This book presents novel scientific information in a way that beginning hobbyists can use it to set up and maintain planted freshwater aquariaAbout The Author:The author is a medical research technician, former technical advisor for the Aquatic Gardeners Association, and a long time aquarium hobbyist.

    Hers is a beautiful and daring vision of political, spiritual, and ecological transformation."All Our Relations" features chapters on the Seminoles, the Anishinaabeg, the Innu, the Northern Cheyenne, and the Mohawks, among others."One of the pleasures of reading "All Our Relations" is discovering the unique voices of Native people, especially Native women, speaking in their own Native truths."-"Women's Review of Books"..".as Winona LaDuke describes, in moving and often beautiful prose, [these] misdeeds are not distant history but are ongoing degradation of the cherished lands of Native Americans."-"Public Citizen News"..".a rare perspective on Native history and culture."-"Sister to Sister/S2S""Hers is a beautiful and daring vision of political, spiritual, and ecological transformation. "All Our Relations" is essential reading for everyone who cares about the fate of the Earth and indigenous peoples."-"Winds of Change""No ragtag remnants of lost cultures here. Strong voices of old, old cultures bravely trying to make sense of an Earth in chaos."-"Whole Earth"

    Covering southeastern California, the southern half of Arizona, most of Baja California, and much of the state of Sonora, Mexico, this vast area is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals. Its terrain varies dramatically, from parched desert lowlands to semiarid tropical forests and frigid subalpine meadows. A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert provides the most complete collection of Sonoran Desert natural history information ever compiled and is a perfect introduction to this biologically rich desert of North America.The authors—experts in many fields—begin with a general look at the region's geology, paleoecology, climate, human ecology, and biodiversity. The book then looks in depth at hundreds of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, native fishes, and invertebrates that live in the northern part of the Sonoran Desert. Throughout, the text is supplemented with anecdotes, essays, color and black-and-white photographs, maps, diagrams, and 450 finely-rendered drawings. This comprehensive, accessible natural history is written for nonscientists and will surely become an invaluable companion for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, hikers, students, and anyone interested in the desert Southwest.A copublication with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

    Veteran science writer Jon Luoma uncovers the inner workings of an ancient forest, from the microscopic bugs in the soil to the giant trees.

    Now, in this lucid and accessibly written book, Philip Ball applies state-of-the-art scientific understanding from the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics to these ancient mysteries, revealing how nature's seemingly complex patterns originate in simple physical laws. Tracing the history of scientific thought about natural patterns, Ball shows how common presumptions--for example, that complex form must be guided by some intelligence or that form always follows function--are erroneous and continue to mislead scientists today. He investigates specific patterns in depth, revealing that these designs are self-organized and that simple, local interactions between component parts produce motifs like spots, stripes, branches, and honeycombs. In the process, he examines the mysterious phenomenon of symmetry and why it appears--and breaks--in similar ways in different systems. Finally, he attempts to answer this profound question: why are some patterns universal? Illustrations throughout the text, many in full color, beautifully illuminate Ball's ideas.

    This expanded version of one of Orion Magazine's most popular articles includes descriptions of developmentally appropriate environmental education activities and a list of related children's books.

    Water speaks for what is in our mind. Water awakens the subconscious memory in each person. . . . I now know why water is indispensable to the phenomenon of life, and why alternative therapies exist and why they’re effective. Water helped me understand religion and prayer and gave me a clue to understanding the nature of energy. It helped me understand the relationship between humanity and the cosmos. It gave me a clue to help me understand what dimensionality is. I could come one step closer to understanding the eternal theme of humanity that asks where we come from, why we are here, and what happens when we die.         “Thus, for the release of this, the third volume in my series of The Message from Water, I decided to choose what the world most urgently needs at present as a theme. That is, of course, the need to eliminate war and terrorism throughout the world. The theme I have chosen is ‘prayer.’ When I thought about it more deeply, I realized that prayer is most effectively sent when each person in the world raises their energy of love by imagining a scene where the peoples of the world are living in peace. I’ve been taught this through the process of asking water many questions.         “For this reason, the title of this book is ‘Love Thyself.’ First you must shine with positive, high-spirited vibrations, and be full of love. In order to do that, I think it’s important to love, thank, and respect yourself. If that’s the case, then each of those vibrations will be sent out into the world and the cosmos, and the great symphony of that harmonic vibration will wrap our planet in waves of love that serve to cherish our Heaven-granted lives. This is the message from water.” — Masaru Emoto

