Lichens of North America

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This remarkable compendium, the first (and perhaps last) of its kind, gathers current knowledge on the North American continent's store of lichens--those hard-to-classify, symbiotic composites of fungi and other organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria.

Lichens are, admittedly, easy enough to overlook. They stand out in most people's minds only as the orange, green, or grayish patches that festoon rocks and trees in mountain regions. But they are far more widespread than that, writes research scientist Irwin Brodo. Nearly every bioregion has a complement, and the continent as a whole boasts nearly 3,600 species (of about 14,000 worldwide). The first part of this book offers a near-encyclopedic survey of these lichens' form, structure, reproductive patterns, physiology, and ecological role. The second is a keyed guide to the continent's genera and major groups, including descriptions, range maps, and photographs, the last by the noted nature photographers Sylvia and Stephen Sharnoff.

Though far too hefty to serve easily in the field, this fine book deserves a place in the collections of natural historians and plant biologists doing work just about anywhere in North America. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Lichens are a unique form of plant life, the product of a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungus. The beauty and importance of lichens have long been overlooked, despite their abundance and diversity in most parts of North America and elsewhere in the world. This stunning book--the first accessible and authoritative guidebook to lichens of the North American continent--fills the gap, presenting superb color photographs, descriptions, distribution maps, and keys for identifying the most common, conspicuous, or ecologically significant species. The book focuses on 805 foliose, fruticose, and crustose lichens (the latter rarely included in popular guidebooks) and presents information on another 700 species in the keys or notes; special attention is given to species endemic to North America. A comprehensive introduction discusses the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of lichens and is illustrated with 90 additional color photos and many line drawings. English names are provided for most species, and the book also includes a glossary that explains technical terms. This visually rich and informative book will open the eyes of nature lovers everywhere to the fascinating world of lichens.

Customer Reviews:

a masterpiece!.......2007-10-02

I have not often encounter such a beautiful and well put together book! Every page was filled with fascinating information and pretty much all species was visually stunning with lovely photos. If you like fungi, lichens, or even plants, this book is a must have. If you love art and photography, this book will be a wow. I display it on my coffee table and it certainly deserves to be there. The price is fantastic for this huge and colorful book! I highly recommend it!!

BEAUTIFUL BOOK.......2007-01-05

This soon to be hard to find book is gorgeous! Even if you don't or have yet to take a 'liking' to lichen, this book presents views of these incredible organisms that are simply wonderful. A great book for indentifying lichens, comprehensive presentations of each of type of lichen it discusses. The photographs are worthy of framing. I simply wish there were an equivalent of this book for mosses of North America. I am so excited to add this book to my personal library!

Wonderful addition to any libary; be it an educators or for common interest........2006-12-14

I first discovered this book when I attended a workshop on lichens (I'm a teacher) two years ago. This is by far one of the most comprehensive guides to lichens in North America available and can also translate to other lichen guides throughout the world. This has been a fantastic addition to my personal library and I still pull it out and read it at home. Since I also collect and identify lichens for my classes, it is often used. I purchased three copies for my students to use during my lichen identification unit at my school. It is easy to use once you develop mastery of the terminology (helps that I'm a science teacher). I have a number of field guides and this ranks among the best. Although not useful for field work due to its size and weight, you can easily use it at home. The author obviously demonstrates his mastery of lichenology and identification techniques throughout the book. Updates can also be found on the book's website as science is an ever-changing field. This is a must have for anyone interested in lichens.

Unbelievable.......2005-04-07

Sensational resource on lichens, and the science of lichenology. Absolutely, unequivocally worth every penny. The best book in the field.

Gorgeous book.......2003-11-25

The most beatiful and informative book on lichens I've ever seen. The quality is amazing. It is a delight to read from cover to cover. And it is a true bargain at the price list.

Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (Aquatic Ecology)

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algae reference
A Much Needed Updating of Smith
Review

Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (Aquatic Ecology)
John D., Ed. Wehr
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0127415505

Book Description

Freshwater algae are among the most diverse and ubiquitous organisms on earth. They occupy an enormous range of ecological conditions from lakes and rivers to acidic peat swamps, inland saline lakes, snow and ice, damp soils, wetlands, desert soils, wastewater treatment plants, and are symbionts in and on many plants, fungi, and animals. In North America, the variety of freshwater habitats colonized by algae is very rich, and offers an enormous and fascinating range of environments for their study. They form the base of most aquatic food webs and are critical to studies of ecosystem health. Algal ecologists and taxonomists play an important role in the understanding of aquatic ecosystems: their biodiversity, productivity, interactions with other organisms, and water quality. This book provides in one volume a practical and comprehensive guide to the genera of freshwater algae known from North America. The format combines the necessary ecological, taxonomic and methodological information for all scientists working in aquatic environments, whether their specialty is in environmental monitoring and water quality assessment, biological composition, ecology, evolution, or molecular biology.

Key Features
* The first complete accounting of North America's freshwater algal genera in more than 50 years
* Includes a guide to the current literature on species identification in each group of algae
* High-quality photographs and drawings of more than 770 genera
* A clear, easy-to-use introductory key to the diagnostic chapters
* Synthetic chapters on freshwater habitats, use of algae in environmental assessment, and control of nuisance algae
* Contributions from 27 experts in all areas of freshwater algae
* Extensive literature citations
* Companion volume of Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates 2nd edition, edited by Throp and Covich

Customer Reviews:

algae reference.......2007-01-12

This book is a must for the reference library or for the laboratory of pesons who study algae or microscopic aquatic organisms. While it does not substitute for the collective contributions of other scientists over time, it is a great first stop for those who are interested in these organisms. For many there will be no need to search further.
The book is organized in a conventional manner with major groups treated in separate chapters. It is easy to use and well-illustrated. It will find a home with scientists, students, and interested lay persons alike.

A Much Needed Updating of Smith.......2004-01-22

It has been over 50 years since the last edition (1950) of Smith's "Freshwater Algae of the United States" and much has changed in our knowledge of the classification of the "Algae". These are now known to contain several quite different organisms from Euglena to Chara and from diatoms to desmids and Spirogyra. The flora is huge and often poorly known. Thus it was with some enthusiasm that I welcomed the publication of this massive tome. A much-needed updating of Smith's classic book and more, it contains numerous black and white photos and drawings, plus extensive bibliographies for each chapter. I also much appreciate the keys, having been involved in writing several for spider genera. The only down side is the rather high price, which is quite a bit more than its companion volume on freshwater invertebrates.

I don't fault this book for lack of color because that might have easily made it even more expensive. If you want to see color photos of algae, and indeed very good ones, try "Freshwater Algae: Their Microscopic World Explored" by Hilda Canter-Lund and her husband J. W. Lund.

Despite the cost, I recommend this book as essential for anyone trying to understand the North American freshwater algal flora.

Review.......2003-01-05

One thing I look for in a book are color photos from "the wild". I didn't see any of that, but there's plenty of information to go through and lots of references for further study.

How to Know the Lichens (Pictured Key Nature Series)

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Best book on lichens

How to Know the Lichens (Pictured Key Nature Series)
Mason E Hale , John Bamrick , Edward T Cawley , and Wm. G Jaques
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0697047636

Customer Reviews:

Best book on lichens.......1999-05-07

This book is an authority on lichen anatomy and lichen identification. It is easy to read and understand. Also recomended is: The Lichen Handbook, by Mason E. Hale.

