Why Does the World Stay Green?

Nearly every form of life has the capacity to multiply and increase at a really astonishing rate. Think of plagues of locusts or mice. Clearly, for the vast majority of animals this does not happen, otherwise they would swamp the world and destroy all the plants. So why doesn’t it happen, and why does the world stay green? The concept explored in this book contends that animals are not controlled through predation but because plants have outwitted them; they cannot obtain enough of the food they must have to reproduce and grow.

Why Does the World Stay Green? explains, in simple terms, how this comes about in nature and describes some of the many fascinating ways in which animals have evolved to cope with this usually chronic shortage of an essential resource. It is fascinating and easy-reading for anyone interested in natural history.

The author, TCR White, has acted as a strong influence for the last 40 years on the ecological community, presenting confronting and at times controversial theories on the limiting role that nitrogen plays in the evolution of life. Why Does the World Stay Green? reveals this fascinating and important ecological theory.

Features

* Explores interesting and controversial theories on ecology
* Presents new ways of thinking about the interaction of plants and animals
* Filled with examples that will challenge many current ecologists
* Written in non-technical language

Tom C.R. White has, since 1969, acted as a strong influence on the ecological community with arguments on the limiting role of nitrogen, in particular, on the ecology of herbivorous animals. This much-cited author wrote The Inadequate Environment in 1993. He has published a host of papers with scientific journals world wide and is associated with numerous scientific and professional societies. Tom is a former President of The Royal Society of South Australia and a recipient of the Society's Sir Joseph Verco Medal for publication of distinguished scientific research. He was awarded a DSc by the University of Adelaide for his ecological work. Now retired, Tom is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Waite Institute, University of Adelaide, where he pursues his interests in population ecology, plant-herbivore interactions, forest entomology and ecological theory.