Alien Invasion (National Geographic) [Paperback]

Robert S. Devine (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0792274490 | ISBN-13: 978-0792274490 | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

Endorsed by master scientist E.O. Wilson, this book probes one of the world''s major (and most under-reported) conservation issues - the environmental and commercial impact of exotics, or non-native plant and animal species.'

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Beginning in the glossy Kennedy era, Thomas Y. Canby traveled the world, creating texts that could stand up to his magazine's famously arresting images. From Botswana to the Bering Sea: My Thirty Years with National Geographic is a memoir written with a journalist's flair, a trained eye for detail and a determination to get the story right, whether remembering the author's global trackings of rats or his probings of the causes and horrific human toll of African famine. Photos and maps, not seen by PW. (Island/Shearwater, $24.95 288p 1-55963-517-7) "It's the invasive ones we have to watch out for, the ones that proliferate out of control, degrade our ecosystems, make us ill, and devour our crops." Not all imported flora and fauna are dangerous, but in Alien Invasion: America's Battle with Non-Native Animals and Plants, veteran nature writer Robert S. Devine shows us how insidious they can be, from viruses that repeatedly destroy papaya crops to the sea lamprey, which "kills other fish by clamping on with its big, vampire mouth." Devine also explains what's being done to combat these alien menaces. (National Geographic, $24 288p ISBN
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Serious gardeners, ecologists, and natural history and botany buffs will appreciate this book on nonnative plants and animals that have become invasive pests. Written in typical National Geographic style, it includes personal narratives of scientists battling the invaders. There are also plenty of facts concerning the economic and ecological impacts of the 6000 nonnative species (such as gypsy moths, fireants, lamprey eels, and others) that are driving out native animals and plants. Nontechnical and readable, the book is divided into two parts: Part 1 details eight different invasive pests, while Part 2 describes efforts to fight them by organizations ranging from government agencies to private citizen groups such as the Nature Conservancy. Devine also briefly discusses imported garden flowers and foreign viruses. Highly recommended for public, high school, and college libraries.?Laura E. Lipton, Ctr. for Urban Horticulture, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792274490
• ISBN-13: 978-0792274490
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book that can instill hope in humanity's future, August 25, 1999

By 

George Stevens - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alien Invasion (National Geographic) (Paperback)

The scope of this book, for reasons of practicality, is limited to the United States but the problem is undoubtedly endemic to the entire planet. Still the coverage is sufficient to recognize the root causes and these are described. Understanding is the only hope. If humanity can not see these "canaries in a coal mine" then we will see great suffering. So far the battle of reason and understanding against the psychosis that seems to plague humanity has yet to be turned. This book helps to turn us from a dash to oblivion.