Masters of the ocean realm : whales, dolphins, and porpoises

Book

Masters of the ocean realm : whales, dolphins, and porpoises / by John E. Heyning.

Heyning, John E. (John Edward) (Author). Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. (Added Author).

Summary:

Masters of the Ocean Realm is a colorful, accessible introduction to the cetaceans that shows how scientists study elusive creatures and reveals what they have learned. The book gives examples of the interaction of whales, dolphins, and porpoises with human cultures around the world and discusses such conservation issues as modern whaling, habitat degradation, pollution, and the threat of extinction. Short essays address additional topics such as whale intelligence, the mystery of mass strandings, the lessons of DNA analysis, and the tuna-dolphin controversy. The book features numerous color illustrations, including images by leading nature photographers, as well as a glossary of unfamiliar terms.

Record details

ISBN: 0295974877
ISBN: 9780295974873
Physical Description: 110 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 27 cm
Publisher: Seattle, WA : University of Washington Press, in association with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, ©1995.

Content descriptions

General Note:: Published in conjunction with a traveling exhibition of the same name organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Cf. title page verso.
Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (page 108) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:: I. The basic whale and dolphin -- II. Evolution. Miocene diversity ; Modern diversity -- III. Life below the surface. Feeding ; Senses ; Diving ; Behavior and social systems -- IV. The challenges of research. Tagging and photo-identification ; Strandings ; How many species? ; How many whales? -- V. Conservation. Modern whaling ; Accidental deaths in fishing gear ; Pollution and habitat destruction ; The role of research -- VI. Whales and people. Greek and Minoan civilizations ; The Tlingit ; Nineteenth-century New England ; The Eskimo.