How does the Bible shape the perspective from which Christians view politics, the manner in which they engage in public debate, and the strategies they adopt when they translate faith into action? In 'Political Engagement as Biblical Mandate', Hanson suggests it is the basic principles of biblical study that serve to offer direction to believers, giving guidance to those of whom seek to live in obedience to the central confessions of the Christian Faith. The reader is invited to take a step back from specific strategies to ask some foundational questions: What makes a political position Christian? What does a faith perspective contribute that is not replicated by secular parties, agencies, and causes? What are some steps involved in moving from confessional community to world? Readers may find some surprising assertions: "Worship is the most political action a Christian can take." Or, "covenant is not only a religious concept, but one that a society must rediscover if it is to regain its moral footing." There is but one regime to which the Christian surrenders in complete obedience - the reign of God. Out of this a paradox arises that is jeopardised by snug alliances between church and state: the patriotism of the Christian comes to expression specifically in withholding ultimate allegiance for God. Paul D. Hanson is Florence Corliss Lamont Professor of Divinity at Harvard University. He is the author of numerous works, including 'The People Called', 'The Dawn of Apocalyptic', 'Dynamic Transcendence', and 'The Diversity of Scripture'. "A genuine manifesto But one charged with and rooted in the words of Scripture, calling the church to a renewed faithfulness in its commitment to the well-being of the human community. Hanson's passionate convictions are matched by his openness to other views. Like the prophets of old, he sets forth a strong critique of our inattention to the sociopolitical world, but that critique is on the way to an imaginative and biblical vision of the way it should and can be. Some readers may find themselves uncomfortable at times, but that is the reason they should keep reading." - Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

In this richly illustrated guide, Bees of Costa Rica, leading bee experts showcase the diversity of bees in Costa Rica and the myriad ways in which they interact with flowers and people. Costa Rica is home to 117 bee genera and approximately 700 bee species. Focusing on the five bee families present in Costa Rica, the authors describe the bees' general physical traits, foraging and mating behavior, and nest characteristics. Chapters cover the relationships between bees and other insects, profiles of plants pollinated by bees, and practical suggestions for bee conservation. With identification keys and more than 150 color photographs, Bees of Costa Rica is essential for anyone looking to learn about and protect these important pollinators in Costa Rica and beyond.

Large-scale experimentation allows scientists to test the specific responses of ecosystems to changing environmental conditions. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory together with other Federal and University scientists conducted a large-scale climatic change experiment at the Walker Branch Watershed in Tennessee, a model upland hardwood forest in North America. This volume synthesizes mechanisms of forest ecosystem response to changing hydrologic budgets associated with climatic change drivers. The authors explain the implications of changes at both the plant and stand levels, and they extrapolate the data to ecosystem-level responses, such as changes in nutrient cycling, biodiversity and carbon sequestration. In analyzing data, they also discuss similarities and differences with other temperate deciduous forests. Source data for the experiment has been archived by the authors in the U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Information and Analysis Center (CDIAC) for future analysis and modeling by independent investigators.

Visitors to tropical forests generally come to see the birds, mammals, and plants. Aside from butterflies, however, insects usually do not make it on the list of things to see. This is a shame. Insects are everywhere, they are often as beautiful as the showiest of birds, and they have a fascinating natural history. With their beautifully illustrated guide to insects and other arthropods, Paul E. Hanson and Kenji Nishida put the focus on readily observable insects that one encounters while strolling through a tropical forest in the Americas. It is a general belief that insects in the tropics are larger and more colorful than insects in temperate regions, but this simply reflects a greater diversity of nearly all types of insects in the tropics. On a single rainforest tree, for example, you will find more species of ant than in all of England.Though written for those who have no prior knowledge of insects, this book should also prove useful to those who study them. In addition to descriptions of the principal insect families, the reader will find a wealth of biological information that serves as an introduction to the natural history of insects and related classes. Sidebars on insect behavior and ecological factors enhance the descriptive accounts. Kenji Nishida's stunning photographs-many of which show insects in action in their natural settings-add appeal to every page. A final chapter provides a glimpse into the intriguing world of spiders, scorpions, crabs, and other arthropods.

The Pocket Guide to the Insects of Costa Rica reveals the sheer number and diversity of insects and arthropods of the tropics. Every square meter of rainforest and cloud forest in Costa Rica offers up multitudes of gemlike tiny creatures with enough wonders to keep an entomologist busy for a lifetime. But given that Costa Rica is home to potentially more than 250,000 species-the majority of which have yet to be named-where to begin? This Pocket Guide helps orient those new to the insect world, featuring the species that one would most likely encounter on a walk through the forests of Costa Rica. Individual species accounts offer key physical characteristics, along with fascinating natural history information, while range maps offer further clues to help identify the insect that has just landed on your trail way. Finally, there are the stunning photos-a happy reminder of your time spent in the wilds of Costa Rica.