Discovering Alabama Wetlands Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
This visually stunning portrait of Alabama's many diverse wetland habitats and their associated plants and animals is a passionate plea for their thoughtful care and protection.Alabama could easily be called the "Aquatic State." It has an abundant supply of rain with countless streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, bogs, bottomlands, and bays that capture and channel this freshwater. An estimated 20 percent of the nation’s total freshwater works its way through this small physical land area that ranges from the temperate foothills of the Appalachians to the semitropical Gulf coast. Alabama’s varied watery realms have harbored and continue to sustain a rich diversity of plant and animal species virtually unequaled on the continent.With Discovering Alabama Wetlands, ecologist-educator Doug Phillips and photographer Robert Falls celebrate these productive natural habitats. One hundred color photographs and a data-rich text illustrate the natural beauty and serenity of these special places while explaining their vital role in filtering toxins and sediment from groundwater, nourishing aquifers, and preventing flooding. Special focus is given to key areas—Little River Canyon National Preserve atop Lookout Mountain; Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in the backwater of the Tennessee River, a major attraction for wintering waterfowl; the 100-mile-long Sipsey River and Swamp, slowly wending its way through the central part of the state; and the vast Mobile-Tensaw Delta, a remarkable inland estuary that has been designated a World Wildlife Biosphere. But the authors also explore lesser coastal estuaries, pitcher-plant bogs, limestone seeps, and prairie marshes as important mini-habitats supporting rare and sometimes endemic species.This book sounds a strong warning for fragile, dwindling wetlands. Phillips explains that more than half of the original area of Alabama wetlands? million acres—has already been lost to two centuries of excessive timbering practices, agricultural drainage, suburban sprawl, and siltation. In reasoned, direct prose, he encourages readers to adopt a proactive attitude in protecting their nearby wetland areas, areas that will be essential to economic stability and the quality of life in Alabama for generations. With this beautifully illustrated album, Phillips and Falls offer their eloquent statement for wetlands protection.
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: University Alabama Press (August 21, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0817311718
ISBN-13: 978-0817311711
Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.8 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,869,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #63 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Wetlands #5270 in Books > Science & Math > Environment > Environmentalism #5320 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Ecology
The state of Alabama has diverse geographic features, from lush green forests in the middle and northern sections of the state to white sandy beaches along the gulf coast. Wetlands cover a substantial portion of Alabama as well, covering some 3+ million acres. Before this region was settled, almost 8 million acres of wetlands were present. These wetlands are home to thousands of wildlife species and birds. Sadly, the wetlands of Alabama are often misunderstood and most people incorrectly associate them as mosquito infested bogs. This book serves as a showcase of spectacular photographic images by Robert Falls Sr. to illustrate just how beautiful these areas are. The text by Doug Phillips describes how the state of Alabama's economy and livlihood depend on these waters and it also delves into the scary possibility of endangerment and what this would mean to our state. The author makes future projections about the state's population growth and identifies areas that will have the most growth and how these areas will be impacted. This is a beautiful book filled with breathtaking images - a snowy egret perched on a log in the middle of a fog shrouded lake, breathtaking sunsets over bayous, close-ups of pitcher plants and water lilies, an alligator advancing from a stand of grass along the waters edge, etc. It should be an essential purchase for Alabama libraries and anyone who is interested in Alabama's ecology and environment.
I purchased this book to give my grandson for Christmas. He was so excited when he saw the wonderful photography and the informative text. He is a biologist with Alabama's Conservation Department in the marine division and he is familiar with all the areas covered in this book. All of our family enjoyed seeing the pictures and text, especially those around North Alabama, and my grandson really loves it.
Purchased from to help with a class I'm teaching. Not a good book for the student or teacher, it would look good on the coffee table. This should be made clear in the description
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