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Cattle Plague: A History is divided into five sections, dealing with the nature of the virus, followed by a chronological history of its occurrence in Europe from the Roman Empire to the final 20th century outbreaks; then administrative control measures through legislation, the principal players from the 18th century, followed by an analysis of some effects, political, economic and social. Then follows attempts at cure from earliest times encompassing superstition and witchcraft, largely Roman methods persisting until the 19th century; the search for a cure through inoculation and the final breakthrough in Africa at the end of the 19th century. The last section covers the disease in Asia and Africa. Appendices cover regulations now in force to control the disease as well as historical instructions, decrees and statutes dating from 1745-1878.

This book traces the contours of the symbiotic relationship between crop cultivation and cattle rearing in India by reading against the grain of several official accounts from the late colonial period to the 1980s. It also skillfully unpacks the multiple cultural expressions that revolve around cattle in India and the wider subcontinent to show how this domestic animal has greatly impacted political discourses in South Asia from colonial times, into the postcolonial period. The author begins by demonstrating the dependence between the nomadic cattle breeder and the settled cultivator, at the nexus of land-livestock-agriculture, as indicated in the writings of Sir Albert Howard, who espoused some of the most sophisticated ideas on integration, holism, and mixed farming in an era when agricultural research was marked by increasing specialisation and compartmentalisation. The book springboards with the views of colonial experts who worked at imperial science institutions but passionately voiced dissenting opinions due to their emotional investment in the lives of Indian peasants, of whom Howard was a leading light. The book presents Howard and his contemporaries'writings to then engage contemporary debates surrounding organic agriculture and climate change, tracing the path out of the treadmill of industrial agriculture and factory farming. In doing so, the book shows how, historically, animal rearing has been critically linked to livelihood strategies in the Indian subcontinent. At once a dispassionate reflection on the role played by cattle and water buffaloes in not just supporting farm operations in the agro-pastoral landscape, but also in contributing to millions of livelihoods in sustainable ways while fulfilling the animal protein in the Indian diet, the book presents contemporary lessons on development perspectives relating to sustainable and holistic agriculture. A rich and sweeping treatment of this aspect of environmental history in India that tackles the transformations prompted by the arrival of veterinary medicine, veterinary education and notions of scientific livestock management, the book is a rare read for historians, environmentalists, agriculturalists, development practitioners, and animal studies scholars with a particular interest in South Asia.

Most of the future increase in livestock production is expected to occur in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Cattle are the most numerous of the ruminant species in the tropics and provide the largest quantity of animal food products. More than one-third of the world's cattle are found in the tropics. Disease is the major factor which prohibits full utilization of these regions for cattle production. Various infectious and transmissible viral, rick­ ettsial, bacterial, and particularly protozoan and helminthic diseases, are widespread in the tropics and exert a heavy toll on the existing cattle industry there. This uncontrolled disease situation also discourages investment in cattle industries by private and government sectors. In Africa alone, it is estimated that 125 million head of cattle could be accommodated in the tropical rainbelt if the disease and other animal husbandry factors could be resolved. The potential of efficient cattle production under more favorable conditions prompted various international agencies to establish a multi­ million dollar International Laboratory for Research in Animal Diseases (ILRAD) in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. In South America, principal sites for raising cattle are shifting to the savannah lands because the more fertile soils are being used for crop produc­ tion, however, in the savannahs also, disease remains the most powerful deterrent in implementing the cattle industry.

Animal welfare is attracting increasing interest worldwide, but particularly from those in developed countries, who now have the knowledge and resources to be able to offer the best management systems for their farm animals, as well as potentially being able to offer plentiful resources for companion, zoo and laboratory animals. The increased attention given to farm animal welfare in the West derives largely from the fact that the relentless pursuit of financial reward and efficiency has led to the development of intensive animal production systems that challenge the conscience of many consumers in those countries. In developing countries, human survival is still a daily uncertainty, so that provision for animal welfare has to be balanced against human welfare. Welfare is usually provided for only if it supports the output of the animal, be it food, work, clothing, sport or companionship. In re- ity, there are resources for all if they are properly husbanded in both developing and developed countries. The inequitable division of the world's riches creates physical and psychological poverty for humans and animals alike in many parts of the world. Livestock are the world's biggest land user (FAO, 2002) and the population is increasing rapidly to meet the need of an expanding human population. Populations of farm animals managed by humans are therefore increasing worldwide, and there is the tendency to allocate fewer resources to each animal.

This comprehensive textbook provides detailed information on calving management in dairy and beef cattle. Enriched with diverse learning opportunities, it conveys the fundamentals of reproductive anatomy and physiology, parturition, birth complications and various obstetrical manoeuvres, as well as dam and calf care. In order to promote best practices in this specialized subject, the book covers all significant points from conception to calving and the perinatal period. Clear chapter structures, a wealth of illustrations and videos, obstetrical case studies, and question-and-answer lists round out the reading experience, making the book a unique source of information on how to support mother cows and obtain viable offspring. In addition, readers can download the free Springer Nature Flashcards App and benefit from 77 digital study questions to test their knowledge.Calving is a significant event in terms of providing care and nutrition for mother cows and calves. The reproductive health status in cattle farms is crucial to immediately initiate lactation and new conception. Assistance by technical personnel, dystocia and stillbirth occurrences can reach ca. 50%, 14% and 6% of parturitions, respectively. Hence, zootechnical and veterinary management of calving is of great importance for animal welfare.This textbook makes a valuable contribution to teaching and everyday practice in cattle medicine and obstetrics. Veterinary students, residents, practitioners and technical personnel will discover it to be a rich learning and reference resource.

