Northeastern Naturalist Noteworthy Books 2014 Vol. 21, No. 4 B10 Beetles of Eastern North America. Authur V. Evans. 2014. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 560 pp.,$35, softcover, ISBN: 9780691133041. This comprehensive full-color guide to the remarkably diverse and beautiful beetles of the United States and Canada east of the Mississippi River covers 1406 species in all 115 families that occur in the region. Entries include identification, natural history, collecting and geographic range, as well as incredible photographs; they are organized by family with an illustrated key to the most common families plus current information on distribution, biology, and taxonomy. It is well-researched and handles controversy in taxonomy well. Unusually comprehensive, this mammoth field guide encourages the reader to learn from beetles, consider collecting and honing specimen ID skills. A veritable army of photographers and illustrators worked on the incredible depictions of each species. Beetles of Eastern North America is an exceptionally well-done guide and worth seeking out. Grasses of the Northeast: A Manual of Grasses of New England and Adjacent New York. Dennis W. Magee. 2014. University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst and Boston, MA. 208 pp. + DVD-ROM. $39.95, cloth. ISBN 9781625340986. Botanists, naturalists, and students interested in learning to distinguish features of grasses of the northeastern United States will want to consult this book. Included are more than 380 species of grasses that have been documented as occurring in the region. The volume contains 246 range maps and 269 line drawings that clarify descriptions used in the keys and illustrate characteristics of the various kinds of grasses. Dennis Magee also provides a description of each genus and species along with synonyms and habitats. For anyone interested in an up-to-date treatment of the grasses of greater New England, this volume will be an invaluable resource. It is the only comprehensive technical guide devoted exclusively to the grasses of this region and presents a wealth of information in a precise, clear format. The geographic scope of the work extends from the Canadian border south through Long Island and west to the Hudson River. But given the considerable overlap with the grass flora to the adjacent north, south, and west, the book will also be useful beyond New England and the bordering New York counties. The volume includes an illustrated glossary of essential terms and concepts and a “how to use this manual” section. A CD-ROM with a multiple-entry identification guide, and hundreds of accompanying photographic images of individual species, is provided in a sleeve inside the back cover of the book. Magee’s book is accessible to everyone from the curious neophyte to the accomplished botanist. Hemlock: A Forest Giant on the Edge. Edited by David R. Foster. 2014. Yale University Press. New Haven, CT. 306 pp. $32.68, hardcover. ISBN: 9780300179385. The Eastern Hemlock, a foundational species of northeastern forest environments, is facing total decline due to an invasive insect, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Drawing on a century of research at the Harvard University Harvest Forest, the authors of this anthology explore this mass die-off and draw conclusions regarding the era of climate change and fragmentation. Hemlock research is relevant to forests all over the Northeast, and this book pertains to the adjustments in forestry principles and practices demanded by changing conditions. The research also allows authors to draw conclusions about what happens when a foundation species is replaced by non-foundation species—in this case, that could be birch or maple trees. Hemlock: A Forest Giant on the Edge is a timely and well-researched book on a subject deserving of more attention. A World of Insects: The Harvard University Press Reader. Edited by Ring T. Carde and Vincent H. Resh. 2012. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 404 pp. $19.95, softcover. ISBN: 9780674046191. This volume showcases classic essays in entomology—written by scientists such as James Costa, Andrew Ross, Thomas Seeley, E.O. Wilson, and Lee Goff—which paint careful portraits of the ways insects explore their environment. The writing captures the mesmerizing and exotic aspects of the lifestyles of individual insect species. The essays also discuss the impact of insects on our food supply and the popular fascination with pheromones, killer bees, and fire ants. Art and Architecture of Insects. David M. Phillips. 2014. University Press of New England, Lebanon, NH. 120 pp. $24.95, softcover. Noteworthy Books Received by the Northeastern Naturalist, Issue 21/4, 2014 Northeastern Naturalist B11 Noteworthy Books 2014 Vol. 21, No. 4 ISBN: 9781611685329. This is an unusual collection of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of insects. The high-quality images, which are black and white negatives on film, confirm Phillips’ place as the “Ansel Adams of insect anatomy”; the beauty of insect morphology is revealed in these prints. The text is written in a lively, accessible style, which will appeal to entomologists, zoologists, students, and the general public, evoking both curiosity and a sense of wonder. Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sixth Edition. Richard B. Primack. 2014. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA. 603 pp. $94.95, hardcover. ISBN: 9781605352893. This textbook combines theory with applied research to explain the connections between conservation biology and some leading concerns of our time, such as climate-change biology, the protection of endangered species, protected- area management, environmental economics and sustainable development. Each chapter presents general principles which are illustrated with examples from the current literature and which include boxes highlighting projects, species and issues of particular significance. This text offers a refreshing treatment of a core curriculum combined with a deep faith in the positive and active role that scientists, local people, the general public, conservation organizations, and our governments can play in protecting biodiversity. Freshwater Fishes of North America, Volume I: Petromyzontidae to Catostomidae. Edited by Melvin L. Warren, Jr., and Brooks M. Burr. Illustrated by Joseph R. Tomelleri. 2014. John Hopkins University Press. 