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'Brilliant, Fantastic and Significant' - Dr George McGavinAnts are seemingly everywhere, and this familiarity has led to some contemptuous and less than helpful stereotypes. In this compelling insight into the natural and cultural history of ants, Richard Jones helps to unravel some of the myths and misunderstanding surrounding their remarkable behaviours. Ant aggregations in large (often mind-bogglingly huge) nests are a complex mix of genetics, chemistry, geography and higher social interaction. Their forage trails - usually to aphid colonies but occasionally into the larder - are maintained by a wondrous alchemy of molecular scents and markers. Their social colony structure confused natural philosophers of old and still taxes the modern biologist today. Beginning the book with a straightforward look at ant morphology, Jones then explores the ant species found in the British Isles and parts of nearby mainland Europe, their foraging, nesting, navigating and battle instincts, how ants interact with the landscape, their evolution, and their place in our understanding of how life on earth works. Alongside this, he explores the complex relationship between humans and ants, and how ants went from being the subject of fables and moral storytelling to become popular research tools. Drawing on up-to-date science and featuring striking colour photographs throughout, this book presents a convincing case for why ants are worth our greater recognition and respect.

ΓÇ£Mountain flowers are the most romantic in our flora, exquisite, enigmatic and, often, remote from human habitation. Michael Scott has not only seen them all but has roamed every part of the hill scenery of Britainand brings to his subject passion, learning and hands-on experience. This is field botany at its best, engrossing, exciting and full of wonder.ΓÇ¥PETER MARRENBritain''s mountains and exposed sub-arctic regions of the far north are home to a remarkable range of specialist flowers, shrubs and ferns that are able to thrive on our islands thanks to a combination of conditions seldom found in mainland Europe. The peculiarities of their occurrence here, at unusually low altitudes for typically alpine species and uncommonly far south for arctic species, make their ecologyespecially intriguing. In this invigorating journey from the Lizard of Cornwall to Unst in Shetland, Michael Scott examines Britain''s richest upland sites, bringing an important 21st-century perspective to our understanding of the flora along the way. Lavishly illustrated, Mountain Flowers has much to offer wild flower enthusiasts and botanists, including detailed profiles of over 150 of the plants most characteristic of our montane regions. It will prove an indispensable companion for hillwalkers and climbers wanting to learn more about the enigmatic species that are such an intrinsic part of the British mountain landscape.- Featuring over 150 mountain plants, with 20 extended profiles for the most enigmatic species- Illustrated with over 340 colour photographs of plants and their spectacular habitats- Jacket artwork by Carry Akroyd

'If you thought butterflies were special, the clear intelligible science in this superb page-turner will make you realise they're ultra-special' - MATTHEW OATESThis new addition to the British Wildlife Collection is a unique take on butterfly behaviour and ecology, written by the former Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, Martin Warren. It explores the secret lives of our British species (also drawing on comparative examples from continental Europe), revealing how they have become adapted to survive in such a highly competitive natural world. Combining personal anecdote with the latest discoveries in the scientific literature, this book covers everything from why we love butterflies and their life-cycle from egg to adult, to their struggle for survival in a world of predators and parasites and the miracle of migration. The final chapters explore how butterflies are recorded, the change in their ranges and abundance during the 20th and 21st centuries, and the significance of managing habitats at a landscape scale, concluding with a passionate plea for why we must act now to reverse butterfly declines.Insightful, inspiring and a joy to read, Butterflies is the culmination of a lifetime of careful research into what makes these beautiful insects tick and how and why we must conserve them.

An absorbing celebration of the ecology, biology, geology and cultural history of one of Britain''s most important and vulnerable landscapes.Heathlands are so much more than simply purple carpets of heather. This latest addition to the British Wildlife Collection celebrates the diversity and natural history of a distinct and vulnerable cultural landscape, one that can be found throughout the British Isles.Beginning with an introduction to heathlands, how they can be defined and the associated wildlife that may be encountered there, Clive Chatters goes on to take the reader on a geographical tour of suites of heathlands throughout the British lowlands, with an in memoriam nod to those that have been erased from common memory and understanding. He concludes with a review of how people have perceived and used heathland wildlife over the ages, and sets out a future vision for the conservation of this iconic landscape, its unique habitats and the species that live there.

Includes information about each of the huge variety of river-types to be found in Britain, discussion of individual examples both large and small, crucial insights into their maintenance and the dangers - felt so acutely in recent years across the UK - of their mismanagement.

'A meticulously researched, important and beautiful volume that goes well beyond the scope of its title to describe the hitherto neglected subject of woodland flora and place it in a broad ecological and historical context' - STEFAN BUCZACKIObserving the plants of the forest floor - the flowers, ferns, sedges and grasses - can be a vital way of understanding our relationship with British woodland. They tell us stories about its history and past management, and can be a visible sign of progress when we get conservation right. For centuries, woodland plants have also been part of our lives in practical ways as food and medicines, and they have influenced our culture through poetry, perfume and pub signs.In this insightful and original account, Keith Kirby explores how woodland plants in Great Britain have come to be where they are, coped with living in the shade of their bigger relatives, and responded to threats in the form of storms, fires, floods, the attentions of grazing herbivores and the effects of the changing seasons. Along the way, the reader is introduced to the work of important botanists who have walked the woods in the past, collecting information on where plants occur and why. In-depth profiles of some of our most important and popular ground flora species provide extra detail and insight. Beautifully illustrated, Woodland Flowers is a must for anyone who appreciates and wants to learn more about British woodland and its plants.

A pioneering look at how climate change is affecting British wildlife--winners, losers, new arrivals and future prospects.“Fascinating but frightening, compelling and concerning … this book brings together all you need to know about how the climate is impacting wildlife.”CHRIS PACKHAMThere is no escaping the fact that the British climate is changing, and our wildlife is changing with it. In this remarkable account, Trevor Beebee examines the story so far for our plant, fungi and animal species. Warmer and wetter winters, combined with longer summers, have worked to the advantage of plants such as the rare Lady Orchid, and a whole range of insects. The UK is also hosting new arrivals that come in on the wing. But there is adversity, too. Alpine plants and seabirds – particularly Kittiwakes – are suffering declines as our countryside warms. Given the evidence so far, can we predict what the future holds for our British ecosystems?

An accessible and engaging account of the natural history of rocky and boulder-strewn shores around Britain''s coastline.In Rocky Shores, authors John Archer-Thomson and Julian Cremona explore the species, communities, and landscape of the narrow strip bounding Britain''s coast. It may be limited in extent, but no other habitat in Britain is as extreme and dynamic: as the tide ebbs and flows, physical and chemical conditions can alter dramatically in a matter of minutes. An impressive array of life forms has adapted well and even manages to thrive in these challenging conditions.This beautifully illustrated book guides the reader through the patterns of marine biodiversity that we might encounter on sheltered and exposed shores, from the inhospitable "splash zone" to the repeatedly submerged lower shore, and everything in between. Rock pools dotted across the shore contain unique pockets of diversity, while the strandline formed by marine debris at the high-tide mark supports a unique community of microbes and invertebrates that in turn attract birds and mammals.Filled with stunning photographs of rocky shores and their extraordinary inhabitants, this book will appeal to anyone with a love of the shore--from occasional "rockpooler" through to enthusiastic naturalist.