Download or read book The Astonishing Astounding Amazing Sonoran Desert written by Andrew T Smith and published by . This book was released on 2019-07-12 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The "The Astonishing, Astounding, Amazing Sonoran Desert" presents an entertaining introduction to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, designed for visitors who want a quick read about the Sonoran Desert and its wildlife. Vibrant full-page color illustrations capture the colors of the desert and behavior of its wildlife. The Sonoran Desert differs from other deserts. Readers learn how having two rainy seasons and more rainfall on average than other deserts have produced a landscape far richer in plant and animal life than is typically found in other deserts. Accounts of 20 species that live in or migrate to the Sonoran Desert are featured with fascinating natural histories that readers might not have heard of before._Learn about the grasshopper mouse, which is carnivorous and howls at the night sky; the white-winged dove, which migrates to the Sonoran Desert during the hottest time of year to feast on the flowers and fruit of saguaro cacti; and desert termites, without which the Sonoran Desert would be knee-deep in cow dung. These accounts and others show how native plants and animals have adapted to the high temperatures and scarcity of water characteristics of the Sonoran Desert._The book concludes with a description of the threats to the Sonoran Desert and what citizens can do about them. Learn about the negative impact of invasive species including sunfish and buffelgrass on native species. Open-pit mines and border barriers are some examples of human disturbance that adversely affect plants, animals, and fragile desert soils. Finally, read how climate change, if not addressed, could eventually convert the desert into a wasteland. Acknowledging climate change and actively conserving the desert now is our best hope for protecting this astonishing, astounding, and amazing ecosystem for the future.
Download or read book A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert written by Steven J. Phillips and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2000 with total page 676 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert provides the most complete collection of Sonoran Desert natural history information ever compiled and is a perfect introduction to this biologically rich desert of North America."--BOOK JACKET.
Download or read book No Species Is an Island written by Theodore H. Fleming and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the darkness of the star-studded desert, bats and moths feed on the nectar of night-blooming cactus flowers. By day, birds and bees do the same, taking to blooms for their sweet sustenance. In return these special creatures pollinate the equally intriguing plants in an ecological circle of sustainability. The Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse desert in the world. Four species of columnar cacti, including the iconic saguaro and organ pipe, are among its most conspicuous plants. No Species Is an Island describes Theodore H. Fleming’s eleven-year study of the pollination biology of these species at a site he named Tortilla Flats in Sonora, Mexico, near Kino Bay. Now Fleming shares the surprising results of his intriguing work. Among the novel findings are one of the world’s rarest plant-breeding systems in a giant cactus; the ability of the organ pipe cactus to produce fruit with another species’ pollen; the highly specialized moth-cactus pollination system of the senita cactus; and the amazing lifestyle of the lesser long-nosed bat, the major nocturnal pollinator of three of these species. These discoveries serve as a primer on how to conduct ecological research, and they offer important conservation lessons for us all. Fleming highlights the preciousness of the ecological web of our planet—Tortilla Flats is a place where cacti and migratory bats and birds connect such far-flung habitats as Mexico’s tropical dry forest, the Sonoran Desert, and the temperate rain forests of southeastern Alaska. Fleming offers an insightful look at how field ecologists work and at the often big surprises that come from looking carefully at a natural world where no species stands alone.
Download or read book Dry Borders written by Richard Stephen Felger and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 850 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part natural history, part call to conservation, and part love song, this evocative and informative excursion into the Sonoran Desert along the U.S.-Mexico border brings to life the beauty of a sparse and seductive terrain.