644 pp. $29.95, hardcover. ISBN: 9781421412016. This extensive guide begins with chapters on “Evolution and Ecology of North American Freshwater Fish” and their “Mating Behavior”. The ensuing chapters describe the freshwater fish families in detail. Lampreys, Sturgeons, Bowfins, Carp, and Minnows are some families included in this book. Each family is presented in great physiological and ecological detail. Relevant issues such as pH tolerance, competition with invasive species and thermal tolerances are discussed in detail. It also contains a massive bibliography of fish literature. With gorgeous color plates of fish anatomy, this volume can also serve as a coffee table book, albeit, an academic one. Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life, Revised Edition. Eva Jablonka and Marion J. Lamb. 2014. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 520 pp. softcover. ISBN: 9780262525848. This widely-read text, first released in 2005, is now updated with an expanded bibliography and a substantial new chaptern that covers the recent explosion of epigenetic knowledge. The book doubles as an overview of molecular biology and an exciting new treatise on evolution. You do not need a background in these subjects to enjoy this book. The authors are expanding the concept of evolution to include environmental effects on the organism and non-DNA cell mechanisms as elements of heredity and gene expression. The authors argue that induced and acquired changes play an important role in providing variation upon which natural selection can act. They cover four dimensions of heredity—genetic, epigenetic (or non-DNA cellular transmission of traits), behavioral, and symbolic (transmission through language and other forms of symbolic communication). They present a conversation between their point of view and the opposing arguments. This is an important discussion given the predominance of the genebased Modern Synthesis, the background upon which they build a theory that describes evolution as “not by genes alone.” The Shady Lady’s Guide to Northeast Shade Gardening. Amy Ziffer. University Press of New England. Lebanon, NH. 2014. 240 pp. $27.95, softcover. ISBN: 9781611685251. “... the goal of most home gardeners is to have a landscape that is attractive, sustainable for many seasons, not too labor intensive, and not too expensive” writes author Amy Ziffler, the owner of Shady Lady Garden Design and former editor at Fine Gardening. This comprehensive reference is for all cold-climate gardeners with shady properties. Ziffer identifies shade-adapted plants that are superior for various purposes and under specific conditions. She introduces backbone plants which should make up 75–80% of the shade-adapted garden. The plant ID section sports magnificant photographs of species suggestions. She covers garden defense from deer, the elements of healthy soil and many other practical subjects. This guide provides expert advice and plant information from a trustworthy source. Northeastern Naturalist Noteworthy Books 2014 Vol. 21, No. 4 B12 Plant Ecology and Evolution in Harsh Environments. Edited by Nishanta Rajakaruna, Robert S. Boyd, and Tanner B. Harris. 2014. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY. 2014, 426 pp. $250, hardcover. ISBN: 9781633219557. Three editors who teach in diverse locations—Alabama, California, and South Africa—present cutting-edge research on life in extreme conditions. Covering a subject which becomes only more relevant over time, this anthology has embraced plant ecology over a wide range of organisms, including lichens, mycorrhizal fungi, salt-tolerant angiosperms, gypsophile floras, artic and alpine plants, metalaccumulating plants, fire-tolerant forests, and other species adapted to harsh environments. The authors present a ecosystems approach and note that harsh environments increase the rate of evolutionary change, yielding some of the most complex species interactions and dynamics found in the plant world. The text covers phytoremediation and phytomining, as well as climate change, and the talent of bryophytes to survive drought conditions. The text ends with a comprehensive summary of the lessons we can gather from harsh environments which should inform our understanding of ecology, evolution, conservation and restoration. Plant Ecology and Evolution in Harsh Environments is an exciting addition to the ecologist’s bookshelf. Atlas of Crustacean Larvae. Edited by Joel W. Martin, Jorgen Olesen, and Jens T. Hoeg. 2014. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 370 pp. $125, hardcover. ISBN: 9781421411972. Crustaceans are one of the most important and diverse groups of marine life, encompassing shrimp, lobsters, crabs, krill, barnacles, and their relatives. In this anthology, more than 45 of the world’s leading crustacean researchers explain and illustrate the complexity of the many larval life stages of crustaceans. This is key reference for specialists and students. It’s glossary gives crucial background to the text. It will help any reader increase their understanding the invertebrate world in marine ecosystems. The illustrations are simply fantastic and are accompanied by masterful photography. The Collected Papers of Michael E. Soule: Early Years in Modern Conservation Biology. Michael E. Soule. 2014. Island Press, Washington, DC. 355 pp. $35, hardcover. ISBN: 9781610915748. Hailed by many as the single most important force in the development of the modern science of conservation biology, Micheal E. Soule was an early believer in anthropogenic causes for the loss of biodiversity. These fourteen papers show the progression of Soule’s thinking as a scientist, leader, and advocate. Contains important insights for facing the looming challenges of climate change, increasing species extinctions, and the debate within the conservation community over the path forward. Not to be missed. Neighborhood As Refuge: Community Reconstruction, Place Remaking, and Environmental Justice in the City. Isabelle Anguelovski. 2014. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 276 pp. $24, softcover. ISBN: 9780262525695. The author takes the reader on a tour of economic revitalization efforts in three low-income neighborhoods: Casc Antic, Barcelona, Spain; Dudley, in the Roxbury section of Boston, MA; and Cayo Hueso, in Havana, Cuba. She describes how broad coalitions of residents, community organizations, political leaders, funders, and skilled allies have been able to promote healing for marginalized and environmentally traumatized urban neighborhoods. This is a new holistic framework for understanding successful environmental justice action in cities. 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.