A detailed tracing, from acceptable sources, of archaeological and paleontologi­ cal discoveries made up to the present time leads us to suppose that approximate­ ly in 8000 y B. C., in Southern Turkestan, man succeeded in domesticating the first cattle, which he later took with him as he migrated from this remote region of Central Asia. Step by step, Europe and Asia have been gradually inhabited by domesticated cattle which have been incorporated into man's economy, both as a source of food and work. The same happened in America and Australasia, continents where cattle were taken by the European colonizing groups during the course of the 16th to the 18th centuries. Possibly the common cattle tick also reached these continents at the same time, accompanying its most frequent host. The cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, parasitizes Asiatic cattle races (with spe­ cial reference to the zebu, Bos indicus), but generally the level of infestation is not high, only a few engorged females being detected, generally no more than ten. When cattle of European races are infested by Boophilus microplus, how­ ever, the level of parasitism is higher, sometimes reaching limits incompatible with the life of the host.

This book presents a concept for implementing a mass balance approach toward developing an effective eco-friendly, livestock farming system independent of external energy input. In this context it describes a modern, integrated farming system, and includes comprehensive technical information explaining the design and evaluation of manure management systems, and modeling and operational tools. It first discusses the mass balance operating process, highlighting the difference between imported and exported mass across the farm boundary. Estimating mass balance can provide critical information for (comprehensive) nutrient management planning and for managing the movement of nutrients and manure. It then explains the estimation of whole-farm P mass balance using a suitable model system. The subsequent chapters provide updated information on management aspects of livestock-farming and generation of multiple job opportunities, and also explore various aspects of livestock farming operational protocols like housing and management; nurture of rams, ewes and lambs, new born calves and heifers; care of buck, doe and kid- nutrition flushing; concept zero grazing-systems; disease control and management; integrated goat farming; and crop-livestock integration. Further, the book addresses crop-livestock integration; energy autonomy in cattle farming; value added biopharmaceuticals from cattle farming; CAPEX for cattle farming; concepts of cattle farming; detrimental effects of the industry; topographic and edaphic factors, and thermal stress on livestock growth and development; socioeconomic development; and water requirements for livestock. The book concludes with the most important issue in the field of agriculture and veterinary science: “Livestock Farming with Care,” describing sustainable, eco-friendly livestock farming by highlighting issues like animal feed vs. human food; agricultural GDP vs livestock, and factors affecting the sustainability oflivestock farming. Given its scope, this book is a valuable resource for researchers and students alike, and will also appeal to practitioners in the field of livestock.

This newly updated and revised volume of the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology (ESST) details the role of Animal Breeding and Genetics in the sustainability of animal agriculture. The volume covers scientific principles and applications includes the current science used to advance cattle, poultry, swine,sheep, and equine populations, as well as the future role of techniques such as gene editing. International leaders in the field explain foundational concepts such as heritability, the covariance between relatives, statistical approaches to predicting the genetic merit of individuals, and the development and advancement of molecular techniques to elucidate changes in the DNA sequence that underly phenotypic variation. The use of genetic-based tools to improve animal agriculture and meet consumer demands across species is treated in detail. Readers will gain an understanding of how global livestock producers have implemented advanced genetic selection tools and used them to improve reproduction, production, efficiency, health, and sustainability. The interactions of genetics and production environments, and the genetic components of the complex interactions among animals are also discussed. The future of Animal Breeding and Genetics, including the challenges and opportunities that exist in feeding a growing world population, are addressed.

The present volume of the book series Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology brings together current reviews from leading experts to address the diversity of placentation by which species establish and maintain pregnancy. Development of viviparity and placentation in rodents, dogs, pigs, cattle, horses, marsupials, primates and elephants are discussed. The development of viviparity in mammals, including some invertebrate species, required the adaptation of the placenta to serve as a functional conduit for interplay between the semiallograftic fetus with the maternal uterus. Although the ‘placenta'protects the fetus from maternal immune rejection and provides oxygen and nutrient flow to support it to term across all the species, structural differentiation of this fetal-maternal interface can vary from simple to very complex. E.C. Amoroso contributed greatly to our early understanding and knowledge of placentation across a great variety ofspecies. His work on placentation provides numerous illustrations and histological sections which are used for teaching and stimulating research today. With this book, we want to pay tribute to his lifetime contributions to the field by reviewing our current understanding of the development of viviparity and placentation in different species. The book is written for researchers, physicians and medical students working in the field of reproductive science or with an interest in placentation and viviparity.

African trypanosomes are tsetse-transmitted protozoa that inhabit the extracellular compartment of host blood. They cause fatal sleeping sickness in people, and Nagana, a wasting and generally fatal disease, in cattle. While trypanosomes are most common to Africa (about 30% of Africa's cattle graze on the fringe of the tsetse habitat), some species have spread beyond its boarders to Asia, the Middle East and South America. The African Trypanosomes, volume one of World Class Parasites, is written for researchers, students and scholars who enjoy reading research that has a major impact on human health, or agricultural productivity, and against which we have no satisfactory defense. It is intended to supplement more formal texts that cover taxonomy, life cycles, morphology, vector distribution, symptoms and treatment. It integrates vector, pathogen and host biology and celebrates the diversity of approach that comprises modern parasitological research.

DNA tumor viruses have long been useful experimental models of carcinogenesis and have elucidated several important mechanisms of cell transformation. Re­ search in recent years has shown that human tumors have a multifactorial nature and that some DNA tumor viruses may playa key role in their etiology. The aim of this book is to assess our knowledge of DNA tumor viruses by reviewing animal models, mechanisms of transformation, association with human tumors, and possi­ bilities of prevention and control by vaccination. Animal models of tumor virology have contributed significantly to our under­ standing of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of virus-induced tumors. Bovine papillomaviruses induce papillomas in the intestine of cattle. The papillomas undergo a transition to carcinomas in cows feeding on bracken fern, which pro­ duces a toxin with radiomimetic and immunosuppressive functions. This example of cooperation between a virus and chemical carcinogens parallels the cooperative role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) with environmental carcinogens in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Likewise, hepatocarcinomas appearing in woodchucks chronically infected by woodchuck hepatitis virus (WIN) provide strong support for the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and human hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, the fact that WIN DNA integrates closely to cellular oncogenes suggests a possible molecular mechanism for the tumorigenesis induced by HBV.

