Polar Bears: The Natural History of a Threatened Species.

Markham, Ontario, Canada: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 334 pp. ISBN 978-1-55455-155-2.

Inhalt:

The book covers polar bear population ecology, behaviour, physiology, genetics,  interspecic relationships with seals, sea ice, polynyas, denning habitat, environmental degradation, human development, and models of future Arctic change. It is largely non-technical, providing a broad understanding of the ecology and natural history of polar bears that is accessible to most people. Yet it does not “talk down” to readers; they  can expect to  be challenged  with complex ideas and difcult topics, from the effects of contaminants on polar bears (e.g., hermaphroditism) to models of predicted climate change. Some of the best writing is found in Ian’s descriptions of how polar bears travel, hunt, eat, den, and interact. His many hours in the eld have provided him with a unique perspective that can give readers a sense of what it is like to be a polar bear.

Most of the book is scientic in  presentation, but the stories of unique observations made by Stirling and his
colleagues are equally interesting and valuable.

stirling-biblio