New Releases by Sneed B. Collard

Looks at what is known about sea dragons, or underwater reptiles, that lived during the time of the dinosaurs, examining the discovery of the first fossils in the nineteenth century, and discussing the evolution, survival, and extinction of these anc

This book explains what invasive species are and the damage they cause to local ecosystems and economies and discusses how scientists are working to combat these encroaching organisms.

Native Americans occupy a turbulent, romantic, and painful place in our nation''s history and consciousness. At once a symbol of a time long past and a living, vital presence today, Native Americans are not simply the first Americans but an essential thread woven into the fabric of American life. Lifeways examines the existences carved out by each tribe. Daily life, religious beliefs, and sacred rituals are all explored, as well as a tribe''s social systems, rules of warfare, and sense of themselves within the natural universe. In addition, the cycle of life--from birth to marriage to death--is revealed, including the roles played by men and women, boys and girls. Lifeways is written in a lyrical voice by noted author-photographer Raymond Bial.

"Describes the work of Dr. Alexander Grutter and other biologists in the field of coral reef relationships"--Provided by publisher.

What has a bill like a duck''s and the body of a beaver? A platypus, probably. Engaging text follows a female platypus through her life, while sidebars offer in-depth information about this unique monotreme and her environment. Vivid, accurate illustrations capture the wonder of this amazing creature.

Barely a century ago a vast tallgrass prairie covered America’s heartland. Bison, elk, coyotes, and bear roamed this wilderness. Hundreds of species of prairie plants supported an explosion of birds and insects, including hundreds of kinds of butterflies. By the early part of the twentieth century, however, the tallgrass prairie was gone, its rich soils converted to farms to feed a growing world population. Here, author Sneed B. Collard III tells the remarkable story of an effort to bring back part of the native tallgrass prairie. By following scientists who are working on the 8,000-acre Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, readers will learn where the vision for a new prairie came from and how a dedicated group of scientists and volunteers is working to turn this vision into reality, from locating seeds of native prairie plants to using fire to drive out weeds to "bringing home” bison, elk, and one of the prairie’s most spectacular butterflies, the Regal Fritillary.

Typescript, signed and spiral bound.

The average human sleeps a total of twenty-four years over a lifetime. That''s a lot of naps! Yet people aren''t the only ones who enjoy a good rest; if you look around, you''ll find that all animals have a biological need for sleep. But some animals snooze in ways that we would find startling--if not absolutely impossible. A sooty tern, an island bird, takes a nap in midair as it slowly flaps its wings. A fruit bat gets forty winks while hanging upside down from a tree branch. A bottlenose dolphin can put half of its brain to sleep while it continues to swim. What other remarkable methods of sleep exist?

We all "leave the nest” eventually, and animals do, too. Here we follow different creatures from all sorts of environments as they leave home and venture off to make their own place in the natural world. Some walk (jaguars), some crawl (crabs), some swim (sharks). Some leave as soon as they’re born (salamanders), and others leave after several years (elephants). Albatrosses fly across oceans while hedgehogs walk only a short distance away. And songbirds even come back.

A girl joins an annual count. Includes information on butterflies and how to attract and watch them.

Describes the mating rituals and reproductive methods of a variety of animals, including flatworms, jellyfish, chameleons, and walruses.

"Smart Survivors" shows how 12 fascinating plants and animals survive their hostile and dangerous habitats, including how the strangler fig gets sunlight, where poison arrow frogs keep their babies safe, how snakes move, and other interesting facts. 12 photos. 12 illustrations.

Describes the efforts of fifteen young people to protect the environment in their communities in different countries around the world.

Publisher Description

This book explores a special kind of tropical forest that grows at high altitudes -- a tropical cloud forest. It presents the cloud forest through the eyes of scientists working in the best-known tropical cloud forest, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in Costa Rica, and it shares many of the secrets that these scientists have uncovered through their research. The author highlights the delicate biology of the tropical cloud forests and the continuing efforts to preserve it.

Discusses the reasons various animals are the color they are and explains the science behind colors in the natural world.

Illustrations and simple text describe how the males of different species help take care of their young.

Explains the problems posed by living organisms that invade or spread to new places.

California wildfires require a family to plan for and evacuate their home.