Download or read book Awesome Arizona written by Roger Naylor and published by University of New Mexico Press. This book was released on 2023 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Which state has the most national monuments? Where in America can you find one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World? Where is the largest contiguous forest of ponderosa pine? In Awesome Arizona, Roger Naylor, "the Dean of Arizona Travel Writers," has amassed 200 amazing facts and fascinating commentary about his beloved state. This is the fast-paced, funny encyclopedia that lovers of Arizona have been craving. Awesome Arizona captures the essence of the sixth-largest state, from its rowdy past to its epic landscape bulging with mountains, slashed by canyons, and blown apart by volcanoes. Learn about trees that once shaded dinosaurs, the West's most legendary gunfight, the world's largest antique, the best-preserved meteor crater on earth, where the post office still delivers mail by mule, the longest poker game in history, how Arizona saved the unicorn, and so much more.
Download or read book Katie of the Sonoran Desert written by Kate Jackson and published by ASDM Press. This book was released on 2009-05 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pictorial tour of the exhibits and displays at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Download or read book The Desert Islands of Mexico s Sea of Cortez written by Stewart W. Aitchison and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2010-11-15 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The desert islands in the Sea of Cortez are little known except to a few intrepid tourists, sailors, and fishermen. Though at first glance these stark islands may appear barren, they are a refuge for an astounding variety of plants and animals. While many of the species are typical of the greater Sonoran Desert region, some are endemic or unique to one or two islands. For example, Isla Santa Catalina is home to the worldÕs only rattlesnake that has lost its ability to grow a rattle. Other islands host nesting birds, such as Isla Rasa, a tiny, flat flow of basalt lava that attracts nearly half a million elegant and royal terns and HeermannÕs gulls each spring. The Desert Islands of MexicoÕs Sea of Cortez is one of the few books devoted to the biogeography of this remarkable part of the world. The book explores the geologic origin of the gulf and its islands, presents some of the basics of island biogeography, details insular lifeÑincluding residents of the intertidal zone Ñand provides a brief outlook for preserving this area. More than a simple guidebook, AitchisonÕs writing will take both actual and armchair travelers through a gripping tale of natural history. Like the rest of our fragile planet, the Sea of Cortez and its islands are threatened by humans. Overfishing has eliminated or greatly diminished many fish stocks, and dams on rivers that once flowed into the gulf prevent certain nutrients from reaching the sea. The tenuousness of this area makes the bookÕs extraordinary photographs and the firsthand descriptions by a well-known teacher, writer, and photographer all the more compelling.
Download or read book Awesome Arizona Places for Curious Kids written by and published by Big Earth Publishing. This book was released on 2005 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Awesome Arizona Places for Curious Kids, authors Diane T. Liggett and James A. Mack reveal the most interesting and unusual kid-friendly destinations in the Grand Canyon State. This guide features 20 destinations for family fun, adventure, and learning. Visit the still-active 1990s Hubbell Trading Post, watch condors ride warm thermals at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or walk among more than 250 of history's most important aircraft at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Colorful photographs illustrate what awaits at your destination. With spectacular scenery, including the largest American Indian reservation, and a history that goes back thousands of years, Arizona is filled with awesome places to visit. User-friendly symbols introduce you to facts about geology, ancient history, wildlife, and more, making your vacation a fun learning experience. As you travel Arizona's unforgettable roads of exploration, Awesome Arizona Places for Curious Kids is your ultimate family adventure-planning guide. Book jacket.
Download or read book A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert written by Patricia Wentworth Comus and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2015-11-17 with total page 588 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region varies dramatically from parched desert lowlands to semiarid tropical forests and frigid subalpine meadows... "A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert" 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"--
Download or read book DK USA written by DK Travel and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2024-07-23 with total page 1260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get closer to the USA with DK Eyewitness Seeing the sights of New York City. Taking a road trip along Route 66. Epic adventures in the Grand Canyon. The USA offers enough bucket list experiences to fill a lifetime. Whatever your dream trip involves, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion. Our updated guide brings the USA to life, transporting you there as no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations, which take you inside the country's buildings and neighborhoods. You'll discover: Our pick of the USA's must-sees and top experiences Beautiful photography and detailed illustrations, taking you to the heart of the USA The best spots to eat, drink, shop and stay Detailed maps and walks that make navigating the country easy Easy-to-follow itineraries Expert advice: get ready, get around and stay safe Color-coded chapters to each part of the USA A lightweight format, so you can take it with you wherever you go Sticking to one state? Look out for our DK Eyewitness guides to Alaska, California, Hawaii, Florida, and many more. DK is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries.