Thanks to enormous scientific efforts of the last decades, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro production (IVP) have now been introduced successfully in the practice of human infertility treatment and cattle breeding programs. This comprehensive book allows us to bridge the knowledge from both biomedical and veterinary fields of research. For the first time, studies concerning the human embryo as well as embryos from domestic species are brought together. The central theme of the book is'the assessment of mammalian embryo quality'. In 15 chapters, written by well-known scientists, different aspects of the assessment of mammalian embryo quality are summarized. Non-invasive and invasive techniques to evaluate embryo quality are separated in two parts. In addition the book is provided with appendices on practical aspects and, thus, the book should be present in each laboratory for IVF and IVP.

This third volume of articles dealing with advances in animal welfare science and philosophy covers a wide variety of topics. Major areas of discussion include the ethics and use of animals in biomedical research, farm animal behavior and welfare, and wildlife conservation. Three articles dealing with aspects of equine behavior and welfare cover new ground for this companion species. An in-depth study of the destruction of Latin America's tropical rain forests links the need for conservation and wildlife protection with the devastating impact of the international beef (hamburger) industry, and also highlights serious welfare problems in the husbandry of cattle in the tropics. Papers from a recent symposium at Moorhead State University, Animals and Humans: Ethical Perspectives have been included in this volume. Many of these are'benchmark'papers presenting the most up-to-date and documented evidence in support of animal welfare and rights. Articles oppos­ ing these position papers are included since they were part of the symposium, and because they provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the arguments given in support of various forms of animal exploitation. While there is no intent to endorse these views by publishing them, it should be acknowledged that without an open and scholarly exchange of opposing of constructive exchange and conflict resolution will views, the possibility remain remote.

The New Forest in southern England is an area of mixed vegetation set aside as a Royal Hunting Forest in the eleventh century and since that time subjected to heavy grazing pressure from large herbivores. The entire structure of the Forest and its various communities has been developed under this continued history ofheavy grazing, with the estab­ lishment of a series of vegetational systems unique within the whole of Europe. The effects of large herbivores in the structuring of this eco­ system in the past, and the pressure of grazing continuing to this day, have in turn a profound influence, indeed the dominating influence, on the whole ecological functioning of the Forest system. Because of its assemblage of unique vegetation types, the area is clearly of tremendous ecological interest in its own right. In addition, its long history of heavy grazing ani the continued intense herbivore pressure make the New Forest an ideal study-site for evaluation of both short-term and long­ term effects of grazing upon temperate ecosystems. The N ew Forest (some 37,500 ha in total area) currently supports a population of approximately 2,500 wild deer (red, roe, sika and fallow); in addition 3,500 ponies and 2,000 domestic cattle are pastured on the Forest under Common Rights.

This book covers wide aspects of algal technology and algae-based biorefinery aspects. Algae are the most prevalent, primitive, and abundant microbes on Earth, however, the commercialization of algal-based value-added products is still low due to the negligible dissemination of knowledge flow among the stakeholders and researchers.This book provides up-to-date information on the cultivation of microalgae, their harvesting, downstream processing, and diverse applications. It further discusses the macromolecules existing in microalgae, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, peptides, exo-polysaccharides, flavonoids and antioxidants. This book also highlights the advantages and some real-time challenges before the establishment of sustainable algal-based biorefineries. Further, it includes clear flow charts and figures in each chapter to aid in interpretation of every technical concept. This book motivates readers, entrepreneurs, and young farmers to exploit easily growing microalgae through cottage to large-scale biorefineries and start their own businesses for the production of value-added products.

In this work, the endocrine and histological preparations of the uterine environment for embryo/foetus survival are covered, through compilation of relevant research results pertaining ovarian, uterine and placental changes. Also, a general overview of the ovarian cycle, uterine changes, development of the placenta, nutritional and immunological mechanisms of embryo acceptance and protection, as well as some of the most outstanding causes of embryo/foetus mortality. Each chapter involves a general discussion of relevant and pertinent research findings, including already accepted facts and those which open the possibility of new research directions. Synthesis of possible mechanisms of main biological phenomena are illustrated. More than 400 references were taken into account and herein presented, as well as photographs and illustrations.

This book provides a detailed overview of mosquitoes. It covers aspects of their origin, evolution, morphology, diversity, biology, and host finding and recognition. It also describes the behavior and rhythmicity of mosquitoes, their abiotic and biotic interactions, disease vectors and mechanism of disease transmission. Chapters describe mosquito-borne human diseases, mosquito-borne veterinary diseases, and management of mosquitoes. This book provides the readers with both the positive as well as the negative aspects of mosquitoes. It also discusses their use in research as a model organism and development of micro needles and their role in crop pollination. This book is useful for the students studying entomology, public health, medical and veterinary sciences, and applied life sciences. It is also a reference for those working in policy planning and vector management.

This book illustrates the importance and significance of improvement strategies for pig farming. It covers various topics such as proper handling, general health care management, stress management criteria, and entrepreneur development through pig farming. The book also provides current useful information about the improvement through genetic enhancement, stress monitoring, and environmental impact on pig production and management. The behavior, welfare, and mycotoxins control in feedstuffs is elaborately described to make the book more lucrative. The chapters also describe recent advancements in pig farming, business management, and entrepreneurship for better pig improvement. Finally, the book also elucidates a comprehensive as well as representative description of the general health, management, and productive performance of pigs. The book is helpful for undergraduates, postgraduates, research scholars, academicians, farm managers, field veterinarians, and meat plant officers.

