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Description:
Few subjects
have generated
as much emotional
dialogue around
conflicting
scientific and
policy agendas
as the protection
and management
of Pacific
salmon resources.
In this major new
work, esteemed
fisheries expert
Thomas
Quinn distills
from the vast scientific
literature the
essential information
on the behavior
and ecology of
Pacific salmon,
including steelhead
and
cutthroat trout.
Unlike other books
that examine only
selected life stages,
habitats, or species,
this book - richly
illustrated with
beautiful
photographs and
original drawings
- thoroughly covers
the complete life
cycle, emphasizing
common themes and
differences among
the various species
of salmon.
Representing the
range of species
and geographic
regions, Quinn
includes
examples from classic
studies by pioneers
of salmon biology
and from the
most current research
to illustrate the
important features
of salmon life
history and behavior
and the complex
physical, biological,
and human factors
that affect them.
The Behavior and
Ecology of Pacific
Salmon and Trout
introduces salmon
and
trout as a group,
with a brief description
of each species,
and compares
them to other fishes.
The book then follows
salmon on their
amazing homeward
migration from
the open ocean,
through the complex
coastal waters,
and
upstream to the
precise location
where they were
spawned years earlier.
It
explains the patterns
of mate choice,
the competition
for nest sites,
and
the fate of the
salmon after their
death. It describes
the lives of
offspring during
the months they
spend incubating
in gravel, growing
in
fresh water, and
migrating out to
sea to mature.
Quinn emphasizes
the
importance of salmon
to humans and to
natural ecosystems
and the need to
integrate sound
biology into conservation
efforts.
This thorough,
up-to-date survey
should be on the
shelf of anyone
with a
professional or
personal interest
in Pacific salmon
and trout. Written
in a
technically accurate
but engaging style,
it will appeal
to a wide range
of
readers, including
students, anglers,
biologists, conservationists,
legislators, and
armchair naturalists.
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