Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation

摘要

Sea turtles can be clearly classified as flagship species: they are vulnerable, yet representative of a series of fundamental environmental issues. Recent evidence also suggests that they influence(d) the ecological composition, structure or functioning of their communities far more than their abundance would suggest (earning them an additional keystone species designation). It is therefore all the more remarkable that we still know so little about major aspects of their lives and that, at the same time, we have decimated them to a level where they are listed as endangered (or, to underline the first point, data deficient). The 'complete guide' part of the title of James Spotila's book promises a lot, and some readers, with a more advanced background in sea turtles or who seek practical guidelines for sea turtle work, may be a bit disappointed. Nonetheless, for the vast majority, this volume hits the sweet spot between a hard science manual and a mere coffee table book.