Work Of Nature How Diversity Of Life Sustains Us Science Environmental Ecology

This listing is for the hardcover book "The Work of Nature: How the Diversity of Life Sustains Us" by Yvonne Baskin and with a foreword by Paul R. Ehrlich. This 263-page book measures 6 3/8" x 9 1/4". This is a new book in excellent unread condition. This first edition book was published in 1997.Please see the photos for more detail. Money-back guarantee.From the back cover: In probably the best available summary on how nature's processes and species benefit humanity, Baskin synthesizes an extraordinary range of material, presenting it in a readable, flowing style. This book makes it easy to find out what the science of modern ecology is saying about the roles of species and the free, but fragile, services nature can provide. I'd recommend it highly to my students, my senator and my sister.From the dust jacket: The lavish array of organisms known as biodiversity forms an intricately linked web, making the earth a uniquely habitable planet. Yet pressures from human activities are destroying biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. What impact does the loss of specific species have on the ecological processes that nurture life on earth?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 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. Please feel free to ask any questions.