Overview
The definitive resource for finding, identifying, and conserving Maryland’s amphibians and reptiles. Naturalists, herpetologists, and ecologists alike agree that tracking herpetofauna is a challenging undertaking. Scientists are concerned about the decline of once-familiar species, but evidence has often been too anecdotal to support firm conclusions. To better understand the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Maryland and forecast species' futures in a time of accelerated environmental threats, conducting a comprehensive statewide survey updating 1970s-era distribution maps seemed ideal. However, this endeavor was of an impossibly ambitious scope for scientists alone to tackle. Enter the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project, comprising nearly a thousand dedicated citizen scientists who discovered and recorded the locations of herpetofauna throughout every corner of Maryland. In The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, Heather R. Cunningham and Nathan H. Nazdrowicz present the findings of this massive undertaking. This definitive guide combines nearly 160 comprehensive new herpetological maps with historical distribution maps and in-depth species accounts. Color photos illustrate the natural history of the 89 species of frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the state home. Essays discuss historical studies, the effects of Maryland's current climate, geology, and habitat diversity—and the myriad conservation issues these animals face. This richly detailed book represents a triumph of citizen science and the culmination of an intensive research partnership. It will appeal to both amateurs and professionals interested in herpetology, natural history, or ecology, as well as those with a special interest in Maryland's biodiversity.
Full Product Details
Author: Heather R. Cunningham (Chesapeake College) ,
Nathan H. Nazdrowicz
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 21.60cm
, Height: 2.30cm
, Length: 27.90cm
Weight: 1.315kg
ISBN: 9781421425955
ISBN 10: 1421425955
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 21 January 2019
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
A meticulously detailed guide, with lush color photos. -Chesapeake Bay Magazine This magnificently illustrated book brings together the efforts of hundreds of citizen scientists to reveal which species of reptiles and amphibians live in Maryland and where in the state they live. It is truly a quantum leap in our understanding of this magnificent wildlife and provides an invaluable baseline to plan for the protection of Maryland's unique fauna. -Richard Shine, The University of Sydney Authoritatively presented and beautifully illustrated, this atlas is a comprehensive manual that explores the natural history of Maryland's amphibians and reptiles and the efforts by public agencies and individual naturalists to conserve this priceless legacy. Cunningham, Nazdrowicz, and all their contributors also offer readers a history of the naturalists who wandered the breadth of the state documenting these invaluable animals. -Richard Franz, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida This is one of the best state herpetological atlases I have read. Each species has good natural history coverage, photographs, and distributional maps. Several good appendices and a thorough reference section are included. I highly recommend this book for those interested in mid-Atlantic herps. -Carl H. Ernst, author of Turtles of the United States and Canada The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas is a superb blend of scientific monograph and field guide and an example of the database most needed for future ecosystem analyses and conservation practice. -Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Ants This is the definitive field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Maryland. This beautiful, easy-to-use book provides color photos, range maps, and natural history information for each species. A fantastic resource for amateurs and experts of all ages! -Karen R. Lips, University of Maryland, College Park This gorgeously illustrated tome is deeply compelling especially because of the inclusion of field observations and outstanding photography of nonprofessional herpetologists. This fine volume is a joy to read, due in part-as was the case with each of my several books on herpetology-to these contributions from gifted citizen scientists. -Alan Tennant, author of Snakes of North America
A meticulously detailed guide, with lush color photos. * Chesapeake Bay Magazine *
A meticulously detailed guide, with lush color photos. -Chesapeake Bay Magazine
Author Information
Heather R. Cunningham is an associate professor of biology at Chesapeake College. Nathan H. Nazdrowicz is an adjunct instructor of herpetology at the University of Delaware.
