Book Reviews
2007 185
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Book Reviews of the Southeastern Naturalist, Issue 7/1, 2008
Montrose: Life in a Garden. Nancy
Goodwin with illustrations by Ippy Patterson.
2005. Duke University Press,
Durham, NC. 292 pp. $34.95, hardcover.
ISBN 0822336049. After an introduction
to her garden named Montrose, and some
background on its history and creation,
Goodwin intimately relates the monthly
happenings in her four-season garden
and introduces the reader to the folks
that touch her life as well as the plants.
Her enthusiasm for and fascination with
plants, creatures, and nature in general
are contagious for readers both in and far
from zone 7. Patterson contributes countless,
lovely illustrations of the fl ora and
surroundings described by Goodwin. This
journal of life at Montrose will be enjoyed
by garden enthusiasts everywhere—a
good winter read for folks who garden
during fewer than four seasons. C.R.
Oceans of Kansas: A Natural History
of the Western Interior Sea. Michael J.
Everhart. 2005. Indiana University Press,
Bloomington, IN. 232 pp. $39.95, hardcover.
ISBN 025334572. A vast inland
sea covered most of the interior of North
America for almost 70 million years. This
book tells the story of the creatures that
lived in that sea during the Late Cretaceous.
Drawing upon geological studies
and an abundance of well-preserved
fossils, Everhart brings to life the giant
sharks, marine reptiles, and birds with
teeth that inhabited this sea. Contains
many black-and-white photographs of
fossilized teeth, skulls, and complete
skeletons, and some amazing color drawings
of these creatures as they may have
appeared when alive. We also learn of the
early paleontologists and explorers who
discovered and documented the fossils
of these ancient marine creatures. Has an
extensive set of references organized according
to each group of animal, invertebrate,
and plant recorded in the fossil history.
Informative and entertaining. S.E.
Neptune’s Ark: From Ichthyosaurs
to Orcas. David Rains Wallace. 2007.
University of California Press, Berkeley,
CA. 282 pp. $27.50, hardcover. ISBN
9780520243224. Focusing on the Pacific Coast of North America, the author
weaves together the story of the ancestral
sea creatures that gave rise to today’s modern
marine mammals and fish with that of
the paleontologists who pieced together
their history from fossilized skeletons and
bits of bone. The accounts of these early
scientists/explorers reveal often-difficult
lives, as they battled scurvy, storms, and
shipwrecks in their quest for knowledge.
Their efforts uncovered an ancient world
of often fantastical marine organisms.
In some cases, the fossil record reveals
transitional forms such as those that show
the progression to the modern killer whale
or sea lion. Entertaining, enjoyable, and
educational, this book is highly recommended
for anyone interested in the adventure
of discovery and the evolutionary
development of marine life. S.E.
Freshwater Fishes of Texas. Chad
Thomas, Timothy H. Bonner, and Bobby
G. Whiteside. 2007. Texas A&M University
Press, College Station, TX. 220 pp.
$23, softcover. ISBN 139781585445707.
This book is a slim, well-organized guide
to 161 species of freshwater fishes found
in Texas. It starts with concise, basic
information on fish measurements and
phylogeny. A dichotomous key enables
quick identification to family. Species can
then be identified on the basis of color
photographs and unique characteristics,
including fin counts and coloration. Information
is also given on their range
and habitat preferences. The color photographs,
though small, are detailed and
of excellent quality, and this guide is the
most comprehensive publication to date
in terms of the number of color photographs
of Texas fish species. An excellent
accompaniment to more detailed guides,
186 Southeastern Naturalist Vol. 6, No.4
it is also a useful field book for ichthyologists,
naturalists, and fishermen. S.E.
Nearby History: Exploring the Past
Around You. David E. Kyvig and Myron
A. Marty. 1996. Alta Mira Press, Walnut
Creek, CA. 300 pp. $29.95, softcover.
ISBN 0761991581. This book is an excellent
resource for students and others
who want to find out more about the history
of family, community, and material
culture. The authors begin with lists of
questions that help the reader refine their
investigative focus on families, buildings,
neighborhoods, institutions, and
entire communities. Subsequent chapters
are arranged by type of evidence and
cover storytelling, published documents,
unpublished documents, oral documents,
visual documents, artifacts, landscapes,
and buildings. Each chapter includes a
list of sources of further information organized
by subject. The remaining chapters
explore means for preserving material
traces, leaving a record of your own, and
linking the personal to the universal. Several
helpful appendices include generic
historic site surveys, a listing of regional
branches of the National Archives, and a
list organized by state of state archives,
humanities councils, historical societies,
and preservation offices. C.R.
Dragonfl ies and Damselfl ies of Georgia
and the Southeast. Giff Beaton. 2007.
