Until quite recently, the undersea lives of the sea mammals of Australasia have been a mystery. This book unravels the secrets of the dugongs, whales, dolphins and seals that inhabit the oceans around Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.
Detailed descriptions of each species are supplemented by superb illustrations, colour photographs and informative distribution maps. An examination of the origins of the different sea mammals provides insight into how they came into the region and how they have adapted to meet the challenges of living in the ocean, in addition to the continuing conflict between their welfare and human habitation and development.
Life in the WaterPART I: Identification, Distribution and Abundances1.
Whales and dolphins2. The dugong3. Seals, sea lions and fur sealsPART II:
Origins and Biology4. Evolution5. Reproduction6. Life cycles7. Seasonal
movements8. Communication9. Behaviour10. Food and Foraging11. Diving12.
Thermoregulation13. Strandings14. Disease, medicine and mortalityPART III:
Humans and Marine Mammals15. Where to see marine mammals16. Historical
interactions17. Human impacts and resource management18.
LegislationGlossaryFurther ReadingIndex
Michael Bryden, Helene Marsh and Peter Shaughnessy are world leaders in research into sea mammals. They each have more than 30 years' experience in research and have published extensively in scientific literature on Australian sea mammals.
