CAPSULE COMMENTS

March 20, 2008

New Books

Life in the Undergrowth by David Attenborough

In this beautifully illustrated companion book to the Animal Planet television program, the veteran naturalist and author explores the secret life of invertebrates, the world's tiniest creatures. Though small by virtue of their lack of backbones, they play a large and crucially important role in the cycle of evolution. Incredibly diverse, with more than one million species believed to exist, these small creatures roamed the planet before humans appeared and will be here long after we are gone. They are the pollinators, cleaners, and recyclers of life on earth, and without them earth's ecosystems would collapse.

Arranging his exploration in five chapters, Attenborough begins with the first "invasion" of land by invertebrates and ends with the complex "supersocieties" that some have developed, most notably ants, termites, wasps, and bees. In between are chapters on insects that fly and those that spin, and an eye-opening section devoted to the relationships between plants and insects, and insects and other insects; think of pollination by bees and other small porters, and ants tending flocks of honey-dew secreting aphids. An evolutionary chart with references to pages in the text concludes the work.

Though nature's adaptations are fascinating and perfect, they are largely ignored or dismissed as unworthy of regard by the vast majority of adults. Yet an unspoiled child is typically enthralled by bugs, the way they look, the way they behave. Fortunately, there is an Attenbourough to guide any who will go with him into the world of marvels unnoticed in the underbrush, often just a few inches from our feet. It would do us well to follow his lead and, in the process, heed the advice of Proverbs: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways and be wise."

The National Grasslands : a Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures by Francis Moul

Moul is an environmental historian who provides here an essential guide to the grasslands of America, as well as Grasslands National Park of Canada – four million windswept acres of wildflowers and grass in twenty nationally designated areas scattered across a region extending from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern edge of North Dakota.

Presented in three parts, the first explores the history of the grasslands, beginning with a look at drought on the Great Plains and in the West generally, how human intervention has affected the land, and how the New Deal played a significant part in their designation as national areas. Part 2 presents a detailed description of each of the twenty grasslands, ranging in size from a small one in Texas to an enormous area in North Dakota, including terrain, wildlife, flora, notable natural features, and a review of its history, visitor centers, and ranger stations. Finally, Part 3 provides analysis of grassland issues, offers conclusions about them, and presents future alternatives.

Enhanced with beautiful photographs by Georg Joutras, Moul's book is a broad, sweeping account of an undervalued but vitally important and beautiful "place" in the American landscape and the country's history, truly a national natural treasure whose story is probably much overdue in the telling.