Encyclopedia of islands.

Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009.
Quarto, dustwrapper, 1074 pp. colour and black and white photographs, line drawings, maps.

Islands are unique and rare environments and their isolation makes them natural laboratories for ecology and evolution. This authoritative, alphabetically arranged reference, featuring more than 200 succinct articles by leading scientists from around the world, provides broad coverage of all the island sciences. The volume editors define "island" here as any discrete habitat isolated from other habitats by inhospitable surroundings. Therefore the book examines many such insular settings - oceanic and continental islands as well as places such as caves, mountaintops, and whale falls at the bottom of the ocean. This essential reference, extensively illustrated with colour photographs, clear maps, and graphics will introduce island science to a wide audience.