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An American Bestiary
by Jack SchaeferIn a series of leisurely and loving portraits, Jack Schaefer describes a whole ark-full of creatures great and small, who mostly live beyond the din of traffic and the glare of city lights, from the industrious pika, whose sophisticated stockpiling permits him to live in comfort on the desolate rockslides of the high Rockies, to the magnificent pronghorn, whose very appearance represents a perfection of successful adaptation. The book is packed with a thousand bits of information, much of it surely unfamiliar even to the well-read naturalist: the special conditions of a bat's pregnancy, the subterranean architecture of the gopher, the seasonal frustrations of the stolid porcupine. But more important is the overall warmth and geniality of the author's vision--one would like to call it his humanity, but, alas, at the present stage of our development "animality" seems a more appropriate word. In any case, the reader will end up a better mammal, and perhaps even a wiser and more understanding human being.
The American Bird Conservancy Guide to the 500 Most Important Bird Areas in the United States
by American Bird ConservancyThe American Bird Conservancy Guide to the 500 Most Important Bird Areas in the United States offers both bird enthusiasts and conservationists specialized information never before compiled in a single comprehensive volume. This expert resource organizes the United States into 36 ornithologically distinct bird regions, then identifies and describes the 500 sites within these regions. Each site entry includes ornithological highlights, ownership information, a description of habitats and land use, a guide to which species one can expect to find, conservation issues, and visitor information. Full-color maps and illustrations throughout, along with a thorough index, make this book as useful as it is unique, an essential addition to the bird lover's library.
American Canopy: The Role of Trees in the Shaping of a Nation
by Eric RutkowThis fascinating and groundbreaking work tells the remarkable story of the relationship between Americans and their trees across the entire span of our nation's history. Like many of us, historians have long been guilty of taking trees for granted. Yet the history of trees in America is no less remarkable than the history of the United States itself--from the majestic white pines of New England, which were coveted by the British Crown for use as masts in navy warships, to the orange groves of California, which lured settlers west. In fact, without the country's vast forests and the hundreds of tree species they contained, there would have been no ships, docks, railroads, stockyards, wagons, barrels, furniture, newspapers, rifles, or firewood. No shingled villages or whaling vessels in New England. No New York City, Miami, or Chicago. No Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, or Daniel Boone. No Allied planes in World War I, and no suburban sprawl in the middle of the twentieth century. America--if indeed it existed--would be a very different place without its millions of acres of trees. As Eric Rutkow's brilliant, epic account shows, trees were essential to the early years of the republic and indivisible from the country's rise as both an empire and a civilization. Among American Canopy's many fascinating stories: the Liberty Trees, where colonists gathered to plot rebellion against the British; Henry David Thoreau's famous retreat into the woods; the creation of New York City's Central Park; the great fire of 1871 that killed a thousand people in the lumber town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin; the fevered attempts to save the American chestnut and the American elm from extinction; and the controversy over spotted owls and the old-growth forests they inhabited. Rutkow also explains how trees were of deep interest to such figures as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, and FDR, who oversaw the planting of more than three billion trees nationally in his time as president. As symbols of liberty, community, and civilization, trees are perhaps the loudest silent figures in our country's history. America started as a nation of people frightened of the deep, seemingly infinite woods; we then grew to rely on our forests for progress and profit; by the end of the twentieth century we came to understand that the globe's climate is dependent on the preservation of trees. Today, few people think about where timber comes from, but most of us share a sense that to destroy trees is to destroy part of ourselves and endanger the future. Never before has anyone treated our country's trees and forests as the subject of a broad historical study, and the result is an accessible, informative, and thoroughly entertaining read. Audacious in its four-hundred-year scope, authoritative in its detail, and elegant in its execution, American Canopy is perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike and announces Eric Rutkow as a major new author of popular history.
American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree
by Susan FreinkelThe American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees. Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn optimists who refused to let this cultural icon go. In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, she relates their quest to save the tree through methods that ranged from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology.
