Take a walk in the desert during the day and you will probably feel the heat! But if you spend a little time there, you will also notice plants and animals that make the desert their home. What animals and plants could survive in such a place? In this eye-opening book, you will learn why the desert biome can support such a surprising variety of plants and wildlife, despite its harsh conditions. From tortoises and sheep to cacti and Joshua trees, every living thing plays a part in this biome community. Come take a hike along the sandy dunes and see how the web of life thrives in the desert biome.

Aridity prevails over more than one third of the land area of the Earth and over a significant fraction of the oceans as well. Yet to date there has been no comprehensive reference volume or textbook dealing with the weather processes that define the character of desert areas. Desert Meteorology fills this gap by treating all aspects of desert weather.

"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.

The 7-volume Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Second Edition maintains the reputation of the highly regarded original, presenting the most current information available in this globally crucial area of research and study. It brings together the dimensions of biodiversity and examines both the services it provides and the measures to protect it. Major themes of the work include the evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories of biodiversity, and an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends in biodiversity. The science of biodiversity has become the science of our future. It is an interdisciplinary field spanning areas of both physical and life sciences. Our awareness of the loss of biodiversity has brought a long overdue appreciation of the magnitude of this loss and a determination to develop the tools to protect our future. Second edition includes over 100 new articles and 226 updated articles covering this multidisciplinary field— from evolution to habits to economics, in 7 volumes The editors of this edition are all well respected, instantly recognizable academics operating at the top of their respective fields in biodiversity research; readers can be assured that they are reading material that has been meticulously checked and reviewed by experts Approximately 1,800 figures and 350 tables complement the text, and more than 3,000 glossary entries explain key terms

Praised for its detail and accuracy, Climatology continues to lead as the most comprehensive presentation of our dynamic climate system. The fourth edition features a completely revised full-color art program that enhances clarity and gradation of all maps, climographs, and images to help readers better understand the diversity of climate within varying climate types.

This textbook surveys key issues of sustainability - energy, nature, agro-food, resources, economics - for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses.

View the animal kingdom up close as never before in this breathtaking title, which has already sold over 1.5 million copies. Written by 70 specialists, it features stunning wildlife photography of more than 2000 of the world's most important wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. With around two million species identified to date, animals are the dominant and most varied form of life on the planet. Animal presents a representative selection, ranging from the giant baleen whale, to fast-moving predators such as sharks, big cats, and birds of prey, as well as microscopic beetles barely 1mm long and other insects. It presents some of the latest species to be described: meet the cute but elusive olinguito from South America, which was only identified in 2013, or the skywalker hoolock gibbon that was named after a Star Wars character in 2017. Animal also explains how the earth's biodiversity is in sharp decline and the conservation projects underway to safeguard precious species. For each one, it gives a locator map and statistics, including its conservation status. For anyone who wants a reliable and enthralling reference, in which you can find the answers to everything - from why zebras are striped or how the sunbear got its name - Animal is your essential one-stop guide.

This book provides an overview of arid and semi-arid lands conditions, their general characteristics, methods of management, conservation, exploitation and reclamation. It also focuses on how to utilize the potential of arid lands with the minimum manipulation and alteration. Arid and semi-arid areas represent a major part of natural ecosystems not only in Iran, but around the world, and mismanagement and inappropriate exploitation of these areas may lead to further gradual degradation. As such, an understanding of the characteristics of these areas is vital if they are to be conserved and reclaimed.

This colourful textbook introduces students to conservation biology, the science of preserving biodiversity.

Updated with the latest data from the field, Climatology, Second Edition presents students with a thorough introduction to the global climatic system. Written for upper-level undergraduate or introductory-level graduate courses, Climatology opens with an overview of climatology basics, including an introduction to the atmosphere and climate systems. The authors then delve into more advanced topics, like the global hydrologic cycle and general and secondary circulations, which are critical for understanding the processes that characterize climate across space and time. Closing with an in-depth look at climate change and the future of climatology, the text looks at sustainability from a climatologist's perspective and ties the climatic system to the rest of the earth-ocean-atmosphere system. --Book Jacket.