Introduction to California Birdlife (California Natural History Guides)

Book Description

In almost every location and every season, California is a birdwatchers' paradise. One can search Sierra meadows for a Great Gray Owl, the autumn estuary for a Black-bellied Plover, or spring willow thickets for the effervescent song of the Yellow Warbler. Closer to home, backyards, neighborhood parks, and cities abound with many of the state's 600-plus bird species. This beautifully illustrated book, the first based on the relationship between birds and their habitats, is the definitive introduction to California's varied birds and the lives they lead.
Introduction to California Birdlife describes the representative birds in California's seven major bioregions: ocean, seashore, coastal ranges, Central Valley, mountains and foothills, Great Basin, and deserts. It explains key relationships among weather patterns, plant communities, and the ecological rhythms of these habitats and shows how these factors relate to the distribution, behavioral adaptations, and environmental challenges of its birds.

* The perfect book for beginning and intermediate naturalists, and in-depth enough for experienced naturalists who would like to learn more about the habitat affinities, ecological niches, and seasonal cycles of California birds
* 150 color photographs bring to life many of the birds described
* Introduces the basics of avian biology
* Includes a list of all California's known bird species and a glossary of birding terms

Customer Reviews:

The best book to grasp California's birds.......2007-10-01

Evens and Tait have produced a veritable undergraduate course on the ecology of birds of California. But dont be confused -- this is not meant to replace a field guide. This is the deeper stuff: bird ecology, feeeding, nesting, associations between species, landscape ecology. And Evens and Tait have successfully and elegantly downloaded a lifetime of learning and listening and watching the region's birds between two covers.

This is a must-read for anybody studying bird environments and impacts, and for anybody preparing a birding tour of the state. It is as good a state guide as exists in the US on one region's rich ecology and communities of birds. Evens also has a highly readable engaging style, as well so you can turn to this over and over.

Birds NorCal.......2007-04-04

Although the book contains aloot of information, is is also lacking a lot
of information regarding many of the local species, information that I was
specically looking for. Examples would be the Red Tailed Hawk, the flicker
Red headed Owl and many small birds that habitat this area. The book did
provide some information but not a complete digest of Nor Cal birds in the
western Cascades.

A good introduction.......2005-10-08

Beginning and intermediate birders will enjoy this introduction to the birdlife of the most ornithologically diverse state in the union. Not an identification resource or a site guide, this thick little book instead introduces the birds against the background of their ecology and biology, treating habitats rather than individual species.
Unfortunately, the book could have been edited more rigorously than it was. There are spelling errors ("ocine" for "oscine," "nivasus" for "nivosus") that an adept proofreader could have caught, and the discussion of endemism and evolution in the front matter is oddly oblique, never completely wrong but often just a little bit off: readers may well end up wondering why the terms "sister species," "sibling species," and "sister species" all occur in one paragraph and whether there is any difference. The Inyo California Towhee is said to be a "remnant population of a once more widespread species," but that formulation could be applied just as accurately (and just as confusingly) to any other population of California Towhees. The author knows what he's talking about, but the editor could have helped say it better, more clearly, and more precisely.
But the book is still highly recommended, as are all the other titles in this excellent series.

Book Description

The features of this book which will be of special interest to academic organic chemists are the introduction (Chapter 1), which presents a short course on the concepts and language of heterogeneous catalysis, covers organic reaction mechanisms of hydrogenation (Chapter 2), hydrogenolysis (Chapter 4), and oxidation (Chapter 6), a presents problems and solutions specific for running heterogeneous catalytic organic reactions in solution. These materials can supplement advanced chemistry courses.

Most synthetic organic chemists use a variety of "protecting groups" which they attach to functional groups (reactive groups of atoms) while some reaction is being conducted on another part of the molecule. These protecting groups prevent reactions of the functional groups during other reactions and are removed later by a heterogeneous catalytic method called hydrogenolysis. One unique feature of this book, not found in other books on catalysis, is an exhaustive chapter (Chapter 4) on hydrogenolysis, which is dredged from the recent synthetic literature published by modern organic chemists. Academic organic chemists should find this chapter extremely useful and may wish to adopt the book as a supplement for advanced organic chemistry courses designed for seniors and for graduate students. It will also be useful for professors and their research groups engaged in synthetic organic chemistry.

Many academic organic chemists are not aware of recent advances in heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis (Chapter 3) or in selective low temperature, liquid phase heterogeneous catalytic oxidations by hydrogen peroxide (Chapter 6). These specialty topics are timely and may be new to academic organic chemists and can be used to supplement their advanced courses.