American Environmental History: An Introduction
by Carolyn MerchantBy studying the many ways diverse peoples have changed, shaped, and conserved the natural world over time, environmental historians provide insight into humanity's unique relationship with nature and, more importantly, are better able to understand the origins of our current environmental crisis. Beginning with the precolonial land-use practice of Native Americans and concluding with our twenty-first century concerns over our global ecological crisis, American Environmental History addresses contentious issues such as the preservation of the wilderness, the expulsion of native peoples from national parks, and population growth, and considers the formative forces of gender, race, and class. Entries address a range of topics, from the impact of rice cultivation, slavery, and the growth of the automobile suburb to the effects of the Russian sea otter trade, Columbia River salmon fisheries, the environmental justice movement, and globalization. This illustrated reference is an essential companion for students interested in the ongoing transformation of the American landscape and the conflicts over its resources and conservation. It makes rich use of the tools and resources (climatic and geological data, court records, archaeological digs, and the writings of naturalists) that environmental historians rely on to conduct their research. The volume also includes a compendium of significant people, concepts, events, agencies, and legislation, and an extensive bibliography of critical films, books, and Web sites.
American Environmental Policy, 1990-2006: Beyond Gridlock
by Christopher Mcgrory Klyza David J. SousaThe "golden era" of American environmental law making, between 1964 and 1980, saw twenty-two pieces of major environmental legislation passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed into law by presidents of both parties.
The American Saddlebred Horse (Learning About Horses)
by Charlotte WilcoxDiscusses the lineage, physical characteristics, life span, breeding, and uses of the American saddlebred, considered to be one of the most beautiful horses in the world.
America's Environmental Report Card
by Harvey BlattA timely survey of the state of America's environment: how we can take action to achieve a sustainable future.
America's Last Wild Horses
by Hope RydenFrom the Book Jacket: "A richly researched and written book with an unusual appeal." -Publishers Weekly "This book is a treat for everyone who knows or cares about horses." -Cleveland Amory No wild animal captures the spirit of North America quite so powerfully as the wild horse-nor has any faced such diverse and potent enemies. In this provocative account, Hope Ryden-who helped to ensure the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, which grants mustangs special protection-combs the history of these proud and noble horses; Descended from the Spanish horses ridden by the conquistadors, they evolved into the tough and intelligent ponies that Indians-and later, explorers and cowboys-learned to rely on. From the period when wholesale extermination of the buffalo was underway until recent times, commercial and political interests have sought to eliminate the wild horses as varmints. In the latest update to this classic story Ryden tells of the successes: and failures in the past ten years of regulation, and has added stunning new color photographs. The subject of a front-page article in The New York Times. when it was first published, america's last wild horses continues to be a compelling testament to the life of a uniquely American symbol of grace and wildness, and is a must read for horse lovers and Western history enthusiast everywhere.
America's Natural Places: The Midwest
by Jason Ney Terri NicholsFrom Iowa's Decorah Ice Cave to the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in Ohio, this volume provides a snapshot of the most spectacular and important natural places in the Midwestern United States.
America's Natural Places: Pacific And West
by Methea K. SappFrom Alaska As Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Milnes and Prairie Preserve of New Mexico, this volume provides a snapshot of the most spectacular and important natural places in the western United States.
America's Natural Places: Rocky Mountains And Great Plains
by Kelly EnrightFrom Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas, this volume provides a snapshot of the most spectacular and important natural places in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.
Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya
by Jamaica KincaidAnyone familiar with Jamaica Kincaid's work knows that the natural world and in particular, plants and gardening are especially close to her heart. In this vivid account she invites us to accompany her on a seed-gathering trek in the Himalaya. For Kincaid and three botanist friends, Nepal is a paradise a place where a single day's hike can traverse climate zones from sub-tropical to alpine encompassing flora suitable for growing in their home grounds from Wales to Vermont. A wonderful blend of introspective insight and beautifully rendered description, Among Flowers is a seriously entertaining thoroughly engaging and characteristically frank memoir from one of the most distinctive and striking voices writing today.
