The Mojave Desert: Ecosystem Processes and Sustainability

Thirty-eight specialists in desert ecology from the U.S.and New Zealand contribute 19 chapters to a text which evolved from the November 2004 Mojave Desert Science Symposium, held in Redlands, California. The papers address a number of specific threats to the Mojave Desert, as well as the potential for natural recovery and active restoration; the collection emphasizes well-recognized management issues with local effects, such as roads, that can scale up to regional threats, combined with recently emphasized regional threats including climate variability and change. Also included is discussion of the ongoing threat of nonnative species; the influence of geomorphic processes and substrate on ecosystem function and services; issues of recovery and restoration, both natural processes of healing from severe disturbances and active restoration of plant cover; and the importance of long-term data to an understanding of the Mojave Desert. For scientists, land managers, and educated general readers. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)