SUMMARY: Popular, award-winning, and unrivaled for its coverage and beauty, this is a magnificent illustrated guide to nearly 2,000 tree species and cultivars found in North America and Europe. David More spent over a decade painting these illustrations from real specimens, and fellow tree expert John White's informative text describes key facts about each. The result is an extraordinary reference that will continue to be prized by nature enthusiasts, gardeners, landscapers, and foresters.
This book includes:
*Illustrates nearly 2,000 tree species and cultivars found in North America and Europe
*Includes precise paintings of important details: leaves, needles, bark, blossoms, fruits, nuts, and cones
*Shows deciduous trees in both full leaf and winter
*Describes the native range of each species, the date of its introduction into cultivation, and other key facts
*Features an introduction, a glossary, and indexes of scientific and English names
RECOMMENDATION: If you didn't get a copy of this book the first time, it's available once again!
2) Ross, Stephen T.. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes. 2013. University of California Press. Hardbound: 460 pages. Price: $75.00 U.S. SUMMARY: The North American freshwater fish fauna is the most diverse and thoroughly researched temperate fish fauna in the world. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes is the only textbook to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers with an up-to-date and integrated view of the ecological and evolutionary concepts, principles, and processes involved in the formation and maintenance of this fauna.
Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes provides readers with a broad understanding of why specific species and assemblages occur in particular places. Additionally, the text explores how individuals and species interact with each other and with their environments, how such interactions have been altered by anthropogenic impacts, and the relative success of efforts to restore damaged ecosystems.
This book is designed for use in courses related to aquatic and fish ecology, fish biology, ichthyology, and related advanced ecology and conservation courses, and is divided into five sections for ease of use. Chapter summaries, supplemental reading lists, online sources, extensive figures, and color photography are included to guide readers through the material and facilitate student learning.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in freshwater fish biology.
3) Smith, Andrew T. and Yan Xie (editors). Mammals of China. 2013. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 395 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: China's breathtaking diversity of natural habitats--from mountains and deserts to grasslands and lush tropical forests--is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species. This one-of-a-kind pocket guide describes the characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of all 558 species of mammals found in China. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and beautiful color illustrations by wildlife artist Federico Gemma depict a majority of the species. The definitive text is written by leading specialists and follows the most current global standards for mammalian systematics.
This field-ready pocket edition of A Guide to the Mammals of China makes the rich mammal fauna of China accessible to ecotravelers and naturalists like never before.
This book features:
*The comprehensive pocket guide to all of China's 558 mammal species
*Describes the physical characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of every species
*Features up-to-date distribution maps and stunning color illustrations throughout
*Written by a team of leading specialists
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the mammals of China.
4) Zug, George R.. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands: A Comprehensive Guide. 2013. University of California Press. Paperback: 306 pages. Price: $34.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: The Pacific is not only the world’s largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galápagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas in a comparative context.
But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific.
The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the herpetofauna of the region.
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