Zavaleta editor on new "Ecosystems of California" book
Edited by Hal Mooney of Stanford University and Erika Zavaleta of UC Santa Cruz, "Ecosystems of California" has been 10 years in the making. According to Zavaleta, the original plan was for a 20-chapter volume. "In the end, the book doubled in scope with 149 contributors in total, and I think it's a better product for it," she said.
"We have three target audiences—first and foremost, students and people who want to learn about California ecology, conservation and history," Zavaleta continued. "But it's also for the scientific community since it provides a comprehensive synthesis of what we know—and don't know—about these ecosystems. And last but not least, it's a resource and reference for managers and conservation practitioners as well as nonprofits and agencies that manage, set priorities and plan for conservation of systems."