Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2022 -

The more species exist, the greater the degree of biodiversity: evolutionary biologist Seaborg calls this an "autocatalytic process." According to his argument, biodiversity would normally constantly increase in sustainable ecosystems. Seaborg begins with a detailed discussion of biodiversity, followed by a description of how ecological autocatalysis works, mainly through natural selection. Seaborg's autocatalysis entails joint benefits (e.g., mutualism, commensalism) as the drivers of increasing or maintaining biodiversity. Likewise, predation and competition favor stable ecosystems. Various chapters explore plants as engineering support systems, and herbivores, predators, and decomposers enhance species richness and sustain ecosystems. Based on sound ecology and evolutionary biology, the text also illustrates what can go wrong: ecological tipping points. Examples include catastrophic ecological cascades, e.g., near extinction of vultures in India. Although the author's claim to offer "new proposed principles of ecology and evolution" sounds audacious, the principles proposed are all appropriate, and each is familiar to ecologists. Putting them together in one argument is novel and thought-provoking. This attractive (but expensive) book is ecologically sound but tells only part of the story, offering a useful counterpoint to the growing gloom over how invasive species catalyze the downward spiral of decreased biodiversity. Seaborg's conclusion is that stable ecosystems favor high diversity and vice versa: life begets life.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

Highly acclaimed author Nicolson, whose previous works include Why Homer Matters (CH, Jun'15, 52-5175), has written an utterly captivating saga of life and death, commensalism and competition, and fragility and endurance, all emanating from his exquisitely detailed observations of tidal pools and their inhabitants. The pools examined are of his own construction in three different natural settings that reveal an astonishing diversity of life. Nicolson's descriptions of the "oscillating manifestation" of tidal communities readily evoke the sound of surf and smell of seaweed. His gifted storytelling is not limited to those pools, however. Interactions of human culture and particular human societies with the sea, especially the nearshore waters, have generated folklore and myths that Nicolson features throughout the book, along with fascinating historical accounts of the people who first inhabited the western region of Scotland and struggled to sustain a livelihood along that coast. The bibliography ranges from biology to philosophy, anthropology to poetry, archaeology to literature, and Darwin to rocks, maps, and guidebooks. Nicolson provides 328 endnotes referencing particular papers and primary sources. Dozens of drawings, photographs, and other illustrations further enliven the text. This author's seamless interweaving of physics, ecology, and geoscience with sociology, military history, and religious belief offers a satisfying read for anyone.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

Redford (Archipelago Consulting) and Adams (emer., Univ. of Cambridge) provide an insightful critique of emerging approaches to environmental conservation. The early conservation movement (1800s) reflected the perceived need to protect natural resources for human use, shifting to the desire to maintain managed areas for aesthetics and recreation in the 1900s. According to these authors, the latest intent of environmental conservation is the safeguarding and restoration of biodiversity. Their concern is that contemporary conservation efforts that focus on biodiversity are clouded by perceptions that nature is fragile, and that humans need to correct past abuses of the environment. Another concern is that conservationists often perceive humans as being separated from nature. These concerns have been heightened by efforts to use DNA technologies to synthetically manage biodiversity without considering all the scientific consequences and ethical issues associated with this strategy. Among the ethical issues involved are the biases affecting decisions about which ecosystems to conserve and the effects of conservation efforts on the needs and values of people, particularly indigenous populations. The authors provide clear explanations of the scientific content and compelling arguments about the ethical issues, and provide ample primary references for each chapter. A good book for libraries supporting programs in environmental science, environmental ethics, and public policy.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty. Students in two-year technical programs. General readers.