North America contains an incredibly diverse array of natural environments, each supporting a unique system of plant and animal life. These systems--also known as biomes--are tightly woven webs of life that have taken millennia to evolve. This richly illustrated book introduces readers to this extraordinary array of natural communities and to the subtle interactions of minerals, plants, and animals that take place within them.

Completely revised and updated throughout, the Second Edition of this successful text takes a qualitative, intuitive approach to the subject, beginning with an...