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Chargement... Despicable Species: On Cowbirds, Kudzu, Hornworms, and Other Scourges (1999)par Janet Lembke
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In fourteen revealing essays, Lembke ponders some of the most loathsome creatures with which we share the planet. But for every creature's nasty reputation, there is a silver lining, which Lembke, with dazzlingly researched bits of history, science, and culture, deftly brings to our attention. There is the European starling, that invader of nests and devourer of fruit crops -- the great mimic and inspirer of Mozart and Shakespeare. The grey squirrel, famed pillager of yards and bird feeders and vastly entertaining acrobat and problem solver. The horse fly, blood-sucking insect with a walloping sting, whose maggots exude chemicals that aid in healing human tissue. Mold -- the astonishing facts of fungi-sex revealed. That famous infant abandoner, the cowbird. The centipede. The hornworm. The opossum. The fruit fly. The microbe Pfiestreria piscicida, deadly to fish and man, of which there is little good to say, except that it necessitates our own clean-up of rivers -- or else. Kudzu. Sandspur. And, finally, our very own species. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)577.8Natural sciences and mathematics Life Sciences, Biology Ecology Sex in natureClassification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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I learned a lot from this book, but could see how to a more enlightened reader the book could come across as a bit pedantic. It suffers from the charm of being written largely from [a: Janet Lembke|381630|Janet Lembke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1411082326p2/381630.jpg]'s point of view, and its interspersed with musings about how these creatures relate to the Southeast, what it means to be a Southern writer, etc. I found these musings pleasant, and overall enjoyed the tone of the book itself. That having been said, I didn't go into this book with any particular expectations.
This isn't so much a scientific book as it is a pleasant little natural study. The final chapter, about the most despicable creatures of all - humans, was a bit expected and not altogether as good a chapter as I would hope it would be. At the end of the day we don't know if exterminating a whole species would negatively impact the ecosystem, but I think nowadays the thought is that it likely would rather than "another creature will fill the niche." Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and I hope to read more like it in the future. ( )