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American Arctic Lichens Volume No 1
John W. Thomson
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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American Arctic Lichens: The Microlichens

ASIN: 0231058888

The Lichen Genus Cladonia in North America

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The Lichen Genus Cladonia in North America
John W. Thomson
Manufacturer: University of Toronto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000EGYB2

The Caliciales of boreal North America: Taxonomy, ecological and distributional comparisons with Europe, and ultrastructural investigations in some species (Symbolae botanicae Upsalienses)

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The Caliciales of boreal North America: Taxonomy, ecological and distributional comparisons with Europe, and ultrastructural investigations in some species (Symbolae botanicae Upsalienses)
Leif Tibell
Manufacturer: distr. Almqvist & Wiksell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The chemosystematics of the lichen genus Pertusaria in North America north of Mexico (Publications in biology and geology)

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The chemosystematics of the lichen genus Pertusaria in North America north of Mexico (Publications in biology and geology)
Martyn J Dibben
Manufacturer: Milwaukee Public Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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How to Know the Lichens

Manufacturer: WCB/McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0697048225

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Lichen Genus Cladonia in North America
John W. Thomson
Manufacturer: University of Toronto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0802014860

Lichen handbook;: A guide to the lichens of eastern North America,

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Lichen handbook;: A guide to the lichens of eastern North America,
Mason E Hale
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007H9KES

Book Description

INTRODUCTION

`Kallisté' - `the most beautiful' - was what the ancient Greeks called Corsica, and the compliment holds as true today as ever. In few corners of the Mediterranean will you find water as translucent, sand as soft and white, and weather so dependably warm and sunny; and nowhere else has seascapes as dramatic as the red porphyry Calanches of the west coast, and the striated white cliffs in the far south. Crowning it all, a mass of forested valleys herringbone from the island's granite spine, which rises to a mighty 2706m at Monte Cinto, snow-encrusted even at the height of summer.

That these extraordinary landscapes have survived the ferro-concrete revolution of the past few decades unscathed seems miraculous when you consider the fate of comparably beautiful parts of southern Europe. Nearly two million visitors descend on the island annually (two thirds of them in July and August), yet purpose-built resorts are few and far between, while high-rise blocks remain outnumbered by extravagant Baroque churches and old fortified houses built to protect families formerly embroiled in vendettas. Overlooked by Corsica's trademark seventeenth-century watchtowers, long stretches of the shore remain backed by unbroken maquis, while forests of holm oak, chestnut trees and magnificent Laricio pines carpet the interior valleys, dotted with pretty stone villages. "Provence without the Brits" is how rural Corsica is often described in holiday brochures, but the gloss fails to convey the island's distinctive grandeur: the wildness of its uplands, the vivid atmosphere of its remote settlements, and arresting emptiness of its valleys and woodlands, where wild boar are still more numerous than people.

Corsica's pristine state is largely the legacy of economic neglect, compounded by the impact of two world wars and mass out-migration in the twentieth century. Lured by the island's abundant natural resources and strategic position on the Mediterranean seaways, successive invaders - from the Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, to the Aragonese, Italians, British and French - all came and conquered, but none were able to establish lasting prosperity. Nor were they ever able to subjugate fully the rebellious spirit of the islanders themselves, who at various times in their history have mounted fierce resistance to colonial occupation. In the nineteenth century, an armed uprising established a fully independent government led by one of the most charismatic political figures of the Enlightenment, Pascal Paoli. Before it was ruthlessly crushed by the French, the regime introduced the vote for women and a democratic constitution which would later be used a model for that of the United States.

Violent opposition to French rule flared up once again in the mid-1970s, since when nationalist paramilitary groups have been waging a bloody campaign against the state and its representatives, both on the island and on the Continent. Among ordinary islanders, support for the armed struggle - whose bombings and shootings have claimed hundreds of lives but seldom, if ever, affect tourists - has dwindled to virtually nil over the past decade. Yet the desire for greater autonomy remains as fervent as ever, in spite of the fact that the island imports virtually everything it needs and receives huge financial support from Paris and the EU.

Having had to struggle for centuries to preserve their language and customs, Corsicans have gained a reputation for being suspicious of outsiders. You will, for example, get a very frosty response indeed (or worse) if you attempt to broach the subject of nationalist violence, the Mafia, religious brotherhoods or belief in occult phenomena such as the Evil Eye. But express admiration for those facets of island life which the islanders are overtly proud of - such as their cuisine, fine wines, enigmatic carved menhirs and polyphony singing - and you'll soon feel the warmth of traditional hospitality.