University of Georgia Press, Athens,
GA. 355pp. $24.95, softcover. ISBN
0820327952. Covering more than 150
species of Odonates found in Georgia,
this beautifully illustrated guide will
probably spend most of its life in your
pack rather than on your bookshelf. An introduction
to dragonfl ies and damselfl ies
and an explanation of body parts begins
the guide. Taxonomy is discussed as well
as life-cycle, habitats, and conservation.
Two very helpful sections discuss how to
observe and how to photograph Odonates.
A discussion on how to identify Odonates
is followed by a key to the Families with a
manageable 5 couplets. Species accounts
are organized by family and each contain
sharp, color photographs of both males
and females in a natural setting. A detailed
description of both sexes includes
key characters for identification. Similar
species are compared, and habitat and behavioral
notes accompany each. A range
map that includes the entire Southeast
and a calendar showing timing of activity
are included. The guide concludes with a
chapter on good places to see Odonates
in Georgia. Appendices include species
not included in the book (those with less
than 5 credible records in the State), State
ranks, fl ight dates by species, and a glossary.
C.R.
Unnatural Landscapes: Tracking Invasive
Species. Ceiridwen Terrill. 2007.
The University of Arizona Press, Tucson,
AZ. 220 pp. $17.95, softcover. Terrill
takes the reader with her on her paddling
journeys to visit island ecosystems where
invasive plants and animals have made
their mark. Although her destinations
are in the southwestern US and Mexico,
her accounts are packed with information
applicable to many other ecosystems beyond
the region’s islands. She introduces
the reader to scientists and park rangers
who have made it their job to document
the spread and effects of invasives and
does so with engaging style. A popular
interest book that will be enjoyed by a
broad audience. C.R.
Birder’s Conservation Handbook: 100
North American Birds at Risk. Jeffrey
V. Wells. 2007. Princeton University
Press, Princeton, NJ. 452 pp. $35, softcover.
ISBN 0691123233. Wells sets out
to compile the salient information on each
of 100 bird species considered at risk in
North America. He has included 80 birds
of greatest concern because of their small
population sizes and has chosen 20 more
high priority species that illustrate a variety
of ecosystems, geographic areas,
bird families, and conservation issues.
Book Reviews
2007 187
An introduction addresses conservation
topics such as using birds as indicators,
the state of bird populations, major conservation
issues, and what you can do.
Species accounts occupy the remainder
of the text. Each includes a line-drawing
illustration, and a range map. Status
and distribution are discussed followed
by ecology and threats to each species.
Conservation actions describe what has
already been done, and a list of conservation
needs outlines additional steps that
need to be taken. Each species account is
followed by a list of references. Appendices
include a list of birds of conservation
concern by agency; a list of Hawaiian
birds of concern and extinct species; a
list of Mexican endangered, threatened,
and special concern species; and a list of
agencies and organizations involved in
bird conservation. Conservation professionals
and birders will find this to be a
valuable resource. C.R.
Six Legs Better: A Cultural History of
Myrmecology. Charlotte Sleigh. 2007.
The Johns Hopkins University Press,
Baltimore, MD. 302 pp. $55, hardcover.
ISBN 0801884450. Sleigh traces the
study of ants and their perceptions in science
and greater society through history.
Divided into three sections, she discusses
the psychological, sociological, and communicational
implications that ants have
had for human culture. She follows the
three main characters—August Forel,
William Morton Wheeler, and Edward O.
Wilson—throughout the book and chronicles
the development of their theories and
their place in the broader scientific community.
Extensive footnotes are provided,
and an essay on sources contains much
valuable information for those seeking a
broader context. C.R.
Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and
Natural History. William J. Bell, Louis
M. Roth, and Christine A. Nalepa. 2007.
Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,
MD. 230 pp. $100, hardcover.
ISBN 0801886163. This book provides a
synthesis of published and some unpublished
information on the 4000 species
that belong to the suborder Blattaria, and
mainly focuses on the >99% of species of
cockroach that live in the wild. Suitable
for researchers, students, and naturalists,
chapters are topical, exploring the
diversity of cockroaches. Chapters cover
shape, color and size, locomotion, habitats,
diets and foraging, mating, reproduction,
and social behavior. An intriguing
chapter describes microbes as food
and the defense strategies cockroaches
have against microbes. Termites as social
cockroaches is the title of another chapter
that examines the relationships between
individuals of these two groups. The final
chapter discusses the ecological impact
of cockroaches and addresses detritivory,
pollination, food chains, large-scale effects,
and conservation with brief mention
of the impact of non-native species.
The authors intend to provoke thought
and provide a source of ideas for further
research. A glossary is provided as well as
an extensive list of references. C.R.
