Choice reviews says....OAT 2004
Choice 2004 Outstanding Academic Titles
Reference\ Science and Technology
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42-0029 QL7 2002-3351 CIP
Reference \ Science & Technology
Grzimek, Bernhard. Grzimek's animal life encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Gale, 2004. 17v bibl index afp ISBN 0-7876-5362-4, $1595.00. Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2004sep CHOICE.
The second edition of Grzimek's, essential in reference for more than 30 years, builds on the work's high quality. Expanded from 13 to 17 volumes, it includes recent knowledge and is repackaged with new photographs, drawings, and layout. The original work used narrative style, but the second edition divides chapters into specific topic areas, still enjoyable to read but easier to find. The style can be understood by nonbiologists but the treatment has enough detail to be useful to professionals. The scope extends from one-celled animals to primates, arranged taxonomically. Mammals receive the most extensive treatment (5v.), followed by birds (4v.) and fishes (2v.), although by number of species, insects (1v.) are the largest group. Volumes begin with well-written, detailed introductory chapters on general topics (evolution, ecology, structure and function, life history and reprouction, behavior, biogeography and migration, conservation). The introduction for mammals, for example, occupies nearly an entire volume. Within volumes, subdivisions are by order, family, and subfamily. For each animal, the work treats general characteristics, evolution, systematics, diversity of genera and species, physical characteristics, distribution, and habitat. Conservation status is a common theme since many animals are endangered or threatened. Besides the introductory material, the strength of the work and the bulk of the material are found at higher taxonomic levels. Family chapters precede selected species accounts that include excellent watercolors, distribution maps (new to this edition), common names in English, German, French, and Spanish, significance to humans, and conservation status. Describing all species would be impossible and is not attempted, but a comprehensive list of species accompanies each volume. Other works, many cited in the bibliographies, such as Handbook of Birds of the World, ed. by Josep del Hoyo et al. (Barcelona, 1992- ), provide species-specific information and description. Additional resources (articles, Web sites, contact information for related organizations such as the Audubon Society) are also listed. Excellent layout, stunning artwork, and unmatched coverage. Summing Up: Essential. Academic and public libraries. -- T. McKimmie, New Mexico State University
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42-1941 SD126 MARC
Reference \ Science & Technology
Encyclopedia of forest sciences, ed. by Jeffery Burley with Julian Evans and John A. Youngquist. Elsevier, 2004. 4v bibl index afp ISBN 0-12-145160-7, $875.00. Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2004dec CHOICE.
Timely and unique, this contribution to the literature of forest sciences is the first encyclopedia to provide global coverage of forestry-related subjects that affect politics, the environment, economics, and science. Its 250 entries, arranged alphabetically, vary in length from brief summaries to the majority, which are detailed research-level articles of 5 to 50 pages, written by over 200 international experts. Suggestions for further reading and cross-references to related topics follow every entry. Numerous color photographs, detailed charts, and tables are integrated into the text. Most chapters are subdivided into narrower subjects, some of which are further subdivided, each prepared by separate contributors (e.g., "Health and Protection" includes "Diagnosis, Biochemical and Physical Aspects," "Integrated Pest Management: Principles," "Integrated Pest Management: Practices," "Forest Fires"). The coverage is extraordinarily extensive, with topics ranging from silviculture, forest genetics, wood products, and laws and legislation to deforestation, logging, environmental policy, wildlands, range management, agroforestry, and biodiversity. The set includes a glossary and a detailed index, which has entries for general concepts, genus-species, and geographic terms. One article on sustainable forest management is said to be "adapted" from Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, ed. by S.A. Levin (CH, Apr'01), but is copied virtually word for word. The only other flaw lies in the table of contents, which indicates, besides actual entries, "dummy" references (cross-references to other chapters); among the entries these dummies are given an entire page each, even when they consist of only one or two lines. The editors hope to keep the information updated with online access. Despite its high price, an outstanding work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of general and academic libraries. -- N. Kobzina, University of California, Berkeley
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42-0682 SB45 MARC
Reference \ Science & Technology
Encyclopedia of plant and crop science, ed. by Robert M. Goodman. Marcel Dekker, 2004. 1,329p bibl index afp ISBN 0-8247-0944-6, $335.00. Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2004oct CHOICE.
The preface states that the goal of this encyclopedia is to canvass the major topics in plant biology and crop sciences, from molecular biology to cropping systems. Its 337 articles range from the botanical "Genomic Imprinting in Plants" to the agricultural "Bacterial Blight of Rice." The contributors are impressive in number and international in scope. Illustrations, graphs, and tables are included as appropriate, and the articles are very well referenced. Entries are well written and suitable for users with limited scientific background. An index complements the table of contents and should be used to exploit the information fully, since the articles are quite broad in scope; for example, deforestation is mentioned in the article "Reconciling Agriculture with the Conservation of Tropical Forests." This encyclopedia does not intend to provide comprehensive information about specific crops, but is valuable for explanations of the broad concepts that are basic to both botany and crop science. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Libraries supporting crop or plant science. -- H. F. Smith, Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus
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42-1299 SD412 2003-19575 CIP
Reference \ Science & Technology
Sample, V. Alaric. Forest conservation policy: a reference handbook, by V. Alaric Sample and Antony S. Cheng. ABC-Clio, 2004. 322p index afp ISBN 1-57607-99, $45.00. Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2004nov CHOICE.
More than a study of forest conservation policy in the US, this volume in ABC-CLIO's "Contemporary World Issues" series is excellent and authoritative. Both authors are experts in forest conservation; Sample is president of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation (Washington, DC) and Cheng is a faculty member in forestry (Colorado State Univ.). They give clear, unbiased coverage of everything from the history of forest conservation to current issues in US forest policy. A chronology lists important dates in US forestry legislation, 1626-2003, and biographical sketches describe people instrumental in shaping that legislation (e.g., John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club; President Theodore Roosevelt, who established the US Forest Service). Directories list US forestry organizations (federal, state, and private), accredited forestry schools in the US, forest product companies, forestry trade associations, and professional forestry associations. Particularly useful to librarians will be the chapters on print and nonprint resources. The glossary and index will help novices understand terminology and find important sections of the text. Sample and Cheng's handbook is well organized and fact filled. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All college and university libraries. -- R. G. Sabin, Rice University