Book Review - Ocean Life in the Time of Dinosaurs - Princeton University Press

 

      It would appear to me that there has been a great resurgence of interest in prehistoric life of late, and not just among paleontologists and other scientists involved with studying it. It is perhaps the spectre of exponentially increasing extinctions looming on the near horizon that fuels a desire to understand more fully the events of the distant past. Mass extinction has occurred several times before, but always as a result of natural forces; here in the Anthropocene it is being driven by human excess and the lack of willingness to tackle the issue in any serious way.

     This book is a very welcome addition to the current literature, focussing as it does on oceanic life. Our seas are warming, ocean levels are rising, currents that control life as we know it are changing course; the book is timely indeed.

     A collaboration between four distinguished French scientists has resulted in a superlative volume, enhanced greatly by the evocative and factually accurate illustrations of Alain Bénéteau. I would be willing to wager that I am not unique when I say that these representations fill me with wonder, almost childlike in its dimensions. To muse about life in outer space is one thing, to contemplate the lives that preceded us here on Earth is quite another. There is wonderment in what has gone before.

     Not only are we treated to gripping coverage of the fantastic sea reptiles of the Mezozoic era, we meet some of the personalities in the evolution of knowledge; especially as it relates to fossil collecting. Most significant is the coverage of Mary Anning, the first paleontologist (although she would never have been accorded that title in the nineteenth century when women were little more than chattels) and her remarkable discoveries. 

     We make the acquaintance of icthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and mososaurs, we come to know thalattosaurs and archosauromorphs - and many others. Details of their anatomy are revealed, adaptations to their environment, breeding methods, feeding, their role as predator and prey, and we come to understand why and how many ancient creatures reverted back to a life in the sea and how this was accomplished. What of their descendants today, sea turtles and sea snakes?  All is revealed! 

     Fossil hunting has become greatly sophisticated in recent years and technological advancement facilitates analysis and understanding in ways barely dreamed of just short years ago.

     The book contains a fine glossary and a very helpful bibliography for those seeking to know more.

     It's a marvelous read providing great knowledge, yet all the while stimulating one's interest and fuelling an ever greater level of curiosity about the past. To say that it is timely and topical, relevant in so many ways to the current human condition is an understatement. 

     Carbon dioxide levels are nudging upwards, ocean acidification is on the rise - conditions that led to extinctions in the past.  Winston Churchill famously said, "Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The statement was made in the context of human experience but it is no less valid if we choose to ignore the history of life on Earth.

     This is the book to help you understand at least some of it - and yes, we do need to heed the warnings.

Ocean Life in the Time of Dinosaurs - Princeton University Press

Nathalie Bardet, Alexandra Houssaye, Stéphane Jouve and Peggy Vincent

Illustrated by Alain Bénéteau

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN: 9780691243948

208 pages - 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm)

212 colour and black-and-white illustrations - 48 maps

Publication date: 21 November, 2023  

Book Review - The Lives of Seaweeds: A Natural History of Our Planet's Seaweeds and Other Algae - Princeton University Press

 

Flowers of the Sea

Call us not weeds, we are Flowers of the Sea,

For lovely, and bright and gay-tinted are we, 

And quite independent of culture or showers; 

Then call us not weeds, we are the Ocean's Gay Flowers

     And so they are - this diverse group of photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms whose very origins signalled the beginnings of life with the cyanobacteria of ancient seas. Diverse, beautiful, critical to the biosphere, utilitarian and at times deadly, they are nonetheless for the most part ignored.

     This excellent book by Julie A. Philips sets out to change that. Based on my evaluation, she succeeds. If you have been indifferent to seaweeds and other algae before reading this book, I guarantee you that you will henceforth see them in a totally different light. You will learn, you will appreciate, you will marvel, and you will yearn to know more. 

     The opening sections of the book deal with every facet of algae, beginning with the simple question, "What is an alga?" You are then treated to an examination of the evolution of algae, their morphology, life histories, ecology, and a final section about algae and humans. Within these headings all the detail you could ever wish for is laid out in a precise, cogent manner, detailed in content, yet easy to read. Even where the science gets complicated the author has found a way to ensure that the reader will have no difficulty understanding the material. Along the way it is all very fascinating, I can vouch for that.