Mathematics in Nature: Modeling Patterns
in the Natural World. John Adam.
2003. Princeton University press, Princeton,
NJ. 360 pp. $24.95, softcover. ISBN
0691127964. Spanning a range of mathematical
levels, this book can be used as an
undergraduate textbook, a source of high
school math enrichment, or can be read for
pleasure by folks with an appreciation of
nature but without advanced mathematical
background. Adam introduces topics,
discusses applications to various phenomena,
and presents worked problems with
enthusiasm and clarity. The text begins
with a chapter about mathematical modeling
in nature that includes philosophy and
methodology of modeling. Estimation is
covered next, followed by dimensional
analysis. Meteorological optics is covered
in two chapters first discussing shadows,
crepuscular rays, and related phenomena
followed by a “calculus I” approach to
188 Southeastern Naturalist Vol. 6, No.4
rainbows, halos, and glories. Clouds,
sand dunes, and hurricanes have their own
chapter followed by linear waves, stability,
and nonlinear waves. Bees, bubbles,
and mud cracks are featured in a geometry
chapter, while river meanders and branching
patterns and trees are attacked next
followed by a chapter on bird fl ight. The
Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio
are also covered as well as much more. A
teacher’s manual is available that includes
problem sets, and an extensive bibliography
will provide many sources for further
reading. C.R.
Owls of the United States and Canada:
A Complete Guide to their Biology and
Behavior. Wayne Lynch. 2007. The Johns
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,
MD. 242 pp. $39.95, hardcover. ISBN
0801886872. This beautifully illustrated
book contains a wealth of fascinating
information about this difficult to observe
group of birds. Organized by topic, this
text covers all 19 species native to Canada
and the US. An identification guide
highlights distinguishing characteristics,
habitat, diet, life span, population status
and range map for each species. Topics
covered include evolutionary history and
anatomy, hearing and sight, habitats, diet,
reproduction, chick rearing, predators,
and pests. A final chapter on owls and humans
outlines threats to owl conservation.
A references section is provided, and an
appendix provides common and scientific
names to species mentioned in the text.
This book will be much appreciated by
birders, naturalists, and anyone with an
interest in owls. The photographs are
stunning. C.R.
Beasts of Eden: Walking Whales, Dawn
Horses, and Other Enigmas of Mammal
Evolution. David Rains Wallace. 2004.
University of California Press, Berkeley,
CA. 340 pp. $16.95, softcover. ISBN
0520246843. Tells the story of mammal
evolution, through the history of mammal
paleontology. Wonders aloud why
we are fascinated by dinosaurs, extinct
animals that seemingly left birds as their
only progeny, and ignore early mammals,
whose progeny include ourselves. More
of an historical account than a species
description. Those interested in history
of science or paleontology may find it
interesting. S.O’M.
Negotiating Darwin: The Vatican Confronts
Evolution 1877–1902. Mariano
Artigas, Thomas F. Glick, and Rafael A.
Martinez. 2006. Johns Hopkins University
Press, Baltimore MD. 326 pp. $50,
hardcover. ISBN 080188389X. Drawn
from newly opened Vatican archives,
examines the Vatican response to the publication
to Darwin’s The Origin of Species,
in particular 6 different attempts to
integrate evolution and Catholicism. Uses
this historical documentation to examine
current church policy or lack thereof.
Much of primary literature is excerpted.
Those interested in the history of science
and religion and Catholic scholars will
find this book useful. S.O’M.
Good Observers of Nature: American
Women and the Scientific Study of
the Natural World, 1820-1885. Tina
Gianquitto. 2007. University of Georgia
Press, Athens GA. 216 pp. $19.99, softcover.
ISBN 0820329192. A scholarly
work focusing on the writings of four
varied female nature and science writers
from 19th-century America: Almira
Phelps, Margaret Fuller, Susan Fenimore
Cooper, and Mary Treat. Examines not
only what they wrote, but also the cultural
limitations or “perceptual systems”
that infl uenced how they wrote. Includes
notes and bibliography. S.O’M.
Geographical Genetics. Bryan K. Epperson.
2003. Princeton University Press,
Princeton, NJ. 356 pp. $49.50, softcover.
ISBN 0691086680. A thorough treatment
of the mathematical and statistical models
used to predict and examine genetic
variation caused by geographical barriers.
Book Reviews
2007 189
Continental movements, climate change,
mountain uplifting, and desertification are
just a few of the geographical changes that
can limit gene fl ow and isolate species
populations. Genetic drift within these
sub-populations can be predicted and
modeled. This text shows how probability
theory can be used to correlate spatial distribution
with genetic variation. It will be
of broad interest to ecologists, conservation
biologists, and geneticists interested
in using mathematical models to predict
and explain outcomes. S.E.
