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Southern Wonder explores Alabama’s amazing biological diversity, the reasons for the large number of species in the state, and the importance of their preservation.
Alabama ranks fifth in the nation in number of species of plants and animals found in the state, surpassed only by the much larger western states of California,Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. When all the species of birds, trees, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, wildflowers, dragonflies, tiger beetles, and ants are tallied, Alabama harbors more species than 90 percent of the other states in the United States. Alabamais particularly rich in aquatic biodiversity, leading the nation in species of freshwater fishes, turtles, mussels, crayfish, snails, damselflies, and carnivorous plants. The state also hosts an exceptional number of endemic species—those not found beyond its borders—ranking seventh in the nation with 144 species. The state’s 4,533 species, with more being inventoried and discovered each year, are supported by no less than 64 distinct ecological systems—each a unique blend of soil, water, sunlight, heat, and natural disturbance regimes. Habitats include dry forests, moist forests, swamp forests, sunny prairies, grassy barrens, scorching glades, rolling dunes, and bogs filled with pitcher plants and sundews. The state also includes a region of subterranean ecosystems that are more elaborate and species rich than any other place on the continent.
Although Alabama is teeming with life, the state’s prominence as a refuge for plants and animals is poorly appreciated. Even among Alabama’s citizens, few outside a small circle of biologists, advocates, and other naturalists understand the special quality of the state’s natural heritage. R. Scot Duncan rectifies this situation in Southern Wonder by providing a well-written, comprehensive overview that the general public, policy makers, and teachers can understand and use. Readers are taken on an exploratory journey of the state’s varied landscapes—from the Tennessee River Valley to the coastal dunes—and are introduced to remarkable species, such as the cave salamander and the beach mouse. By interweaving the disciplines of ecology, evolution, meteorology, and geology into an accessible whole, Duncan explains clearly why Alabama is so biotically rich and champions efforts for its careful preservation.
Published in Cooperation with The Nature Conservancy
- Sales Rank: #1094011 in Books
- Published on: 2013-11-19
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x 1.50" w x 7.00" l, 3.29 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 464 pages
Review
"In this 'surprising' book (to quote the subtitle), Duncan (Birmingham-Southern College) tells stories to 'excite the 10-year-old in all of us.' He lapses into jargon infrequently but only because of the ubiquity of some terms (e.g., r-selected) at the college level. The surprise comes from the high-quality photographs (134 in full color), the easy, breezy writing style, and the rigor of this volume. Somehow Duncan incorporates 665 citations and website links (many of them from Alabama) into accessible flowing prose. He covers all habitats, many fish and mammals (plus a few birds), but sadly no insects. Readers will truly realize the book's scope when they encounter the extensive index with 1,700 entries, 8 pages of chapter notes, and a 46-page reference section at the end. This extensive scholarly apparatus makes it a valuable academic work. Southern Wonder is a must buy for libraries in Alabama and a should buy for any library serving students in North American natural history courses. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels."
—CHOICE
“Scot Duncan has delivered one of the most important books ever written about Alabama. Beautifully composed, it is a revelation about one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America and a call to Alabama’s people to treasure and protect the state’s living heritage.”
—Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Social Conquest of Earth
“This book covers almost every nook of biodiversity in the state. It is well-thought-out and delivered. The organization makes it easy for both lay and experienced readers of scientific knowledge to become enthralled in the subject matter.”
—T . Wayne Barger, State Botanist, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
"Southern Wonder is an amazing and eye-opening book, comprehensive enough to be a field guide as well as a doorway to the natural world."
—Rick Montague, in awarding the 2014 Philip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center
From the Author
After winning the 2014 Reed Award for Environmental Writing given by the Southern Environmental Law Center:
“Alabama is a superstar of biological diversity, and Southern Wonder is my attempt to spread the word. I am humbled to be in the company of some of the South’s best environmental writers, and grateful for this opportunity to share the story of Alabama’s biodiversity with a broader audience.”
"With time, I realized no single feature was responsible for Alabama’s
biodiversity. Instead, three overarching natural factors have
shaped the state’s biodiversity. First, Alabama’s warm, wet climate has
nurtured productive ecosystems throughout the state. Second, and
more influentially, geological processes guided the state to its current
latitude, created a topographically diverse terrain, and exposed a great
range of rock and soil types at the surface. Alabama’s combination of
a mild climate and diverse terrain supports 64 distinct terrestrial and
wetland ecological systems. The more ecological diversity there is in a
geographic area, the higher the species count. This is a portable truth
about biodiversity you can apply anywhere at any scale.
A third factor, biological evolution, is a product of the other two.
Radical changes in Alabama’s climate and landscape have continuously
forced its flora and fauna to adjust through evolutionary adaptations.
Evolution is a complex process explored later in this book, but suffice
it to say that these adjustments over millions of years led many populations
to become distinct species living nowhere else but in Alabama.
There is a fourth reason that Alabama has so many species, but it
fits awkwardly with the others. For reasons beyond the scope of this
book, Alabama’s boundaries were drawn such that within the state are
several distinct geographic regions, each with a unique suite of ecosystems.
These include a corner of an ancient mountain range, an extensive swath of
coastal plain, 50 miles of coastline, a piece of the largest
temperate watershed in the world, and one of the most biodiverse watersheds
in the temperate world."
--Chapter One, Number One in the East
About the Author
R. Scot Duncan is associate professor of biology and urban environmental studies at Birmingham-Southern College.
Most helpful customer reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
An Exceptional Resource for All Natural History Lovers in Alabama
By Jim Lacefield
The state of Alabama boasts some of the highest biological diversity of any part of North America. In Southern Wonder Scot Duncan explains masterfully how the state's extraordinary richness in plant and animal species has come about as the result of natural forces interacting over the course of millions of years to shape its landscape regions, watersheds, and soils. He examines the distinctive ecology of each subregion of the state by focusing on the unique biological, geological, geographical, and historical factors that have led to the area's modern environments and communities of life. Duncan's broad range of ideas and his "deep history" approach serves the book well, and he supports his major premises with odd and interesting examples of how evolution and adaptation have produced rare and endemic plant and animal species exquisitely fit for their local environment. The book is scholarly, but not at the expense of its accessibility to a broader audience of amateur naturalists. Duncan's book is a valuable and entertaining exploration into the origins of biodiversity in Alabama and how the dynamic interplay of natural and human forces over time have shaped life in this particular part of the world.
Scot Duncan's Southern Wonder is likely to stand as the ultimate guide to Alabama's ecology and biodiversity for many years to come. This book belongs in the hands of everyone interested in the natural history of this state and in the many varieties of life that call it home.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful
By John McCarty
Had the great privilege of having the author as both a professor and an academic advisor. His courses always touched on the amazing diversity that Alabama is blessed to have and encouraged us to appreciate what was close by. I'm personally thrilled that Dr. Duncan is using his skills to communicate just how how special Alabama is.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
I was aware of our great biodiversity, but did not have an inkling how ...
By James O. Finney Jr.
As a life long Alabama resident, I was aware of our great biodiversity, but did not have an inkling how fortunate we are. The breath and depth are presented in a beautiful flowing pros that in my opinion is rare for this type subject.
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