Incluye bibliografía e índice: páginas 585-596

Part I Phylogeny and Zoogeography.. 1 The Origin and Relationships of Early Chondrichthyes.. 2 Historical Zoogeography of the Selachii.. 3 Phylogeny of Batoidea.. 4 Phylogeny and Classification of Extant Holocephali.. Part II Form, Function, and Physiological Processes.. 5 Biomechanics of Locomotion in Sharks, Rays, and Chimeras.. 6 Prey Capture Behavior and Feeding Mechanics of Elasmobranchs.. 7 Metabolism, Energetic Demand, and Endothermy.. 8 Food Consumption and Feeding Habits.. 9 Homeostasis: Osmoregulation, pH Regulation, and Nitrogen Excretion.. 10 Reproductive Biology of Elasmobranchs.. 11 Hormonal Regulation of Elasmobranch Physiology.. 12 Sensory Biology of Elasmobranchs.. 13 The Immune System of Sharks, Skates, and Rays.. Part III Ecology and Life History.. 14 Age Determination and Validation in Chondrichthyan Fishes.. 15 Life History Patterns, Demography, and Population Dynamics.. 16 Genetics of Sharks, Skates, and Rays.. 17 Predator–Prey Interactions.. 18 Elasmobranchs as Hosts of Metazoan Parasites.. 19 Assessing Habitat Use and Movement.. Index

Sharks and their relatives are the subjects of tremendous interest. The public’s fascination is influenced by their roles in movies and popular literature, while the media races to cover stories of predators endangering helpless humans. The alarming threat to shark populations is also garnering significant publicity and leading to a worldwide increase in conservation initiatives. Finally, technological advances are impacting every area of shark research and revealing incredible secrets about these mysterious animals. These major factors indicate the need for a timely synthesis of the biology of sharks and their relatives. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives brings together the latest information on the phylogeny, physiology, behavior, and ecology of sharks and their relatives, the skates, rays, and chimaeras. Written by a “Who’s Who” lineup in North American elasmobranch research, this single-source review of elasmobranch fishes presents cohesive and integrated coverage of key topics and discusses technological advances used in modern shark research. The text establishes relationships among the sharks and their relatives that dominate the Chondrichthyes, describes their functions and physiological processes, and examines issues relevant to managing depleted and threatened fisheries. Each of the 19 chapters includes a comprehensive review of the subject with extensive up-to-date citations. This authoritative book provides a synopsis of the current understanding of elasmobranch fishes while identifying gaps in our knowledge to stimulate further study. Its broad coverage and inclusive nature make this an important resource for marine and conservation biologists, fishery scientists, biological oceanographers, zoologists, ecologists, environmental planners, and students. Inglés