Save for the ubiquitous nationalist graffiti, sprayed-out road signs and odd fire-bombed villa or beach restaurant, Corsica's dark underbelly is barely discernible these days, as its population is drawn ever closer to the European mainstream. Lasting impressions tend instead to be dominated by the things which have beguiled travellers since Boswell first raved about the island in the mid-eighteenth century: the breathtakingly unspoilt scenery and distinctive Mediterranean way of life which, although bearing strong resemblances to the cultures of neighbouring Tuscany and Sardinia, the French Riviera and Sicily - somehow manages to remain quite different from any of them.

Two hundred years of French rule have had limited tangible effect on Corsica, an island where Baroque churches, Genoese fortresses, fervent Catholic rituals and an indigenous language saturated with Tuscan influences show a more profound affinity with neighbouring Italy. During the long era of Italian supremacy the northeast and southwest of Corsica formed two provinces known as Diqua dei monti - "this side of the mountains" - and Dila dei monti, the uncontrollable "side beyond". Today the French départements of Haute-Corse and Corse du Sud roughly coincide with these territories, and remain quite different in feel.

Customer Reviews:

I can't wait.......2005-02-26

Unlike what the other reviewers have said, I personally have come accross many corsican travel guides, and the Rough Guide is simply the best. It is much more thorough than the others. My only beef is it is obviously British, and not North American. I would love to find travel guides aimed at Canadians travelling the world, alas there are few if any! The book was wonderful, and recalling it, I have been given a great urge to go to Corsica!

another excellent rough guide.......2004-01-03

Like all Rough Guides, this is jam-packed with well-written, discerning travel advice. Also like the rest of the series, it has the best for all budgets. The reviews were incredibly accurate and up-to-date, and all were worthwhile. The cultural sidenotes are interesting, and the photos are much better than thsoe in other guides. I didn't really check out other guides (not that there was a huge amount of choice), but I can't imagine how you could top this one. Go to Corsica, and take this book with you.

very useful and intersting.......1999-10-06

I travelled Corsica with a rented car. The book gave me almost all I needed - information about the atractions, historical background, cultural interesting articles, and tips about hotels etc... The tourist information offices know very little how to help tourists - with this book they are almost not needed.

You have no other choice - buy it!.......1998-08-28

How many other guides to Corsica aimed at independent travellers, written in English can you name? Yes, Corsica is covered in each and every guide to France as well, but those 20 or so pages in a 500-pages book aren't what you really want, are they? It would be unfair to say though that Corsica: The Rough Guide is the best one simply because it's also the only one -- both the authors and the editorial staff has done a pretty decent job on this one. Recommended.

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The Official Point of View: Milano Furniture Fair 2003
Lucio Luzo Lazzara , and Riccardo Rinetti
Manufacturer: Actar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Official Point Of View: Milano Furniture Fair 2004

ASIN: 8890082216
Release Date: 2004-05-01

Book Description

The incomparable Milan Furniture Fair (a.k.a. Salone Internazionale del Mobile) is held each spring in, yes, Milan. Covering a total area of 462,000 square meters and hosting 1,900 exhibitors, including 240 from countries outside of Italy, the Fair is widely considered the best and biggest show in the design calendar for the year. The Official Point of View is a volume dedicated to the Fair, the Satellite Fair, the off-Fair, and life in Milan during the week of the Fair. It offers not only an exhaustive photographic record of the event but also a new and original point of view on the exhibition--especially on any and all occurrences that have light as their central theme. In its dense, thorough recording of the state-of-the-art creativity and production on show at the Fair, The Official Point of View recognizes equal relevance in both institutionally-established companies and the most innovative trends from the newest schools of thought. It presents firms, products, and places in ironical, critical, and celebratory ways. Meant not only for designers, architects, and related professionals, but also for anyone curious about the sociological and aesthetic consequences of design, The Official Point of View is both an extraordinary record and an inspirational and practical tool. This edition includes a CD-Rom of panoramic sequences of representative installations and preparations, and also highlights the websites of various participating companies and designers. An appendix includes detailed contact information for manufacturing companies, designers, architects, showrooms, and more.

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