Download or read book Arab American written by Gary Paul Nabhan and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The landscapes, cultures, and cuisines of deserts in the Middle East and North America have commonalities that have seldom been explored by scientistsÑand have hardly been celebrated by society at large. Sonoran Desert ecologist Gary Nabhan grew up around Arab grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in a family that has been emigrating to the United States and Mexico from Lebanon for more than a century, and he himself frequently travels to the deserts of the Middle East. In an era when some Arabs and Americans have markedly distanced themselves from one another, Nabhan has been prompted to explore their common ground, historically, ecologically, linguistically, and gastronomically. Arab/American is not merely an exploration of his own multicultural roots but also a revelation of the deep cultural linkages between the inhabitants of two of the worldÕs great desert regions. Here, in beautifully crafted essays, Nabhan explores how these seemingly disparate cultures are bound to each other in ways we would never imagine. With an extraordinary ear for language and a truly adventurous palate, Nabhan uncovers surprising convergences between the landscape ecology, ethnogeography, agriculture, and cuisines of the Middle East and the binational Desert Southwest. There are the words and expressions that have moved slowly westward from Syria to Spain and to the New World to become incorporatedÑfaintly but recognizablyÑinto the language of the people of the U.S.ÐMexico borderlands. And there are the flavorsÑpiquant mixtures of herbs and spicesÑthat have crept silently across the globe and into our kitchens without our knowing where they came from or how they got here. And there is much, much more. We also learn of others whose work historically spanned these deserts, from Hadji Ali (ÒHi JollyÓ), the first Moslem Arab to bring camels to America, to Robert Forbes, an Arizonan who explored the desert oases of the Sahara. These men crossed not only oceans but political and cultural barriers as well. We are, we recognize, builders of walls and borders, but with all the talk of ÒhomelandÓ today, Nabhan reminds us that, quite often, borders are simply lines drawn in the sand.
Download or read book Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything written by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-08-11 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “In a world where we are so often dividing ourselves into us and them, this book feels like a kind of magic, celebrating all beliefs, ethnicities, and unknowns.” —The New York Times Book Review Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Roswell by way of Laurie Halse Anderson in this astonishing, genre-bending novel about a Mexican American teen who discovers profound connections between immigration, folklore, and alien life. It’s been three years since ICE raids and phone calls from Mexico and an ill-fated walk across the Sonoran. Three years since Sia Martinez’s mom disappeared. Sia wants to move on, but it’s hard in her tiny Arizona town where people refer to her mom’s deportation as “an unfortunate incident.” Sia knows that her mom must be dead, but every new moon Sia drives into the desert and lights San Anthony and la Guadalupe candles to guide her mom home. Then one night, under a million stars, Sia’s life and the world as we know it cracks wide open. Because a blue-lit spacecraft crashes in front of Sia’s car…and it’s carrying her mom, who’s very much alive. As Sia races to save her mom from armed-quite-possibly-alien soldiers, she uncovers secrets as profound as they are dangerous in this stunning and inventive exploration of first love, family, immigration, and our vast, limitless universe.
