2012 Noteworthy Books 359 Native Orchids of Minnesota. Welby R. Smith. 2012. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN. 400 pp. $34.95, softcover. ISBN 9780816678235. Though often considered exotic and rare, orchids actually can be found across climates and continents—and Minnesota is no exception. The state is home to forty-nine wild orchids, occurring in every county. With a little patience, a modicum of outdoor experience, and this handy book, any Minnesotan can discover the common species of orchids in the wild. Native Orchids of Minnesota features detailed drawings and color photographs that make reliable identification practical even for beginners. In-depth discussions of habitats and natural history for each species reveal intricate ecological relationships and seldom-seen aspects of orchid biology. The book includes distribution maps for each species of wild orchid found in Minnesota as well as maps showing generalized distribution throughout North America. It also contains a phenology chart depicting the range of flowering dates and a comprehensive glossary of terms. Native Orchids of Minnesota is both a guide and a resource for the serious naturalist, the weekend botanist, and the connoisseur of natural beauty. Salmonid Spawning Habitat in Rivers: Physical Controls, Biological Responses, and Approaches to Remediation. David Sear and Paul DeVries (Eds.). 2008. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 376 pp. $69, softcover. ISBN 9781934874035. This timely volume presents recent research on the interactions between physical habitat and the ecology of salmon. Salmon habitats have been under increasing pressure from catchment management and river management activity, resulting in a decline in available habitat. North American and European scientists review the processes that control habitat availability, explore the issues impacting the quality of this habitat, and assess the biological factors affecting habitat use and the interaction between habitat quality and salmon reproductive success. Burbot: Ecology, Management, and Culture. Vaughn L. Paragamian and David H. Bennett (Eds.). 2008. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 270 pp. $69, softcover. ISBN 9781888569988. Burbot are circumpolar in 359 distribution and found in the northern tier of states and Canada. Recent research suggests that there are two subspecies: Lota lota lota found in Eurasia and Alaska, and Lota lota maculosa found in North America south of Great Slave Lake. Burbot populations are threatened or have been extirpated in many waters in their southern range in North America, and in many states they are a species of special concern. The status of Burbot is in question in some European countries, or they have been extirpated in others. Among other topics, this volume explores differences in mitochrondrial DNA frequencies of Burbot in the Pacific Northwest, how temperature changes due to regulated discharge from a dam and climatic changes may be affecting Burbot abundance, the status of Burbot in the Great Lakes, Burbot culture, and how local government and a Native American tribe intervened to develop a Burbot conservation strategy. The book will be appreciated by Burbot experts as well as those just interested in a unique fish. Maine's Favorite Birds. Jeffrey V. Wells and Allison Childs Wells. 2012. Tilbury House, Gardiner, ME. 72 pp. $15, softcover. ISBN 9780884483366. From lush forests and rocky coastlines to lakes, mountains, and rolling fields, spectacular natural beauty and diverse habitats make Maine a wonderful place for seeing and hearing some of North America's most iconic birds. This fresh new book highlights the birds that are loved by Mainers and essential to why millions of tourists visit each year. Written by well-known birders and native Mainers, and based on their years of experience answering questions, leading bird walks, and teaching people about birds, Maine’s Favorite Birds puts the focus on Maine’s most-loved and best-known birds. This makes the book uniquely suited to bird enthusiasts who want to identify and learn more about the birds around them without the expense and confusion of more advanced field guides. Maine’s Favorite Birds features each bird beautifully illustrated in large format, accompanied by clear and concise identification tips, habitat references, and easy-to-remember song descriptions. It also includes “birding hot spots” and ways birders can put their observations to use for science and conservation. Maine’s Favorite Birds is perfect for everyone from kids to grandparents, parents to teachers, Noteworthy Books Received by the Northeastern Naturalist, Issue 19/2, 2012 360 Northeastern Naturalist Vol. 19, No. 2 Mainers and tourists alike—anyone who wants to know and better appreciate the birds they see in backyards, parks, wild areas, and nature preserves. Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast: A Natural History. Carol Gracie. 2012. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 290 pp. $29.95, hardcover. ISBN 9780691144665. This exquisitely illustrated volume provides an in-depth look at spring-blooming wildflowers of the Northeast, from old favorites to lesser-known species. Featuring more than 500 full-color photos in a stunning large-sized format, the book delves deep into the life histories, lore, and cultural uses of more than 35 plant species. The rich narrative covers topics such as the naming of wildflowers; the reasons for taxonomic changes; pollination of flowers and dispersal of seeds; uses by Native Americans; related species in other parts of the world; herbivores, plant pathogens, and pests; medicinal uses; and wildflower references in history, literature, and art. The photos capture the beauty of these plants and also illustrate the concepts discussed in the text. A book unlike any other, Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast combines the latest scientific research with an accessible, entertaining style, making it the ideal volume for readers of all levels of expertise. Go Botany: Simple ID Key. New England Wildflower Society. 2012. Free. Available online at http://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/. Want to know what that plant is? New England Wildflower Society has recently launched its Simple Key, with which you can identify over 1200 common native and naturalized New England plants. Observe closely, collect a sample or take a photo, answer some questions, and hone in on the correct identification. Much thought has gone into making this key an effective, but clear and very easy-to-use resource, which makes it an excellent teaching tool as well. Like a regular key, you progress by answering a series of questions. However, the Simple ID takes good advantage of the flexibility and interactive power of being an online application, providing plenty of photos and drawings of different plant parts and allowing the user to select from a broad range of questions focusing on different plant characteristics to narrow their search. After each question, the complete list of reamining matches appears, so at any point the user can peruse the selections and see if they can identify their specimen. Upon selecting their choice, the basic summary information for the species is presented along with photos and/or drawings of all siginficant plant parts to confirm identification. The user then has the option of going to the species information page which provides more complete details including habitat, key facts, characteristics, and distribution and conservation status. The only significant drawback is that since it is an online application, one needs internet connectivity to use it. So it has limited portability for taking out into the field, and is thus more targeted for use with specimens and photos brought back home or to the classroom or lab. While the the Society’s more complete Full Identification Key is still in development, this Simple Key is surprisingly comprehensive and great for use with the more commonly encountered species. Kudos to NEWS for developing this simple but sophisticated web tool for anyone interested in the incredible diversity of plants in New England! The Northeastern Naturalist welcomes submissions of review copies of books that publishers or authors would like to recommend to the journal’s readership and are relevant to the journal’s mission of publishing information about the natural history of the northeastern US. Accompanying short, descriptive summaries of the text are also welcome. Errata The authors of the article entitled “Survival of White-tailed Deer in Wisconsin’s Chronic Wasting Disease Zone” published in NENA issue 19-1 had mistakenly omitted the following sentence from the Acknowledgments section of their paper: “We thank T. Van Deelen for his contributions to discussions leading up to the development of this paper.”