Publisher's Synopsis
This guide is intended to help in the identification of a wide variety of common Hawaiian invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants. A photographic handbook that is small enough to take into the field, it contains information on many fascinating species from reef, tide pool, forest, and volcanic summit. Students of biology will appreciate the taxonomic layout, with multiple Family and Order designations given. First-time visitors to Maui will find this guide exceptionally simple to use, with many of the most commonly seen flowers, birds, or reef animals easy to spot on its pages. Island biogeography and evolution are key topics in the understanding of conservation issues on the island of Maui, and are introduced here. Although islands make up a relatively small amount of land mass on earth, they are the associated with more than half of the world's extinct species. Hawaii has over 300 endangered and threatened plant & animal species, many of them found on Maui. Educating yourself and others about these unique organisms will be a key factor in their survival. This handbook is designed to help you do that, with brief notes about introduced competitors and predators, loss of habitat, and the dwindling genetic base that are major issues faced by the animals of Maui. The author's background in veterinary medicine and wildlife rehabilitation enhances the discussion of a few of the medical issues that are now facing populations of Hawaiian honeycreepers, marine mammals, and sea turtles. From the spectacular endemic silver sword to the destructive introduced mongoose, this field guide will inspire you to become students and stewards of Maui's unique flora and fauna.
