Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia

This title is meant as a companion to Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia: Evolution (2011). MacLeod (Natural History Museum, London) calls this the first work of its kind on the subject, "[providing] a comprehensive overview of the many disparate topics covered by extinction research," combining in one title material on ancient extinctions with other work on the modern biodiversity crisis, along with coverage of social, political, and economic implications. Content appears as 83 articles contributed by as many scientists from around the world. The pieces are in no discernible order, other than more general articles at the beginning ("Kinds of Extinctions," "Evolution and Extinction") and the end ("The Future of Life on Earth"). Articles may cover a particular life form ("Primates," "Trees"), geologic time ("The End-Jurassic Extinction"), habitat or island ("Coral Reef Ecosystems," "Madagascar"), or other topic ("Role of Zoological Gardens," "Climate Change"). Color tables and illustrations add both content and visual variety. Each article is signed and concludes with a healthy list of resources. The set ends with further-reading suggestions, a list of related organizations, and a glossary.