This book presents the latest findings in medical entomology in Japan and neighboring Asian countries. It provides an overview of the current issues of medically important arthropods in this region and also refers to the issues that are likely to become more serious in the near future. It helps us understand that addressing the arthropod issues is not enough in limited regions, but requires a coordinated response throughout these regions. Global warming and globalization are affecting both vector and vector-borne diseases, causing rapid changes in their distribution and ecology. From the perspective of global pest control, the book focuses not only on domestic pests in Japan but also on pests in neighboring Asian countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc., which are geographically and economically close to Japan. Japan has experience of eradicating malaria and lymphatic filariasis, drastically reducing the number of cases of Japanese encephalitis patients, and succeeded in controlling flies in the metropolis of Tokyo. The know-how learned and created from these past successes should provide valuable information for other parts of Asia that are still struggling with pest infestation today. With the growing interest in these issues worldwide, this book provides essential information in medical entomology for researchers, including students and early career researchers. By integrating the latest findings in medical entomology with past successes and experiences in the field, the book is also a valuable reference for many professionals planning sustainable pest control.

The capacity of humans to destroy their environment is playing out like a Greek tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea. After having coexisted with a diversity of marine animals throughout their history, humans have broken the balance in recent decades, and the survival of countless marine creatures is now increasingly uncertain. However, unlike in classical tragedies, real-life entities are not necessarily doomed by their fate, and there must be hope to turn the tide in nature's favour. Lack of concrete conservation action might be simply due to a lack of awareness: how can we feel sad about a loss if we don't know what we are losing? “Sailing Across a Wounded Sea” is the story of an ideal journey around the Mediterranean to meet its non-human inhabitants, consisting of real episodes collected over half a century as the author observed real animals, exchanged views with a variety of contacts, and argued for such views in the policy arena. Encountering whales, dolphins,seals and rays in their habitat and on their terms will hopefully contribute to building up in readers a collective commitment to help secure a future for these species. A future where they are allowed to flourish as they were meant to - had humans never trod so heavily on the sea's delicate ecological balance and the interwoven natural processes. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara has been involved for a lifetime in protecting marine biodiversity in various capacities – as a scientist, civil servant, advocate and sailor. Having studied in California and worked with whales, dolphins and sharks worldwide, he returned to the Mediterranean in 1985, keen on using his acquired tools to discover more about the ancient sea's natural history. Here, he described small but vibrant populations of fin and sperm whales, along with various species of dolphins, manta rays and the monk seal. At the same time, seeing the Mediterranean's progressive degradation at the hands of humans, he felt a surge of rebellion against this squandering of natural values, and wished to raise awareness of the existence of these marine natural treasures and the risk of losing them. “Drawing from decades of first-hand experiences, in ‘Sailing Across a Wounded Sea'Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara offers a compelling narrative that interweaves the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea's non-human inhabitants with the challenges they face due to human activity. As he reflects on his journey, the author underscores the imperative for collective action and the need for heightened awareness and proactive conservation measures to protect our oceans. ‘Sailing Across a Wounded Sea'serves not only as a captivating voyage but also as a sobering call to responsibility. Join Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara on this insightful expedition and discover the profound significance of preserving our marine ecosystems for future generations.” —Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Ocean “The Mediterranean, the cradle of civilisation, is a sea steeped in history. From Apollon and Artemis to Pythagoras and Hercules, names in this book summon up images of civilisations past and lost. The greatest Greek philosopher of them all, Aristotle, is also regarded as the father of marine biodiversity, stemming from his research conducted on Lesbos Island. And yet this ancient world, familiar to so many, is under threat. In this book Notarbartolo di Sciara takes us on a modern-day odyssey through these waters, based on over 50 years of personal observations. He reminds us of the impact of the progressive footprint of human action and endeavour, which has spread out across the whole sea, changing, and depleting its beauty and splendour. His voyage paints a picture not just of what is at stake but also of the potential the future can hold if we all work together to give nature a br

This book highlights the science underlying honey, which is central to an understanding of conventional medicine or ingredients of food used mostly in all societies and it is attracting increasing interest among food scientists and professionals worldwide. Honey, wax, propolis and royal jelly also have significant roles in various nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products and this book provides collective information and practical approaches regarding all characteristic features of honey and its applications as functional food and medicines. Not only does this book explain the comprehensive knowledge of honey and its medicinal properties based on current researched evidence, it also explores the contribution of honey in the food science and medicine industry as a significant part of nutraceuticals and functional food research. Written by leading scientists in the field, the book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of food chemistry, nutritional science, taste physiology, and neuroscience, as well as for professionals in the food industry.

This book provides the latest information on trans-Himalayan Hindu Kush Region (HKR) fisheries including the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) as well as the historical context of its sustainable development for improving livelihood and nutritional security. The book serves as an important document to provide knowledge and information about the major concerns of environmental and anthropogenic factors that have impacted the population of certain important fishes in the ecosystem and the strategies and policies required for the conservation of these important groups of fishes, viz., Mahseer, snow trout, minor carp, catfishes, etc. The chapters describe the information to the readers on potential cold water and cool water fish species suitable for large-scale farming and propagation addressing the issues of diseases, nutrigenomics, and nanobiotechnology. This book also addresses the prospects and potential of recreational fishing in India and the scope for its improvement to generate more employment and income citing the success stories and primary information from reputed anglers. Finally, the book also elucidates a comprehensive yet representative description of many challenges associated with inland coldwater- cool water fisheries and aquaculture in HKR, IHR, and its way forward.

The plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) is a remarkable rodent of the Neotropic given several peculiar aspects of its biology, some of them quite unique among rodents or even among mammals. This book gathers specialists studying plains vizcachas from very different approaches, including paleontology, systematics, morphology, physiology, development and conservation. It is divided in two Parts, 1) Evolutionary History, and 2) Morphology, Development and Physiology. It will surely be a required reading for any researcher working with caviomorph rodents, mastozoology of the Neotropics or internal anatomy and physiology of mammals.

