A Natural History of the New World: The Ecology and Evolution of Plants in the A

The Nile on eBay   A Natural History of the New World by Alan Graham

The paleoecological history of the Americas is as complex as the region is broad: stretching from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego, it features some of the most extraordinary vegetation on the planet. With plants as his scientific muse, the author traces the evolution of ecosystems, beginning from the Late Cretaceous period onwards.

FORMATHardcover LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

The paleoecological history of the Americas is as complex as the region is broad: stretching from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego, the New World features some of the most extraordinary vegetation on the planet. But until now it has lacked a complete natural history. Alan Graham remedies that with A Natural History of the New World. With plants as his scientific muse, Graham traces the evolution of ecosystems, beginning in the Late Cretaceous period (about 100 million years ago) and ending in the present, charting their responses to changes in geology and climate.            By highlighting plant communities' roles in the environmental history of the Americas, Graham offers an overdue balance to natural histories that focus exclusively on animals. Plants are important in evolution's splendid drama. Not only are they conspicuous and conveniently stationary components of the Earth's ecosystems, but their extensive fossil record allows for a thorough reconstruction of the planet's paleoenvironments. What's more, plants provide oxygen, function as food and fuel, and provide habitat and shelter; in short, theirs is a history that can speak to many other areas of evolution. A Natural History of the New World is an ambitious and unprecedented synthesis written by one of the world's leading scholars of botany and geology. 

Author Biography

Alan Graham is curator of paleobotany and palynology at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Table of Contents

Preface List of Abbreviations 1 Getting Started 2 Location, Location, Location 3 Floods, Temperature, Evolution, and It's about Time 4 How Do They Do That? 5 Early On: Middle Cretaceous through the Early Eocene 6 Transition: Middle Eocene through the Early Miocene 7 Modernizing: Middle Miocene through the Pliocene 8 Latest Touch: The Great Ice Ages 9 The Bigger Picture: Implications of Past Environmental Changes in the New World 10 Pole to Pole: A Walk over the Landscape, a Walk through Time Epilogue Index

Review

"A fascinating, comprehensive, and very readable account of past and present lands and life in the New World. Alan Graham has given us a book full of tales of the wonder, grandeur, and heroism of the New World. It is full of information about geology, biology, and the history of the people who explored and discovered aspects of the ecology and the evolution of New World vegetation. It includes a broad range of topics, resulting in a comprehensive account of the natural history of plants in the Americas and the people who studied them. Graham's half century of experience, his knowledge, and his engaging presentation of New World natural history will benefit the politician and the poet as well as the biologist, conservationist, and well-informed traveler."--David Dilcher, Indiana University"For all those who've wanted to travel in a time machine to witness New World plant life and ecosystems since the Cretaceous period, here is your chance. This is an unprecedented and much-needed account of American natural history that will serve as the leading book of its kind for many years."--Dolores R. Piperno, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute"This book is unique in describing the biotic history of the New World from the viewpoint of plants. It documents, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, the incredible changes in vegetation that have occurred over the past 100 million years. Studying this turbulent biotic history is vital if we are to understand how human intervention will affect the Earth's system; this book should be essential reading for any who wish to understand how geologic and atmospheric changes induce radical changes in ecosystems."--Toby Pennington, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Review Quote

"Vivid and intuitive. . . . Readers emerge with a clearer picture of just how drastically New World physical and biotic environments have shifted over time."- Quarterly Review of Biology

Details ISBN0226306798 Author Alan Graham Short Title NATURAL HIST OF THE NEW WORLD Language English ISBN-10 0226306798 ISBN-13 9780226306797 Media Book Format Hardcover Year 2010 Imprint University of Chicago Press Subtitle The Ecology and Evolution of Plants in the Americas Place of Publication Chicago, IL Country of Publication United States Illustrations 69 halftones, 34 line drawings, 5 tables Pages 408 UK Release Date 2010-12-01 Publication Date 2010-12-01 AU Release Date 2010-12-01 NZ Release Date 2010-12-01 US Release Date 2010-12-01 Publisher The University of Chicago Press DEWEY 581.97 Audience Undergraduate We've got this

At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it.With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love!

TheNile_Item_ID:78865778;