being one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth, it is impossible to create a book that is both comprehensive and brief. The authors have gone for middle ground, covering the portion of Ecuadorian wildlife that is of interest and/or likely to be spotted by the ecotraveller to Ecuador. There are 96 color plates (with 5-6 animals illustrated on each one), several pages of color photographs, an excellent chapter - with maps - of Ecuador's National Parks and Bioreserves, a section on Ecuador's geography and habitats (e.g., Lowland Wet Forest, Mangrove and Coastal Vegetation) along with drawings illustrating several major plants in these regions, and 200 pages of animal descriptions under the headings 'Amphibians', 'Reptiles', 'Birds', 'Mammals', 'Insects & Other Arthropods', and 'Galapagos Wildlife'.

As an Ecuadorian resident, I have found this guide to be an excellent aid to identifying and understanding the natural history of the country. The book was both informative and fun to read, and I can highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about this wonderful area of the world.

Go go Galapagos!.......2000-07-28

I have just returned from those Enchanted Isles and found Beletsky's guide omnipresent, dog-eared and tightly clutched in the sea-salted hands of many a visitor. I am surprised that the Sea Lions and Blue Footed Boobies did not have their own copies!

Book Description

The Galpagos are home to a wide-ranging assortment of unusual plants and animals. The islands became famous as the site of Charles Darwin's research leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection, and their magnificent flora and fauna continue to draw visitors from around the world. Based on the author's sixteen years of fieldwork and featuring his exceptional photography, Flowering Plants of the Galpagos is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the plant life of the area. An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts, and professionals, the book: introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones allows easy identification of 436 flowering plants (77 families, 192 genera, and 390 species) covers endemic plants found exclusively on the islands; native plants, which grow on the Galpagos and elsewhere; and exotic plants present as a result of human actions offers thorough accounts of the plants which give the scientific, common, and family names; range; islands inhabited; habitat; description; and additional notes of interest is richly illustrated with 266 color photographs of flowering plants and 117 of plant pollinators, vegetation zones, non-flowering plants, and the islands themselves organizes species by form, leaf arrangement, and flower color and includes descriptive plant drawings to aid in identification provides a map of the Galpagos and a list of plants likely to be seen at popular tourist sites

Customer Reviews:

User friendly guide........2001-03-03

I found the "Flowering Plants of the Galapagos" to be a very useful and user-friendly flower guide. The discussion on how to use the guide was thorough yet simple enough for the botanical novice to understand the information. The "Introduction" section was helpful in acquanting the user with the general characterists of the archipelago and the vegetation zones of the islands. This section not only assists the reader in knowing where specific plants may be located, but also gives some insight into the ecology of the plants. I found the key to be one of the most straight-forward and user-friendly that I have used. Even the most botanically challenged individual could easily work through the logical progression of choices offered in the key. The amount of information given with each plant is also a positive attribute to this guide book. The author clearly outlines the range of the plants and lists the islands in which the plants inhabit, which is a very useful piece of information. The habitat is given along with a thorough description of the plant. Lastly, the additional comments offer a nice touch of the plants natural history, use, or some other piece of interesting trivia. I thought the author did a superb job of presenting the amazing flora of the Galapagos in a simple, easy to understand fashion that any visitor could appreciate. Lastly, the quality of the photos truly add to the attractiveness and effectiveness of the book.

Recommended.......2000-05-26

A wonderful book for botanists or any traveler heading to the Galapagos. It covers 436 flowering plants and provides photos of more than half. It also introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones. Its boasts clear text and some exceptional pictures.

A Must for Flower Lovers Everywhere.......2000-05-15

I have been intrigued for years by the plants, animals and birds of the Galapagos. Not only have I found the perfect field guide for flowering plants written by Dr. McMullen but, in addition, this book will serve a dual purpose as a guide for my own visit and that visitors to my home will find it on display among my favorite and frequent references. The pictures are beautiful with detail and clarity. Keep up the great work Dr. McMullen and I hope your obvious hard work and labor continue to bear fruit.

A book long overdue.......1999-12-02

This is a GREAT book! The descriptions are concise and accurate, and the photographs are excellent as well. This guide is clearly head and shoulders above all other existing literature in terms of utility. If you can only buy one book about the islands, this is it.