This book illustrates the role of cellular oxidative stress as one of the most important physiological cornerstones in the evolution of biodiversity. The first part of the book provides the fundamentals to navigate the field and analyse the cross-talk between oxidative status homeostasis and other fundamental organismal functions, such as immunity and stress physiology. The second part of the book argues that oxidative stress underpins the astonishing diversity of adaptations to the environments and the evolution of life-history strategies, from growth to reproduction. Unravelling the (un)expected ways through which the need of regulating the organismal oxidative status has influenced the evolution of life, this book presents a novel integrative way of thinking about how a cellular mechanism has shaped the evolution of life and death.

This book integrates the research progress of Tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolites in animal nutrition and human health. It recapitulates the effects of Trp nutrition on the regulation of various physiological functions in farmed animals as well as the clinical connections between Trp metabolism and human diseases. Furthermore, this book includes detailed information about the manufacturing process of industrial Trp production and methodologies to study Trp metabolism. This book not only brings numerous benefits to academic communities worldwide but also provides practical values for industrial professionals/companies. Both of these two aspects will expand our understanding of how amino acid metabolism contributes to the maintenance of host health.

Compared to mammals, fish are often underestimated and dismissed as less complex organisms. To refute this hasty conclusion, Horst Bleckmann presents to you the highly developed cognitive abilities of fish.Did you know, for example, that fish are the largest group of all vertebrates, with about 30,000 species, and that they colonize all aquatic habitats? For this immense feat, they have evolved a variety of highly specialized sensory systems and behaviors. According to recent research, fish also possess not only extremely sophisticated sensory organs, but also highly developed central nervous systems that are similar in basic structure to the brains of mammals.Immerse yourself in a fascinating world and learn all about the different sensory systems of fish. A concluding chapter additionally covers the global threat to fish from water pollution, cross-building in flowing waters, and the fishing industry.

This book describes the development of animal models widely used in biomedical research using step-wise instructions and photographs. Showcasing a wide range of species from zebra fishes, birds, rodents, rabbits, dogs, and pigs, the book includes detailed methodology on how to work with these species and to develop various models. The animal models in neurology including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Schizophrenia; Animal models in cancer research, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases are described to meet the understanding of researchers who plan to replicate these models in their laboratories. In depth detailing on the development of targeted gene knockouts and transgenics, implantation models that are used in toxicology studies, and pharmacokinetic studies in pigs and dogs are a highlight. Further, the book describes pharmacologic, chemically induced, surgically induced, microbiologically induced, infectious models, models for neurobehavioral studies, oncology research, and pain research. The book has dedicated sections on anesthesia and analgesia and teaches procedures like venous cut-downs and cannulations in pigs and dogs, and endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation and thoracotomy in rodents and will serve as a self-training tool. Concepts in the field of animal model development are explained using examples. Sample size selection, study design, and statistical evaluation of experiments involving laboratory animals are explained to enable young researchers to practically understand the nuances. This book will be a valuable tool for academicians, students, scientists, and veterinarians and will benefit equally who are new to the field and who are already working with laboratory animals.

This book comprises issues at the cutting edge of fruit fly management in the Americas, covering topics that are focal points of current activity and likely long-term importance to the progress of the field. The book is an invaluable source of ideas and inspiration for entomologists at all levels from graduate students to more-established researchers and professionals. Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) is the most important pests of fruit production worldwide. The purpose of this book is to integrate the experiences of leading scientists in the management of fruit flies in the Americas. In this work, species of fruit flies of economic importance are considered in the genera Anastrepha, Rhagoletis, Bactrocera, and Ceratitis. This book will address fruit flies monitoring, biological control, chemical control, cultural control, sterile insect technique (SIT), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and other control methods. The book provides invaluable resource material to scientists, professionals and students.

This book uncovers the entire picture of the black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) fauna in subtropical and tropical Asia (the Oriental Region). Increased discoveries of new species of black flies in the Oriental Region have disclosed a remarkable diversity in terms of phylogenetic lineages and morphological features, particularly adult genitalia and pupal gills. The black fly fauna in the Oriental Region is found to be completely different from those in other regions. The book has two aims, academic and practical. Introduction provides the general information on the biology and effects on human and animal health and welfare of black flies and introduces the unique characteristics of the black fly fauna in this region. Chapter 2 proposes a classification scheme for all 675 named and 44 unnamed species of Oriental black flies, which are placed 11 subgenera and 36 species-groups of the genus Simulium. In Chapter 3, synoptic accounts are given for their distribution, bionomics, and taxonomic comments of all the species. In Chapter 4, the faunas of black flies in 15 countries or areas [India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sunda Archipelago (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Timor), East Indonesia (Sulawesi, Maluku Islands and Irian Jaya), Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, South China, Nansei Islands (Japan)], are overviewed, and species lists and identification keys for females, males, pupae and larvae, are constructed. Ninety-eight figures of 1,691 line-drawings highlight various unique morphological characteristics of most subgenera and species-groups. Chapters 2 and 3 are academically essential for medical or biological scientists and students to study black flies. Keys to identify species in 15 countries or areas in Chapter 4 are of practical use for health workers for the control of insects of medical and veterinary importance, as well as for ecologists for the study of aquatic invertebrates. Many novel morphological characteristics illustrated in the figures appeal to readers and show the importance of biodiversity of natural terrestrial ecosystems. Contents of this book resulted from the author's taxonomic review of all 719 Oriental species of black flies, with reference to 486 publications.

