A text, based on papers given at a symposium in Perth, discusses the plants, fungi and animals of WA. Examines their place in the environment, their evolution, their biology and their interaction as well as the fossil history of the flora and the evolution of genetic systems. The introductory chapter provides an overview, while subsequent chapters are grouped around themes. Includes colour plates, diagrams, charts and an index.

We are a nation of gardeners, and we take pleasure in tending our backyards. But this pleasure sits uneasily with our knowledge that the places where most of us live are running out of water. We suspect that our lawns and many of our plants from the damp climates of northern European gardens are too demanding of scarce supplies, but can't imagine our streets and gardens without them. The Old Country opens our eyes, and minds, to other possibilities. It does so by telling us stories about our natural landscape. George Seddon believes that the better we understand the delicacy and beauty of our natural environment, the more 'at home' we will feel as Australians. This passionate, wise and witty book, enriched with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, suggests that the answers to our water problems lie here, at home.

The rainforests of Australia cover only 4% of Australia's land mass but contain 50% of Australia's plant and animals life. This superb synthesis of these Heritage listed forests covers all aspects of conservation, plant and animal biology, and cultural significance. The World Heritage Gondwana Rainforests of Australia represent the major remaining areas of rainforest in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. The property as described on the World Heritage List formally comprises parts of 27 national parks, 7 nature reserves and several other Crown reserves, located between Brisbane (in Queensland) and Newcastle (in New South Wales).

The National Heritage List was created in January 2004 to recognize, celebrate and protect places of outstanding heritage value to the nation. One aspect of natural heritage that has been little explored is Australiaâ__s wealth of exceptional fossil sites. While a small number of fossil sites have risen to public prominence, there are many lesser-known sites that have important heritage values. The Australian Heritage Council engaged palaeontologists from state museums and the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery to compile lists of outstanding fossil sites and to document their characteristics and relative importance against a range of categories, with a view to further understanding about Australiaâ__s important fossil heritage. Sites that were listed for National or World Heritage values were not included in the places for consideration, with the focus being on lesser-known but still important sites. This book is an account of the palaeontologistsâ__ findings. Australiaâ__s Fossil Heritage provides a useful reference to the outstanding fossil sites it catalogs, and gives a clearer understanding of the heritage values of such sites. More generally, it contributes to a greater appreciation of Australiaâ__s geological and fossil diversity and enables readers to learn more about Australiaâ__s prehistory.

Have you ever wondered why New Zealand's plants and animals are so different from those in other countries? Why kakapo is the only parrot in the world that cannot fly, or why the kiwi lives here and nowhere else? New Zealand is an extraordinary place, unique on earth, and the remarkable story of how and why life evolved here is the subject of Ghosts of Gondwana. The challenge of explaining New Zealand's natural origins is picked up in this fully revised edition of the popular award-winning book. It presents the latest scientific research in highly readable form, highlighting studies that reveal the deep historical background of our landscapes, fauna and flora - from ancient frogs and moa to delicate insects and the magnificent southern beech forests. It introduces the latest discoveries and resolves past issues like the 'Oligocene drowning' hypothesis. Exciting fossil discoveries are revealed and new scientific technologies and approaches to the discipline of historical biogeography are discussed - approaches that range from undersea geology to molecular clocks - and it inevitably draws attention to the debates and conflicts that distinguish different schools of opinion in this holistic branch of theoretical science. This revision incorporates the results of 10 years of intensive scientific research and includes four entirely new chapters to: focus on 'yesterday's maps' to draw attention to the ephemeral islands in our history that have possibly acted as stepping stones for terrestrial animals and plants but today have sunk into the sea; incorporate the author's own special interest in an ancient group of 'jaw-moths', unknown and unnoticed by most people but with a strong message that New Zealand is part of the world when it comes to explaining where our fauna have come from; present recent research findings on our huge flightless birds, the ratites; and include New Zealand's terrestrial molluscs into the story. Ghosts of Gondwana identifies New Zealand as one of the most challenging places on earth to explain, but it's readable, engaging style and revised illustrations render this often-controversial discipline of science into a format that is accessible to any reader with an interest in natural history and the unique environment of New Zealand.

Regional Geology and Tectonics: Volume 2: Phanerozoic Rift Systems and Sedimentary Basins, Second Edition, is the second volume in a three-volume series covering Phanerozoic regional geology and tectonics. Experience in analyzing and assessing rifts - locations where the Earth's outer shell and crust have been stretched over time by seismic activity - is critical for exploration geologists in identifying Earth's most lucrative hydrocarbon locations in which extraction is both efficient and safe. Vast compilations of related industry data present regional seismic lines and cross sections, and summaries of analogue and theoretical models are provided as an essential backdrop to the structure and stratigraphy of various geological settings. The new edition of Regional Geology and Tectonics: Volume 2: Phanerozoic Rift Systems and Sedimentary Basins features updated summaries of analogue and theoretical models. New to this edition are chapters on deepwater foldbelts and lithospheric extension as well as new case studies on volcanic and passive margin basins. - Provides a practical reference for petroleum geologists that discusses the importance of rift systems and the structural evolution of the Earth - Includes analyses of active rifts in East Africa, China, Siberia, the Gulf of Suez, and the Russian Arctic that provide immediately implementable petroleum exploration applications in regions heavily targeted by oil & gas companies - Presents overviews of sequence stratigraphy in rifts and structural controls on clastic and carbonate sedimentation that are critical to the exact mapping of the most lucrative hydrocarbon locations by exploration geologists

This book brings together a wealth of scientific findings andecological knowledge to survey what we have learned about the“Wet Tropics” rainforests of North Queensland,Australia. This interdisciplinary text is the first book to providesuch a holistic view of any tropical forest environment, includingthe social and economic dimensions. The most thorough assessment of a tropical forest landscape todate Explores significant scientific breakthroughs in areasincluding conservation genetics, vegetation modeling, agroforestryand revegetation techniques, biodiversity assessment and modeling,impacts of climate change, and the integration of science innatural resource management Research achieved, in part, due to the Cooperative ResearchCentre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management (theRainforest CRC) Written by a number of distinguished internationalexperts contains chapter summaries and section commentaries