     As we have come to expect in works like this from PUP, the text is accompanied by a magnificent array of full colour images, which in addition to illustrating technical points in the text, are often breathtakingly beautiful. Numerous species of algae are highlighted throughout each section of the book, each covering two pages with descriptive matter, a map and a full page image.

     At the end of the book, there is an excellent table of the characters used to define selected algal phyla and groups, followed by a first class glossary.

      The next time you ponder the carbon cycle, ocean acidification, biofuels, eat your sushi wrapped in nori, or use one of any number of pharmaceuticals, give a thought to the greater world of seaweeds and other algae; they are implicated in more ways than you perhaps thought possible, and they impact your life dramatically and directly.

      It is a salient truth today, that anyone interested in any facet of the natural world, is thereby cognizant of and fixed on the entire web of life on Earth, conscious of the synergistic relationship of all things. Nothing happens in isolation; no aspect is insignificant.

     This is a book that you need to read.

The Lives of Seaweeds: A Natural History of Seaweeds and Other Algae - Princeton University Press

Julie A. Philips

Hardcover - US$35.00 - ISBN: 9780691228556

288 pages - 7.5 x 9.5 inches (18.75 x 23.75 cm)

150+ colour photographs and illustrations

Publication date: 21 November, 2023

Book Review - The Evolution of Power: A New Understanding of the History of Life - Princeton University Press

 

    Vermeij has provided a literate, straightforward account of a challenging, thought-provoking topic, that is accessible to everyone, yet replete with logic, conviction and unassailable science. It may be a tad hyperbolic to describe a work such as this as 'entertaining,' but, in fact, I found it so. Brilliant and entertaining at the same time - and very readable.

     It deals with every aspect of power in the natural world, going far beyond the philosophical, unquantifiable aspects of the power conferred by biological synthesis and structure, to the ascendant power of Homo sapiens to modify the forces of nature itself. Darwinian principles of natural selection, eternally valid and operative, are in fact conduits to the acquisition of power by all organisms, from the primitive beginnings of life on Earth to the present, where humans dominate everything else.

     As we peer into the abysss of the Sixth Extinction, as we contemplate the future of life as outlined by E.O. Wilson, and its prescription for a way out of our dilemma, the judicious use of power becomes ever more pressing as a solution to our universal problems. Aggressive and expensive arms races between nations, resulting in the accumulation of ever more deadly force, have proven to be ineffective. Although there are examples of conflict among and between other organized groups (e.g. ants, wild dogs), no other organism has so perfected the strategy of remote violence as humans. And no other organism has fundamentally altered the planet, and generally not for the good. Human monopoly over the biosphere has become a fait accompli, profligacy is de facto, ".....humans are perilously close  to destroying the entire aerobic biosphere." 

     This book should be essential reading for decision-makers, politicians and leaders of industry, who guide our future and upon whom our very survival depends. The hair trigger of a madman's control of nuclear weapons is not inclined to fill us with optimism, but this is where the concentration of power, and the potential for its abuse has led us.

 

     I am quite sure I have not done justice to this book; there is a great deal packed into 176 pages  filled with erudition, that highlights the real costs of acquiring power.  Vermeij believes that we can pull back from the precipice by the expansion of our human-centred perspective; whether we have the willingness and the foresight to do so remains moot.

     You really do need to study this book. I am about to start reading it again!

The Evolution of Power: A New Understanding of the History of Life - Princeton University Press

Geerat Vermeij

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN: 9780691250410

264 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)

3 tables

Publication date: 14 November, 2023

The Mill Race Again

  It is not half so important to know as to feel

Rachel Carson

06 October, 2023

     This was a very brief stop on the way to somewhere else, but a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), partly hidden in the reeds, waited patiently for a fishy snack.

10 October, 2023

     Predictably, Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) was one of the first birds we saw.

     American Beavers (Castor canadensis) have been hard at work rebuilding and reinforcing their dam after the Philistines from the township destroyed it, and they have succeeded in installing a more robust structure than before, and have reduced the downstream flow to a mere trickle.