This book comprehensively reviews various feed additives and supplements that are employed for ruminant production and health. It discusses important strategies of using additives and supplements through rumen fermentation, immunomodulation, nutrient utilization, and cellular metabolism that lead to enhanced milk production, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and reproduction. The book also presents the importance of nutritional supplements such as B-vitamins, advances in mineral nutrition, role of lesser-known trace elements, protected amino acids, slow-release nitrogen and rumen buffers on performance and health of ruminants. In addition, the book explores strategies for improving environmental stewardship of ruminant production by minimizing carbon footprint associated with greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing ruminant-derived food safety through mycotoxin binders, exogenous enzymes, probiotics, flavours, biochar, ionophores, seaweeds and natural phytogenic feed additives with an emphasis on plant secondary metabolites (tannins, saponins and essential oils, etc.). It also details information on silage additives, additives and supplements employed in successful calf rearing, transition cow management as well as to ameliorate the adversity of heat stress in ruminants. Overall, the book is valuable for veterinary and animal science researchers, animal producers, nutrition specialists, veterinarians, and livestock advisors.

This book focuses on untapped marine resources for production of biofuel, biogas, bio-fertilizers, nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical and other value-added products. The applications of marine biomass and microbes in human welfare, whether individual or synergistic use, for waste management, climate change mitigation, eco-restoration, and environment protection have also been covered. This book also looks at the solutions to the problem of fossil fuel, which is one of the major sources of environmental pollution and global warming. In this context, marine-based biorefinery represents a promising approach to mitigate climate change as bio-based products are good alternatives to fossil-based fuels and synthetic chemicals due to their capacity for net-negative carbon emissions. This book is a reference material for researchers and scientists working in the field of biorefinery, pharmaceutical industry, bioremediation of contaminants and carbon neutrality for environmental safety.

Quoting contemporary accounts from hunters, missionaries and traders from the early nineteenth century onwards, this book illustrates the ecology of the country as it was emphasizing its rich large mammal fauna, its decline from increasing aridity of the country, it destruction by hunters, by disease, and most importantly, destruction of its vast herds, notably of wildebeest, due to the developing beef export economy and the erection of veterinary cordon fences depriving the large game of migration routes in times of drought. Once possessing one of the greatest animal displacements in Africa, with huge migrations of antelope, this book underlines the reality that the fauna of Botswana today is but a tiny remnant of what was perhaps once one of the the greatest spectacles of big game on earth. It shows how the decline came about -- and the controls exercised by tribal chiefs illustrating the indigenous peoples'attitudes, and eventual protective measures both tribal and statutory. Whereas the pessimistic predictions of extinction at the end of the nineteenth century have happily not come true, nonetheless, the continued existence of this once great fauna is increasingly threatened by climate change threatening an already fragile balance, and human population increase with its increasing economic demands and changes in land use. The study fills a gap in the literature of African wildlife conservation and is distinctive by drawing upon a rich historical background.

This book brings out a comprehensive collection of information on the structural proteins of fish in both marine and fresh water system. The main focus of this book is to address all relevant aspects of structural proteins of fish and its commercial significance. Fish is a rich and cheap source of protein, and the collagen and myofibrillar proteins, play a key role in food and pharmaceutical industries. Marine-based collagen due to its unique properties have fewer risks of transmitting diseases. These have low molecular weight, are biocompatible, lack religious constraints, and involves cost-effective extraction process. Therefore, it finds wide biomedical applications. The details of its extraction, isolation and characterization, supported with photographs and flow-charts are provided. This book also discusses the different peptides and derivatives of proteins that may have beneficial health significance and other commercial importance. Further, the application of bioinformatics and artificial intelligence in understanding the protein structure in-silico are also discussed in detail. This book is of interest and useful to students, academician, researchers and industrialists/ entrepreneurs, and is a valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers/ students.

This book presents a new and innovative concept in dealing with dogs: the human-canine synergy (HCS), characterized by a holistic nature and its differentiation from unidimensional terms expressing the affiliation of humans and dogs (Relationship, Interaction, Bonding). Related to the use and training by humans, it applies three main categories of dogs: a) the empathy/therapeutic individuals, which are dogs helping persons with empathy- or therapeutic needs; b) assisting/working dogs carrying out specific actions to aid or assist humans perform specific tasks; and c) the facilitating/inspiring dogs, which enable or improve various human activities, including classroom dogs for teaching and learning purposes in almost all educational subjects.Organized in three parts, chapters address the following needs:•The first section illuminates the concept of HCS as well as basic principles determining this synergy and consequently the process of training dogs (owners and professional trainers). Readers will understand the role of a dog's personality, behavior and especially temperament in its successful training.•In a scientifically documented way, the second part guides those who wish to engage in dog training (amateur or professional). It describes basic training forms within the HCS framework (obedience, protection, detection and classroom dog) and necessary steps for proper completion.•The third book part describes the business of dog training with multi-dimensional approach by emphasizing a good understanding and knowledge of interactions and the environment in which trainer, owner and dog typically operate.Overall, this work is a valuable read for anyone who deals with our four-legged companions for business or pleasure.

This richly illustrated textbook delivers a functional vision of dog behaviors. Daily applicable, it offers practical solutions for canine behavioral care with a consistently medical approach to disorders. Readers find a thorough introduction to factors influencing behavior, the canine neuroanatomy and physiology, psychopathologies, as well as treatment options. Drawing on the latest studies in neuroscience, ethology, psychology, and psychiatry, as well as the clinical experience of its expert authors, this guide is both comprehensive and accessible. Multiple clinical case studies illustrate and support presented details on medication and therapies.Behavioral pathology is one of the main challenges in veterinary medicine. Not only are they a cause of suffering for the animal, but they can also affect the quality of the relationship with the pet owners or pose a danger to society. Hence, treatment of these behavioral disorders requires an integrative approach to canine healthand well-being.The book's easy-to-access and descriptive structure allows many audiences to understand a subject area that is all too often considered complex. It addresses veterinary students, practitioners, and future expert veterinarians seeking approach to deep knowledge, as well as all other dog professionals curious to discover a complementary view with respect for the animal and owner.