Download or read book The Sonoran Desert written by Eric Magrane and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2016-02-25 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Desert cottontail // Sylvilagus audubonii - Simmons B. Buntin
Download or read book Lagomorphs written by Andrew T. Smith and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The definitive guide to all lagomorphs—pikas, rabbits, and hares. Numbering 92 species worldwide, members of the order Lagomorpha are familiar to people throughout the world, and yet their remarkable diversity and ecological importance are often underappreciated. In this book, Andrew T. Smith and his colleagues bring together the world’s lagomorph experts to produce the most comprehensive reference on the order ever published, featuring detailed species accounts, stunning color photos, and up-to-date range maps. Contributors highlight the key ecological roles that lagomorphs play and explain in depth how scientists around the globe are working to save vulnerable populations. Thematic introductory chapters cover a broad spectrum of information about pikas, rabbits, and hares, from evolution and systematics to diseases and conservation. Each animal account begins with the complete scientific and common names for the species, followed by a detailed description of appearance and unique morphological characteristics, including a range of standard measurements of adult specimens. Subsequent sections discuss known paleontological data concerning the species, the current state of its taxonomy, and geographic variation. Each account also includes dedicated sectioins on habitat and diet, reproduction and development, ecology, behavior, and management. The definitive work on lagomorphs, this book is an invaluable reference for naturalists, professional biologists, and students. It will also be beneficial for those conducting biodiversity surveys and conservation throughout the world.
Download or read book The Great Cacti written by David Yetman and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2008-01-31 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Towering over deserts, arid scrublands, and dry tropical forests, giant cacti grow throughout the Americas, from the United States to Argentina—often in rough terrain and on barren, parched soils, places inhospitable to people. But as David Yetman shows, many of these tall plants have contributed significantly to human survival. Yetman has been fascinated by columnar cacti for most of his life and now brings years of study and reflection to a wide-ranging and handsomely illustrated book. Drawing on his close association with the Guarijíos, Mayos, and Seris of Mexico—peoples for whom such cacti have been indispensable to survival—he offers surprising evidence of the importance of these plants in human cultures. The Great Cacti reviews the more than one hundred species of columnar cacti, with detailed discussions of some 75 that have been the most beneficial to humans or are most spectacular. Focusing particularly on northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Yetman examines the role of each species in human society, describing how cacti have provided food, shelter, medicine, even religiously significant hallucinogens. Taking readers to the exotic sites where these cacti are found—from sea-level deserts to frigid Andean heights—Yetman shows that the great cacti have facilitated the development of native culture in hostile environments, yielding their products with no tending necessary. Enhanced by over 300 superb color photos, The Great Cacti is both a personal and scientific overview of sahuesos, soberbios, and other towering flora that flourish where few other plants grow—and that foster human life in otherwise impossible places.
Download or read book Desert Adventures Discovering the Beauty of Arid Landscapes written by Georgie Rogers and published by Richards Education. This book was released on with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Embark on an awe-inspiring journey across the world's most breathtaking arid landscapes with Desert Adventures: Discovering the Beauty of Arid Landscapes. This comprehensive guide delves into the wonders of deserts, from the vast dunes of the Sahara to the rugged outback of Australia, offering an in-depth exploration of their unique ecosystems, rich histories, and vibrant cultures. Learn about the flora and fauna that thrive in these extreme environments, uncover the best destinations for adventure activities, and gain practical tips for planning your own desert expeditions. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or a curious explorer, this book provides everything you need to experience the magic and mystery of the world's deserts. Join us as we discover the hidden beauty and profound tranquility of these remarkable landscapes.
Download or read book A Guide to the Mammals of China written by Andrew T. Smith and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-04-23 with total page 571 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: China's stunning diversity of natural habitats--from parched deserts to lush tropical forests--is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species. A Guide to the Mammals of China is the most comprehensive guide to all 556 species of mammals found in China. It is the only single-volume reference of its kind to fully describe the physical characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of every species. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and color plates illustrate a majority of species. Written by a team of leading specialists, including Professor Wang Sung who provides a history of Chinese mammalogy, A Guide to the Mammals of China is the ideal reference for researchers and a delight for anyone interested in China's rich mammal fauna. The definitive, comprehensive, up-to-date guide to all of China's 556 mammal species High-quality color plates accompany the detailed text Each species account comes with a distribution map Organized taxonomically for easy reference Includes an extensive bibliography
