9781422279151

introduction INTRODUCTION

A small plane criss-crossed the ocean off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. Twenty-five miles out to sea, right turn, 25 miles back, left turn, 25 miles out to sea, right turn . . . The plane’s crew was looking for North Atlantic right whales. These whales are a crit- ically endangered species, with only about 550 left. They are slow swimmers, and they tend to stay near the surface, which makes them much more likely to get in the way of boat traffic. If the plane’s crew spotted any whales, they would warn nearby boats to steer clear. After a few hours, the crew had not seen any whales and was ready to head in. Then

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