Customer Reviews

Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata (Comstock Book)

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I am a fourth-year biology undergrad at the University of Toronto. My program has consisted largely of ecology, evolution, and behavior, and throughout it I have attempted to incorporate my lifelong fascination with dragonflies into many of my research projects, essays, etc. Recently, while drafting a paper on the conservation of rare/significant dragonflies for a Conservation Biology class, I came across (and relied heavily upon) P.S. Corbet's book, Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata. I was beyond impressed. Having sifted through as much primary and secondary literature as I could get my hands on, his book quickly found the top of the pile, being by far the most current, comprehensive, and well-written study of dragonfly ecology and life history. In fact, my enthusiasm for his work must have been quite apparent, as my girlfriend thoughtfully gave me a copy for Christmas, so I could avoid any further library fines for a book I simply couldn't give back! I consider this book a must-have for any aspiring odonatologist, and highly recommend it to anyone who is awed (as I am) by these wonderful insects. Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata affords not only an educational, but a truly pleasurable read--a combination that only someone with personal enthusiasm and lifetime experience in a subject could produce. Anyone with a copy of Walker on the shelves should be sure to place Prof. Corbet's work next to it, as it truly represents a new standard in Odonatological literature.

Cory Robertson University of Toronto Hon. B.Sc. Biology

I bought this book as soon as it was published as a reference for my undergraduate senior thesis and it has since become one of my most invaluable sources of odonate information. As an entomologist with a passion for odonates, this book has always been a favorite of mine and for good reason. Corbet is one of the foremost odonate scientists in the world and after reading this phenomenal book, you will understand why. It is clear that the author knows an extraordinary amount of information about the ecology and behavior of these insects. He loves his subject and clearly wishes to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject with others. In Dragonflies, Corbet presents a huge amount of information in an informative, yet straightforward manner, making excellent use of tables and illustrations where needed. This book is an awesome collection of a hundred years' worth of odonate research condensed into one concise, staggeringly complete volume. This is the sort of work all scientists should dream of writing. If there is anything you want to know about odonate behaviors known to science, you will find it in this book. Don't be put off by the price or the length - if you're seriously interested in dragonflies, it doesn't get any better than this.

It is a masterpiece, bound to remain indispensable to biologists for years to come.

I read a lot of Natural History books and I'd have to rate this as one the best I've read. This is not a book for the casual reader but if you have some science background and have an interest in dragon/damselflies you will appreciate this book. This covers just about all aspects of the their ecology and natural history but not necessarily biology. From how a dragonfly selects it's habitat, to thermoregulation, through energy budget, to foraging methods, and much more, you'll find it here. After reading it I found myself wondering how much more there is to other insects, mammals, birds, etc., that I never really considered. Highly recommended.