A Natural History of the Mojave Desert

by Lawrence R. Walker, Frederick H. Landau

Overview

The Mojave Desert has a rich natural history. Despite being sandwiched between the larger Great Basin and Sonoran Deserts, it has enough mountains, valleys, canyons, and playas for any eager explorer. Ancient and current waterways carve the bajadas and valley bottoms. This diverse topography gives rise to a multitude of habitats for plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

A Natural History of the Mojave Desert explores how a combination of complex geology, varied geography, and changing climate has given rise to intriguing flora and fauna—including almost 3,000 plant species and about 380 terrestrial vertebrate animal species. Of these, one quarter of the plants and one sixth of the animals are endemic.

The authors, who, combined, have spent more than six decades living in and observing the Mojave Desert, offer a scientifically insightful and personally observed understanding of the desert. They invite readers to understand how the Mojave Desert looks, sounds, feels, tastes, and smells. They prompt us to understand how humans have lived in this desert where scant vegetation and water have challenged humans, past and present.

A Natural History of the Mojave Desert provides a lively and informed guide to understanding how life has adapted to the hidden riverbeds, huge salt flats, tiny wetlands, and windswept hills that characterize this iconic desert.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780816532629
Publisher:	University of Arizona Press
Publication date:	03/27/2018
Pages:	344
Sales rank:	1,080,817
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Lawrence R. Walker is a professor of plant ecology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is the (co)author or (co)editor of nine previous books, including The Biology of Disturbed Habitats. Frederick H. Landau is a research associate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Walker and Landau have twenty-five years of scientific collaboration that includes projects in Nevada, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. They both enjoy hiking and back-road adventures throughout the Mojave Desert.
 

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Boxes ix

Preface xi

Map of the Mojave Desert 2

Introduction: An Invitation to Explore 3

An Intriguing Natural History 3

A Sensory Experience 5

Human Influences 11

General Themes 12

Scope 12

Part I Deserts of the World

Chapter 1 Causes of Aridity 17

Definition of a Desert 17

Definition of Aridity 18

High-Pressure Zones 19

Rain Shadows 20

Continentality 20

Cold Ocean Currents 20

Additional Causes 20

Chapter 2 Deserts of the World 23

Sahara Desert 25

Atacama Desert 27

Gobi Desert 28

Australian Deserts 29

Polar Deserts 30

North American Deserts 32

Summary 40

Part II Mojave Desert

Chapter 3 Physical Characteristics 43

Precipitation 48

Temperature 53

Past Climates 54

Geography 56

Geology 62

Soils 67

Summary 70

Chapter 4 Water 73

Pleistocene Patterns 74

Rivers 76

Riparian Zones 84

Springs 86

Tinajas 88

Playas 90

Summary 93

Chapter 5 Plants 95

Biogeography and Biodiversity 97

Playas 97

Alkali Scrub 98

Shrublands 98

Uplands 112

Wetlands 114

Sand Dunes 118

Plant Adaptations 120

Plant Interactions 136

Summary 138

Chapter 6 Animals 141

Biogeography and Biodiversity 143

Playas 145

Alkali Scrub 147

Shrublands 148

Uplands 154

Canyons 157

Wetlands 160

Sand Dunes 161

Animal Adaptations 162

Animal Interactions 168

Summary 175

Chapter 7 Human Adaptations 179

Early Occupants 180

Native Americans 182

Western Expansion 192

Mining and Modern Roads 197

Railroads 201

Military 204

Modern Adaptations 204

Summary 205

Chapter 8 Disruptions 207

Droughts 208

Floods: Erosion and Deposition 209

Wind: Erosion and Deposition 212

Invasive Plants and Fire 213

Invasive Animals 217

Climate Change 221

Other Human Influences 223

Summary 232

Chapter 9 Management 235

Conservation 239

Restoration 242

Legislation and Education 250

Summary 254

Chapter 10 Special Places 257

Geological Wonders 257

Water in the Desert 262

Climatic Extremes 264

Biodiversity Hotspots 265

Humans in the Past 268

Humans in the Present 270

Chapter 11 Future Prospects 273

Current Status 274

Future Scenarios 275

The Way Forward 279

Final Musings 280

Appendix 1 Common and Latin Names of Animals 283

Appendix 2 Common and Latin Names of Plants 289

Appendix 3 Conversion from English to Metric Units 295

Appendix 4 Plant and Animal Strategies to Survive in Arid Climates 297

Appendix 5 Indigenous Uses of Plants 299

Glossary 309

Suggested Readings 315

Index 319

Editorial Reviews

The word "desert" is sometimes used to describe an empty area—but Walker and Landau make clear that the Mojave Desert is full of life.”—Landscape Architecture Magazine

“The book is beautiful and could be a coffee table volume, but do not be deceived. The photographs (in color) are striking and instructive; the line artwork and tables are crisp and clean. The writing style, though casual, is inviting. This book could serve as the basis for a specialty course for undergraduates or beginning graduate students unfamiliar with deserts.”—Choice

“Walker and Landau’s book on the Mojave Desert is not merely a lovely addition to the natural history of arid lands of North America; it is also a breakthrough of sorts, given that it is more comprehensive and integrative than any single work we now have for the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, or Great Basin Deserts. You’ll wish you were along hiking, camping, and nature-watching with these well-trod desert rats. This soon-to-be classic is a delight.”—Gary Paul Nabhan
 
“A grand introduction to North America’s smallest desert, suitable for newbies and desert rats alike. I’ll take it with me on every Mojave Desert trip in the future.”—Janice Emily Bowers

From the Publisher