Amorphous Chalcogenide Semiconductors and Related Materials
by Koichi Shimakawa Keiji Tanaka"Amorphous Chalcogenide Semiconductors and Glasses" describes developments in the science and technology of this class of materials. This book offers an up-to-date treatment of chalcogenide glasses and amorphous semiconductors from basic principles to applications while providing the reader with the necessary theoretical background to understanding the material properties technology of this class of materials. This book offers an up-to-date treatment of chalcogenide glasses and amorphous semiconductors from basic principles to applications while providing the reader with the necessary theoretical background to understanding the material properties. Chalcogenides form a special class of materials, which have one or more of the elements from the chalcogen group, Group VI in the Periodic Table (S, Se. or Te) as a constituent; the chalcogen is mixed with other elements to form various "new" compounds and alloys. Chalcogenides are noncrystalline solids because their structure is "amorphous" or "glassy". Such structures have totally different properties than crystalline solids. Chalcogenide glasses have a number of very interesting and useful properties, which have been already exploited in the commercialization of new devices.
The Anasazi: Prehistoric People of the Four Corners Region
by J. Richard AmblerAmbler explores the Four Corners of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Weaving together its geological, ecological and human histories, he presents a unique portrait of this ruggedly beautiful landscape that goes beyond mere description to give readers a true sense of the land in all its richness. Here are rock croppings that are 2 billion years old and broad desert valleys where rivers of lava cooled to form floors of solid rock. Here ancient hunter-gatherers stalked the woolly mammoth, four-story pueblos were carved by the Anasazi from sheer stone cliffs and an ancient midnight Holy Week ceremony is still practiced in a modern Spanish village. Providing a fresh perspective on a region currently enjoying an upwelling of interest, Four Corners is a study of one of the world's great wonders -- compelling reading for all science, nature, anthropology and travel aficionados.
Anatomy of a Park: Essentials of Recreation Area Planning and Design (Third Edition)
by Donald J. MolnarThis book lays bare the essentials of park design. Although it may serve as an overview or refresher for park designers, this book is written primarily for nondesigners such as lay members of park boards, park directors and superintendents, recreation leaders, and anyone directly affected by what a designer proposes for the development of parklands.
Ancient Woodland: History, Industry and Crafts
by Ian RotherhamCONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, Britain's ancient woodlands are not 'wildwoods', or even remnants of 'wildwood'. These truly cultural landscapes mix nature and human history, woven as uniquely rich tapestries of ecology and history. The story of the woods is there to be 'read' if you have time, enthusiasm, and this book, which will take you from prehistory to the present day.
And Now We Shall Do Manly Things
by Craig HeimbuchCraig Heimbuch, urban dad, journalist, and editor-in-chief of manofthehouse.com offers readers a humorous exploration of hunting culture in And Now We Shall Do Manly Things. Outdoors enthusiasts, fans of A.J. Jacobs's The Know-It-All and the Bill Bryson classic, A Walk in the Woods will appreciate Heimbuch's aspirations to better understand the men in his family by immersing himself for one year in the manly art of hunting. A book that explores with great wit and open-hearted appreciation the ideal of traditional masculinity, And Now We Shall Do Manly Things demonstrates that it is possible to be both a hunter and a modern American man.
And Tango Makes Three
by Peter Parnell Justin RichardsonTrue story: Two male penguins fell in love and became a couple. They followed all the egg rituals they saw around them but didn't get a baby. A zookeeper gave them another penguin's egg and they incubated it and raised it as their own baby. The story is wonderful. The authors' notes at the end give many more details of the true story. This is an excellent book for a book report.
Andrew Lost 17: In the Desert
by J. C. GreenburgAnt-sized Andrew together with his counsin, Judy and his robot Thudd are blown away in the Australian desert. In this desert they face many dangerous creatures as they find a way to get back to their Uncle Al.
Animal Dads
by Sneed B. Collard IIIA good book for children describing many types of animals and how their dads play a part of their lives, including the seahorse who actually gives birth to the little seahorse babies.
Animal Ethics in Context
by Clare PalmerIt's widely agreed that because animals feel pain we should not make them suffer gratuitously. Some ethical theories go even further: because of the capacities animals possess, they have a right not to be harmed or killed. Such views concern what not to do to animals, but we also face the question of what we should do to assist the ones that may be hungry or distressed. And if we do, say, feed a starving kitten, does this commit us to feeding wild animals suffering through a hard winter? In this controversial book, Clare Palmer claims that, with respect to assisting animals, what's owed to one animal is not necessarily owed to all, even if they share similar capacities. Context and relation are crucial ethical factors. If animals live independently in the wild, their fate is none of our moral business, but if humans create dependent animals, or destroy animals' habitats, we may have special obligations to assist. Such arguments are familiar in human cases-parents have special obligations to their children, for example, or some groups owe reparations to others they have harmed. Palmer develops such relational concerns in the context of wild animals, domesticated animals, and urban scavengers, arguing that different contexts create very different moral relationships.
