Florida (Traveller's Wildlife Guides)

by Les Beletsky, Fiona Sunquist, Mel Sunquist

Overview

Travellers go to Florida for sun, sand, surf, and visits to the state's world-famous theme parks, but increasingly also to explore Florida's incredible natural attractions: stunning subtropical scenery, wonderful hiking and bird-watching trails, exceptional fishing, boating, and canoeing, the wet wilderness of Everglades National Park, the continental US's only coral reefs, and glimpses of exotic wildlife.

This book has all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Florida's magnificent animal, plant, and sea life.

• Identifying, location, and conservation information on the most frequently sighted animals.
• Full-color illustrations of more than 600 of Florida's most common insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants.
• Information on the underwater animals most snorkelers and divers actually see.
• Photos and information on Florida habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter.
• Brief descriptions of the region's most frequently visited parks and reserves.

Easy to carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated—you will want to have this book as constant companion on your journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566566513
Publisher:	Interlink Publishing Group, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/20/2007
Series:	Travellers' Wildlife Guide
Pages:	544
Sales rank:	1,094,076
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Les Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and university zoology teacher. Prior to taking up writing wildlife guides he conducted many years of field research on the ecology and behavior of birds. He is the author of numerous books, including Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador, and Peru in this series.

Fiona Sunquist is the editor of International Wildlife magazine. Mel Sunquist is a professor in the department of wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Les Beletsky is the author of numerous books, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru in this series.

Mel Sunquist is a professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, Gainseville. He teaches wildlife ecology and researches the ecology and conservation of carnivorous mammals.

Table of Contents

Preface     ix
Ecotourism     1
What Ecotourism is and Why It's Important     1
How Ecotourism Helps     2
History of Ecotourism in Florida   Erin Kennedy   Taylor Stein     3
Florida: Geography and Habitats     6
A Brief Eco-History of Florida     6
Geography     8
Geology     10
Climate and Best Times to Visit     11
Vegetation: General Characteristics     12
Florida's Trees     12
Palms     12
Citrus     13
Epiphytes     13
Major Habitats and Common Plant Species     13
Upland Ecosystems     14
Freshwater Ecosystems     18
Coastal Ecosystems     21
Parks and Reserves     24
Introduction     24
Getting Around     25
The Great Florida Birding Trail     26
Fishing     27
Canoeing     27
Manatees     27
Panhandle (PAN)     29
North Florida (NFL)     31
Central Florida (CFL)     33
South Florida (SFL)     37
Keys and Other Islands(KEY)     40
Environmental Threats and Conservation Programs   Holly Freifeld 44
Major Environmental Threats     44
Conservation Programs     45
Return of the Whooping Crane     45
The Florida Panther: Teetering on the Brink?     46
Bald Eagle Recovery     46
Save the Florida Manatee!     47
Sea Turtles     48
Florida Forever     48
Battle For the Everglades     49
Alien Nation: Non-native Species in Florida     50
How to Use This Book     54
Some Definitions     54
Information in the Family Profiles     55
Information in the Color Plate Sections     60
Amphibians     62
General Characteristics and Natural History     62
Seeing Amphibians in Florida     64
Family Profiles     65
Salamanders     65
Toads and Toad-like Frogs     67
Treefrogs     69
True Frogs     71
Frog Population Declines     72
Reptiles     75
General Characteristics and Natural History     75
Seeing Reptiles in Florida     78
Family Profiles      79
Crocodilians     79
Turtles     81
Colubrid Snakes     86
Venomous Snakes - Elapids     89
Venomous Snakes - Viperids     90
Geckos     93
Iguanids - Anoles and Spiny Lizards     94
Skinks and Whiptails     95
Glass Lizards     97
Living with Alligators     98
Birds   Dennis Paulson     100
Birds: Animals to Watch     101
General Characteristics and Natural History     102
Seeing Birds in Florida     103
Family Profiles     104
Loons and Grebes     104
Pelicans and Their Relatives     106
Long-legged Waders     110
Waterfowl     114
Raptors     117
Chickenlike Birds     123
Cranes, Limpkin, and Rails     125
Shorebirds     129
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers     113
Pigeons and Doves     136
Parrots     139
Cuckoos     142
Owls     144
Nightjars     146
Hummingbirds     147
Kingfishers     150
Woodpeckers      152
Flycatchers     154
Swallows and Swifts     156
Crows and Jays     159
Titmice and Nuthatches     161
Wrens     163
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers     165
Thrushes     166
Mockingbirds and Thrashers     168
Miscellaneous Perching Birds     169
Vireos     172
Warblers     173
Blackbirds and Starlings     176
Tanagers and Cardinal Grosbeaks     179
Sparrows and Finches     182
Why Is Florida So Full of Exotic Birds?     187
The Advantages of Colonial Nesting     188
Mammals     190
Introduction     190
General Characteristics of Mammals     191
Classification of Mammals     191
Seeing Mammals in Florida     192
Family Profiles     193
Opossum     193
Armadillo     195
Bats     197
Carnivores     201
Raccoon     202
Coyote and Foxes     204
Bear     205
Skunks and Otters     207
Cats     209
Marine Mammals      212
Pigs and Deer     213
Rodents - Mice, Rats, and Pocket Gopher     215
Rodents - Squirrels     217
Rabbits and Hares     219
Reducing Roadkill     221
Insects and Other Arthropods   Dennis Paulson     223
General Characteristics and Natural History     223
Seeing Insects in Florida     224
Coral Reef Wildlife   Richard Francis     226
References and Additional Reading     231
Habitat Photos     233
Identification Plates     247
Species Index     489
General Index     508

Editorial Reviews

It contains short expert essays on Florida’s flora and fauna, geography, ecosystems, parks, preserves, and to its credit, one titled ‘Environmental Threats and Conservation Programs.’ This is a tremendous amount of information, all very useful for an ecotourist. That inclusiveness allows the traveler to carry this single guide rather than several. For academic settings, it would be useful in ecotourism programs and for training environmental interpreters and guides. Recommended. All levels.”

Choice

For tourists who would rather go birdwatching than visit Disney World, here is a guide to the most commonly encountered animals in the state (including underwater animals for snorkelers and divers) and coverage of the state's geography and habitats, parks, and reserves. Color photographs and illustrations show various habitats, flora, and fauna, including 85 amphibians and reptiles, 60 insects, 35 mammals, 200 birds, and 175 fish. Ecotourism is defined as an interest in enjoying wildlife in a particular area, including a desire to help preserve it, and the book includes information about the environmental hazards to Florida's wild areas. Fiona Sunquist is a science writer, Mel Sunquist works in wildlife ecology at the University of Florida, and Lisa Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and zoology teacher. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)