Introduction to California chaparral /
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| Author / Creator: | Quinn, Ronald D. |
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| Imprint: | Berkeley, Calif. : University of California Press, c2006. |
| Description: | xiv, 322 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 19 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | California natural history guides. Introductory guide ; 90 |
| Subject: | |
| Format: | Print Book |
| URL for this record: | http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/6116814 |
| Summary: | The characteristic look of California Chaparral--a soft bluish-green blanket of vegetation gently covering the hills--is known to millions who have seen it as the backdrop in movies and television productions. This complex ecological community of plants and animals is not just a feature of the hills around Hollywood, but is a quintessential part of the entire California landscape. It is a highly resilient community adapted to life with recurring fires and droughts. Written for a wide audience, this concise, engaging, and beautifully illustrated book describes an ancient and exquisitely balanced environment home to wondrous organisms: Fire Beetles that mate only on burning branches, lizards that shoot blood from their eyes when threatened, Kangaroo Rats that never drink water, and seeds that germinate only after a fire, even if that means waiting in the soil for a 100 years or more. Useful both as a field guide and an introductory overview of the ecology of chaparral, it also provides a better understanding of how we might live in harmony, safety, and appreciation of this unique ecological community.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Identifies chaparral's common plants, animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects<br> <br> * Features 79 color illustrations, 56 black-and-white photographs, and 3 maps<br> <br> * Examines the role of humans and fire in chaparral, covering the placement and design of homes, landscaping, and public policy |
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| Physical Description: | xiv, 322 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 19 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (p. 299-302) and index. |
| ISBN: | 0520219732 (cloth : alk. paper) 0520245660 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