Animal Lessons: How They Teach Us to Be Human
by Kelly OliverPhilosophy reads humanity against animality, arguing that "man" is man because he is separate from beast. Deftly challenging this position, Kelly Oliver proves that, in fact, it is the animal that teaches us to be human. Through their sex, their habits, and our perception of their purpose, animals show us how not to be them. This kinship plays out in a number of ways. We sacrifice animals to establish human kinship, but without the animal, the bonds of "brotherhood" fall apart. Either kinship with animals is possible or kinship with humans is impossible. Philosophy holds that humans and animals are distinct, but in defending this position, the discipline depends on a discourse that relies on the animal for its very definition of the human. Through these and other examples, Oliver does more than just establish an animal ethics. She transforms ethics by showing how its very origin is dependent upon the animal. Examining for the first time the treatment of the animal in the work of Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Agamben, Freud, Lacan, and Kristeva, among others, Animal Lessons argues that the animal bites back, thereby reopening the question of the animal for philosophy.
Animal Monsters: The Truth About Scary Creatures
by Laurence PringleDragons, giants, sea serpents-these are the monsters of yesteryear, but they lived only in the imagination. People today still like to create monsters, but everyone knows they aren't real. Or are they? There are scary creatures in the world that may seem like monsters, and they can be very dangerous. But many "monsters" are less exciting and harmful than people would believe. The truth about these creatures-and some that live only in the human imagination-is in this book! The black widow spider has a scary name and a deadly reputation, but its bite is rarely fatal. "Killer bees" are honeybees which originally came from central and southern Africa and are not aggressive; however, they will defend themselves when threatened. Komodo dragons are real. They are the world's largest lizards and live only one place on earth. Up to forty feet long, it wriggles through the water like a giant eel, with tall red spines rising from its head. A sea serpent? No-a rarely-seen oarfish. While a mythical vampire may "suck your blood," a real vampire bat usually prefers lapping its dinner from a cow's neck. The reputations of these dangerous creatures - along with the others discussed in this book - begin to change as people understand them better. It's exciting to pretend, and to create scary monsters, but reading the truth about the real animals can be even more exciting. LAURENCE PRINGLE is known for his many fine books for young people on science and nature. He holds degrees in wildlife conservation from Cornell University and the University of Massachusetts, and for seven years he was an editor of Nature and Science, a children's science magazine published at the American Museum of Natural History. He has received awards from the National Wildlife Federation and the American Nature Study Society, and many of his books have been selected as Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association. About Animal Monsters, Mr. Pringle says, "I've encountered alligators, wolves, scorpions, and poisonous snakes in the wild, but I was harmed just once - when I backed into a cactus while taking photos of a rattlesnake in Arizona." He lives in West Nyack, New York.
The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?
by Robert Garner Gary L. FrancioneGary L. Francione is a law professor and leading philosopher of animal-rights theory. Robert Garner is a political theorist specializing in the philosophy and politics of animal protection. Francione maintains that we have no moral justification for using nonhumans, arguing that because animals are property-economic commodities-laws or industry practices requiring "humane" treatment will, as a general matter, fail to provide any meaningful level of protection. Garner favors a version of animal rights that focuses on eliminating animal suffering and adopts a protectionist approach, maintaining that, although the traditional animal-welfare ethic is philosophically flawed, it can contribute strategically to the achievement of animal-rights ends. As they spar, Francione and Garner deconstruct the animal-protection movement in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and elsewhere, discussing the practices of organizations such as PETA, which joins with McDonald's and other fast-food chains to "improve" the slaughter of animals. They also examine American and European laws and campaigns from both the rights and welfare perspectives, identifying weaknesses and strengths that give shape to future legislation and action.
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