Theory and early empirical work posed that herbivore pressure should be lower on islands than on the mainland owing to lower herbivore abundance and diversity in insular systems. Consequently, plant taxa found on islands are expected to be less protected or even to have lost their defences completely. While early observational studies supported the prediction of lower herbivory and plant defences on islands, recent island-mainland comparisons have yielded mixed results, with some studies finding no differences between islands and mainlands or, surprisingly, higher herbivory and plant defences on islands. In this book, the authors aim to re-assess current theory and initiate a new generation of work on insularity effects on plant-herbivore interactions. This book aims to fill the research gaps by integrating the research that has been done to date and by compiling and summarising new research on insularity effects on plant-herbivore interactions. It provides a critical examinationof the patterns in light of classical theory and identifies potential mechanisms or underlying processes. It also aims to raise new questions that will form the basis for a revised and more robust research programme.

For many people, thoughts of the United Arab Emirates conjure images of ultramodern skyscrapers and rolling sand dunes. However, the Emirates are a rich mosaic of ecosystems and habitats that support surprisingly diverse communities of organisms, and there is growing awareness of the importance of these previously underappreciated natural assets. A Natural History of the Emirates provides a comprehensive overview of the unusual environmental setting of this young nation, and surveys the major ecosystems and the marine and terrestrial organisms occurring across the nation. From freshwater streams in the hyperarid Hajar Mountains to the world's most temperature-tolerant coral reefs, the UAE is home to an astounding variety of uniquely adapted organisms that are providing insights into climate change and how organisms cope with and respond to extreme environmental conditions. The book closes with a section on human interactions with this unique environment, and proposes initiatives to ensure the protection of these unique natural assets into the future. This is an open access book.

This book reviews all the findings about bonobos and the local people of Wamba village in the Luo Scientific Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the last 50 years. In 1973, Takayoshi Kano, a Japanese primatologist, traveled across a vast area of the Congo Basin with a bicycle and found Wamba village to be a promising site to start his first studies on wild bonobos. Since then, many researchers from Japan and all over the world have been working at Wamba, now the longest standing study site, to uncover various aspects of the ecology and behavior of this most recently identified great ape species. The researchers study bonobo behaviors and carry out various activities for the conservation of bonobos. They also conduct anthropological studies of local people who live with bonobos and believe them to be distant relatives from the same family, living in the forest. This book is published in commemoration of 2023 marking the 50th year of study. The main chapters are contributed by active researchers studying bonobos and the local people at Wamba. The book also includes contributions from various eminent researchers who have carried out short-term research or have supported research at Wamba, which helps place these studies of bonobos in a broader primatological or anthropological perspective. This book will be a useful resource for professional researchers in primatology and anthropology, as well as graduate or undergraduate students interested in these research fields.

Are you interested in animals and do you want to scientifically study their behaviour through observations or experiments? With this book, you will gain the necessary knowledge to conduct scientific research objectively, design experiments rigorously, and start analysing behavioural data effectively. Most importantly, you will learn to measure animal behaviour using different sampling techniques. In addition, you will read about the most used and latest technical devices that are advancing the study of animal behaviour. Thus, read this book if you want to learn how to design, conduct, analyse and write up your animal behaviour research or if you wish to refresh your knowledge and look up specific behavioural methods.

Preliminary​This volume provides comprehensive overviews of each European bat species'biology including palaeontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality and age determination. Their economic significance and management, as well as future challenges for research and conservation are also addressed. Each chapter includes a distribution map, a photograph of the animal and key literature. This authoritative volume of the Handbook of the Mammals of Europe is a timely and detailed compilation of all European bats and will appeal to academics, students and professionals in mammal research.

Sex in Cetaceans provides an up-to-date review of multi-faceted aspects related to mating and reproduction in toothed and baleen whales. This open access book begins with discussions of sexual selection and anatomical traits related to mating and diversity between the sexes. The functions of non-conceptive copulations are reviewed as are different research techniques applied to explore sex in cetaceans. Authors and editors build knowledge of female and male social, mating, and parental strategies and tactics for several specific toothed dolphin/porpoise/whale species and baleen whale species. It concludes with a discussion of potential conservation efforts and ways to help especially beleaguered species and populations the world over. The volume is intended as a major primer of cetacean sex for undergraduate and graduate students, new and established researchers in the field, and the public wishing to learn more.

Centuries ago, when penguins were first encountered by European explorers, they were not thought to be birds but rather a fish-like relative. Subsequent accumulation of knowledge has shown penguins to be an avian species with unrivaled aquatic attributes, owing to a number of evolutionary adaptations: shape change, low drag, ability to regulate buoyancy, and extraordinary surface compliancy from their featheration. They are indeed the most extremely specialized diving bird, having given up flight (which otherwise is hugely advantageous) to the benefit of underwater prowess (such as speed, maneuverability and an ability to exploit an extraordinary range of depths). This flightlessness, however, also comes with costs that are substantial for a seabird (such as the inability to cover large distances quickly in reaction to ephemeral prey); and the energy needed to cope with moving through an aqueous environment, which is more resistant than air. For penguins, the high energetic costs inexploiting the ocean environment thus makes them especially sensitive to changes in food availability or their access to their prey. While a number of “penguin books” cover the natural history, mainly of breeding aspects, few address in much detail the incredible aquatic nature of these creatures. A huge amount of information has been amassed over recent past decades thanks to dramatic advances in microelectronics, bio-logging and maturation of some long-term studies of penguin life history. This work represents an integration of all these data with charts, maps and graphs, along with richly illustrated photos by experts in the field.

