A new book - Life in a Shell

Kirkie · 07-01-2011, 02:03 AM

A new book comes out today, might be interesting.

Life in a Shell*
Donald C. Jackson

"Trundling along in essentially the same form for some 220 million years, turtles have seen dinosaurs come and go, mammals emerge, and humankind expand its dominion. Is it any wonder the persistent reptile bested the hare? In this engaging book, physiologist Donald Jackson shares a lifetime of observation of this curious creature, allowing us a look under the shell of an animal at once so familiar and so strange. Here we discover how the turtle's proverbial slowness helps it survive a long, cold winter under ice. How the shell not only serves as a protective home but also influences such essential functions as buoyancy control, breathing, and surviving remarkably long periods without oxygen, and how many other physiological features help define this unique animal. Jackson offers insight into what exactly it's like to live inside a shell - to carry the heavy carapace on land and in water, to breathe without an expandable ribcage, to have sex with all that body armor intervening. Along the way we also learn something about the process of scientific discovery - how the answer to one question leads to new questions, how a chance observation can change the direction of study, and above all how new research always builds on the previous work of others. A clear and informative exposition of physiological concepts using the turtle as a model organism, the book is as interesting for what it tells us about scientific investigation as it is for its deep and detailed understanding of how the enduring turtle 'works'."

About the Author
Donald C. Jackson is Professor Emeritus of Medical Science, Brown University.

**Alan1** · 07-01-2011, 07:53 AM

Sounds interesting but I can't do books. It would be a good BBC documentary though. Attenborough on commentary

Kirkie · 07-01-2011, 02:07 PM

"I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

TortBabe · 07-01-2011, 02:14 PM

Sounds great

Kirkie · 07-02-2011, 01:46 PM

Wow. Just wow.

It also has a mention of cloacal water uptake.... by turtles....for buoyancy.

Geomyda · 07-02-2011, 05:53 PM

Very good book indeed!

justmeandmytortoise · 07-02-2011, 05:54 PM

Sounds really good

**Bindi** · 07-02-2011, 07:32 PM

Looks like I'll have to do a few more haircuts and save up

**Alan1** · 07-02-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkie

Wow. Just wow.

It also has a mention of cloacal water uptake.... by turtles....for buoyancy.

woooo, close though

there are lots of books I would like to read but I just can't do it. I can read a page maybe but that's about it. I can only read short articles on the computer too. There was a time when I could read a book in one or two nights

07-01-2011, 02:03 AM	#1
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	A new book - Life in a Shell A new book comes out today, might be interesting. Life in a Shell* Donald C. Jackson "Trundling along in essentially the same form for some 220 million years, turtles have seen dinosaurs come and go, mammals emerge, and humankind expand its dominion. Is it any wonder the persistent reptile bested the hare? In this engaging book, physiologist Donald Jackson shares a lifetime of observation of this curious creature, allowing us a look under the shell of an animal at once so familiar and so strange. Here we discover how the turtle's proverbial slowness helps it survive a long, cold winter under ice. How the shell not only serves as a protective home but also influences such essential functions as buoyancy control, breathing, and surviving remarkably long periods without oxygen, and how many other physiological features help define this unique animal. Jackson offers insight into what exactly it's like to live inside a shell - to carry the heavy carapace on land and in water, to breathe without an expandable ribcage, to have sex with all that body armor intervening. Along the way we also learn something about the process of scientific discovery - how the answer to one question leads to new questions, how a chance observation can change the direction of study, and above all how new research always builds on the previous work of others. A clear and informative exposition of physiological concepts using the turtle as a model organism, the book is as interesting for what it tells us about scientific investigation as it is for its deep and detailed understanding of how the enduring turtle 'works'." About the Author Donald C. Jackson is Professor Emeritus of Medical Science, Brown University.

07-01-2011, 02:14 PM	#4
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	Sounds great __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

07-02-2011, 05:54 PM	#7
justmeandmytortoise Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kent Posts: 2,682	Sounds really good __________________ www.justmeandmytortoise.webs.com Tortoise, Terrapin and Turtle group covering Kent and London

07-02-2011, 07:32 PM	#8
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	Looks like I'll have to do a few more haircuts and save up __________________

07-01-2011, 07:53 AM	#2
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Sounds interesting but I can't do books. It would be a good BBC documentary though. Attenborough on commentary

07-01-2011, 02:07 PM	#3
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	"I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

07-02-2011, 01:46 PM	#5
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Wow. Just wow. It also has a mention of cloacal water uptake.... by turtles....for buoyancy.

07-02-2011, 05:53 PM	#6
Geomyda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 2,094	Very good book indeed!

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