     

     Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) will not be with us much longer this season, although the ridiculously high temperatures of late may have convinced it that summer is eternal.

     The berry-bearing trees and bushes all seem to bear prodigious crops this year, and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), both adults and juveniles, were taking full advantage of the bounty.

     Eyes left seems to be the order of the day!
     A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was bathing and preening, to perform essential feather maintenance.

     A general arrival of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) seems to have occurred; most are passing through but a few will remain here for the winter.

      A Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) rounded out our sightings for the day.

20 October, 2023

     Right at the trailhead there is an area where people provide seed and suet for the birds, and it is always the first place we check.

     A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was obviously having great success.

     I had sunflower hearts in the car, so I distributed some on the wall, on the stump and along the branches; the results were predictable and instant. A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) had arrived within moments.

     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) are beautiful, opportunistic and resourceful.

     A male Northern Cardinal wasted no time in gathering up his fair share.

     At one point three nuthatches were present, all able to make their trip worthwhile.

     And, as was the case above, a Hairy Woodpecker rounded out the entourage.

     It had been raining very lightly when we first arrived, but it increased in intensity, so that was the extent of our visit for the day.

23 October, 2023

     In general, the colours of fall, that glorious panorama of Ontario magic and majesty, have been somewhat muted this year, but with the sun shining brightly they still looked breathtakingly splendid.

     A female Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) is a supremely appealing bird, I am sure you will agree.

   This male evidently thought so as he clambered on the log to join her.

     Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergi) is ripe, red, robust, and redolent with glossy beauty, almost sensuous in its appeal.

     Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum) were out to prove that it's never too late for a little dragonfly whoopee!

     Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) has passed its prime, is spent for the year in fact, yet still exhibits a certain charm.

     Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) furnishes an emphatic statement on a rapidly browning landscape, even in late October.

     How appropriate that a Black-capped Chickadee, the signature bird of the Mill Race, was the last bird we saw before we arrived back at the parking lot.

     À la prochaine, mon ami. We will be back soon!

Vancouver Island - Part 4

 11 September, 2023

Clover Point, Victoria, BC

     As was our custom every day when in Victoria, we started our day with a visit to Clover Point, that little promontory of tranquility and exquisite wildlife on the edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

     The Trans Canada Trail begins there, wending its way across our vast land until kissing the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland, at the opposing end of the country, crossing the Rockies, wending its way across the prairies, through Ontario and the rarified air of francophone Québec, speeding through the Maritime Provinces, finally arriving at its terminus in St. John's Newfoundland.

     We are blessed to live in this diverse and interesting country, where people from all around the world have made their home.

     A juvenile Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) shared the rocky shore with Glaucous-winged (Larus glaucescens) and California Gulls (Larus californicus).

     The breeding season has ended for Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), but it is still a distinctive and charming bird in its muted winter attire.

     Tiny, frenetic Wester Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) were constantly bursting up from the rocks, only to settle again after making a couple of spectacular circuits of the cove. Here they are, dwarfed by an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos caurinus), an opportunistic resident of coastal British Columbia.

     A Pacific Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) cruised up and down the inshore waters, popping its head up only briefly to snatch a breath.

     Two Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) posed like well-behaved schoolchildren.

     I am assuming that anyone who reads my blog is a lover of nature, so you will understand the sheer exhilaration of sharing the morning with these lively flocks of Western Sandpipers.

     We were constantly entertained by their antics.

      Selwyn is possessed by insatiable curiosity and in turning over rocks found many Yellow Shore Crabs (Hemigrapsus oregonensis), enchanting little creatures that typically live under rocks in intertidal zones.

     This small crab attains a maximum carapace size of 25 - 34 cm with females being bigger than males. They are common on Vancouver Island and despite their name name exhibit a wide range of colouration.

     Just one more picture of a Western Sandpiper, I promise.

     How can I resist?

     Selwyn and Miriam, diligently searching among the tide pools, found this Aggregating Anemone (Anthopteura elegantissima) which squirted water at them in retaliation for being disturbed.

     Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) is a beautiful little flower, and it warms the heart to see them taking advantage of little patches of suitable soil to brighten up the littoral landscape.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) found floating wrack a convenient perch from which to launch its lightning attack on unsuspecting fish.

Chinese Cemetery and Harling Point, Victoria, BC

     Each time that we have visited Victoria, Miriam and I have made it out to Harling Point; this time we were happy to have Victoria and Selwyn with us to add perspective to the location.

      It seemed entirely appropriate that a stand of glorious California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) greeted us as we passed through the gate.

     The view across the water was lovely.

     A distant Common Murre (Uria aalge) refused to come any closer despite our pleas!

     There seems to be hardly a stretch of coastline on Vancouver Island that does not harbour a few Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) - on the Great Lakes we dance a jig at one sighting in five years!

     Surfbird (Calidris virgata) is the most unusual of the calidrine sandpipers, having the bill of a plover, and the chunkiness of one too. It was a great pleasure to come across it on several occasions.

     Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) became such a firm favourite of Selwyn's I might petition for its renaming. Selwyn's Oystercatcher has a nice ring to it, don't you think? No baggage of slave-owning or other undesirable features to engender controversy either.

     Perhaps the two above are pondering the issue!

     Here are a couple more pictures of this enigmatic species.

     A lone pleasure craft scudded by, perhaps piloted by a fellow who called in sick to the office this morning!

     A platoon of cormorants sped over the water, far too distant to identify as to species, however.

     You may have to take my word for it that the following distant bird is a Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata).

     A Glaucous-winged Gull was actively searching among the Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) for tasty treats.

     This one is about to have a seafood breakfast.

     While we might think only of Savannah Sparrows as inhabitants of grasslands in southern Ontario, as befits their name, the subspecies brooksi is quite at home in the salt marshes of Vancouver Island.

     American Crow is always on the lookout for an easy meal.

     As we made our way back to the car we passed a house with hummingbird feeders and blossoms that attracted Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), and we spent a pleasant half hour in their company, even chatting to the homeowner who was pleased to share her success with four Ontarians.

     It was lunch time so we headed back to Helm's Inn where we had food in the fridge, and then left to go to.......

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site and Fisgard Lighthouse, Colwood, BC

     Whenever we have visited Fort Rodd one of the first birds to be seen, often in the parking area is Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus).

     True to form it showed up early, although on this occasion we had to wait until we were past the gate, having paid our admission.

     It was followed up in short order by a Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens).

     A White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) was perched on a fence.

     Puget Sound Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia) was a joy to behold.

     Grasshoppers are far beyond my field of expertise but I am fairly sure this handsome specimen is Camnula pellucida.

     There was in general a paucity of birds at this location, but a gaggle of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) imparted a degree of warm familiarity.

     A White-crowned Sparrow looked askance at us as we made ready to leave.

Esquimalt Lagoon, Colwood, BC

     It is a very short distance from Fort Rodd to Esquimalt Lagoon, at times an excellent location for a wide range of species.

     As soon as we disembarked from the car we were greeted by Long-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) feeding in their characteristic sewing machine fashion.

     A small flock of Western Sandpipers appeared skittish, settling in one location briefly, and then bursting into the air.

     Victoria and I were intently watching them while Miriam and Selwyn did a little beachcombing, and suddenly they exploded in front us, as a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) knifed though the air, intent on a kill. It was an unsuccessful assault, but the reason for the shorebirds' nervousness was apparent.

     The gulls stayed on a sandbar and seemed not to be subject to attack as far as we could see.

     Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) was common, often hanging around vehicles, no doubt vigilant for crumbs discarded by humans snacking at the water's edge.

Brewer's Blackbird (♀)

Brewer's Blackbird ♂

     A Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) no doubt also hoped for a morsel or two.

     It was time to leave to return to the Helms Inn to relax a little before dinner.

     We ate at The Spaghetti Factory, where Miriam had penne with chicken and I chose Seafood Alfredo. Both were delicious. I didn't record what Selwyn and Victoria had but I know they were happy with their selection.

     We walked back "home" filled with the unique satisfaction that derives from good birding with good friends. There is no better feeling, of that you may be sure.