The Natural World of Lewis and Clark
Language: English
Pages: 264
ISBN: 0826217664
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
On their journey westward, Lewis and Clark demonstrated an amazing ability to identify the new plants and animals they encountered, and their observations enriched science’s understanding of the trans-Mississippi West. Others have written about their discoveries and have faithfully cataloged their findings; now a twenty-first-century biologist reexamines some of those discoveries in the light of modern science to show for the first time their lasting biological significance.
The Natural World of Lewis and Clark interprets the expedition’s findings from a modern perspective to show how advances such as DNA research, modern understanding of proteins, and the latest laboratory methods shed new light on them. David Dalton recounts the expedition’s observations and, in clear, readily accessible terms, relates them to principles of ecology, genetics, physiology, and even animal behavior.
Writing in informal language with a bit of wry humor, Dalton invites readers to imagine the West that Lewis and Clark found, revealing the dynamic features of nature and the dramatic changes that earlier peoples brought about. He explains surprising facts, ranging from why Indians used cottonwood bark as winter feed for horses to why the explorers experienced gastric distress with some foods, and even why the Expedition’s dog would have been well-advised to avoid a diet of salmon.
Dalton introduces the tools and techniques of today’s science in a way that won’t intimidate nonspecialist readers. Throughout the book he expertly balances botanical and zoological information, with coverage ranging from the extinction of large animals in North America a few thousand years ago to the expected effects of invasive species and climate change in the coming centuries.
Enhanced with unusual and informative illustrations—not only nature photography but also historical images—this book will fascinate any reader with an interest in the natural history of the American West as well as broader issues in conservation and ecology. The Natural World of Lewis and Clark tells the story behind the story of this remarkable expedition and shows that its legacy extended not only across a continent but also into our own time.
perogues to put to, and waited untill he arrived; I now found that it was Bratton. . . . [H]e arrived so much out of breath that it was several minutes before he could tell what had happened; . . . he had shot a brown bear which immediately turned on him and pursued him a considerable distance but he had wounded it so badly that it could not overtake him; I immediately turned out with seven of the party in quest of this monster, we at length found his trale and persued him about a mile by the
tions which you may be so good as to make to him. I make no apology for this trouble, because I know that the same wish to promote science which has induced me to bring forward this proposition, will induce you to aid in promoting it. Accept as‑ surances of my friendly esteem & high respect.8 8. Jackson, Letters of the Expedition, 16. 40 The Natural World of Lewis and Clark Barton became so intrigued with the prospects for this venture that he wanted to go himself. It almost happened, but
black every other part of a light brown, and about the Size of a robin.” As was often the case, both captains offered the same description nearly verbatim in their journals. In this case, it appears that Clark was the initial observer and that Lewis copied him, the reverse of the 141 142 The Natural World of Lewis and Clark normal order. It seems unlikely that Lewis, being the astute naturalist that he was, would think this bird was a woodpecker if he had seen it himself. Nutcrackers are
longest, and the remain‑ ing 9 on each side deminish by pairs as they receede from the center; that is any one feather is equal in length to one equa distant from the center of the tail on the oposite side. the tail when foalded comes to a very sharp point and appears long in proportion to the body. in the act of flying the tail resembles that of a wild pigeon. tho’ the motion of the wings is much that of the pheasant and Grouse. they have four toes on each foot of which the hinder one is short.
adolescent humans might have amused themselves by using them just for tar‑ get practice.10 The humans wiped out the megafauna before there was time for the animals to learn or evolve appropriate defenses. The hunters rode their success in a line of death first through North America and then South America, wiping out the local populations of large animals as they marched south in search of continued abun‑ dance of game. The leading front of this wave could have supported a dense population of