Overview

When all the species of birds, trees, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, wildflowers, dragonflies, tiger beetles, and ants are tallied, Alabama harbors more species than ninety percent of the other states in the US. The state's 4,533 species, with more being inventoried and discovered each year, are supported by no less than sixty-four distinct ecological systems--each a unique blend of soil, water, sunlight, heat, and natural disturbance regimes. Although Alabama is teeming with life, the state's prominence as a refuge for plants and animals is poorly appreciated. Even among Alabama's citizens, few outside a small circle of biologists, advocates, and other naturalists understand the special quality of the state's natural heritage. R. Scot Duncan rectifies this situation in Southern Wonder by providing a well-written, comprehensive overview that the general public, policy makers, and teachers can understand and use. Listeners are taken on an exploratory journey of the state's varied landscapes--from the Tennessee River Valley to the coastal dunes--and are introduced to remarkable species, such as the cave salamander and the beach mouse. By interweaving the disciplines of ecology, evolution, meteorology, and geology into an accessible whole, Duncan explains clearly why Alabama is so biotically rich and champions efforts for its careful preservation.

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R. Scot Duncan is a biologist and executive director of Alabama Audubon. He is author of Southern Wonder: Alabama's Surprising Biodiversity, winner of the Southern Environmental Law Center's 2014 Phil Reed Environmental Writing Award, and the Southeastern Library Association's 2013 Overall Excellence: Hard Cover Award. Edward O. Wilson (1929-2021) was the author of more than thirty books, including Anthill, Letters to a Young Scientist, and The Conquest of Nature. The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, he was a professor emeritus at Harvard University. Chris Abernathy is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.

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