    An acorn drops from a great oak and grows. Animals nibble at it, a fire threatens it, but overcoming many challenges it eventually towers high in the forest, observing the changing human scene below. Eventually its energy passes into many other life forms. An oak tree can teach much about seeds and seasons and cycles—but it also can make us appreciate the challenges it must overcome.Great for parents, teachers, or gift givers looking for a:graduation giftgift for the new school yearbook to provide inspirationthe perfect "planting seeds for kids" book to explore this summer!The ideal gardening book for kids ages 4-8

    The sea contains millions of species of animals and plants, but we have identified only a few thousand of them. The sea controls our planet's climate, but we do not really understand how. The sea is still the frontier, and yet it seems so familiar that we sometimes forget how little we know about it. Just as we are poised on the verge of exploiting the sea on an unprecedented scale—mining it, fertilizing it, fishing it out—this book reminds us of how much we have yet to learn. More than that, it chronicles the knowledge explosion that has transformed our view of the sea in just the past few decades, and made it a far more interesting and accessible place. From the Big Bang to that far-off future time, two billion years from now, when our planet will be a waterless rock; from the lush crowds of life at seafloor hot springs to the invisible, jewel-like plants that float at the sea surface; from the restless shifting of the tectonic plates to the majestic sweep of the ocean currents, Kunzig's clear and lyrical prose transports us to the ends of the Earth.Originally published in hardcover as The Restless Sea.

    Living creatures-swimming, creeping, floating or crawling--have invaded every possible undersea habitat. They have multiplied and diversified into every imaginable shape and form, from 20-foot giant squids to tiny creatures living between sand grains. Ninety percent of these animals are invertebrates--animals without backbones. Many are beautiful, a few are bizarre, and all are fascinating. This book leads the reader deeper into the undersea realm with photographs of over 500 species of lobsters, shrimps, crabs, shells, octopus, corals, anemones, urchins, stars, sponges, slugs and a host of other lesser-known creatures. Virtually all the animals encountered by snorkelers, divers and beachgoers in Hawaii are here. Hoover provides scientific, common and Hawaiian names for each animal and a wealth of information on its natural history, ecology, cultural importance and even suitability for aquariums.

    Now learn to identify them. This is your field guide to 200 of Minnesota's wildflowers. Full-page photographs and an easy-to-read format present the information that's critical to accurate identification. And the species are organized by color, so when you see a purple flower, simply turn to the purple section of the book. Wildflower identification has never been easier!

    Yet, with incorrect, ignorant handling, it becomes diseased, affecting human, animal and vegetable life alike, causing physical decay and, in the case of people, their moral, mental and spiritual deterioration as well.Schauberger was a fearless exponent of natural energy and a fascinating polemicist, revelling in doing battle with contemporary orthodox scientists. Sadly, the same extractive and water management policies which brought devastation and widespread pollution in his day have even greater consequences today.Themes addressed in this book include:The natural pulsation of water and how to maintain itHow minute differences in temperature affect the natural function of water in the earth, in plants and rivers.How to regulate rivers without damaging their vitality and healthThe natural conversion of sea-water into fresh waterThe consequence of sterilisation and chlorination of water

    The book records extraordinary discoveries about the lives of tigers, with the role of the father in the wild recorded for the first time. The enhanced second edition comes with a new preface by the author and latest information on the forest occupancy of tigers, co-predators, prey, and population estimates of tigers in India. Written in a lucid, story-telling style, and with twenty-four outstanding colour plates, this book will enthrall all animal lovers and those interested in the conservation of wildlife.

    Richly illustrated, it serves as both a natural history and field guide. Each species' narrative is accompanied by a full-page color botanical illustration, photographs from the wild, detailed indentification information, and a range map. California is home to more than 50 native species of pines, first, spruces, junipers hemlocks, and other conifers. "Conifers of California" covers the state's world-renowned cone-bearers, such as coast redwood, giant sequoia, and bristlecone pines, and also features its many other rare and unusual conifers, such as Torrey pine, Santa Lucia fir, and Brewer spruce.

    Judith Lowry's voice and experiences make a rich matrix for essays that include discussions of wildflower gardening, the ecology of native grasses, wildland seed-collecting, principles of natural design, and plant/animal interactions. Though this book is based on California gardens, readers from all parts of the country will be inspired and informed by these examples of gardening to include "the larger garden beyond the fence."Gardening with a Wild Heart promises to be a classic for lovers of nature writing, gardeners, bioregionalists, and students and professionals in horticulture, landscape design, and ecological restoration.

    “More than an adornment for the coffee table.”—Washington Post. “One of my favorites....All the trees are awe-inspiring.”—Philadelphia Inquirer.

