The Work of Nature: How The Diversity Of Life Sustains Us [Hardcover]

Yvonne Baskin (Author), Abigail Rorer (Illustrator), Harold A. Mooney (Preface), Jane Lubchenco (Preface), Paul R. Ehrlich (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1559635193 | ISBN-13: 978-1559635196 | Publication Date: February 1, 1997 | Edition: 1

"We do not question that flesh and bone and leaf litter will decay to dust, that seeds will sprout season after season and find renewed nourishment in the soil, that rivers can flow endlessly without running dry, that we can breathe a lifetime without depleting the air of oxygen.... What humans have not fully appreciated until recently is that these services are the work of nature, performed by the rich diversity of microbes, plants, and animals on the earth." --from "The Work of Nature"The lavish array of organisms known as "biodiversity" is an intricately linked web that makes the earth a uniquely habitable planet. Yet pressures from human activities are destroying biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. How many species can be lost before the ecological systems that nurture life begin to break down?In "The Work of Nature," noted science writer Yvonne Baskin examines the threats posed to humans by the loss of biodiversity. She summarizes and explains key findings from the ecological sciences, highlighting examples from around the world where shifts in species have affected the provision of clean air, pure water, fertile soils, lush landscapes, and stable natural communities.As Baskin makes clear, biodiversity is much more than number of species -- it includes the complexity, richness, and abundance of nature at all levels, from the genes carried by local populations to the layout of communities and ecosystems across the landscape. Ecologists are increasingly aware that mankind's wanton destruction of living organisms -- the planet's work force -- threatens to erode our basic life support services. With uncommon grace and eloquence, Baskin demonstrates how and why that is so.Distillingand bringing to life the work of the world's leading ecologists, "The Work of Nature" is the first book of its kind to clearly explain the practical consequences of declining biodiversity on ecosystem health and function.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Baskin, a science journalist with a pleasingly lucid style, reports on the findings of an innovative ecological survey conducted in the hopes of answering the question, "What are the possible consequences of the accelerating losses in biodiversity?" Biodiversity is more than the earth's "lavish array of organisms," to use Baskin's lovely phrase; it embraces the myriad interactions among those species (at least 100 million, according to some estimates) that make the planet "hospitable for humanity." As scientists become increasingly attuned to the complexity of the interconnectedness of plants and animals, from the tiniest of microflora that keep our soil fertile, to the largest of mammals, they are beginning to recognize the functional role of each species in the ceaseless work of keeping our air and water clean. People do, indeed, need each and every life-form on the planet; the eradication of other species through the destruction of natural habitats will lead inexorably to the demise of their own. Donna Seaman

Review

The idea that the Earth provides 'ecological services' of considerable value to humans is a fairly recent concept. While we have begun to accept the importance of biological diversity in providing food, shelter, clothing and industrial products, most people do not appreciate that biodiversity provides services such as clean air and water - services so basic we take them for granted. Nor do they appreciate the problems which are the consequences of the accelerating loss of biodiversity. Baskin, an experienced science journalist, puts us in the field with up-to-the-minute scientific work and examples drawn from around the world. The result is a clear popular treatment of an important matter that concerns us all. (Kirkus UK)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 282 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 1 edition (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559635193
• ISBN-13: 978-1559635196
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,876,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Work of Nature is a great work of literature, September 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Work of Nature: How The Diversity Of Life Sustains Us (Paperback)

One of the greatest deficits in knowledge that most Americans carry has to do with biodiversity. Yvonne Baskin does a great job of pulling together a wide variety of ecological research results to reduce that deficit. Her writing is strong and clear (although it is an exaggeration to compare it to a Stephen King thriller, as is done on the back cover of the book). The Work of Nature is worth reading cover to cover, and then keeping as a useful reference book. Take the message to heart, and spread it widely: it is vital that we do more to save the natural world from human devastation. We depend the "work of nature" for our very lives.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Work of Nature by Yvonne Baskin, May 2, 2000

By 

Laurence B Cutforth - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Work of Nature: How The Diversity Of Life Sustains Us (Paperback)

Biodiversity is an important global issue that few people consider in their everyday life. Baskin's book provides a sense of purpose for preserving diversity by identifying important connections in ecosystems and their effects on people. According to the author, not all plants and animals are created equal. Some plant and animal species provide crucial functions in ecosystems processes, while others may serve redundant purposes. Although redundancy implies that these species are not needed, they may become important if a similar species is eliminated from the ecosystem. Species that provide crucial ecosystems functions and do not have replacements require focused attention in conservation efforts. The Work of Nature identifies many examples of our attempts to manage plant and animal species without considering the ecological side effects. A striking example is the massacre of small perching birds in China during the 1950's to reduce grain losses to them. After eliminating most of these birds, major insect outbreaks were reported across the country. Diversity is usually associated with tropical rain forests and other wild areas that cover only a small part of the world. To her credit, Baskin expands the discussion to include human dominated systems such as farming. The author describes processes such as the decomposition of compost by microbes in easy to understand language for a general audience. Throughout the book, important and surprising ecological connections are identified that stimulate interest in preserving biological diversity.

1.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, but alas, it's misleading., November 6, 2011

By 

Gnostradamus .com (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Work of Nature: How The Diversity Of Life Sustains Us (Paperback)

Rather than elucidating the sometimes little-understood relationships between species in an ecosystem, this book works to mystify the gaps in our knowledge. Make no mistake, it's a fun read and will appear to be informative, but you'll get the sense by the end of your reading that we know nothing about how ecosystems could've evolved, for example. But I think we know more than that, and we're learning every day.