Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Structured as a college-level textbook, Eric Bolen's overview of North America's varied life zones serves as a first-rate work of reference for anyone interested in conservation biology and ecology. He begins with a survey of key ideas in systematic biology, and then turns to discussions of each of the continent's principal ecosystems: boreal forests, grasslands, mountains, deserts, and so forth. At turns he writes of the characteristic and keystone plant and animal species of each biome: agaves in the Chihuahuan Desert, for instance, or Douglas fir in the upper montane zones of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. Bolen provides bibliographies for each major point of discussion, easily enabling the reader to pursue further study. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
From windswept tundra to humid subtropical everglades, from gracious coniferous forests to austere deserts, North America is blessed with an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting a unique system of plant and animal life. These systems—also known as biomes—are tightly woven webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. This lavishly illustrated book introduces readers to this extraordinary array of natural communities and to the subtle interactions of minerals, plants, and animals that take place within them.
Professor Eric Bolen takes a qualitative, intuitive approach to his subject, beginning with an overview of essential ecological terms and concepts, such as competitive exclusion, taxa, niches, and succession. Then, biome by biome, he covers the entirety of Canada and the United States, starting with the tundra of the far north and working his way south and then west to conclude in the deserts and chaparral of southern California. Along the way, he delves into pertinent conservation issues and features fascinating historical vignettes and original documents detailing human impact on various environments—for instance, the role of John Deere's plow in settling grasslands, and the use of fur records from Hudson's Bay Company. Throughout, he enlivens the text with dozens of exquisite photographs and illuminating maps, graphs, charts, and tables.
Ecology of North America is an ideal first text for students interested in natural resources, environmental science, and biology, and it is a useful and attractive addition to the library of anyone interested in understanding and protecting the natural environment.
Ecology of North America
Ecology of North America,Eric G. Bolen,Wiley,0471131563,Ecology,Life Sciences - Ecology,North America,Science,Science/Mathematics,Applied ecology,Environmental science,Science / Ecology,USA
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