    In Essays on Life Itself, Rosen takes to task the central objective of the natural sciences, calling into question the attempt to create objectivity in a subjective world and forcing us to reconsider where science can lead us in the years to come.

    In this new compendium, the writers describe their art and lives, creating a unique and fascinating record of their inspirations.

    They were killed by hunters or disappeared when their oak and beech habitats were destroyed. The last bird, named Martha (only the last of any species seems to merit a human name), died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1905." Here, in photographs and words, are stirring reminders of wild beauty that is no more, as well as profiles of species whose survival is in peril. Rosamond Purcell's seventy spectacular color photographs--taken primarily at the Natural History Museum in Leiden, Holland, which holds the world's most extensive collection of lost species--tell a haunting and foreboding tale.

    He foresaw:Global warming and its devastating consequencesIncreasing violence and lawlessness as the direct result of destructive methods which block Nature's energies and balance.The destruction of the world's forests and ecosystems.This, and the fact that he developed free energy machines through harnessing the magical processes of Nature, has made Viktor Schauberger truly a man of our times.Nature as Teacherdetails Schauberger's thinking about environmental catastrophe. It includes correspondence with contemporaries and, in particular, his feelings of frustration at the blindness of those in mainstream science who seemed to him to be more concerned with their own welfare and pride than with the fate of humanity.This volume gives tremendous insight into what is happening on the Earth today and presents practical solutions on how we may yet save our precious world."

    He is as passionate about swamps, bogs, and vernal ponds and the creatures who live in them as most of us are about our families and closest friends. He knows frogs and snakes, muskrats and minks, dragonflies, water lilies, cattails, sedges--everything that swims, flies, trudges, slithers, or sinks its roots in wet places. In this "intimate and wise book" (Sue Hubbell), Carroll takes us on a lively, unforgettable yearlong journey, illustrated with his own elegant drawings, through the wetlands and reveals why they are so important to his life and ours -- and to all life on Earth.

    It brings together numerous tree-related topics, with chapters concerning their evolution, their sociological, economic and cultural influences on man, the diversity of manifestations within individual species, and the interrelationships between the various species. There is fascinating materials on trees in myth and legend, on the herbal and medicinal uses of trees, on woodland crafts and industries, and on tree planting, conservation and management. Trees and the products of trees touch the lives of everyone. The book sets out to inspire a greater appreciation and understanding of exactly how and why this is so. It is highly readable, full of accurate and scholarly information, and profusely and splendidly illustrated with many hundreds of new photographs and archive illustrations.

    We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and 'improve' upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers." --from the introductionFrom a mountain top where an eagle carries a salmon carcass to feed its young to the distant oceanic waters of the California current and the Alaskan Gyre, salmon have penetrated the Northwest to an extent unmatched by any other animal. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the natural productivity of salmon in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho has declined by eighty percent. The decline of Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction is a clear sign of serious problems in the region.In Salmon Without Rivers, fisheries biologist Jim Lichatowich offers an eye-opening look at the roots and evolution of the salmon crisis in the Pacific Northwest. He describes the multitude of factors over the past century and a half that have led to the salmon's decline, and examines in depth the abject failure of restoration efforts that have focused almost exclusively on hatcheries to return salmon stocks to healthy levels without addressing the underlying causes of the decline. The book:describes the evolutionary history of the salmon along with the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest over the past 40 million yearsconsiders the indigenous cultures of the region, and the emergence of salmon-based economies that survived for thousands of yearsexamines the rapid transformation of the region following the arrival of Europeanspresents the history of efforts to protect and restore the salmonoffers a critical assessment of why restoration efforts have failedThroughout, Lichatowich argues that the dominant worldview of our society -- a worldview that denies connections between humans and the natural world -- has created the conflict and controversy that characterize the recent history of salmon; unless that worldview is challenged and changed, there is little hope for recovery. Salmon Without Rivers exposes the myths that have guided recent human-salmon interactions. It clearly explains the difficult choices facing the citizens of the region, and provides unique insight into one of the most tragic chapters in our nation's environmental history.

    One of the few people to recognize this fact was Frederick Law Olmsted, North America’s first landscape architect.Combining his love of nature with his admiration for the structured beauty found in the great public parks of London and Paris, Olmsted turned neglected, swampy acres on the edge of New York City into one of the most acclaimed parks in the world: Central Park. But Olmsted’s success was not earned overnight. He spent many years wandering from job to job, searching for the perfect career. And when he finally discovered his passion, few people were confident in his abilities. But Olmsted fought for the preservation of areas like Yosemite in the USA, and his perseverance would be rewarded: he went on to design some of the most famous public spaces in North America.

