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Books > Earth & environment > Geography > Physical geography > Arid zones, deserts
When looking at old pictures of Toronto, it is clear that the
city’s urban, economic, and social geography has changed
dramatically over the generations. Historic photos of Toronto’s
streetcar network offer a unique opportunity to examine how the
city has been transformed from a provincial, industrial city into
one of North America’s largest and most diverse regions.
Streetcars and the Shifting Geographies of Toronto studies the
city’s urban transformations through an analysis of photographs
taken by streetcar enthusiasts, beginning in the 1960s. These
photographers did not intend to record the urban form, function, or
social geographies of Toronto; they were "accidental archivists"
whose main goal was to photograph the streetcars themselves. But
today, their images render visible the ordinary, day-to-day life in
the city in a way that no others did. These historic photographs
show a Toronto before gentrification, globalization, and
deindustrialization. Each image has been re-photographed to provide
fresh insights into a city that is in a constant state of flux.
With gorgeous illustrations, this unique book offers an
understanding of how Toronto has changed, and the reasons behind
these urban shifts. The visual exploration of historic and
contemporary images from different parts of the city helps to
explain how the major forces shaping the city affect its form,
functions, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
North American deserts-lands of little water-have long been home to
a surprising diversity of aquatic life, from fish to insects and
mollusks. With European settlement, however, water extraction,
resource exploitation, and invasive species set many of these
native aquatic species on downward spirals. In this book,
conservationists dedicated to these creatures document the history
of their work, the techniques and philosophies that inform it, and
the challenges and opportunities of the future. A precursor to this
book, Battle Against Extinction, laid out the scope of the problem
and related conservation activities through the late 1980s. Since
then, many nascent conservation programs have matured, and
researchers have developed new technologies, improved and refined
methods, and greatly expanded our knowledge of the myriad
influences on the ecology and dynamics of these species. Standing
between Life and Extinction brings the story up to date. While the
future for some species is more secure than thirty years ago,
others are less fortunate. Calling attention not only to iconic
species like the razorback sucker, Gila trout, and Devils Hole
pupfish, but also to other fishes and obscure and fascinating
invertebrates inhabiting intermittent aquatic habitats, this book
explores the scientific, social, and political challenges of
preserving these aquatic species and their habitats amid an
increasingly charged political discourse and in desert regions
characterized by a growing human population and rapidly changing
climate.
About one-third of the Earth's land surface experiences a desert
climate, and this area supports approximately 15% of the planet's
population. This percentage continues to grow, and with this growth
comes the need to acquire and apply an understanding of desert
geomorphology. Such an understanding is vital in managing scarce
and fragile resources and in mitigating natural hazards.
This authoritative reference book is comprehensive in its
coverage of the geomorphology of desert environments, and is
arranged thematically. It begins with an overview of global
deserts, proceeds through treatments of weathering, hillslopes,
rivers, piedmonts, lake basins, and aeolian surfaces, and concludes
with a discussion of the role of climatic change. Written by a team
of international authors, all of whom are active in the field, the
chapters cover the spectrum of desert geomorphology.
Drylands have been cradles to some of the worlda (TM)s greatest
civilizations, and contemporary dryland communities feature rich
and unique cultures. Dryland ecosystems support a surprising amount
of biodiversity. Desertification, however, is a significant land
degradation problem in the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid
regions of the world. Deterioration of soil and plant cover has
adversely affected 70% of the worlda (TM)s drylands as a result of
extended droughts as well as mismanagement of range and cultivated
lands. The situation is likely to worsen with high population
growth rates and accompanying land-use conflicts.
The contributions to The Future of Drylands a" an international
scientific conference held under the leadership of UNESCO a"
address these issues and offer practical solutions for combating
desertification along with conserving and sustainably managing
dryland ecosystems. Major themes include the conservation of
dryland biological and cultural diversity and the human dryland
interface. This volume documents how our improved understanding of
drylands provides insight into the health and future prospects of
these precious ecosystems that should help ensure that dryland
communities enjoy a sustainable future.
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Mojave Desert Trails
(Paperback)
Florine Lawlor; Photographs by Wynne Benti, Leslie Payne
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R362
R297
Discovery Miles 2 970
Save R65 (18%)
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Rift basins of Triassic-Jurassic age that are associated with
the breakup of the Pangean supercontinent contain an extraordinary
record of the physical and biological conditions during this
important period of Earth history. Rather than studying the rift
basins as local features, ongoing work reveals that the
Triassic-Jurassic rifts should be considered in a broader context
that spans the entire proto-Atlantic realm. The rift province,
collectively called the central Atlantic margin system, spans more
than 45 degrees of paleolatitude and records over 35 million years
of Earth history. The central Atlantic margin basins are of broad
appeal to researchers interested in topics as diverse as
extensional tectonics, the global magnetostratigraphic timescale,
the evolution of early mammals, the appearance and diversification
of dinosaurs, rift to drift crustal dynamics, astronomical forcing
of climate, and models for the formation and occurrence of economic
minerals and fossil fuel deposits. This extensive two-volume work
offers in-depth coverage of the North American components of the
Central Atlantic Magmatic Province rifts by experts in the
field.