A must for any visitor, naturalist, or fan of flora!.......1999-11-16

It would have been a lot easier to have been a naturalist guide in the Galapagos if we had only had this book. This is a treat and a treasure! The plant life of these incredible islands has been overshadowed by the antics of the wildlife and threats of El Nino. They can now take front stage with this useful guide that even a novice will find easy to use. The pictures are beautiful and the descriptions accurate. For those that use this book, they will introduced to a special world that has been ignored. Conley - you have made all Galapagos Guides very happy!

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Magnificent Galapagos
A must for wildlife fans & Galapagos visitors, past & future
galapagos in an amazing way
The Best of the Galapagos and a Plea for Conservation
a spiritual connection with evolution

Galapagos: Islands Born of Fire
Tui De Roy
Manufacturer: Warwick House Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1894020391

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent Galapagos.......2005-08-12

I first saw this book at an hacienda on the slopes of Cotopaxi in mainland Ecuador, before our trip to the islands. I thought that if the islands were as good as the photos in this book I wouldn't be dissappointed. I was right - and I bought the book when I got home as a reminder of our trip! Although we took many photos they're not a patch on those in this book. The photography is superb. An absolute must for all visitors to the Islands.

A must for wildlife fans & Galapagos visitors, past & future.......2004-01-06

A visually stunning, intellectually stimulating, and spiritually inspiring work.

galapagos in an amazing way.......2001-05-25

I usually don't write my opinion about photo books but this one left me in shock, i've never seen anything like it before,I buy alot of photo books and i already own more than a hundred photo books from the best and most famous photographers and there are plenty that i like and some that i love,but this one Oh this one is so very special to me because the first time i looked at the pictures of this book i had tears in my eyes of enthusiasm and this is something that never happened to me before and as i said i looked at many photographs in my life,the subjects and the way they were shot ,the way she played with the colors ,it seems so natural and yet very unique and special every one of the pictures of this book could be hung on my home walls as a poster . many of the photo books are big and expensive but this one is the real thing without being a monster with no place on the shelf. if i had to go with one book to a desert island there's no question this is the one.

The Best of the Galapagos and a Plea for Conservation.......2001-03-03

This book clearly deserves more than five stars. It contains much better photographs of the geology, and plant and animal life in the Galapagos than I have seen any where else. The images here evoked memories of my trip to the Galapagos, and exceeded those memories in revealing the underlying nature of the islands. Further, the essays are extremely good in explaining what is portrayed. Only 60,000 people visit the Galapagos each year, but the islands are suffering from their visits and the growth in permanent population. Hopefully, this book is not preserving something that you will never see.

Ms. De Roy brings a special sense to these photographs, having moved to the Galapagos at the age of 2 and lived most of her life there. She learned to be a photographer working on scenes such as these. This gives her a knowledge of where to go, what to look for, and when to be there. Many of the images capture rare moments and scenes that you could miss during 100 trips to the Galapagos.

Her images are always colorful, stunning in their contrasts, dynamic, and inspiring. I felt overwhelmed by many of the images. It was like looking into the face of God, to me.

The Galapagos Islands are part of Equador, and are located several hundred miles west of the South American coast. You get there by flying first to Equador. I recommend Quito as your way point. There's much to see there.

The islands are volcanic, being the tops of shield volcanos (much like those in Hawaii). They are desert islands which receive little water except during the rainy season. Each island is separated by enough water that species have developed differently on their unique habitats.

Darwin first chronicled this with his visit in the 1850s over 5 weeks in which he noticed that the finches had developed beaks to reflect the food supply on their respective islands. For more on this, be sure to read the outstanding book, The Beak of the Finch, that describes experimental measurements taken on the evolution in the finches. Many call the islands, "a natural laboratory of evolution" as a result.

The photographs are organized around themes related to the type of natural environment. In these images you will see the desert islands, volcanic eruptions, giant tortoises, sea turtles, marine and land iguanas, Darwin's finches, flamingos, pelicans, all kinds of boobies, penguins, cacti, owls, rails, flycatchers, albatrosses, gulls, frigate birds, storm petrels, sea lions, crabs, herons, hawks, flightless cormorants, fish, sharks, dolphins, orcas, sperm whales, and coral.

