How Nature Keeps Time: Understanding Life Events in the Natural World

Cover
Half-title
Title
Copyright
	Contents
Introduction
	It’s All About Time
	Have a Good Time
	Nature’s Clocks
	Life in Slow Motion
1. Evolutionary Spans
	Introduction
	Life in a Day
	Geological Time Spans
	Evolution in Action
	Mass Extinctions
	The Rise and Rise of Plants
	Terrible Lizards
	Time For Take-off
	Rock Stars
	Monotremes, Marsupials and Mammals
	Domesticated Bliss
	The Silver Fox
2. Ecological Spans
	Introduction
	Whale Decomposition
	The Benefits of Burial At Sea
	Out of the Ashes
	Beavers: Ecosystem Engineers
	The Lungs of the World
	Floundering Frogs
	Life Between the Tides
	Going, Going, Gone
	Conservation Success Stories
3. Lifespans
	Introduction
	How Old?
	Clonal Colonies
	Life in the Fast Lane
	The Elixir of Life
	A Lifespan Less Ordinary
	In their Prime
	Hibernation
	Back From the Dead?
4. Growth Spans
	Introduction
	The Great Egg Race
	Pregnancy in Mammals
	Growing Up
	On Your Feet
	Reef Building
	Shooting Up
	Regeneration in Animals
5. Behavioural Spans
	Introduction
	Sleeping Habits
	Animal Migrations
	No Time to Die
	Think Fast
	Parenting Strategies
	Home Sweet Home
	Courtship
	Mating Marathons
	Seasonal Shifts
6. Biological Spans
	Introduction
	Oestrous Cycles
	Reproductive Spans
	Rhythms of Life
	What Goes In . . .
	Breathe Deep
	Every Breath You Take
	The Speed of Sound
Further Reading
Index
Picture Credits