Biomes and Ecosystems

Gr 7 Up—Grouping topics around five biomes (marine/oceanic, inland aquatic, desert, forest, and grassland/tundra/human), this set offers 35 signed overviews on subtopics relevant to the various areas, and 500 two- to four-page signed essays on specific locations or ecosystems such as the Everglades, the Kalahari Desert, or the Mid-Pacific Gyre (the "Trash Vortex," where mostly plastic debris is trapped by circular oceanic currents). Essays include references to relatively recent events such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010) and the Three Gorges Dam (2011); they close with further-reading suggestions. Topics are handled with scientific detachment, while still portraying developments such as forest clear-cutting and global warming as threats to the world's ecosystems. Words that may be unfamiliar are defined in the context of the article, as well as in the glossary. The time line notes events through Hurricane Sandy (October 2012). Purchase of the set includes all-school access to a database version that is part of Salem Science. Once the subscription is activated, students can search the material by key words or phrases or use the online topic finder. Most of the online articles have at least one full-color photo, while photos in the print version are black-and-white. Offering both breadth and depth, this title makes a solid choice for ecosystem research. Librarians and the teens they serve will appreciate having both print and online access.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX