Louisiana crawfish, cheatgrass, Russian thistle, Hottentot figs, rats, and sweet fennel. These and dozens of other seemingly benign flora and fauna have become some of the worst culprits in the
destruction of ecosystems and native wildlife in the American Southwest and Baja California.
Ceiridwen Terrill's journey to the weeds is wholly engaging—reminiscent of John Steinbeck's Log from the Sea of Cortez and Kim Todd's Tinkering with Eden, yet all original in content and style. By personally paddling among several island ecosystems with a strong arm and a trained eye, she takes us deep into awareness of exotic species and their grim legacy, and out again into the grounded hope of restoration.
—Robert Michael Pyle, author of Wintergreen: Rambles in a Ravaged Land
Although widely publicized threats—such as pollution, land development, changes in the
atmospheric condition, fire, and drought—are frequently credited with posing the greatest danger to indigenous animals and plants, invasive species are quickly becoming a far more insidious peril to
the survival of native wildlife. A result of both accident and human intervention, the frequency with which exotic species are being introduced into nonnative environments is increasing at an alarming
In Unnatural Landscapes, Ceiridwen Terrill combines lucid science writing with first-person tales of adventure to provide a compelling introduction to invasion ecology and
restoration management. Traveling aboard her trusty kyak, The Grebe, Terrill brings readers on a firsthand tour of various "islands" in the Southwest and Mexico—both actual islands and
self-contained habitat communities. From the islands of Anaho, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa to Isla Tiburón in the Sea of Cortez, Mexicali irrigation canals, and Pyramid Lake, Terrill takes an in-depth
look at the damage that invasive species cause.
Drawing on field observations, research, and interviews with scientists, resource managers, and local residents, this book provides
readers with the background and knowledge they need to understand and to begin combating what is quickly becoming the most important environmental crisis facing the fragile ecosystems of the
For more information on invasive species visit the Author's Web site.