| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
Natural scientists throughout the country had better make some space on their bookshelves as the expansive third edition of The Natural History of Canterbury is launched next week by Canterbury University Press.
The 924-page volume provides a comprehensive, up-to-date account of knowledge of Canterbury's flora, fauna and environment.
Written with a broad audience in mind, it will be an invaluable resource for natural scientists, students, environmental managers, and interested lay readers from Canterbury and throughout New Zealand.
 |
| The book's editors (from left) Dr Colin Burrows, Emeritus Professor Michael Winterbourn, Associate Professor Islay Marsden and Emeritus Professor George Knox. |
Emeritus Professor Michael Winterbourn, one of the book's four co-editors, described the book as a “landmark volume” in biological sciences publishing and said his hope was that it would be as well-used as the previous edition (published in 1969) that shared the same title.
Professor Winterbourn said the publication of the new edition, effectively a new book given the enormous increase in new information it contained, was very exciting.
“This huge book has been a long time in gestation and it will be really good to see it out at last.”
The book's 27 chapters draw on the wide-ranging experience and expertise of more than 40 scientists and academics. With so many authors, pulling the book together had been a mammoth project for the four co-editors — Emeritus Professor George Knox, Dr Colin Burrows, Associate Professor Islay Marsden and Professor Winterbourn — and Canterbury University Press editors Rachel Scott and the late Richard King.
Professor Marsden said the majority of authors were Canterbury residents or had strong links with the region. More than half of them have University of Canterbury connections, with current, former and retired staff, and past and present students having contributed to chapters in the book.
“There is also a lot of previously-unpublished information, for example from student theses, so the book makes it all available and places it in context. We hope the book will allow people to get into the literature very easily in all sorts of areas as each chapter is very thoroughly referenced,” Professor Marsden said.
Chapters cover the geology, geomorphology and geography of the region, its climate and soils, and the history of Maori colonisation and life. Vegetation, past and present, is dealt with in detail, as are fossil and present-day faunas, including birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals.
The ecology of terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats is comprehensively examined and timely and thought-provoking chapters deal with ecological restoration, conservation issues and environmental management.
Extensive use of colour photographs enables the reader to visualise many of the remarkable plants, animals and landscapes found in the region.
The Natural History of Canterbury will be launched at the University of Canterbury's University Bookshop (UBS) on Thursday 29 May. It was published with the support of the Canterbury Branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Canterbury Community Trust.
For further information please contact:
Maria De Cort
Publicist
Canterbury University Press
c/-Communications & Development
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Tel: +64 3 364 2072
Fax: +64 3 364 2679
maria.decort@canterbury.ac.nz
http://www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz/releases/