Several features of this book will also be of special interest to industrial chemists who are unfamiliar with heterogeneous catalysis. Many good organic chemists are hire by industry. They synthesize a new compound using standard organic synthetic techniques but are informed by their supervisor that they must convert some of their synthetic steps into heterogeneous catalytic steps. They may not have been exposed to heterogeneous catalysis and have few places to turn. This book offers them a crash course in heterogeneous catalysis as well as many examples of reactions and conditions with which they can start their search.

Those industrial organic chemists already familiar with heterogeneous catalysis will find this book useful as a reference to many examples in the recent literature. They will find recent surface science discoveries correlated with heterogeneous catalysis or organic reactions and mechanistic suggestions designed to stimulate innovative nontraditional thinking about organic reactions on surfaces.

Key Features
* Written by organic chemists for organic chemists
* Introduces heterogeneous catalysis concepts and language
* Presents a comprehensive compilation of protecting group removal procedures
* Covers liquid-phase hydrogenations, hydrogenolysis, and oxidations
* Addresses heterogeneous methods for producing pure enantiomers of chiral products
* Examines the emerging field of heterogenized homogeneous catalysts
* Mixes practical applications with mechanistic interpretations

Customer Reviews:

Heterogeneous Hydrogenation Made Accesible.......2000-04-08

For the advanced organic chemistry researcher who is entering the wonderful world of heterogeneous catalysis in general - and heterogeneous hydrogenation in particular - there is no single resource such as this to guide him. Working in the field of heterogeneous hydrogenation myself, I had felt that a modern, up-to-date, readable text was long overdue. Heterogeneous Catalysis in Organic Chemistry has all of these attributes and much much more. It will help you o brave chemist to safely navigate the enormous and often useless primary literature and reach what you were looking for. Be that experimental details for a particular transformation, current developments in the scope of the field, understanding of the underlying theory. I strongly reccomend all organic synthesis research departments obtain a copy. It will be invaluable for the whole range of staff, from the first year inexperienced graduate student nervously exploring the field, to the research group leader who wants to update his knowledge and understanding, painlesly, accurately and quickly.

In-Situ Spectroscopy in Heterogeneous Catalysis

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In-Situ Spectroscopy in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3527302484

Book Description

"Not using in-situ methods to examine catalytic processes is like studying a life with access only to the prenatal and postmortem states." This quote from the world renowned specialist in the field of in situ methods, Gabor A. Somorjai, clearly emphasizes the importance of these techniques in understanding heterogeneous catalysis - a type of chemical reaction used nowadays for most chemically produced supplies and fuels. Yet the fundamental mechanisms are often still not completely understood.
Many of the leading scientists in the field have contributed to this book which provides an overview of the most varied spectroscopic and related methods for studying catalytic structures and their functions during a chemical reaction. While primarily written for users of these methods, this is also a valuable aid to interpreting the phenomena observed. Indispensable for everyone working in the field.

Handbook of Commercial Catalysts: Heterogeneous Catalysts

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Handbook of Commercial Catalysts: Heterogeneous Catalysts
Howard F. Rase
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0849394171

Book Description

Despite the advances in understanding the phenomena that occur on a catalyst surface, much of the successful catalyst development and use continues to be half science and half art. The art resides in the practical knowledge of experts in the development and use of commercial catalysts-it comes with experience. Now the background needed to nurture the experience and inspire the art is collected along with the science into a single volume. Whether called upon to select or improve a catalyst, design a process, diagnose operating problems, or improve existing processes, the Handbook of Commercial Catalysts provides the information needed to form a basis for the task. It offers a starting point by providing a broad overview of 150 major commercial processes and the heterogeneous catalyst used for each. The author has arranged them according to specific reaction or reaction type, and supplies reference citations for deeper research. He offers valuable insghts-based on chemistry, thermodynamics, and surface science-that provide a framework for rational reasoning about catalyst performance. With data collected from the existing literature, from the in-house specialists of commercial vendors, and from his own extensive experience, the author discusses for each reaction: · Product uses · Chemistry · Mechanism · Catalyst type · Catalyst suppliers and licensors · Catalyst deactivation · Catalyst regeneration · Process units · Process kinetics Armed with this information, the reader can begin rational analysis of an existing or planned reaction system and logically discuss catalyst characteristics and operations with technical representative of catalyst manufacturers and with colleagues.

Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industrial Practice

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Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industrial Practice
Charles N. Satterfield
Manufacturer: Krieger Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1575240025

Book Description

When Heterogeneous Catalysis in Practice was first pubished in 1980, it was universally acclaimed as a classic in the field. The first comprehensive overview of applied heterogeneous catalysis with an emphasis on real-world problems and working systems, the book was widely used by professionals in major chemical companies worldwide. Retaining the same skillful blend of theory and practice of the first edition, this second edition has been extensively revised and expaned to incorporate the latest theories and industrial applications. Packed with the information chemists and chemical engineers need to work with solid catalysts in the laboratory, pilot plant, or commercial installation, this is the definitive reference on the subject.

Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation: Fundamental and Technological Aspects of the Selective and Total Oxidation of Organic Compounds

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Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation: Fundamental and Technological Aspects of the Selective and Total Oxidation of Organic Compounds
B. K. Hodnett , and Kieran Hodnett
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This authoritative and comprehensive volume presents the essence of catalytic chemistry, describing the structure of catalysts, the technology in which they are used and the chemical transformations that occur during reaction.
Heterogeneous catalytic oxidation is a key technique used in the large-scale production of organic chemicals. This text uses catalytic oxidation to explain the principles of heterogeneous catalysis and includes descriptions of how reactants and products interact on the molecular scale with the active sites on the surface of these materials.
Following an introduction to the principles and chemistry of catalytic oxidation, Professor Hodnett uses detailed case studies which represent and illustrate the fundamentals and technology for specific aspects of heterogeneous catalytic oxidation including:
* Propene Oxidation to Acrolein
* n-Butane Oxidation to Maleic Anhydride
* Epoxidation over Silver Catalysts
* Fundamentals and Technologies of the Catalytic Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds
* Ammoxidation for the Insertion of Nitrogen into Organic Structures
* Oxidative Insertion of Chlorine into Ethylene and Catalytic Combustion of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
* Liquid Phase Oxidations with Particular Emphasis on the Use of Hydrogen Peroxide as an Oxidizing Agent

Molecular Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Conceptual and Computational Approach

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Molecular Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Conceptual and Computational Approach
Rutger A. van Santen , and Matthew Neurock
Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 352729662X

Book Description

An integrated approach to the molecular theory of reaction mechanism in heterogeneous catalysis, largely based on the knowledge among the growing theoretical catalysis community over the past half century, and covering all major catalytic systems. The authors develop a general conceptual framework, including in-depth comparisons with enzyme catalysis, biomineralisation, organometallic and coordination chemistry. A chapter dedicated to molecular electrocatalysis addresses the molecular description of reactions at the liquid-solid interphase, while studies range from a quantum-chemical treatment of individual molecular states to dynamic Monte-Carlo simulations, including the full flexibility of the many-particle systems. Complexity in catalysis is explained in chapters on self-organization and self-assembly of catalysts, and other sections are devoted to evolutionary, combinatorial techniques as well as artificial chemistry.

Principles and Practice of Heterogeneous Catalysis

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Principles and Practice of Heterogeneous Catalysis
John Meurig Thomas , and W. John Thomas
Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 352729239X

Book Description

Catalysis occupies a pivotal position in the physical and biological sciences. As well as being the mainstay of the chemical industry, it is the means of effecting many laboratory syntheses and the root cause of all enzymatic processes.

This book is an eminently readable introduction to the fundamental principles of heterogeneous catalysis. Written by world-renowned experts, it explains the vocabulary, grammar and literature of catalysis from the laboratory-oriented model study through to the operating plant.

Didactically skillful and using many lucidly designed figures, the authors present an insightful exposition of all important concepts, new developments and techniques in this rapidly advancing field.

Mass Transfer in Heterogeneous Catalysis

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Mass Transfer in Heterogeneous Catalysis
Charles N. Satterfield
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Theoretical Heterogeneous Catalysis (World Scientific Lecture and Course Notes in Chemistry, Vol. 5)

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Theoretical Heterogeneous Catalysis (World Scientific Lecture and Course Notes in Chemistry, Vol. 5)
R. A. Van Santen
Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9810203853

Book Description

The molecular basis of surface chemical reactivity forms the central theme of this book. It is an attempt to survey current understanding about the working of heterogeneous catalysts, emphasizing surface chemical bonding in relation to reaction mechanisms.

The Basis and Applications of Heterogeneous Catalysis (Oxford Chemistry Primers, 53)

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The Basis and Applications of Heterogeneous Catalysis (Oxford Chemistry Primers, 53)
Michael Bowker
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Catalysis is one of the most important technologies in our modern world. We depend on it to produce materials, such as plastics, from oil; we depend on it to produce fuel to power our cars; we depend on it to remove the pollutants emitted from the engines of those cars; we even depend on it for the functioning and growth of our own bodies. It is therefore very important that we ask ourselves the question, 'what is catalysis?' and this book does exactly that, concentrating on the most important type of catalysis for industry, namely heterogeneous catalysis. The book is split into 3 sections, dealing with the fundamentals of adsorption and reaction at surfaces, the nature of heterogeneous catalysts and their synthesis, and the applications of this technology in the modern world. This book will be useful for teachers, undergraduates, and as an introductory book for graduates specialising in catalysis and surface science.

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