The Ecosystem Guides booksThe Ecosystem Guides books are an ongoing series of 'ecosystem-based' field guides for the natural history of a specific ecosystem in a particular region. What books are there in the series?A new book about an ecosystem is released every year or two.
The first one was the 1st edition of the Rainforest of tropical Australia. The second book was the expanded 2nd edition of this same first title:
"Rainforest of tropical Australia"
The 3rd edition will be released in late 2011.
Other forthcoming titles include: "Coral Reefs of tropical Indo-Pacific", "Savanna of northern Australia", "Tropical rainforest of South-east Asia", "Tropical rainforest of New Guinea". What are the books like?The books are small; slightly less than an A5 in size (fold a typical sheet of paper - which is A4, in half, to get an idea), but the thickness varies. For example, the second edition of "Rainforest of tropical Australia" is about 470 pages, while "Ocean Surfaces of Australasia" is less than 200 pages. In terms of the organization inside, I have designed them to follow a similar and consistent order. The books usually begin with the basics of the physical environment, such as the climate and geology. This is followed by a look at the ecological relationships, such as pollination and seed dispersal. Much of the book is then taken up with reviewing the major groups of organisms that are typical of that particular ecosystem in that area, from the simplest plants, through the diversity of invertebrates, to the birds and mammals, with a focus on the species that are most commonly seen. The end section briefly looks at the history of humans in relationship to this ecosystem. The books then conclude with a short overview of some of the places where this ecosystem can be enjoyed.
Who are the books for?The Ecosystem Guides are designed for and used in biology study programmes in the field, as well as for tour guides, eco-tourists and interested locals.
Donations of Ecosystem GuidesCopies of these books are regularly donated to appropriate environmental, educational and ecotourism organisations in the region.
For more information about these donations, click here.
Where can I buy these books?Books can be purchased through bookstores and info centres, as well as on the ecosystem guides australia website or if you are an interstate shop or bookstore chain, from Steve Parish Publishing. |