[.ca] A Field Guide to Eastern Forests: North America (ISBN 0395928958)

A Great Buy, Very Interesting:
This is a great field guide that covers many aspects of forests East of the Great Plains. Although it covers many common species of both animal and plant, it is not overly helpful for positively identifying individual species; and if one wants that, you are better off with a more specific field guide (i.e., Eastern Birds). It does, however, detail the workings of a forest and accompanies this fascinating text with 53 color plates, 80 color photos and many black and white drawings. In the first few chapters, it demonstrates the different forest types through indicator species; and it details the process of Old Field succesion, and the animals and plants that come and go as the process progresses. In the last chapters adaptation, and seasonal patterns are covered. I would highly reccommend this field guide for any one who would like to know how a forest works.

Introducing the Eastern Forest:
The purpose of this guide is not to assist one in identifying species of flora and fauna found in the Eastern Forest--such a tome would be monumental in size--but rather to instill in the reader an understanding of the forest's general dynamics. The book is divided into eight sections; they are: 1) How to use this book 2) Forest field marks 3) Eastern forest communities 4) Disturbance and pioneer plants 5) Adaptation 6) Paterns of spring 7) Nature in summer 8) Autumn and winter This book is an excellent beginning point for those who want to develope a better understanding of forest ecology. I highly recommend it.

If you can only buy one field guide, buy this one.:
Eastern Forests is a good field guide for both experts and beginners. Makes a great gift for young naturalists. This book not only provides identification means; it also answers odds and end questions about why plants and animals do different things. Everything from newt behavior to how weather affects bird migration is covered in this guide.