New Titles

1) Hangay, George and Paul Zborowski. A Guide to the Beetles of Australia. 2010. CSIRO Publishing. Paperback: 238 pages. Price: $40.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: A Guide to the Beetles of Australia provides a comprehensive introduction to the Coleoptera – a huge and diverse group of insects. Beetles make up 40 per cent of all insects known to science. The number of described beetle species in the world – around 350,000 – is more than six times the number of all vertebrate species.
     New beetle species are being discovered all the time. Of the 30,000 species that may occur in Australia, only 20,000 have been scientifically described. These include around 6500 weevils (Curculionidae), 2600 scarabs, dung beetles and chafers (Scarabaeidae); and 2250 leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae).
     A Guide to the Beetles of Australia highlights the enormous diversity of this unique insect Order. It emphasises the environmental role of beetles, their relationships with other plants and animals, and their importance to humans.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in beetles, especially the Australian species.

2) Keddy, Paul A.. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (Second Edition). 2010. Cambridge University Press. Paperback: 497 pages. Price: $69.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Richly illustrated and packed with numerous examples, this unique global perspective introduces wetland ecology from basic principles to advanced applications.
     Thoroughly revised and reorganised, this new edition of this prize-winning textbook begins with underlying causal factors, before moving on to more advanced concepts that add depth and context. Each chapter begins with an explanation of the basic principles covered, illustrated with clear examples. More difficult concepts and exceptions are introduced only once the general principle is well-established. Key principles are now discussed at the beginning of the book, and in order of relative importance, enabling students to understand the most important material without wading through complex theory. New chapters on wetland restoration and wetland services draw upon practical examples from around the world, providing a global context, and a new chapter on research will be particularly relevant to the advanced student planning their own studies.
RECOMMENDATION: Those with a technical interest in wetland ecology will find this textbook useful.