Nature Encyclopedia: An A-Z Guide to Life on Earth

by Oxford University Press (Contributor)

Boasting more than one thousand color pictures, diagrams, tables, and photographs, The Nature Encyclopedia offers a stimulating reference guide that will enthrall everyone interested in the natural world, whether student or amateur naturalist.
Here are more than 6,500 alphabetically arranged entries that cover all aspects of nature, from the rich diversity of the Earth's flora and fauna and their habitats, through significant biological processes, to such pressing modern issues as conservation, pollution, and resource
sustainability. Readers will find information on microscopic animals such as plankton and on the great blue whale that feed on these animals. Indeed, there are entries on virtually any topic under the sun--alligators and butterflies, stately red woods and poisonous mushrooms, dank rain forests and
glittering coral reefs. In addition to the general entries, some 30 special interest topics--from evolution and genetics to new forms of taxonomy--are covered in individually designed, single- and double-page features. Focusing on subjects that educational specialists consider key, these feature
articles include in-depth text and more comprehensive illustrations than found in a normal entry, to ensure a full understanding of the topic. The encyclopedia also features a Ready Reference section that provides a wealth of at-a-glance information on subjects such as endangered species, ecosystem
conversions, and important natural history institutions. Each of the entries has been written by recognized authorities in fields ranging from biology and zoology to botany and earth science.
Whether you are interested in deserts or forests, farm animals or wild predators, long-extinct dinosaurs or tiny creatures in your own back yard, you will find ample information in The Nature Encyclopedia .

480 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

Oxford University Press (OUP), a department of the University of Oxford, is the largest university press in the world. The university became involved in printing around 1480, becoming a major source of Bibles, prayer books and scholarly works. It took on the Oxford English Dictionary project in the late 19th century, and in order to meet the ever-rising costs of the work, it expanded into publishing children's books, school text books, music, journals, and the World's Classics series. OUP is committed to major financial support of the university and to furthering the university's excellence in scholarship, research and education through its publishing.