The book offers a comparative look at the social strategies of five carnivorous social predators (four terrestrial and one marine) that make them successful hunting units. The focus is on mammalian predators hunting (largely) mammalian prey. Each chapter (with separate authors) devoted to a particular species, explores the versatile hunting techniques and social dynamics of these top predators as they attempt to survive, defend, and reproduce in challenging habitats. Each chapter also delves into how the social fabric and ecology of each species influence their ability to deal with natural and man-made threats and shifting baselines.

This book attempts to move the family of squirrels (Sciuridae) out of the shadow of large charismatic mammals and to highlight management failures with the goal of moving towards an improved conservation approach. Particular attention is paid to the influence of taxonomic science on squirrel conservation. In addition, the authors show how human-driven climate change, global change and modern politics are shaping global squirrel populations as well as their surrounding environments and ecosystems.Squirrels are widespread around the globe, naturally occurring on every continent except Antarctica and Oceania, and they are certainly among the animals most commonly encountered in everyday life. Despite this, the authors of this volume identify worrying gaps in squirrel conservation. Squirrels are often hunted, trapped, poached, and stressed, and management strategies andlegislation are often devised in the absence of proper knowledge of issues such as population sizes, taxonomies, and trends. Together, this can result in severe population declines and even species extinction. By assessing their taxonomic situation, ecology, the evolution and divergence of Sciuridae around the globe, and squirrels'well-being across habitats, the authors set a baseline from which to launch future investigations into the conservation of squirrels and other species. Additionally, the authors highlight the influences of climate change, unsustainable growth, and various man-made threats to the future of this family.

This volume provides comprehensive overviews of the primate's and each lagomorph species'biology including palaeontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality and age determination. Their economic significance and management, as well as future challenges for research and management are also addressed. Each chapter includes a distribution map, a photograph of the animal and key literature. This authoritative volume of the Handbook of the Mammals of Europe is a timely and detailed compilation of all European primates and lagomorphs and will appeal to academics and students in mammal research, as well as to professionals dealing with mammal management, including control, use and conservation.

This book presents a detailed examination of the current state of knowledge in the field of paleoneurology in the main amniote groups (reptiles, birds and mammals), and advances resulting from new non-invasive technologies. The study of fossil endocasts is an area of considerable current interest, and has long been central to our understanding of the evolution of the brain, development of senses and behavioral adaptations in diverse vertebrate groups and across vertebrates as a whole. Recent advances in non-invasive imaging have significantly increased the number of fossil taxa for which brain morphology is known, and it may now be possible to quantitatively analyze the relative size of brain regions. Providing a general overview of current perspectives and problems in evolutionary neuroanatomy, this book is intended for a wide range of readers, including undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, and anyone with a special interest in paleoneurology. It isalso useful as supplementary reading for courses in digital anatomy, vertebrate comparative anatomy, computed morphometrics, paleontology, neurology and radiology as well as evolution programs

This open access book reviews the importance of ecological functioning within rangelands considering the complex inter-relationships of production agriculture, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. More than half of all lands worldwide, and up to 70% of the western USA, are classified as rangelands—uncultivated lands that often support grazing by domestic livestock. The rangelands of North America provide a vast array of goods and services, including significant economic benefit to local communities, while providing critical habitat for hundreds of species of fish and wildlife. This book provides compendium of recent data and synthesis from more than 100 experts in wildlife and rangeland ecology in Western North America. It provides a current and in-depth synthesis of knowledge related to wildlife ecology in rangeland ecosystems, and the tools used to manage them, to serve current and future wildlife biologists and rangeland managers in the working landscapes of the West. The book also identifies information gaps and serves as a jumping-off point for future research of wildlife in rangeland ecosystems. While the content focuses on wildlife ecology and management in rangelands of Western North America, the material has important implications for rangeland ecosystems worldwide.

There has been a dramatic increase in theoretical and practical studies on insect natural enemies over the last decades. The appeal of insect predators and, in particular, parasitoids, as research animals derives from the relative ease with which many species may be cultured and experimented on in the laboratory, the simple life-cycles of most parasitoid species, and the increasing demand for biological pest control as a key component of the integrated pest management approach.There is now a very substantial literature on insect natural enemies and thus a great need for a general text that enquiring students or research workers can use in deciding on approaches and techniques that are appropriate to the study and evaluation of such insects. This book fulfils that demand. It is a considerably updated and expanded version of a previous best-seller and provides an account of major aspects of the biology of predators and parasitoids, punctuated with information and advice onwhich experiments or observations to conduct and, importantly, how to carry them out. Guidance is provided, where necessary, on the most recent further literature that may need to be consulted on given topics.While researchers can now refer to several books on parasitoids and predators, Jervis's Insects as Natural Enemies is unique in emphasising practicalities. It is aimed at students and professionals working in universities and both government and commercial institutes in the fields of integrated pest management, agriculture, horticulture and forestry, as well as those interested in fundamentals of behavioural, population, community and evolutionary ecology.

With more than 10,000 species that vary in size, use diverse habitats that extend across latitudes and altitudes, consume a wide variety of food items, differ in how they fly (or not), communicate, and reproduce, and have different life histories, birds exhibit remarkable variation in form (anatomy) and function (physiology). Our understanding of how natural selection has generated this variation as birds evolved and as different species adapted to their unique circumstances has grown considerably in recent years. In In a Class of Their Own: A Detailed Examination of Avian Forms and Functions, this variation is explained in great detail, beginning with an overview of avian evolution and continuing with information about the structure and function of the avian skeleton, muscles, and the various body systems. Other chapters focus on avian locomotion (including flight), migration, navigation, communication, energy balance and thermoregulation, and various aspects of avian reproduction, such as nests and nest building, clutch sizes, and parental care. In a Class of Their Own: A Detailed Examination of Avian Forms and Functions will be must reading for anyone, professional or non-professional, who needs or wants to learn more about birds.