In volume 1, leading researchers give thoroughly reviews and
highlight recent advances in our understanding of the structural
geology, tectonics, and volcanism of the Central Atlantic Magmatic
Province.
The companion volume, "The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea in
Eastern North America: Volume 2, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and
Paleontology," 0-231-12676-X, covers such topics as sedimentary
rocks, stratigraphic architecture, early dinosaur and reptile
footprints, and vertebrate fossils of the Central Atlantic Magmatic
Province. It is edited by Peter M. LeTourneau and Paul E. Olsen and
is also available from Columbia University Press.
Prosopis describes the enormous historical importance of these
trees as a human food source and reviews the contemporary food
science of the fruit derived from these trees. As well, this
treatise reviews the native genetic resources of this genus on 4
continents and classical genetic and horticultural techniques that
could help stabilize the environment and alleviate human suffering
on some of the world's most destitute agro-ecosystems. This book is
an essential read for researchers interested in forestry and plant
science, environmental science, and functional foods. The legume
family (Fabaceae) contains many genera and species that through
their nitrogen fixing process provide high protein food and feed
for humans and animals. As evidenced by its presence in Death
Valley, California, which holds the record for the highest
temperatures in the world, these types of plants can thrive in
extreme environments.
The new edition of Arid Zone Geomorphology aims to encapsulate the
advances that have been made in recent years in the investigation
and explanation of landforms and geomorphological processes in
drylands. Building on the success of the previous two editions, the
Third Edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect
the latest developments in the field. Whilst this latest edition
will remain a comprehensive reference to the subject, the book has
been restructured to include regional case studies throughout to
enhance student understanding and is clearly defined into five
distinct sections; Firstly, the book introduces the reader to Large
Scale Controls and Variability in Drylands and then moves on to
consider Surface Processes and Characteristics; The Work of Water,
The Work of the Wind. The book concludes with a section on Living
with Dryland Geomorphology that includes a chapter on
geomorphological hazards and the human impact on these
environments.
Once again, recognised world experts in the field have been
invited to contribute chapters in order to present a comprehensive
and up-to-date overview of current knowledge about the processes
shaping the landscape of deserts and arid regions. In order to
broaden the appeal of the Third Edition, the book has been reduced
in extent by 100 pages and the Regional chapters have been omitted
in favour of the inclusion of key regional case studies throughout
the book. The Editor is also considering the inclusion of a
supplementary website that could include further images, problems
and case studies.
At last, one of the most popular books on the American West is
available once again in hardcover. In celebration of the twentieth
anniversary of the publication of "Desert Solitaire, " the
University of Arizona Press is pleased to publish a new edition
featuring a new introduction by the author, his definitive
corrections to the text, and new illustrations commissioned
exclusively for this volume. Edward Abbey's account of two summers
spent in southeastern Utah's canyonlands is surely one of the most
enduring works of contemporary American nature writing. In it he
tells of his stint as a park ranger at Arches National Monument, of
his love for the natural beauty that surrounded him, and of his
distaste for the modernizing improvements designed to increase
visitation to the park. "I confess to being a nature lover," admits
Abbey more than thirty years after his sojourn in the wilderness.
"But I did not mean to be mistaken for a nature writer. I never
wanted to be anything but a writer, period." First published in
1968 to "a few brief but not hostile notices," "Desert Solitaire"
quietly sold out of its first printing but eventually developed a
loyal enough following in paperback to earn Abbey the "nature
writer" label he claims never to have wanted. "Desert Solitaire"
lives on because it is a work that reflects profound love of nature
and a bitter abhorrence of all that would desecrate it. "Abbey is
one of our very best writers about wilderness country," observed
Wallace Stegner in the "Los Angeles Times Book Review"; "he is also
a gadfly with a stinger like a scorpion." "This book may well seem
like a ride on a bucking bronco," added Edwin Way Teale in the "New
York Times." "It is rough, tough, combative...passionately felt,
deeply poetic." But perhaps the spirit of the man, the work, and
the circumstances of its writing were best summarized by Larry
McMurtry in his review for the "Washington Post" "Edward Abbey is
the Thoreau of the American West."
Water plays different roles in the desert. It appears when we least
expect it and hides when we want it most. Rain falls but never
reaches the ground, and dry washes abruptly become rivers. One
constant holds true: water enables life. In Desert Wetlands a
distinguished photographer and a passionate naturalist document
sites in the American Southwest and Mexico that are gauges to the
environment. The wetlands included are Cuatro Cienegas Basin in
Coahuila, Mexico, the San Pedro River in Arizona, the Escalante
River in Utah, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in
New Mexico, the playas and wetlands in Arizona, the Mohave Desert
in California, and the Big Bend National Park in Texas.