Many of the animals are extremely colorful, having no natural enemies in the Galapagos. Color helps in mating, and you will see mating rituals well catalogued here. Some of the evolutonary adaptations are fascinating too. For example, the marine iguanas live from drinking sea water and are able to exude the excess salt through their skin.

After you see these images, I suspect you'll agree with these quotes from the essays.

"Galapagos is perhaps the only great natural paradise remaining in the world in a near pristine condition."

"Our responsibility lies in finding a balanced development concept . . . ." "No one in Galapagos, in Equador or in the world wants to see the Galapagos perish."

"What must be . . . realized . . . is that a far greater commitment than exhibited in the past will be required . . . ."

Ask yourself what you can do to help the Galapagos. Reading this book, and realizing the treasure the world has there is a good starting point. Sponsoring environmental activities there is another. Encouraging others to do the same is a third. I'm sure you will come up with your own ideas that will be better than mine.

May our children in generations to come continue to benefit from a pristine Galapagos!

a spiritual connection with evolution.......1999-05-08

These photographs are "nature photography" at its best -- technically flawless, brilliantly composed and put together . And then, there is much more here. The grandeur of the planet, the dignity of its inhabitants, the imperative that all lineages be allowed -- by us, damnit -- to continue: all of this is eloquently, hauntingly, unavoidably inherent in Tui De Roi"s art.

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galapagos flora research

Flora of the Galapagos Islands
Ira Wiggins , and Duncan Porter
Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0804707324

Customer Reviews:

galapagos flora research.......2000-07-27

There is no other reference source that meets the caliber of "Flora of the Galapagos Islands". It is the official text of flora investigation within the islands. As well, it provides relevant information beyond flora studies. Description of climate, vegetation zonation, as well as species identification resources may all be found in this book. This book is critical for all flora thesis work within the Galapagos archipelago.

Galapagos Safari Companion (Safari Companions)

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Galapagos Safari Companion (Safari Companions)
Alain Pons , and Christine Baillet
Manufacturer: Evans Mitchell Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1901268241

New Flowering Plants From the Galapagos Islands

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New Flowering Plants From the Galapagos Islands
John Thomas Howell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VZOX7A

Product Description

The Study was Part of the Templeton Crocker Expediation of the Calif. Acad. Of Sciences, 1932. Botanical Studies

The plant genus Polygala in the Galapagos Islands, (Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series, v. 32, no. 19)

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The plant genus Polygala in the Galapagos Islands, (Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series, v. 32, no. 19)
John Thomas Howell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0006BTJM8

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Plants of the Galapagos Islands
Eileen Schofield
Manufacturer: Universe Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Spectacular Galapagos (Travel Photography)

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Spectacular Galapagos (Travel Photography)
Tui De Roy
Manufacturer: Konemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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An Updated and Annotated Check List of the Vascular Plants of the Galapagos Islands (Reports from the Botanical Institute, University of Aarhus, 16)

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An Updated and Annotated Check List of the Vascular Plants of the Galapagos Islands (Reports from the Botanical Institute, University of Aarhus, 16)
J. E. Lawesson , Henning Adsersen , and P. Bentley
Manufacturer: Aarhus University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 8787600234

Book Description

Capturing the unique qualities of Paris, this book reveals the many shopping treasures and related lifestyle pleasures of the world's most compelling city. Covers shops, restaurants, hotels, and sights.

Book Description

At last one of the greatest mysteries of the Second World War has been solved. Since historian Hugh Trevor-Roper made his name with the publication of Hitler’s Last Days, it has been accepted that the Nazi leader killed himself as Allied troops closed in. Many have suspected that the story was incomplete; now, with the help of previously unpublished documents from the KGB archives, one of the last great secrets of World War II can be revealed. With testimony from Germans and Russians who participated in the battle for the Reichstag and evidence from those sent to arrest the Führer, Hitler’s Death pieces together the astonishing truth of the final days of Nazism.
Surrounded by secrecy, this book also includes a detailed examination of the complete diaries of Martin Bormann and graphic new evidence from Hitler’s inner circle. This revelatory work provides a unique insight into the death throes of the Third Reich and is guaranteed to cause controversy.
‘... at that moment, Linge came in and confirmed that Hitler was dead, saying that he had had to carry out the hardest order the Fuhrer had ever given him ... Obviously Hitler, doubting the effectiveness of the poison after all the injections he had been given for such a long time, ordered Linge to shoot him after he had taken the poison. Linge had shot Hitler.’
Hitler’s personal security chief SS Gruppenführer H. Rattenhuber, page 195