The Unnatural History of the Sea.
Callum Roberts. 2007. Island Press,
Washington, DC. 435 pp. $28, hardcover.
ISBN 139781597261029. A fascinating
and enjoyable historical account of the
decline of some of the worlds’ great fisheries.
Roberts takes the reader back to the
origins of intensive marine fishing around
1050 AD, and shows with convincing evidence
how humans have decimated once
incredibly abundant marine resources.
The plunder continues today with the use
of highly efficient factory trawlers. However,
Roberts believes that we can reverse
the damage with the use of strict fisheries
management tools and marine reserves.
This book is thoroughly documented and
well-researched, written in an engaging
and accessible style. Contains notes with
bibliographical information, an index, and
some illustrations. Highly recommended.
S.E.
Fish Conservation: A Guide to Understanding
and Restoring Global Aquatic
Biodiversity and Fishery Resources.
Gene S. Helfman. 2007. Island Press,
Washington, D.C. 584 pp. $85, softcover.
ISBN 139781559635950. Succeeds in
providing a global perspective on the large
and complex topic of fish conservation.
By necessity a general overview, this text
nonetheless provides a wealth of detail on
many aspects of fisheries conservation.
Early chapters discuss the importance of
fish biodiversity and the physical and biological
threats facing fisheries resources.
The author especially shows how non-native
species have harmed aquatic ecosystems.
Further chapters provide scientific
background on some of the more widely
known issues of fisheries exploitation and
decline. Coral reefs, aquaculture impacts
and benefits, and the trade in live fishes
are also discussed. Throughout, the text
provides practical advice and examples of
management efforts that can slow or even
reverse the decline. A useful and thoughtprovoking
reference for fish biologists,
fishing communities, and conservationists.
S.E.
Inescapable Ecologies: A History of
Environment, Disease, and Knowledge.
Linda Nash. 2006. University of California
Press, Berkeley, CA. 332 pp. $24.95,
softcover. ISBN 139780520248915. Linda
Nash uses the cultural and environmental
history of California’s Central Valley to
show the inter-relationships between the
environment and human health. In doing
so, she follows in a long line of environmental
writers, beginning with Rachel
Carson’s Silent Spring. Nash’s contribution
to this tradition lies in her focus on
a particular place with a long history of
agriculture and subsequent environmental
change, and an equally long record of the
health of its’ inhabitants. She shows how
changing perceptions of the causes of
disease led directly to efforts to change
the landscape. This book is a well-written
and compelling account by a first-time
author. S.E.
The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs:
A Guide to Understanding and Using
Herbal Medicinals. Leslie Taylor, ND.
2005. Square One Publishers, Garden
City Park, NY. 519 pp. $23.95, softcover.
ISBN 0757001440. Describes many of the
medicinally useful plants found in South
American Rainforests. Treats in great
detail the specific ailments each plant is
traditionally used for in different regions.
Includes summaries of clinical research on
190 Southeastern Naturalist Vol. 6, No.4
each plantsʼ active chemicals. Introduction
includes short discussion of rainforest
destruction and directions for making the
most common forms of medicine. Useful
for herbalists expanding their knowledge
and those interested in herbal or alternative
medicine. S.OʼM.
Dawn of the Dinosaurs: Life in the
Triassic. Nicholas Fraser. 2006. Indiana
University Press. Bloomingdale, IN. 309
pp. $49.95, hardcover. ISBN 0253346525.
Drawing upon selected fossil deposits,
Nicholas Fraser pieces together a triphasic
description of life in the Triassic
Period—a period characterized by one
gigantic land mass, absence of polar icecaps,
large-scaled dinosaurs, and smaller
precursors of present mammalian-ecosystems.
A paleontologist curator for the
Virginia Museum of Natural History, Fraser
studies vertebrate fossil morphology
from several perspectives including fossil
morphology, biostratigraphy, and modern
vertebrates in order to deduce realistic descriptions
of animals populating the Triassic
Period. Directed toward zoology and
geology professionals and students, the
book presents detailed analyses of fossil
findings, maps, and illustrated scenes of
these prehistoric animals commingling in
habitats of the era. These interpretations
are rendered comprehensible by Douglas
Henderson’s illustrations depicting the
natural groupings of plants and animals.
Fraser accommodates readers whose curiosity
drives them to explore the book
by attaching an appendix which may be
used as a primer before pursuing the text.
N.L.
Book Reviewers: S.E. = Stephen Eddy,
N.L. = Nancy Lovejoy, S.O’M. = Sarah
O'Malley, C.R. = Cathy Rees.