    He shows how Yellowstone's "discovery" by whites followed 10,000 years of occupation and use by native Americans. The search for Yellowstone is as vital and unpredictable today as it was in 1872, and Paul Schullery makes an urgent, eloquent, and startlingly practical case for ensuring that Yellowstone lasts another 125 years.

    The image of a herd grazing on Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service lands is so traditional that many view this use as central to the history and culture of the West. Yet the grazing program costs far more to administer than it generates in revenues, and grazing affects all other uses of public lands, causing potentially irreversible damage to native wildlife and vegetation.The Western Range Revisited proposes a landscape-level strategy for conserving native biological diversity on federal rangelands, a strategy based chiefly on removing livestock from large tracts of arid BLM lands in ten western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.Drawing from range ecology, conservation biology, law, and economics, Debra L. Donahue examines the history of federal grazing policy and the current debate on federal multiple-use, sustained-yield policies and changing priorities for our public lands. Donahue, a lawyer and wildlife biologist, uses existing laws and regulations, historical documents, economic statistics, and current scientific thinking to make a strong case for a land-management strategy that has been, until now, "unthinkable."A groundbreaking interdisciplinary work, The Western Range Revisited demonstrates that conserving biodiversity by eliminating or reducing livestock grazing makes economic sense, is ecologically expedient, and can be achieved under current law.

    The result of a collaboration involving public health professionals, physicians, environmental educators, and policy advocates, this book examines how scientific, social, economic, and political systems may fail to protect us from environmental and occupational toxicants. It is an important sourcebook for those concerned about their own health and that of their loved ones, as well as for medical and public health workers, community activists, policymakers, and industrial decision makers.

    Describes the personality traits, diets, breeding behavior, and social structure of moose, and covers such issues as conservation efforts and their interaction with humans.

    We learn about how human arrogance—demonstrated by our disregard for the small and microscopic species that constitute the Earth's engine and our reckless use of powerful herbicides or genetically engineered crops—is threatening the health of our children and the safety of our food supply. But it's not too late to change our course.From Naked Ape to Superspecies shows us that we are at a turning point—we can either push ahead on our path to destruction or we can reshape our place in nature and prosper. A new introductory chapter provides an overview of how the world has changed since the first edition was published. The final chapter of the book has been revised, and new examples and analyses have been added to the existing chapters throughout the book.Published in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation.

    He points to parallels and differences between the Indigenous science and Western science paradigms, with special emphasis on environmental/ecological studies. After discussing philosophical foundations, Cajete addresses such topics as history and myth, primal elements, social ecology, animals in myth and reality, plants and human health, and cosmology and astronomy. In the Indigenous view, we human observers are in no way separate from the world and its creatures and forces. Because all creatures and forces are related and thus bear responsibility to and for one another, all are co-creators. Five centuries ago Europeans arrived on the American continent, but they did not listen to the people who had lived for millennia in spiritual and physical harmony with this land. In a time of global environmental degradation, the science and worldview of the continent's First Peoples offer perspectives that can help us work toward solutions.

    Study of Dangs, a district in western India.

    Oates disagrees. Drawing on his extensive experience as a primate ecologist who has worked on rainforest conservation projects in Africa and India, he argues that the linking of conservation to economic development has had disastrous consequences for many wildlife populations, especially in West Africa. He maintains that in those parts of the world where people are very poor, human well-being is more likely to be promoted by large-scale political, social, and economic reforms than by community development schemes associated with conservation projects.

    Richly illustrated, evocative, and highly informative, this careful study is an engaging, first-hand look at an ecological treasure. CBC Not Just for Children Anymore!, 2000 CCBC Choices, 2000 John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers, 1999 New York Public Library's One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 1999 Ohio Reading Circle, 2000 Society of School Librarians International Book Award (Honor Book), 1999-2000

    Professor Tiner primarily focuses on plants, soils, and other signs of wetland hydrology in the soil, or on the surface of wetlands in his discussion of Wetland Indicators.Practicing - and aspiring - wetland delineators alike will appreciate Wetland Indicators' critical insight into the development and significance of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and other factors.FeaturesShows 55 color plates, documenting wetland indicators throughout the nation - with more than 34 soil plates and aerial photosIllustrates other wetland properties with more than 50 figuresProvides over 60 tables, including extensive tables of U.S. wetland plant communities and examples for determining hydrophytic vegetationContentsWetland DefinitionsWetland Concepts for Identification and DelineationPlant Indicators of Wetlands and Their CharacteristicsVegetation Sampling and Analysis for WetlandsSoil Indicators of WetlandsWetland Identification and Boundary Delineation MethodsProblem Wetlands and Field Situations for DelineationWetland ClassificationWetlands of the United States: An Introduction, With Emphasis on Their Plant CommunitiesWetland Mapping and Photointerpretation

