The Journey of Trees by Zach St. George

 

Summary: (Amazon) Forests are restless. Any time a tree dies or a new one sprouts, the forest that includes it has shifted. When new trees sprout in the same direction, the whole forest begins to migrate, sometimes at astonishing rates. Today, however, an array of obstacles―humans felling trees by the billions, invasive pests transported through global trade―threaten to overwhelm these vital movements. Worst of all, the climate is changing faster than ever before, and forests are struggling to keep up.

A deft blend of science reporting and travel writing, The Journeys of Trees explores the evolving movements of forests by focusing on five trees: giant sequoia, ash, black spruce, Florida torreya, and Monterey pine. Journalist Zach St. George visits these trees in forests across continents, finding sequoias losing their needles in California, fossil records showing the paths of ancient forests in Alaska, domesticated pines in New Zealand, and tender new sprouts of blight-resistant American chestnuts in New Hampshire. Everywhere he goes, St. George meets lively people on conservation’s front lines, from an ecologist studying droughts to an evolutionary evangelist with plans to save a dying species. He treks through the woods with activists, biologists, and foresters, each with their own role to play in the fight for the uncertain future of our environment.

An eye-opening investigation into forest migration past and present, The Journeys of Trees examines how we can all help our trees, and our planet, survive and thrive.

Review: 

WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-journeys-of-trees-review-giants-in-transit-11602256237

Interviews:

Powell's Bookshop in Portland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG9Bjm_7s7o

NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/28/896030567/believe-it-or-not-forests-migrate-but-not-fast-enough-for-climate-change

(wwnorton.com)

Author's Website: https://zachstgeorge.com/

Articles/Programs:

Giant Sequoia Genetic Conservation Program: http://www.torreyaguardians.org/sequoia-lunak-2015.pdf

Redwood Genome Project: https://www.savetheredwoods.org/project/redwood-genome-project/

Discussion Questions: 

(npr.org)

The Seaweed Chronicles by Susan Shetterly

 

Summary (Amazon): “Seaweed is ancient and basic, a testament to the tenacious beginnings of life on earth,” writes Susan Hand Shetterly in this elegant, fascinating book. “Why wouldn’t seaweeds be a protean life source for the lives that have evolved since?” On a planet facing environmental change and diminishing natural resources, seaweed is increasingly important as a source of food and as a fundamental part of our global ecosystem.

In Seaweed Chronicles, Shetterly takes readers deep into the world of this essential organism by providing an immersive, often poetic look at life on the rugged shores of her beloved Gulf of Maine, where the growth and harvesting of seaweed is becoming a major industry. While examining the life cycle of seaweed and its place in the environment, she tells the stories of the men and women who farm and harvest it—and who are fighting to protect this critical species against forces both natural and man-made. Ideal for readers of such books as The Hidden Life of Trees and How to Read Water, Seaweed Chronicles is a deeply informative look at a little understood and too often unappreciated part of our habitat.

Reviews: 

1. Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/an-homage-to-seaweed-and-a-plea-for-wise-management-of-this-valuable-resource/2018/08/23/7a51a198-8909-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html

2. Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/seaweed-chronicles-review-a-fragile-world-at-the-waters-edge-1533928547

(Bangor Daily News)  Sheep and Flat Island

Videos and Interviews:

1. Interview: Surry Historical Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu5Puj77aqI

2. Interview: https://vimeo.com/341578655

(medium.com)

Author's Website: http://www.susanhandshetterly.com/

Discussion Questions (Anne will be leading the discussion and also wrote the questions)

(WSJ.org)

Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies by Sara Lewis

Summary (Amazon): For centuries, the beauty of fireflies has evoked wonder and delight. Yet for most of us, fireflies remain shrouded in mystery: How do fireflies make their light? What are they saying with their flashing? And what do fireflies look for in a mate? In Silent Sparks, noted biologist and firefly expert Sara Lewis dives into the fascinating world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these beloved insects. From the meadows of New England and the hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, to the rivers of Japan and mangrove forests of Malaysia, this beautifully illustrated and accessible book uncovers the remarkable, dramatic stories of birth, courtship, romance, sex, deceit, poison, and death among fireflies.

The nearly two thousand species of fireflies worldwide have evolved in different ways―and while most mate through the aerial language of blinking lights, not all do. Lewis introduces us to fireflies that don't light up at all, relying on wind-borne perfumes to find mates, and we encounter glow-worm fireflies, whose plump, wingless females never fly. We go behind the scenes to meet inquisitive scientists who have dedicated their lives to understanding fireflies, and we learn about various modern threats including light pollution and habitat destruction. In the last section of the book, Lewis provides a field guide for North American fireflies, enabling us to identify them in our own backyards and neighborhoods. This concise, handy guide includes distinguishing features, habits, and range maps for the most commonly encountered fireflies, as well as a gear list.

Author Site and Blog: https://silentsparks.com/category/blog/; 

     for the book: https://silentsparks.com/chapter-notes/chapter-1-silent-sparks/

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ1H2ThDcqQ
Synchronous Fireflies in NC video from Ann D. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDHB-Z1w1bs&app=desktop

Reviews:

American Entomologist: https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/63/2/133/3867374

Interviews:

NPR: https://www.npr.org/books/titles/484586962/silent-sparks-the-wondrous-world-of-fireflies

TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/sara_lewis_the_loves_and_lies_of_fireflies?language=en

Articles: 

>TravelLab: Synchronous Fireflies in PA:
a. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania/articles/2018-06-20/travellab-in-a-forest-on-the-trail-of-synchronous-fireflies
b. https://pawilds.com/asset/pennsylvania-firefly-season/
c. Celebrate World Firefly Day by Keeping Nights Dark:
https://xerces.org/2019/07/05/world-firefly-day-2019/ utm_source=Enews+July+2019+%231&utm_campaign=July+Enewsletter+1&utm_medium=email
National Geographic 2019, Mexico fireflies: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/05/watch-how-mexican-fireflies-synchronize-light-shows/

Festivals:

PA Firefly Festival: June 22, 2019: https://www.pafireflyfestival.org/

2020: https://festivalnet.com/69087/Tionesta-Pennsylvania/Specialty-Theme-Events/PA-Firefly-Festival

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you know about fireflies before reading this book? Experiences?

2. What are some of the behaviors males use to get an advantage for finding a mate?

3. Discuss the complicated affairs of sex amongst fireflies and other animals including nuptial gifts and love darts and why they are used.

4. What Umwelt would you like to journey to?

5. Discuss some of the chemical and biological mechanisms of how the firefly lights up, turns its light on, synchronizes and why. What happens next, once the female shows up? (p. 98)

6. Discuss some of the interesting biologists, who studied fireflies and their stories and research including: Raphaël de Cock, Buck, Lloyd, Eisner and his bird Phogel (Vogel = Bird in German) and Meinwald.

7. Fireflies are such complex and not so gentle creatures with an amazing arsenal of chemical weapons and a “thrilling mix of poison, treachery and thieves”. Discuss what their multifaceted defense strategy entails.

8. Discuss the impacts on their populations here in the US and beyond. Living in the Anthropocene era now, what can be done to help protect fireflies for years to come?