A Ramble in the Hive is an eco-philosophical text that deals with the relationship between humans and honeybees from the dawn of humanity to the present day, interlinking mythology, folklore, literature, art and science from different historical periods. A Ramble in the Hive works as both popular science and philosophy, combining a study of the history of beekeeping and its multitude of inventions, with a philosophical and poetic view of the human encounter with honeybees as reflected in the imagination of our culture. It suggests approaching the hive as an archetype of living mythology that works on our collective imagination. A Ramble in the Hive presents the planetary honeybee crisis as a fascinating window through which to observe wide-ranging ecological issues. How did the honeybee get such a lofty and critical role – holding responsibility for both the future of humanity and the earth? What do the bees tell us in their current state? This book is an attempt to answer these questions.

Dan Perry was born and raised on Mount Carmel. From childhood, encouraged by his father, he often wandered on the mountain, getting to know its surroundings and connecting with its flora and fauna. As an adult, he became involved in the newly formed Nature Conservation Authority - first as a tour guide, and later as part of the Society for the Protection of Nature. In 1965 he started working within the Nature Conservation Authority, established in 1964, as an inspector in the Galilee as part of a collaboration between the Society and the Authority. Immediately after the Six-Day War, he established a magnificent system of nature reserves on the Golan Heights. He ran the Hermon Development Authority which established the Hermon site, and then joined the Authority's management and held a variety of positions. This unique volume includes color photographs.

Atlas of East Galilee Caves is published in a challenging period for the Upper Galilee, with hopes for a swift return to routine in this beautiful and region, bountiful with caves. The Atlas is published following studies and surveys conducted over the past decades. The boundaries of the area defined in the Atlas are the Hula Valley in the east, the border of Lebanon in the north and northwest, the sources of the streams flowing eastward in the west and the Issachar highlands in the south. The Atlas presents the basic data of the caves, and contains a concise multidisciplinary overview of what is known about them from a geological, historical, archaeological and biological point of view. The data is accompanied by plans and illustrations that expand the overall picture of each cave.

Although frequently observed in natural habitats across Israel, the true nature of the "strange growths" (galls) that appear on various plants is not always clear. Insect-induced plant galls are actually the most intimate way in which animals feed on plants. This book reveals to naturalists and scientists one of the most impressive and conspicuous groups among gall-forming insects: aphids that form galls on wild pistachio (Pistacia). The gall serves as an incubator for the aphids, providing them with a rich food supply and shelter from natural enemies and abiotic factors. Several aphid generations develop in galls from spring to fall. During these months, the gall functions as a dynamic and complex multitrophic ecological (mini) system, including pathogens, competitors, parasites, and predators. The first part of the book describes the multi-disciplinary information on the biology and ecology of the aphids and gall system from molecular, anatomical, physiological, biochemical, behavioral, biogeographic, and evolutionary points of view. The second part of the book provides a information and photographic guide to all the aphid-induced galls on wild pistachios in Israel.

The spread of the Assyrian Empire over the entire Fertile Crescent in the second half of the 8th century BC introduced various forms of cooperation between the neighboring nomadic Arabs and the imperial authorities. The geographical conditions and resultant lifestyle of the Arabs facilitated a mutual dependence and delicate equilibrium between themselves and the Assyrian rulers, eager to capitalize on their unprecedented regional might. Henceforth, the Arabs appear as an organic component of the Fertile Crescent history rather than mere desert raiders.

This book describes the increasing interactions between wildlife and people in human settlements in Israel and beyond.

There over 1,300 species of bats in the world, which constitute one-third of the total sum of mammals in Israel. Most people are not aware of them and their fantastic ways of living, because contrary to other mammals, bats do not walk or swim (although they are capable of doing both), but rather fly actively. They are also nocturnal, and unlike most mammals and birds their main sense is not sight but hearing. In order to find their way around, bats omit calls and listen to the echoes they produce in order to navigate. This is also how they find their prey, which is comprised of a variety of animals such as insects, scorpions, fish, frogs, and toads, as well as nectar and fruit. Each species of bats has a special diet and unique behavioural , anatomical and physiological adaptations for this purpose. Bats are beneficial to people by pollinating flowers of many plants, consuming enormous quantities of insects that spread malaria and damage agricultural crops and producing valuable fertilizer-guano. In spite of these benefits, people around the world have created many superstitious beliefs and legends about bats and their behavior. This book describes the biology of bats and their complex relationships with humanity.

The Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat is a unique pocket-sized tropical coral ocean, functioning in a subtropical environment. This book, the first one to treat the Gulf in an interdisciplinary collection of contributed chapters, celebrates also the 40 years of existence of the Heinz Steinitz Marine Biology Laboratory in Eilat. The authors of the 28 chapters are mainly Israeli scientists , but many are also from abroad, chiefly from Germany. The results presented, relate to Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian waters. In presenting the Gulf, virtually unknown some 50 years ago and today a major diving tourist hub , the issues of coral reef preservation and restoration are predominant in this richly illustrated book. How many marine biological laboratories are there in the world where you have clear water, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and deep reefs off your door step? This multiple-author volume edited by Dov Por deals optimistically with the elimination of the sources of pollution and the challenge of restoration of the marine habitats of the Gulf, especially the coral reefs. (John E. Randall, Bernice Bishop Museum Hawaii)

"…This unique book has no equal … to date…I enjoyed its flowing style and its simple explanations and I would like to have this book in my library as it should be in the library of anyone who enjoys a treasure such as the Dead Sea" - Prof. Yehuda Shoenfeld The Dead Sea - the world's ultimate natural healing resort for diseases of the skin, joints, lungs, and heart, among others summarizes knowledge on the efficacy of the Dead Sea in the treatment of a broad range of diseases. It details the different diseases that can be treated successfully at the Dead Sea and describes, in simple terms that anyone can understand, the principles, mechanisms of action and advantages upon which the various treatments that are available at the health spas are based. Prof. Shaul Sukenik is a specialist in internal medicine and joint diseases. He has served as the head of Internal Medicine Department "D" of the Soroka University Medical Center since 1989 and was recently appointed as the head of the Division of Internal Medicine. Over the past 15 years Prof. Sukenik has conducted research on the Dead Sea as a unique health spa site for the treatment of joint diseases and has gained an international reputation in the field of balneotherapy and health tourism. He has published over 160 papers in the medical literature.

This book explains in simple and understandable words all the principles, mechanisms of action and advantages of all the treatment modalities at health resort areas. This book describes all the diseases that can be treated successfully at the Dead Sea. and is the first one that was written and directed for the general public.