The work of nature : how the diversity of life sustains us

"In The Work of Nature, noted science writer Yvonne Baskin examines the threats posed to humans by the loss of biodiversity. She summarizes and explains key findings from the ecological sciences, highlighting examples from around the world where shifts in species have affected the provision of clean air, pure water, fertile soils, lush landscapes, and stable natural communities." "Distilling and bringing to life the work of the world's leading ecologists, The Work of Nature is the first book of its kind to clearly explain the practical consequences of declining biodiversity on ecosystem health and functioning."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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How many species can we afford to lose and still have a functioning planet? This is the central question for scientists who study the functional role of biodiversity. While it is morally appealing to protect dolphins and whales, it is equally important to acknowledge the critical roles played by the likes of dung beetles, parasites, microbes and beavers in producing the very matter that sustains life on earth. In this comprehensive overview of biodiversity, science journalist Baskin explains how species loss can have devastating and unexpected consequences. Using data from all continents, she explains how the biochemical processes are affected by overpopulation, pollution, introduction of exotic species, deforestation, single-crop agriculture, etc. She enlivens this sometimes dry analysis with engaging material, noting that people as early as the 15th century guessed at the relationship between rainy climate and forests, and that the overhunting of mammoths and mastodons might have altered the Arctic landscape. Cautioning that "a world without elephants, moose, prairie dogs, mangrove swamps and coral reefs would not just be an emptier version of the same scenery" because "the processes of earth, fire and water would change, too," she comes to the sobering conclusion that we must not assume that any species is expendable but must "work to preserve all [organisms]." Illustrations not seen by PW. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Baskin, a science journalist with a pleasingly lucid style, reports on the findings of an innovative ecological survey conducted in the hopes of answering the question, "What are the possible consequences of the accelerating losses in biodiversity?" Biodiversity is more than the earth's "lavish array of organisms," to use Baskin's lovely phrase; it embraces the myriad interactions among those species (at least 100 million, according to some estimates) that make the planet "hospitable for humanity." As scientists become increasingly attuned to the complexity of the interconnectedness of plants and animals, from the tiniest of microflora that keep our soil fertile, to the largest of mammals, they are beginning to recognize the functional role of each species in the ceaseless work of keeping our air and water clean. People do, indeed, need each and every life-form on the planet; the eradication of other species through the destruction of natural habitats will lead inexorably to the demise of their own. --Donna Seaman

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This book developed from the examination by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) of the damage caused by accelerating losses in biodiversity, marked by the loss of habitats, the introduction of alien species into communities, and the fragmentation of natural areas by bulldozing, paving, plowing, draining, dredging, trawling, and other destructive acts. Until recently, the preservation of species has been presented to the public either as an ethical responsibility or as a means of obtaining valuable plant and animal products. However, Baskin believes the best reason for maintaining biodiversity is that it helps preserve the clean air and water all life depends on--referred to as "ecological services"--explaining that the primordial atmosphere was devoid of oxygen and was unable to shield the earth's surface from ultraviolet radiation four billion years ago until photosynthetic organisms furnished oxygen. She condemns the attitude that looks for a "technological fix" when ecosystems are damaged and the remaining forms of life cannot provide enough clean air and water. This is an important book, valuable for nonscientists as well as biologists. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. J. S. Schwartz; CUNY College of Staten Island

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