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Hardcover $70.00 ISBN: 9781597264884 Published December 2012
Paperback $35.00 ISBN: 9781597264891 Published December 2012

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Forgotten Grasslands of the South

Natural History and Conservation

Forgotten Grasslands of the South
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Reed F. Noss

320 pages | 42 figures; 32 color plates | 7 x 10

Forgotten Grasslands of the South is a literary and scientific case study of some of the biologically richest and most endangered ecosystems in North America. Eminent ecologist Reed Noss tells the story of how southern grasslands arose and persisted over time and addresses questions that are fundamental for conserving these vital yet poorly understood ecosystems. 
 
The author examines
 

  • the natural history of southern grasslands
  • their origin and history (geologic, vegetation, and human)
  • biological hotspots and endangered ecosystems
  • physical determinants of grassland distribution, including ecology, soils, landform, and hydrology fire, herbivores, and ecological interactions
The final chapter presents a general conservation strategy for southern grasslands, including prioritization, protection, restoration, and management. Also included are examples of ongoing restoration projects, along with a prognosis for the future.

In addition to offering fascinating new information about these little-studied ecosystems, Noss demonstrates how natural history is central to the practice of conservation. Natural history has been on a declining trajectory for decades, as theory and experimentation have dominated the field of ecology. Ecologists are coming to realize that these divergent approaches are in fact complementary, and that pursuing them together can bring greater knowledge and understanding of how the natural world works and how we can best conserve it.

Forgotten Grasslands of the South explores the overarching importance of ecological processes in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and is the first book of its kind to apply natural history, in a modern, comprehensive sense, to the conservation of biodiversity across a broad region. It sets a new standard for scientific literature and is essential reading not only for those who study and work to conserve the grasslands of the South but also for everyone who is fascinated by the natural world.

“Here’s more love being poured on the glorious and endangered landscapes of the South, this time on the grasslands and this time by a man who knows more than anybody about them. A scientist turned writer, Reed Noss is a marvelous guide to what has been lost and what we still have. You’re in great hands with this splendid book.”
Janisse Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood


“Reed Noss provides readers with a thought-provoking account of his journeys of discovery and inquiry through the little-known, rapidly vanishing grasslands of the American South. He draws on his tremendous experience in global conservation to reflect on the challenges of preserving these marvelous and beautiful places, but does so in a way that transcends geography and makes them a case study in the challenge of preserving nature worldwide.”
Robert K. Peet, Professor of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


“Using a combination of personal narrative, ecological science, and old-fashioned natural history, Reed Noss brings the southern grasslands to life in this eloquent and passionate defense of one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems. Noss argues persuasively that humans will only protect the nature we know, and this authoritative book goes a long way toward introducing readers to this biologically rich, once abundant and now rare natural community.”
Mark V. Barrow, Author of Nature's Ghosts


“What do passenger pigeons have to do with canebreaks, or red pandas in Tennessee with the history of North America? Let this distinguished elder of conservation biology kindle your interest in the history, natural history, and conservation of this unexpectedly diverse, dynamic, and improbable set of habitats: the grasslands of the American South. No reader will ever forget, or underestimate, these grasslands again.”
Don Waller, John T. Curtis Professor of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison


List of Illustrations
List of Tables
Foreword by Edward O. Wilson
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Natural History of a Forgotten American Grassland
Natural History for Conservation
Grasslands in the South?
What and Where are Southern Grasslands?
The Grasslands Considered in this Book
Joshua Creek
Chapter 2: Origin and History
A General Model
Geology, Physiography, and Pre-Neogene History
Neogene and Quaternary History
Disjunctions and the Gulf Coastal Corridor
Human History in the South, as It Relates to Grasslands
Mills Creek
Chapter 3: Biological Hotspots and Endangered Ecosystems
Discovering Lost Worlds
Endemism
Centers of Endemism in the South
Peripherals and Disjuncts
Species Richness
Species Richness in Southern Grasslands
People Care About Diversity, Endemism, and Disjunctions
The Decline of Southern Grasslands
Chapter 4: Physical Factors: Rock, Soil, Landform, Water, and Wind
The Purpose of My Journeys
Rock, Soil, and Landform
Water
Wind, Storms, and Sea-Level Rise
Chapter 5: Fire, Big Animals, and Interactions
Bottom-up, Top-down, and Sideways
Fire
Herbivores
Interaction of Fire and Hydrology
The Enigmatic Canebrakes
Chapter 6. The Future of Southern Grasslands: Outline of a Strategy
A Conservation Strategy for Southern Grasslands
Examples of Restoration Projects
The Future?
Species List
Literature Cited
About the Author
Index
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Biodiversity & Wildlife

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