    Based on the author's now standard work, New Flora of the British Isles (2nd edition, 1997), this abridged version offers the same complete coverage and user-friendly features in a compact format that is particularly suitable for use in the field. The reduced length has been achieved by omitting the separate descriptions and many of the illustrations, while leaving the determination keys intact. In the new text Clive Stace provides additional information on growth habit, habitat, and distribution and identifies each taxon. Where appropriate, information has been updated, but no taxonomic changes or extra taxa have been incorporated. Twenty-seven pages of essential illustrations are included to aid the user, together with a comprehensive glossary and a concise index.

    Canada is a most spectacular example of such a glorious marriage. In this sweeping look at the country he knows so well, Pierre Berton has compiled the stories of twenty-five people who have shaped our history or been shaped and influenced by the geography they found themselves contending with. He sees genius and madness in characters from all parts of the country: from Maquinna, the emperor of the rainforest who battled fellow chieftains and European invaders alike, to Robert Service, who loathed the poem that made him rich, to Mina Hubbard, the widow who raced across Labrador in long skirts to carry out her late husband's dream. Pierre Berton's Canada visits every region, adding daubs of color to our vast map. And the stunning photos that fill the book complement the stories, and explain the hardships and joys that motivated Berton's cast of characters.

    Approaching its subjects through a set of opposing readings shows the strength and weaknesses of various alternative positions. Readings cover the topics of Judeo-Christian Perspectives, Respect for Nature, The Land Ethic/Deep Ecology, Reconciliation and Defense, Social Ecology and Environmental Racism, and NonWestern Religious and Cultural Perspectives. For individuals concerned about the environment and the non-humans who inhabit it. "

    Often, the level of support received depends on whether or not the goals and importance of the program have been clearly explained to the public, the press, or policymakers. Without good communication, even the best programs are liable to fail.Communication Skills for Conservation Professionals provides in-depth guidance on achieving conservation goals through better communications. It introduces communication approaches -- marketing and mass media, citizen participation, public information, environmental interpretation, and conservation education activities -- and offers scores of real-world examples and straightforward advice that will help conservationists develop the the skills they need to communicate effectively. Following an introductory chapter that provides an overview of the communication process, the book:describes research techniques for gathering background information and targeting audiencesoutlines the steps involved in developing a communications campaignexplains how to use mass media-from giving interviews to writing news releases and holding press conferencesprovides examples for developing interpretive media for conservationexplores long-term conservation education strategiespresents program evaluation techniques to determine the level of success achieved, or to identify steps for improvementThroughout, the author presents a rich storehouse of examples, guidelines, and planning tools for all kinds of communication challenges. Strategies and materials that have been used by organizations across the country -- from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to The Nature Conservancy, from Adirondack Park to Yellowstone National Park -- are featured, providing both inspiration and support for others involved with similar projects. Communication Skills for Conservation Professionals is a much-needed contribution to the environmental literature that will play a vital role in helping scientists, managers, concerned citizens, and students to more effectively communicate their knowledge and concern about the environment, and to achieve greater professional and community success with their environmental campaigns.

    Once a purely descriptive science, it is now one of the most forward-looking areas of scientific inquiry. Morin skillfully guides the reader through the main tenets and central concepts of community ecology - competition, predation, food webs, indirect effects, habitat selection, diversity, and succession. In an attempt to introduce the reader to the most balanced coverage possible, Morin includes examples drawn from both the aquatic and terrestrial realm and from both plant and animal species. Balancing theory with experimentation and drawing on exciting new studies to complement the historical foundations of the discipline, he also stresses that both the empirical and theoretical approaches are necessary to drive ecology foward into the new millenium. The final chapter on applied community ecology ably demonstrates how community ecological processes have a wide environmental relevance. Although in its infancy, the application of community ecology to emerging problems in human-dominated ecosystems could mitigate problems as diverse as management strategies for important diseases transmitted by animals and the restoration and reconstruction of viable communities. Required reading for all students and practitioners interested in community phenomena, Community Ecology marks an important contribution to the development of this protean discipline.The first serious textbook for a decade on one of the keystone subdisciplines of ecology.Broad taxonomic and habitat coverage.Section on implications of community ecology for environmental issues.