The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction
Registered by GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/1/2016
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I found this softcover at a local Salvation Army thrift shop. It examines biogeography - the study of species in specific locations, here mostly islands - with an eye towards the ways in which different species change in size and behavior, sometimes thriving, sometimes going extinct. (There are some segments that focus on inland islands - preserves within ever-diminishing rain forests, etc.)
The author visits many places, from Madagascar to Galapagos to Tasmania, and describes the state of certain populations as they're attempting to cope with invasive species - including humans - and changing climates. In some cases we get a detailed history of the colonization of islands by surprisingly diverse and far-flung creatures, including a look at the repopulation of islands stripped by volcanic or other disasters. In other cases, such as that of the dodo, there's a somewhat scanty history of its discovery, use as a food source for meat-hungry sailors, and all-too-quick disappearance - with some amusing speculations as to what it was actually like, given the paucity of specimens.
The book's informative and detailed, but also quite readable, with the author throwing in personal anecdotes and some rather chilling adventures while in search of yet another assailed habitat. A worthwhile reminder of the fragility - and resiliance - of life.
The author visits many places, from Madagascar to Galapagos to Tasmania, and describes the state of certain populations as they're attempting to cope with invasive species - including humans - and changing climates. In some cases we get a detailed history of the colonization of islands by surprisingly diverse and far-flung creatures, including a look at the repopulation of islands stripped by volcanic or other disasters. In other cases, such as that of the dodo, there's a somewhat scanty history of its discovery, use as a food source for meat-hungry sailors, and all-too-quick disappearance - with some amusing speculations as to what it was actually like, given the paucity of specimens.
The book's informative and detailed, but also quite readable, with the author throwing in personal anecdotes and some rather chilling adventures while in search of yet another assailed habitat. A worthwhile reminder of the fragility - and resiliance - of life.
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Little Free Library, 1559 North Shore Rd in Revere, Massachusetts USA on Friday, February 24, 2017
Released 7 yrs ago (2/23/2017 UTC) at Little Free Library, 1559 North Shore Rd in Revere, Massachusetts USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book in the Little Free Library at around 2 or so on this beautiful day; hope the finder enjoys it!
[See other recent releases in MA here.]
*** Released for the 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count release challenge; see the GBBC page here. ***
[See other recent releases in MA here.]
*** Released for the 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count release challenge; see the GBBC page here. ***