Prairie: A Natural History
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Book Overview
Thorough, detailed, and scientifically up-to-date, Prairie: A Natural History provides a comprehensive, nontechnical guide to the biology and ecology of the prairies, or the Great Plains grasslands of North America. This edition has been updated to include new information about declining bird species, enhanced protection of bison, the effect of industrialization on the prairies, and the effect of the increase in coyote numbers on red foxes and swift foxes, among other topics. The book also includes an entirely new preface. Extending from Alberta south to the Mississippi River, the prairies are among the largest ecosystems in North America. Until recently, they were also one of the richest and most magnificent natural grasslands in the world. Today, however, they are among the most altered environments on Earth. Nevertheless, Candace calls the prairies a landscape of hope-a place that has experienced the onslaught of modernization yet still inspires us with its splendor. Throughout the book, spectacular full-color photographs and elegant black-and-white line drawings illustrate the beauty and diversity of the North American heartland. Both an authoritative reference and an easy-to-read guide, Prairie: A Natural History is a must for anyone who wants to know more about the dazzling natural variety of the prairies.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1553655885
ISBN13:9781553655886
Release Date:April 2011
Publisher:Greystone Books
Length:320 Pages
Weight:2.32 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 7.5" x 9.9"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
wonderfully written and informative
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I found this to be a well written, high quality book that should prove to be a great read for anyone. The language is easy to understand which makes it a good leisure read but at the same time it provides a wealth of information about wildlife, habitats, environments, and interactions that, as a grad student, I still found very interesting and informative.
Home on the Range...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
I love the prairie, no doubt about that, and I'm proud to have been born and raised in the vast expanse of the middle of the great continent. The prairie brings a unique feeling of solitude, quietude, and openness that can be found not many places else in the world. I fully recommend this book to those that love the prairie, but also to those who are not interested at all in the vast expanse, who, as the book asserts, would rather get across it as quickly as possible. Scientifically and emotionally written, it is a beautiful book, with many illustrations, one that is worthy to be read.
Very pleased
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
The book is very well written, and the many artful photos in the book really make me wish I could spend a whole summer in the prairies. The author knows what she's talking about for certain. I could just keep on reading such educating books.
Prairie: NOT the Great American Desert
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
An excellent book. Well written and scientifically accurate. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is enchanted with the beauty and grandeur of the North American prairie.
A Reverant Book On A Little Known Region
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
The Great Plains of the North America extend from Alberta to Texas and from the Rockies to the Mississippi river. It's the heartland of America. This book, profusely illustrated and reverantly written is the story of the heartland. While it is the story of people, it's more the story of the land itself. It's the story of ancient seas, of Tyannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, and grass. Grass, seemingly engless miles of grass. Tall grass, short grass, drought resistent grass, food for the buffalo that wandered here in vast herds. Of course the book talks about man's impact on the land. Farming plants a handful of crop species, where 5,000 wild plants grow in the Great Plains. The future has to be discussed in a book like this, and for once the news is not all bad. To be sure, there are species at risk, but the overall picture is certainly one of hope. A fascinating book on an area that is rarely thought about, let along the subject of books.
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