Böcker av Arthur R. Kruckeberg

Describes the geology, soils, and mineral nutrition of serpentines (low in normal essential nutrients, high in magnesium, iron, and toxic heavy metals, nickel, and chromium), the vegetation and flora that tolerate this inhospitable habitat, the fauna on serpentines, and management/conservation problems associated with serpentines.

Demonstrates the role of landforms and rock types in producing the geographical distributions of plants and in stimulating evolutionary diversification.

Reveals the natural history of the Puget Sound region. This book begins with a discussion of how the ice ages and vulcanism shaped the land and examines the natural attributes of the region - flora and fauna, climate, special habitats, life histories of key organisms - as they pertain to the ecosystem. It contains over three hundred photographs.

Offers a geologic travelogue of California's unusual soils and land forms and their associated plants - including serpentines, carbonate rocks, salt marshes, salt flats, and vernal pools - demonstrating along the way how geology shapes plant life.