Customer Reviews:

There is something missing.......2007-06-02

I thought the book was outstanding. Until I got to literally the last page and realized something very, very important was missing. As they say in movie and TV reviews Spoiler Alert!! On that last page she observes that a look at the pieces of Hitler's skull establishes that he could not have shot himself. That is when I realized that missing from the book was even a semi-comprehensive autopsy of Hitler. There is great concentration on the teeth which are used to prove that the bodies are Hitler's and the Mrs. But at no point I could find was there any material to show that the two parts of the skull went together and it is certainly not obvious from the pictures. It is also notable that a cursory autopsy was done on the German Shepard, presumably Blondi. I really can not see the Russians doing a autopsy on an dog and not on Hitler and the rest. I think someone has swept the file a bit before these gentlemen got there. Other than that disappointment, outstanding!

As Close as You'll Get to the Original Source Material.......2006-06-21

I have only two problems with this otherwise excellent book:

First is the sub-title, 'Last Great Secret.' It's really hard to say convincingly that this is the last secret. It seems that all the time more secrets are being found. And I can think of some other things that should be in the KGB files that haven't been reported yet. For instance, what were the Russian code breaking efforts.

The second problem is admitted on page 11 of this book. Much of the information contained in the book comes from the Soviet interrogation of captured Germans who had been close to Hitler in the bunker. It was in their interest to tell their captors what they wanted to hear. And under questioning by the KGB who knows what was done to them. 'The Hitler Book' covers much of this same subject and the diligent reader will want to read both as they present a different slant.

The Russian forces captured Berlin, and immediately began an investigation as to Hitler's last days. They compiled a great deal of forensic evidence, reports of which are included here. In fact, most of the book is in the form of reports of one kind and another. This book appears to be about as close to the original source material as can be found without the ability to read Russian.

So finally, that's what really happened!.......2006-03-30

Recent history is always the most fresh in any person's mind and the events which led to the rise and fall of Nazi Germany remain as fresh today as they ever were for many people - even for those who were born after the war was finally over and simply grew up in it's aftermath. No other person from that time was ever more hated than Adolph Hitler and, for far too long, specific details and facts about his death have always seemed to raise more questions than answers. Not any more.

Now that the former Soviet Union is gone, the new Russia is slowly opening her doors - and her archives!, to reveal what was formerly the country's most guarded secrets. With Russian troops being the first the storm the Reichstag, it was to Stalin that all papers and diaries recovered from that building were delivered and, until recently, the world's historians had been denied access.

Now, those historians and writers have been allowed sight of the most telling documents about the final days of Nazism. In this book, we are treated to a compilation of evidence about Hitler's death unlike anything which has gone before. Evidence such as that from Hitler's own closest inner circle, reports made by the Russians and Germans who took part in that final battle, detailed accounts from those who were sent to arrest the Fuhrer, records of the interrogation of those who survived Hitler's Bunker, Martin Bormann's entire diary of the time and more besides.

Many people dismiss Adolph Hitler as a madman. Perhaps he was - but maybe that answer is just too simple. One thing is for certain, to read this book is to answer almost every single nagging question that was there before it was published.

An excellent job of research.

NM

Scholarly WW II history.......2006-03-19

V.K. Vinogradov, et.al.'s HITLER'S DEATH: RUSSIA'S LAST GREAT SECRET FROM THE FILES OF THE KGB is a 'must' for any scholarly collection specializing in World War II history. It solves one of the greatest mysteries of the war, using previously unpublished top secret documents and images from KGB archives to present new evidence from Hitler's inner circle, testimony from Germans and Russians who participated in the final battle, and evidence from those sent to arrest Hitler. Verbatim records of the interrogation of survivors blend with internal reports to Stalin and more to penetrate the cloak of secrecy and recreate Hitler's last days.

Informative.......2006-02-17

Very interesting, though dry. This book provides some interesting facts for this period of history. Problem area is
the read is a bit dull, and drawn out.

Customer Reviews:

No help here!.......2005-05-11

I've had fibromyalgia for a few years now and this book was recommended in some other source. I was most disappointed at the lack of real information. Way too expensive for a paperback with little applicable information.

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