Billiken Bookmarks: Summer Reading Picks From SLU Authors

Where Song Began; Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World  by Tim Low (Yale University Press, 2016)

Almost 250 years of natural history studies combined with modern genetic and geological research produce a  new and exciting view of how events shaped the unique bird life of Australia and how the bird life shaped the Australian continent.  Matching old and new data the author comes to the conclusion that the evolution and dispersal of Australia's birds changed environments on other continents and how humans need to change their views on birds in general.

The ability of this author to marry recent science with decades of governmental policies and the experiences of Australian visitors and citizens makes me envious.  You will not think of Australia as some sort of attic for outmoded animals any more. The text is written in such an easy to understand style that the author seems to be educating you by deceit. The center pages of color photos are astonishing.

I am currently writing lectures for a new course at Saint Louis University on the biodiversity of Australia so this book is a trusted companion and I hope the undergraduates will be willing to use it as a text.  More important, at SLU we are continually trying to break down truisms and stereotypes. 

Unfortunately, Nature gets stereotyped as well and Tim Low is showing us how we can change that by making recent scientific research available to those who may lack Ph.D.s but are willing to learn.

Peter Bernhardt is the senior professor in the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University.  His research specializes on the reproductive biology of locally threatened and endangered plant species but this also includes the pollination of orchids and members of the macadamia nut family in Australia. 

He is the author and co-author of more than 120 books and reviewed papers.  His most recent book, Darwin's Orchids; Then and Now (2014, U. of Chicago Press) was co-authored and co-edited with Retha Edens-Meier, Ph.D., of SLU's School of Education(Dept. of Education).  He also reviews books for "The Science Show" on Radio Australia.