How long should a leaf live? When should blueberries ripen? And what should a clever moose eat? Questions like these may seem simple or downright strange'yet they form the backbone of natural history, a discipline that fostered some of our most important scientific theories, from natural selection to glaciation. Through careful, patient observations of the organisms that live in an area, their distributions, and how they interact with other species, we gain a more complete picture of the world around us, and our place in it.
In What Should a Clever Moose Eat?, John Pastor explores the natural history of the North Woods, an immense and complex forest that stretches from the western shore of Lake Superior to the far coast of Newfoundland. The North Woods is one of the most ecologically and geologically interesting places on the planet, with a host of natural history questions arising from each spruce or sugar maple. From the geological history of the region to the shapes of leaves and the relationship between aspens, caterpillars, and predators, Pastor delves into a captivating range of topics as diverse as the North Woods themselves. Through his meticulous observations of the natural world, scientists and nonscientists alike learn to ask natural history questions and form their own theories, gaining a greater understanding of and love for the North Woods'and other natural places precious to them.
In the tradition of Charles Darwin and Henry David Thoreau, John Pastor is a joyful observer of nature who makes sharp connections and moves deftly from observation to theory. Take a walk in John Pastor's North Woods'you'll come away with a new appreciation for details, for the game trails, beaver ponds, and patterns of growth around you, and won't look at the natural world in the same way again.
Foreword Preface Prologue: The Importance of Natural History Introduction: The Nature of the North Woods
PART I: The Assembly of a Northern Ecosystem, and the Discovery of its Natural History Chapter 1. Setting the Stage Chapter 2. The Emergence of the North Woods Chapter 3. The Birth and Death of a Beaver Pond Chapter 4. David Thompson's Canoe
PART II: Capturing the Light Chapter 5. How Long Should a Leaf Live? Chapter 6. The Shapes of Leaves Chapter 7. The Shapes of Crowns Chapter 8. How Should Leaves Die?
PART III: Foraging and Food Webs Chapter 9. Foraging in the Beaver's Pantry Chapter 10. Mouse Wars, Fungi, and Spruce Chapter 11. What Should a Clever Moose Eat? Chapter 12. Tent Caterpillars, Aspens, and the Regulation of Ecosystems Chapter 13. The Diversity of Warblers and the Control of Spruce Budworm Chapter 14. The Dance of Hare and Lynx
PART IV: Pollinators, Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds Chapter 15. Skunk Cabbages, Blowflies, and the Smells of Spring Chapter 16. When Should Flowers Bloom and Fruits Ripen? Chapter 17. Everybody's Favorite Berries Chapter 18. Coevolution of Crossbills and Conifer Cones
PART V: Fire and the Dynamics of the Landscape Chapter 19. Does Fire Destroy or Maintain the North Woods? Chapter 20. The Legacies of a Fire Chapter 21. The Correlated Evolution of Serotiny, Flammability, and Fire
Epilogue: Climate Change and the Disassembly of the North Woods Postscript: The Beauty of Natural History Bibliography
"Pastor writes with striking simplicity despite the detailed and sometimes complex descriptions of how the North Woods was created, its structure, and how it functions. Given the straightforward writing and glossary of terms, this book should be accessible to the layperson, yet also informative and educational for the seasoned ecologist. pastor combines his years of scientific writing experience as a professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth with poetic prose, making this book a pleasure to read."
