Books

Thumb	Full	Title	Author	Description	Where to Find
		Flower Flies of Los Angeles County	Brian V. Brown, James N. Hogue, F. Christian Thompson	All creatures function well in their habitats, having been shaped by millions of years of natural selection. Few show the mastery of their ways of life in ways so remarkable, however, as the flower flies. In fact, most people do not even notice these exceptional creatures because most are small and because most people have strongle negative opinions about flies in general. Responding to a call for biodiversity inventory projects from the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Dr. Brin Brown, of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and Dr. James Hogue, of California State University Northridge, submitted a proposal to study the flower flies of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. They enlisted the help of Dr. F. Christian Thompson, retired from the USDA in Washington DC, and expert on the taxonomy of syrphid flies (flower flies). With funding administered by the National Park Service, these three researchers collected new specimens, inventoried existing collections, identified the specimens, and databased the records. This popular level book is designed to bring the results of this research to a wide-ranging audience, and to document the incredible beauty of these diminutive but important creatures.
		Manual of Central American Diptera, Volume 1	B. V. Brown head editor; author: Introduction, Natural History (co-author)	True flies, or Diptera, are an exceedingly diverse and tremendously important group of animals not only because of their impact on human health, but also because of their varied roles as decomposers, herbivores, predators and parasites of other animals. This two-volume book, a collaboration of over 70 experts on Diptera, is the first-ever resource for the identification and understanding of Central American flies. Together, the two volumes treat all 106 families of flies found in the region, including discussions of biology, economic importance, classification, identification to the genus level as well as a synopsis of each genus. In a time of major ecosystem destruction, this work provides the basis for understanding the biodiversity of one of the major orders of insects in a large tropical region. It will be the foundation for future taxonomic studies for decades to come. Volume 1 covers 42 of the 106 families of flies – sometimes termed the Lower Diptera – and includes introductory chapters dealing with morphology and terminology, natural history, economic importance and phylogeny of Diptera as well as keys to all the Central American fly families for both the adult and larval stages. The text is accompanied by over 1500 line drawings and 144 color photographs of flies.
		Manual of Central American Diptera, Volume 2	B.V. Brown head editor; author: Introduction, Natural History (co-author), Lonchopteridae chapter, Phoridae chapter, Braulidae chapter	True flies, or Diptera, are an exceedingly diverse and tremendously important group of animals not only because of their impact on human health, but also because of their varied roles as decomposers, herbivores, predators and parasites of other animals.This two-volume book, a collaboration of over 70 experts on Diptera, is the first-ever resource for the identification and understanding of Central American flies.Together, the two volumes treat all 106 families of flies found in the region, including discussions of biology, economic importance, classification, identification to the genus level as well as a synopsis of each genus. In a time of major ecosystem destruction, this work provides the basis for understanding the biodiversity of one of the major orders of insects in a large tropical region. It will be the foundation for future taxonomic studies for decades to come. While Volume 1 includes several introductory chapters and treats 42 families of flies in the Lower Diptera, Volume 2 covers the remaining 64 families of flies that make up the Higher Diptera (or Cyclorrhapha).These include families of house flies, fruit flies, bot flies, flower flies and many other lesser-known groups.The text is accompanied by over 1660 line drawings and photographs.
		Butterfly Gardening In Southern California	B.V. Brown editor	A book to encourage backyard butterfly gardening, this volume is a field guide to the common butterflies of the Los Angeles Basin, as well as some less frequently-seen species from the surrounding beaches and mountains. With color photographs, it showcases the stunning array of types still found in urban backyards and parks. To help promote conservation and enhancement of butterfly populations, it includes information to help gardeners select flowers that attract adults and the food plants that will support thriving populations of caterpillars.
		Insects of the Los Angeles Basin		Southern California is home not only to the country's second largest metropolitan center but to an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 different kinds of insects. Insects of the Los Angeles Basin provides an introduction to more than 400 of the most conspicuous or curious of these invertebrate animals and to about 70 spiders, mites and ticks, and related forms. With color photographs or drawings of all but a few species, the text describes the size and most striking physical characteristics of adults and immature stages and gives information on locomotion and behavior, offensive and defensive maneuvers, mating rituals, food preference, nests and traps, and noises and scents. The specific habitat and general geographic range of each insect are included, as are lore and superstition regarding some notorious species.
		Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Five-Volume Set, 2nd Edition	B. V. Brown author: Diversity of flies, gnats and mosquitoes chapter	First used in 1980, ";biodiversity"; often describes the abundance, variety, and genetic constitution of native animals and plants, and has been linked with politics and environmental technology. Although the 1986 National forum on biodiversity brought issues of biodiversity to the fore, the inescapable need to know more about the diversity of life on Earth continues to remain unmet. In recent years, biodiversity has influenced important scientific considerations, international agreements, conventions, conservation initiatives, political debates, and socio-economic implications. Knowledge derived from the study of biodiversity will affect the quality of life enjoyed in the future by influencing decision-making processes and aiding new discoveries. The science of biodiversity has become the science of our future. Our awareness of the loss of biodiversity has brought a long overdue appreciation of the magnitude of our loss and a determination to develop the tools to protect our future. The Encyclopedia of Biodiversity brings together, for the first time, a study of the dimensions of diversity. It examination of the services biodiversity provides, and measures to protect it. Major themes of the work include the evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories of biodiversity, and an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends in biodiversity.
		Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest	B. V. Brown author: Phorid flies of Costa Rica cloud forests chapter	The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has captured the worldwide attention of biologists, conservationists, and ecologists and has been the setting for extensive investigation over the past 30 years. Roughly 40,000 ecotourists visit the Cloud Forest each year, and it is often considered the archetypal high-altitude rain forest. This volume brings together some of the most prominent researchers of the region to provide a broad introduction to the biology of the Monteverde and cloud forests in general. Collecting and synthesizing vital information about the ecosystem and its biota, the book also examines the positive and negative effects of human activity on both the forest and the surrounding communities. Ecologists, tropical biologists, and natural historians will find this volume an indispensable resource as will all those who are fascinated by the magnificent wonders of the tropical forests.

{Thumb}{Title}

{Full}

{Title}

{Author}

{Description}

{Where_to_Find}