THE KINGFISHER ILLUSTRATED NATURE ENCYCLOPEDIA

This stunning profile of our planet"s plant and animal life is illustrated by superb photographs of many of the world"s most fascinating species. The first section guides the reader through the formation of the planet,the beginning of life, evolution, and animal and plant life today. The second section introduces the kingdoms of life on the planet, from microlife to the largest species. The main section takes a detailed look at the world"s wildlife habitats, with special features about particular species such as the Alpine marmot in its mountain habitat, the black woodpecker of coniferous forests and the reindeer moss that sustains those hardy animals on the icy tundra. This is a book that illuminates, informs and takes the reader"s breath away-it is a book to treasure.

Introduction PART 1 A PLANET APART Introducing the earth How the earth formed How life began The biosphere 1 The biosphere 2 The world of water Living on land Energy for life Changing climate Seasons and weather Dealing with disaster The evolution of life Timeline of life 1 Timeline of life 2 How evolution works 1 How evolution works 2 Genes and DNA Adapting to survive 1 Adapting to survive 2 Shared solutions Extinction Wildlife under threat Back from the brink PART 2 THE LIVING WORLD Kingdoms of life Classifying living things Microlife Bacteria Viruses Protozoans Algae Fungi How fungi feed How fungi reproduce Fungi and animals Fungi and plants Plants Living on light Leaves Flowers Pollination Flowerheads Seeds and fruit Seeds on the move Plants without flowers Plant life cycles Trees How trees grow Plant defences Carnivorous plants Passengers and parasites Animals Shapes and skeletons Breathing How animals move Gliding and flying Animal senses 1 Animal senses 2 Plant-eaters Predators Scavengers Animal defences Partners and parasites Animal reproduction Starting life Growing up Instinct and learning Living in a group Animal architects Ecology Homes and habitats Living together Food chains and webs PART 3 WILDLIFE HABITATS Biomes of the world Arctic and tundra Antarctica Deserts Grasslands and savanna Shrublands Temperate forests Coniferous forests Tropical forests Rivers, lakes and wetlands Mountains and caves Oceans Coasts Coral reefs Towns and cities REFERENCE Glossary Websites Index Acknowledgements