Ecological Planet - An Introduction to Earth's Major Ecosystems

The Modern Scholar

By: Professor John Kricher

Narrated by: John Kricher

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

From jungles and rain forests to the driest deserts and barren arctic terrain, Planet Earth comprises a breathtaking array of ecosystems. As quickly becomes apparent, no one ecosystem exists independently of the rest, and no matter where a person resides, an understanding of all the ecosystems and how they work together as a living planet provides a better understanding of man's place on Earth and the future of the environment.

In this series of lectures, renowned ornithologist John Kricher presents an absorbing analysis of the diverse ecosystems that exist on Planet Earth. He provides a factual study of the many fragile and threatened portions of our biosphere while describing the interaction between each system and the effect of man's presence in these ecosystems. Professor Kricher also explains the amazing variety of flora and fauna that inhabit the individual ecosystems and addresses current ecological issues facing mankind.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2008 John Kricher (P)2008 Recorded Books

Good Scholarly Review

You need to be either an academic or have a detailed knowledge of the field. A bit dry but a great coverage of the topic.

thank you for trip around the world

loved learning of my area. Oregon coast. the rest was a bonus, your voice calming.

Great introduction or supplement to coursework

I selected this as a crash course in ecology to supplement my graduate studies in a related field. The content is just what I'd expect in an introductory course, the lecture style is quite nice and his voice is pleasant to listen to. Wish there were more lecture series like this available!

great overview on ecology

if you want to learn about ecology this is a great place to start. very interesting overview of Earth's major biomes. also a fantastic finishing chapter on the economic importance of Nature's services to this planet. it's not all just about saving pretty places to look at!

A crash course in ecology for the very smart...

Easy and affably aimed at the autodidact...but not the dilettante. A good thinly comprehensive overview for the undergrad majors.

Good Introduction to Ecology

I found this audiobook a good introduction to ecology. The narrator is pleasant to listen to and there is a variety of useful information presented. The book presents an overview rather than insightful analysis - but it still is worthwhile.

Author is a True Ecologist

I really like how Kricher shared his personal experiences with me as I followed him on a journey around the Earth. There were so many interesting stories about the plants and animal interactions in the different ecosystems. I have a strong science background and I still learned a lot by listening to this lecture series. I will be sharing what I learned with others. Highly recommended.

Solid Natural Science

Great lectures that are clear and unpretentious.
I love listening just to remind me how fascinating our world it.
Great for any library.

systems science at its best!

Complexity is my absolute favorite thing to study. There are fewer subjects more integral to complexity than ecology and cosmology. This lecture series in ecology was superb. Kricher masterfully guided his audience through how the earth function as a system, as well as through all of Earth's nested systems.

This is systems science at its best.

This got me interested in science

Would you listen to The Modern Scholar again? Why?

Absolutely. Though in general I prefer the Great Courses from the Teaching Comnpany, this is a star in the Modern Scholar series.

Which scene was your favorite?

Describing the oceans and their regions: benthic, littoral, etc. Fascinating creatures.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Well, I listened it two years ago, and it got me interested in science. I've explored all kinds of science since then, but especially bio.

Any additional comments?

For literature courses from the Modern Scholar, Prof. Drout is GREAT.