Böcker av John A. Byers

North America's fastest mammal, the pronghorn can accelerate explosively from standing to a top speed of 60 miles per hour-but it can also cruise at 45 mph for many miles. What accounts for the speed of this extraordinary animal? And what is it like to be a field biologist dedicating 20 years to studying this species? Byers answers these questions.

Investigating a whole host of species from around the globe, the first short and affordable introduction to animal behaviorWhy do birds have regional accents? Can horses learn maths? What do animals without eyes see? Questions such as these have fascinated scientists and animal lovers alike long before ethology - the study of animal behavior - became recognised as a science in the 1970s. Now, as issues of conservation and welfare dominate the field, an understanding of how and why animals act the way they do has become even more critical. Drawing together evolutionary theory, ecology, population biology, genetics, physiology, and anatomy to demonstrate the diversity involved when studying animals, Byers explains the mechanisms and motivations behind a range of animal movements. Readers are equipped with the core knowledge and skills to further their own studies and better understand the natural world that surrounds us.