Lee Ann Johnson Linam
The physical geography of the Lone Star State lays a foundation for a beautifully diverse assortment plant communities, from the starkly beautiful deserts of West Texas to the cathedral longleaf pine forests of East Texas and from the windswept shortgrass prairies of the Texas Panhandle to the lush subtropical palm forests of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In these diverse and ever-changing habitats, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians occupy their distinctive niches-predators follow prey, symbionts aid each other, keystone species create habitat for other members of the ecosystem, and wildlife scientists find a calling.Texas Wildlife Science introduces readers to wildlife ecology in Texas, using a focus on Texas habitats and species as a way of teaching ecological concepts, wildlife management techniques, and conservation strategies. The book will serve to guide teachers, students, and general readerships to an understanding of the diversity of Texas ecosystems, the dynamic management of those ecosystems, the species that depend on those ecosystems, and the role that humans may play in endangering or restoring and managing species and their habitats. Texas Wildlife Science offers an overview of general ecological principles and the physical environment of Texas before detailing conservation and management in the primary vegetation communities of the state and for the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates of the state. It opens with a review of the history of wildlife conservation and closes with a challenge regarding the roles that Texans can play in the future.While suitable for teachers and students in environmental science, ecology, and wildlife management classes, with over 300 color photos and illustrations, Texas Wildlife Science, will also appeal to the wildlife enthusiast at home. Although not an exhaustive field guide, it offers an introduction to nearly 500 Texas plant and animals species and suggests links to additional references. Complimentary PowerPoint presentations are available, and a corresponding lab manual with lesson plans is available from One Day Academy Bookstore (https://www.onedayacademy.com/bookstore).Reviewed by a dozen wildlife biologists, Texas Wildlife Science fills a gap by tying together many of the valuable wildlife learning materials available in Texas into one cohesive, beautiful picture of the beautiful natural resources of the state, while celebrating and inspiring those who caretake them.This colorful book can serve as a textbook for high school classes, homeschools, or introductory college classes. It provides an introduction to wildlife ecology and management that will also be of interest to Texas residents and landowners.
