Lichens (Natural World) - Softcover

Purvis, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1560988797 ISBN 13: 9781560988793

Publisher: Smithsonian Inst Pr, 2000

Synopsis

From the rain forests of Costa Rica to the frozen deserts of Antarctica, lichens are a familiar part of the landscape. Widespread and long-lived, yet vulnerable to environmental disturbance, lichens are useful to scientists in assessing the effects of air pollution, ozone depletion, and metal contamination. Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs,Lichens reveals the varied and intriguing world of organisms that have been used in natural remedies and are becoming key indicators of the earth's environmental health.

About this title

Review:

'...excellent introduction to the miniature world of lichens...' -- Natural World

'Featuring top-quality colour photos and accessible text, it offers up-to-date, in-depth information and practical project ideas.' -- BBC Wildlife

'This is a well set out and easily understandable book that would be suitable for biologists and non-biologists alike.' -- Sherkin Comment, 2001 - Issue No. 29

'This superbly produced work does justice not only to the beauty of these fascinating plants but also to their uniqueness.' -- The Naturalist, 126, 2001

..with the help of clear diagrams and colour photographs...this leads to an overview of the importance of soil conservation and management. -- Sherkin Comment 2001 - Issue No. 29

Synopsis:

From the rainforests of Costa Rica to the frozen deserts of Antarctica, lichens are a familiar part of the landscape, yet their dual nature has long been a biological enigma. In this book, the author contends that understanding lichen biodiversity may lead to the discovery of new medicines and precise monitoring of the environment's health.

About this edition

• Publisher: Smithsonian Inst Pr
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1560988797
• ISBN 13: 9781560988793
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112