Sea Turtles

James R. Spotila holds the Betz Chair of Environmental Science at Drexel University, where he is also director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. Dr. Spotila is a leading ecologist and physiologist who has written more than 100 articles published in leading scientific journals and helped create the field of biophysical ecology. One of the world's leading authorities on sea turtles, he is the founding president of the International Sea Turtle Society and president of the Leatherback Trust, based in Costa Rica.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Introduction: The Seven SwimmersChapter 2. Life Cycles: From Sand to SeaChapter 3. Biology: Under the ShellChapter 4. History: The Ancient LineageChapter 5. Conservation: An Uncertain FutureChapter 6. Green Turtles: The Grass EatersChapter 7. Hawksbills: The Sponge EatersChapter 8. Olive Ridleys: A Phenomenon of NatureChapter 9. Kemp's Ridleys: The Rarest of AllChapter 10. Loggerheads: A Crushing JawChapter 11. Flatbacks: Australia's TurtleChapter 12. Leatherbacks: The Giant MarinerChapter 13. Conclusion: Dreaming of Eden Sources and Suggested ReadingIndex

In this comprehensive guide, [Spotila] treats in detail the seven species: green turtles, hawksbills, olive ridleys, Kemp's ridleys, loggerheads, flatbacks, and leatherbacks. Each chapter includes tables of data on where the species is found, population estimates of colonies, and, in some cases, a chronology of conservation efforts... Spotila, fittingly, offers vignettes of conservation projects that provide human interest... Spotila's book is recommended for high school, university, and research-level libraries. Library Journal Such enthusiasm is infectious... The accessible text is beautifully illustrated with numerous color photographs. The lay readers will be captivated. The book's review of what scientists know about these charismatic but woefully endangered creatures is substantial enough to interest biologists and conservationists as well. -- Roger Harris American Scientist 2005 Each species gets a chapter with sumptuous photographs, and short personal profiles pay homage to those spearheading conservation efforts. New Scientist 2005 Sea Turtles is spellbinding, articulate, indispensible and, with its many full-color photos, taken by the world's leading underwater photographers, astonishing. Spirit of Aloha 2005 The author is both a leading authority on sea turtles and a talented writer; his passion for the subject is on every page. Choice 2005 An evocative portrait of the seven species and their valiant fight for survival. Compendium Newsletter 2006 This is a great book. Wildlife Activist 2006 Clearly written and well-illustrated book... provides a helpful primer for nonscientists. -- Larry Evans Charlotte Herald-Tribune 2005 It is this mixture of scientific expertise and outright human awe that makes this book such a treasure... A trove of information, a collection of spectacular photos, and an ode to a creature that somehow, years after its birth, is able to navigate back to the precise beach where it was born to lay its own eggs. Philadelphia Inquirer 2004 Bottom line: This book is worthy of centerpiece placement on any coffee table. But Sea Turtles' loftier goal make it more than just another pretty picture book. -- Mary Beth Regan Baltimore Sun Sea Turtles capitalizes on the depth of James Spotila's experience in field and political environments as well as his evident passion for conservation, [producing] an equally compelling, modern book. Readers of all stripes will be captivated by the outstanding photography and entertained by the stories... A wonderful entree into the exciting world of sea turtles for the uninitiated and a delightful repast for everyone. His eloquent words are inspiring, and his hopeful message deserves to be heard. -- Fredric J. Janzen Science 2005 This lavishly produced book is filled with numerous excellent photographs, as well as beautiful schematics of anatomy and distribution maps. But this is much more than a coffee-table book: it deserves space on the academic's bookshelf. -- Graeme C. Hays Nature 2005 Open this new, beautifully produced book and you'll find yourself hopelessly caught up in the life of sea turtles. Post Register 2006 This is simply a great book: lucid, literate, and lavishly illustrated. -- Tony Tucker Aquatic Mammals 2006 This volume hits the sweet spot between a hard science manual and a mere coffee table book. -- Michael Stachowitsch Marine Ecology 2008 A worldwide study into what is causing the decrease in sea turtles throughout the world. Going beyond just what is causing it, though, [Spotila] carefully explicates why the decline is so important to all living things. Black Sheep Dances 2011