"Exploration of desert wetlands--whether on foot, with photographs,
or in words--involves vacillating between tremendous, uplifting
beauty and great, heartbreaking degradation. We offer the images
and words in your hands that you might grasp the beauty more
readily, and join the chorus of voices calling for an end to
despoiling of these treasurelands."--Thomas Lowe Fleischner in
Desert Wetlands "Mr. Niemeyer's photography . . . is utterly
superb."--Southern Living
Australian Deserts: Ecology and Landscapes is about the vast sweep
of the Outback, a land of expanses making up three-quarters of the
continent - the heart of Australia. Steve Morton brings his
extensive first-hand knowledge and experience of arid Australia to
this book, explaining how Australian deserts work ecologically.
This book outlines why unpredictable rainfall and paucity of soil
nutrients underpin the nature of desert ecosystems, while also
describing how plants and animals came to be desert dwellers
through evolutionary time. It shows how plants use uncertain
rainfall to provide for persistence of their populations, alongside
outlines of the dominant animals of the deserts and explanations of
the features that help them succeed in the face of aridity and
uncertainty. Richly illustrated with the photographs of Mike
Gillam, this fascinating and accessible book will enhance your
understanding of the nature of arid Australia. FEATURES: Describes
how Australian deserts work ecologically and how plants and animals
came to be desert dwellers through evolutionary time. Outlines two
key features of arid Australia, uncertain rainfall and paucity of
soil nutrients, that underpin the nature of its ecosystems. Shows
how plants use uncertain rainfall to provide for persistence of
their populations. Outlines the dominant animals of the deserts and
explains the features that help them succeed in the face of aridity
and uncertainty. Features stunning images by renowned photographer
Mike Gillam.
The landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region varies dramatically from
parched desert lowlands to semiarid tropical forests and frigid
subalpine meadows. Covering south easternmost California, much of
southern and central Arizona, most of Baja California, and much of
the state of Sonora, Mexico, it is home to an extraordinary variety
of plants and animals. With a Natural History of the Sonoran
Desert, this book takes readers deep into its vast expanse, looking
closely at the relationships of plants and animals with the land
and people, through time and across landscapes. In accessible
language, more than forty scientists and/or naturalists examine the
region's biodiversity, geology, weather, plants, and animals (from
invertebrates to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals),
as well as potential threats to the species and habitats. The text
is supplemented throughout with anecdotes, essays, photographs,
maps, diagrams, and 450 finely rendered drawings. This new edition
adds chapters on the Sky Islands, Sea of Cortez, desert
pollinators, and conservation issues. Taxonomic nomenclature has
been updated and new color plates and figures have been added. This
comprehensive natural history, like the original edition, will
surely become an invaluable companion for nature enthusiasts,
birdwatchers, hikers, students, naturalists, and anyone interested
in the desert Southwest. Published in association with the
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
The desert is a huge paradox. Beneath its outward appearance of
immensity and silence, are the sounds of various experiments,
mysteries, and utopias. The setting of outrageous true histories,
entertainment oases founded on consumerism and play, and the secret
staging of military power, the desert is far from empty. Instead,
it is full of activity: unexpected, uninhibited, and excessive. Not
subject to barriers and seemingly free of the formal, ideological
or cultural ties of global society, the desert cultivates alternate
architectures, urbanisms, and built phenomena. Through photographs,
essays, and history, this book emerges as an exploration of some of
these phenomena and the protagonists that made them possible.
Winner of a 2019 Southwest Book Award (BRLA) An homage to the
useful and idiosyncratic mesquite tree In his latest book,
Mesquite, Gary Paul Nabhan employs humor and contemplative
reflection to convince readers that they have never really glimpsed
the essence of what he calls "arboreality." As a Franciscan brother
and ethnobotanist who has often mixed mirth with earth, laughter
with landscape, food with frolic, Nabhan now takes on a large,
many-branched question: What does it means to be a tree, or,
accordingly, to be in a deep and intimate relationship with one? To
answer this question, Nabhan does not disappear into a forest but
exposes himself to some of the most austere hyper-arid terrain on
the planet-the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts along the US/Mexico
border-where even the most ancient perennial plants are not tall
and thin, but stunted and squat. There, in desert regions that
cover more than a third of our continent, mesquite trees have
become the staff of life, not just for indigenous cultures, but for
myriad creatures, many of which respond to these "nurse plants" in
wildly intelligent and symbiotic ways. In this landscape, where
Nabhan claims that nearly every surviving being either sticks,
stinks, stings, or sings, he finds more lives thriving than you
could ever shake a stick at. As he weaves his arid yarns, we
suddenly realize that our normal view of the world has been turned
on its head: where we once saw scarcity, there is abundance; where
we once perceived severity, there is whimsy. Desert cultures that
we once assumed lived in "food deserts" are secretly savoring a
most delicious world. Drawing on his half-century of immersion in
desert ethnobotany, ecology, linguistics, agroforestry, and
eco-gastronomy, Nabhan opens up for us a hidden world that we had
never glimpsed before. Along the way, he explores the sensuous
reality surrounding this most useful and generous tree. Mesquite is
a book that will delight mystics and foresters, naturalists and
foodies. It combines cutting-edge science with a generous
sprinkling of humor and folk wisdom, even including traditional
recipes for cooking with mesquite.
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