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  • © 2007

Subterranean Rodents

News from Underground

  • Presents a comprehensive treatment of the biology, ecology and evolution of subterranean mammals

  • Forty authors, authorities in their field, from 12 different countries have contributed to the book

  • Short introductions into each key field are provided

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (28 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XVIII
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Subterranean Rodents: News from Underground

      • Sabine Begall, Hynek Burda, Cristian E. Schleich
      Pages 3-9
  3. Ecophysiology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
    2. Microclimate in Burrows of Subterranean Rodents — Revisited

      • Hynek Burda, Radim Šumbera, Sabine Begall
      Pages 21-33
  4. Sensory Ecology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 79-79
    2. Sensory Ecology of Subterranean Rodents

      • Sabine Begall, Cristian E. Schleich
      Pages 81-84
    3. Using Odors Underground

      • Giora Heth, Josephine Todrank
      Pages 85-96
    4. Acoustics, Audition and Auditory System

      • Sabine Begall, Simone Lange, Cristian E. Schleich, Hynek Burda
      Pages 97-111
    5. Acoustic Communication in Subterranean Rodents

      • Cristian E. Schleich, Silke Veitl, Ema Knotková, Sabine Begall
      Pages 113-127
    6. Visual Systems and the Role of Vision in Subterranean Rodents: Diversity of Retinal Properties and Visual System Designs

      • Pavel Němec, Pavla Cveková, Hynek Burda, Oldřich Benada, Leo Peichl
      Pages 129-160
    7. Magnetic Compass: A Useful Tool Underground

      • Regina E. Moritz, Hynek Burda, Sabine Begall, Pavel Němec
      Pages 161-174
    8. Adaptive Neural Organization of Naked Mole-Rat Somatosensation (and Those Similarly Challenged)

      • Thomas J. Park, Kenneth C. Catania, Dalia Samaan, Christopher M. Comer
      Pages 175-193
  5. Life Histories, Behavioural Ecology, Demography

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 195-195
    2. Giant Mole-rats, Fukomys mechowii, 13 Years on the Stage

      • Mathias Kawalika, Hynek Burda
      Pages 205-219

About this book

Across the globe, about 250 species of rodents spend most of their lives in safe and stable, but dark, oxygen-poor and carbon dioxide-rich burrows, deprived of most of the sensory cues available aboveground. They have become fully specialized for a unique way of life in which foraging and breeding take place underground. The systematic research into adaptations of subterranean dwellers is only about two decades old, but it has rapidly intensified within the last few years, bringing insight into many aspects of the biology and evolution at different organization levels.

Subterranean Rodents presents achievements from the last years of research on these rodents, divided into five sections: ecophysiology; sensory ecology; life histories, behavioural ecology and demography; environmental and economical impact; molecular ecology and evolution. It is a must for all researchers working in this field and will be of interest to zoologists, physiologists, morphologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“This book is the result of a symposium entitled ‘Light from the underground: Challenges and insights in the third decade of research on subterranean rodents,’ held during the International Mammalogical Congress IX in Sapporo … . provides a set of important tidbits, factoids, pieces of general information, and current hypotheses relevant to the topic at hand. … Given the broad nature of topics included, the book is a one-stop shopping place for a plethora of knowledge concerning the biology of subterranean rodents.”­­­ (Robert D. Bradley, Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Vol. 17, March, 2010)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Dept. General Zoology Institute of Biology, Faculty of Bio- and Geosciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Sabine Begall, Hynek Burda

  • Laboratorio de Ecofisiología Departamento de Biología Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Cristian E. Schleich

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Subterranean Rodents

  • Book Subtitle: News from Underground

  • Editors: Sabine Begall, Hynek Burda, Cristian E. Schleich

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69276-8

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-69275-1Published: 03 May 2007

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-08876-6Published: 15 October 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-540-69276-8Published: 12 June 2007

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 398

  • Topics: Zoology, Animal Physiology, Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Vertebrates

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access