1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910460036903321

Autore

Carle David <1950->

Titolo

Introduction to earth, soil, and land in California [[electronic resource] /] / David Carle

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berkeley, : University of California Press, c2010

ISBN

1-282-73250-1

9786612732508

0-520-94732-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (252 p.)

Collana

California natural history guide series ; ; no. 101

Disciplina

508.794

Soggetti

Soil ecology - California

Soil animals - California

Land use - California

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- CONTENTS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Soil Profiles and Categories -- Cities in the Soil -- Decomposers, Partners, and Parasites -- Shredders, Grazers, and Predators -- Higher-Level Predators -- Burrowers for Shelter and Food -- Lines on the Land -- Harvesting Wealth from the Earth -- Fire and Soil -- Wildland Management -- UNTAMED LAND -- Why Farmlands Matter -- Dirt First! -- Death by a Thousand Cuts -- Mount Trashmores -- Ecological Footprints -- Compassionate Numbers -- From Earthworms to Earth Day -- Online Soil and Land Resources -- References -- Art Credits -- Additional Captions -- Index -- About the author

Sommario/riassunto

Following his acclaimed guides to air, fire, and water, David Carle now offers a fascinating exploration of one more primary element of the natural world-the land beneath our feet. From earthworms and earthquakes to Earth Day, this concise, engaging guide is a multifaceted primer on the literal foundation of California's environment. Carle tells how soil ecosystems function, discusses what lives in the soil, and examines various soil types. He then turns to the relationship between humans and the land, and investigates the various



uses and abuses that land in California endures: large scale agriculture, mining, and development, as well as fires, floods, and erosion. The guide also details the history of land use in the state, making it an essential resource for understanding our total reliance on soil, the marvelous substrate that is the basis of life.• Covers the entire state, including California's wildlands, farmland, cities, and landfills• Assesses California's ecological footprint on planet Earth• Discusses many different life forms found in soil, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and mammals• Features 92 color photographs and 18 maps A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources