The California Deserts: An Ecological Rediscovery

by Bruce M. Pavlik

This highly readable, spectacularly illustrated compendium is an ecological journey into a wondrous land of extremes. The California Deserts explores the remarkable diversity of life in this harsh yet fragile quarter of the Golden State. In a rich narrative, it illuminates how that diversity, created by drought and heat, has evolved with climate change since the Ice Ages. Along the way, we find there is much to learn from each desert species― whether it is a cactus, pupfish, tortoise, or bighorn sheep―about adaptation to a warming, arid world. The book tells of human adaptation as well, and is underscored by a deep appreciation for the intimate knowledge acquired by native people during their 12,000-year desert experience. In this sense, the book is a journey of rediscovery, as it reflects on the ways that knowledge has been reclaimed and amplified by new discoveries. The book also takes the measure of the ecological condition of these deserts today, presenting issues of conservation, management, and restoration. With its many sidebars, photographs, and featured topics, The California Deserts provides a unique introduction to places of remarkable and often unexpected beauty.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science, History, Biology

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2008

About the author

Bruce M. Pavlik, Professor of Biology at Mills College, is coauthor of Oaks of California and California's Changing Landscapes: The Diversity and Conservation of California Vegetation."

Reviews

[Scott Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A century earlier desert explorer John Van Dyke wrote, "This is a land of illusions and thin air . . . but for all that the chief glory of the desert is its broad blaze of omnipresent light" (p.276f). This is a fitting quote for a book that discusses the scientific and biological challenges of the three California desert regions (Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran). The book begins and ends with references to the first non-native explorer, Father Francisco Garcés in the 1770's wherein his trek crossed all three desert regions. The subsequent onslaught of western influx brought many changes to the desert bioregions, including the damaging introduction of non-native species - - salt cedar and burros having the most damaging impact. The major thrust of this manual, however, is to introduce the readers to desert life and biology. Constant reference is made to the unique form of photosynthesis necessary to sustain desert life: C4 which reduces energy loss due to photorespiration and CAM which is found in slower-growing succulents and cactus. C4 and CAM photosynthesis provides the energy or food needed for desert animal survival. These animals can be categorized into three types: drought-susceptible, drought tolerator, and drought avoider species. The author intersperses many other fascinating facts and information regarding the California desert bioregion - - including overviews of the geography, climate, geology, soils and waters. The manual ends with a lamentable chapter on the devastating effects of man's lack of stewardship in this region, yet with hopeful signs that Californians have begun to appreciate the beauty and importance of this fascinating region, and are taking steps to preserve the deserts for future generations. Perhaps my only criticism is that sometimes this manual reads more like a textbook or doctorate dissertation, however I did appreciate much of the detailed information the author labored to collect and organize!

[Diego Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - only a little outdated at the time of this reading.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bringing botany, wildlife biology, geology and history together into one set of stories gives this book special interest. Pavlick describes a few important new findings for a lay audience. I liked it.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is descriptive without being overly academic, clearly loves the god damn desert, and included humans in an ecological overview of the land, which I think is really important. He taught me about the magic of woodrat middens, and about how spectacular pupfish are! What a blessing!

[Lyndsey Silveira]

Informative and eye-opening, this book contains a lot of information about desert ecosystems and species.