Florida

A self-designated "traveler's field guide," this book is aimed at ecotourists who "travel to destinations to admire and enjoy wildlife and relatively undisturbed natural areas, as well as indigenous cultures." It contains short expert essays on Florida's flora and fauna, geography, ecosystems, parks, preserves, and, to its credit, one titled "Environmental Threats and Conservation Programs." The chapters on wildlife groups (amphibians, birds, mammals, etc.) contain general descriptions, natural histories, places/likelihood of spotting individual animals, and "profiles" of the families in each group. The profiles include summaries of that family's ecology, behavior, breeding, interactions, and status. There are color plates of types of ecosystems, major tree species and other plants, and various animal species, including insects and marine animals. This is a tremendous amount of information, all very useful for an ecotourist. That inclusiveness allows the traveler to carry this single guide rather than several. For academic settings, it would be useful in ecotourism programs and for training environmental interpreters and guides, but it would not substitute for resources or courses covering its topics in depth (the book makes no pretense at the latter). Summing Up: Recommended. All levels. W. Ouderkirk SUNY Empire State College