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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

    • Spider Mites

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 1B
      • March 1, 1986
      • Bozzano G Luisa
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 4 2 3 7 4 0
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 2 9 0 4 0
      This two-part volume with contributions from more than 50 international specialists, provides an up-to-date text and brings together facts and views of acarologists specialized in various aspects of the biology of spider mites. The need for such a treatment of scientific progress and recommended topics for future research exists among students, commencing in the study of acarology and plant protection, as well as among those engaged in acarological research and teaching. Both books will serve to provide a synthesis of much of the knowledge on basic and applied aspects of the biology of spider mites and their natural enemies; stimulate students to analyse critically the views propounded by the authors of the book, and instigate research into environmentally safe and cost effective means of pest control.
    • Habitat Selection in Birds

      • 1st Edition
      • June 28, 1985
      • Martin L. Cody
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 2 0 3 6 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 0 1 3 3
      Leading researchers in behavioural ecology discuss specific aspects of this important topic including: The mechanism of habitat selection and how it operates Its relevance to population biology Behavioural and physiological implications The ecological and evolutionary significance of habitat choice and survival and reproduction in various habitat types.
    • Soil Cutting and Tillage

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 7
      • October 1, 1985
      • E. McKyes
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 7 2 3 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 0 1 0 4 9
      After giving a brief history of tillage practices and implements used throughout the world dating back to ancient times, this book goes on to describe the basic soil mechanics techniques needed to calculate the forces developed in soil by simple-shaped cutting tools. The methods of measuring soil mechanical properties, water pressure in soil and shear rate effects are touched upon. A review is given of two and three dimensional soil cutting mathematical mechanics models to predict soil cutting forces and soil volumes disturbed by cutting and tillage tools, as well as the state-of-the-art of soil loosening, structural rearrangement and plant growth as affected by tillage tools. The author also includes an introduction to the analysis of traction machines. There are many numerical examples of mechanical analyses and predictions worked out in the various sections of the book as well as numerous unsolved problems at the end of a number of the chapters.Written in a textbook style, this monograph is ideal for anyone wanting to learn modern techniques for the mechanical description of soil cutting and tillage forces and soil volumes disturbed. It also provides a reference for analytical formulae and calculated force forces. It will be of interest to universities and colleges worldwide which have Agricultural Engineering Programs, Civil and Mechanical Engineering schools which specialize in soil mechanics and construction machinery as well as to research stations worldwide with interests in soil tillage, soil physics etc.
    • Advances in Botanical Research

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 11
      • April 12, 1985
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 0 1 5 7 8 4
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 6 1 6 5 3
    • Soil Physics with BASIC

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 14
      • November 1, 1985
      • G.S. Campbell
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 8 6 9 8 2 7
      This book covers material taught in a graduate-level soil physics course at Washington State University. While most soil physics courses dwell mainly on deriving rather than solving the differential equations for transport, the author's approach is to focus on solutions. Graduate students in agricultural and biological sciences usually have a good working knowledge of algebra and calculus, but not of differential equations. In order to teach methods for solving very difficult differential equations with difficult boundary conditions using fairly simple mathematical tools, the author uses numerical procedures on microcomputers to solve the differential equations. Numerical methods convert differential equations into algebraic equations which can be solved using conventional methods of linear algebra.This book reflects the philosophy used in the course. Each chapter introduces soil physics concepts, generally in the conventional way. Most chapters then go on to develop simple computer programs to solve the equations and illustrate the points made in the discussion. Problems at the end of each chapter help the reader practice using the concepts introduced in the chapter. The problems and computer programs are an integral part of the presentation, and readers are strongly encouraged to experiment with each model until both the working of the model and the concepts it teaches are familiar. Although the programs are generally short and relatively simple, they are suitable for use as submodels in large, general-purpose models of the soil-plant-atmospher... system, and have been used in this way by the author and by several of his students.Teachers and students alike will welcome this new textbook. It will enable graduate students to understand and solve transport problems which exist in field situations, and will provide them with a good working knowledge of soil physics - fundamental to so many other areas in soil, plant and engineering sciences.
    • The Gray Whale: Eschrichtius Robustus

      • 1st Edition
      • October 1, 1984
      • Mary Lou Jones + 2 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 9 6 0 0 0 9
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 9 1 8 0 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 2 3 7 2 7
      The Gray Whale: Eschrichtius robustus provides an introduction to the understanding of Eschrichtius robustus or the gray whale. This book explores the life processes, reproduction, and growth of large cetacean populations. Organized into four parts encompassing 25 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the gray whale evolution, fossils, and subfossil remains, range, and systematics in historical times. This text then presents the historical of gray whale exploitation and the economic importance of these whales to humans. Other chapters consider the gray whale migration, abundance, and seasonal distribution in the wake of the California population's recovery from depletion. This book discusses as well the methods used in shore-based censuses during migration and in aerial surveys of gray whales taken on their winter grounds. The final chapter deals with some innovative approaches to the study of free-ranging cetaceans. This book is a valuable resource for anthropologists, paleontologists, biologists, and naturalists.