Praise for the previous edition:
"Clearly written...detailing the geography, geology, ecology, and future of [the] biome...the author make[s] clear the beauty and value of [the area]..."—SLJ Curriculum Connections
"...clearly written...well organized...The authors go well beyond the standard descriptions of th[is] biome, providing significant information to enable readers to understand both the beauty and value of th[is] area...Comprehensive and valuable for research."—School Library Journal
Life in the desert holds a range of biological adaptations. From camels to desert scorpions to snakes, the biodiversity of these areas is fascinating. Deserts, Second Edition presents the intricacies of this seemingly barren and harsh ecosystem, explaining how and why deserts form, where they are found on Earth, and their basic characteristics.
Chapter-by-chapter coverage describes the fauna of the desert, the history of these habitats, the relationship of humanity to the deserts, the climate of desert areas, subtropical and polar deserts, and more. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs and line illustrations, Deserts, Second Edition includes chapters on desert industries and threats to this ecosystem, such as climate change, the spreading of deserts, overgrazing, and water depletion. New developments for managing the deserts are also discussed.