Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History and Conservation [Paperback]

Geoffrey A. Hammerson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

Connecticut Wildlife is the lavishly illustrated, exhaustive overview of the ecosystems of Connecticut, its plants and animals, and the ecological links among the state's wildlife and their habitats--from butterflies to red foxes, jellyfish to double-crested cormorants, poison ivy to phytoplankton. It carefully traces Connecticut's daily, seasonal, annual, and long-term cycles, which range from the dynamics of natural communities to patterns of reproduction and behavior in major groups of organisms. Whether looking at individual species or broad ecosystems, Geoffrey A. Hammerson's conservationist perspective shines in Connecticut Wildlife. The book will become an essential part of the libraries of every naturalist, conservationist, and educator in Connecticut and the Northeast.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In a way the title of this excellent book is misleading. It goes beyond both the author's definition and the popular narrow perception of wildlife and its usefulness extends to all of southern New England . . . Profusely illustrated in black and white, this book is packed with easily accessible information that most readers would have difficulty locating. An excellent bibliography for each chapter leads to additional sources of information. Although the book is primarily a reference, browsing through it is engaging and highly enjoyable . . . Highly recommended."--CHOICE

"This book is valuable for students, educators, and conservationists. It is practical not only for those of us in southern New England but for our northern neighbors as well, since there is so much overlap in plant and animal ranges. It should be on every naturalist's shelf."--Northern Woodlands

"It's big, but it is not a coffee table book, nor a field guide. Rather, it is a helpful go-to book, for countless questions about the plants and animals of Connecticut, many of them illustrated. Information on things like deer or mountain laurel are here, of course, but so are entries on hundreds of less-well-known organisms, from scarab beetles to lichens, from fungi to fishers. It ought to help answer a lot of questions."--Hartford Courant

"We should all be so lucky as to have as wonderful, comprehensive, and accessible a book for our own states." --Northeastern Naturalist

From the Publisher

8 1/2 x 11 trim. 617 illus.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: UPNE (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584653698
• ISBN-13: 978-1584653691
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of info for a little state, August 20, 2004

By 

Teresa Gallagher (Shelton, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History and Conservation (Paperback)

This is a great reference book for Connecticut wildlife, from deer to aphids, and trees to lichens.

Many of the entries are written in a conversational tone, with the author sharing his experiences with that species in Connecticut. He will say something like, "I have often seen this species breeding in shallow pools of Milford in April" or "This species is limited to the traprock ridges of central Connecticut". That is what makes this book different from so many other reference books out there.

The book is not necessarily an identification key, although it would certainly be helpful when trying to identify a species. It is more a description of the species found in the state and how they live. That is certainly handy when all you've got is a guide for, say, trees of North America and many of the trees shown do not even live in Connecticut. Here you would find out that Chinquapin oak or yellow oak are rare on limestone ridges and ledges in western Connecticut, that scarlet oak is shade intolerant, and black oak is typical of dry, sandy soils.

There is also general information about wildlife and the many types of ecosystems found in Connecticut. You can use this book to learn about vernal pools, salt-marshes, or the Connecticut River. There is a discussion about how insects tolerate being frozen and another on how galls are made.

There are a lot of pictures in the book, but there is not a picture of each species listed, which I think is a drawback.

Entries are organized by biological classification, for example, 'segmented worms', with a brief introduction of that group.