Kingdoms and Domains: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth, 4th edition

Now published by Academic Press and revised from the author's previous Five Kingdoms 3rd edition, this extraordinary, all inclusive catalogue of the world’s living organisms describes the diversity of the major groups, or phyla, of nature’s most inclusive taxa. Developed after consultation with specialists, this modern classification scheme is consistent both with the fossil record and with recent molecular, morphological and metabolic data. Generously illustrated, now in full color, Kingdoms and Domains is remarkably easy to read. It accesses the full range of life forms that still inhabit our planet and logically and explicitly classifies them according to their evolutionary relationships. Definitive characteristics of each phylum are professionally described in ways that, unlike most scientific literature, profoundly respect the needs of educators, students and nature lovers. This work is meant to be of interest to all evolutionists as well as to conservationists, ecologists, genomicists, geographers, microbiologists, museum curators, oceanographers, paleontologists and especially nature lovers whether artists, gardeners or environmental activists. Kingdoms and Domains is a unique and indispensable reference for anyone intrigued by a planetary phenomenon: the spectacular diversity of life, both microscopic and macroscopic, as we know it only on Earth today. • New Foreword by Edward O. Wilson • The latest concepts of molecular systematics, symbiogenesis, and the evolutionary importance of microbes • Newly expanded chapter openings that define each kingdom and place its members in context in geological time and ecological space • Definitions of terms in the glossary and throughout the book • Ecostrips, illustrations that place organisms in their most likely environments such as deep sea vents, tropical forests, deserts or hot sulfur springs • A new table that compares features of the most inclusive taxa • Application of a logical, authoritative, inclusive and coherent overall classification scheme based on evolutionary principles Now published by Academic Press and revised from the author's previous Five Kingdoms 3rd edition, this extraordinary, all inclusive catalogue of the world2s living organisms describes the diversity of the major groups, or phyla, of nature2s most inclusive taxa. Developed after consultation with specialists, this modern classification scheme is consistent both with the fossil record and with recent molecular, morphological and metabolic data. Generously illustrated, now in full color, Kingdoms and Domains is remarkably easy to read. It accesses the full range of life forms that still inhabit our planet and logically and explicitly classifies them according to their evolutionary relationships. Definitive characteristics of each phylum are professionally described in ways that, unlike most scientific literature, profoundly respect the needs of educators, students and nature lovers. This work is meant to be of interest to all evolutionists as well as to conservationists, ecologists, genomicists, geographers, microbiologists, museum curators, oceanographers, paleontologists and especially nature lovers whether artists, gardeners or environmental activists. Kingdoms and Domains is a unique and indispensable reference for anyone intrigued by a planetary phenomenon: the spectacular diversity of life, both microscopic and macroscopic, as we know it only on Earth today. 5New Foreword by Edward O. Wilson 5The latest concepts of molecular systematics, symbiogenesis, and the evolutionary importance of microbes 5Newly expanded chapter openings that define each kingdom and place its members in context in geological time and ecological space 5Definitions of terms in the glossary and throughout the book 5Ecostrips, illustrations that place organisms in their most likely environments such as deep sea vents, tropical forests, deserts or hot sulfur springs 5A new table that compares features of the most inclusive taxa 5Application of a logical, authoritative, inclusive and coherent overall classification scheme based on evolutionary principles Now published by Academic Press and revised from the author's previous Five Kingdoms Third edition, this extraordinary, all inclusive catalogue of the world's living organisms describes the diversity of the major groups, or phyla, of nature's most inclusive taxa. Developed after consultation with specialists, this modern classification scheme is consistent both with the fossil record and with recent molecular, morphological and metabolic data. Generously illustrated, now in full color, Kingdoms and Domains is remarkably easy to read. It accesses the full range of life forms that still inhabit our planet and logically and explicitly classifies them according to their evolutionary relationships. Definitive characteristics of each phylum are professionally described in ways that, unlike most scientific literature, profoundly respect the needs of educators, students and nature lovers. This work is meant to be of interest to all evolutionists as well as to conservationists, ecologists, genomicists, geographers, microbiologists, museum curators, oceanographers, paleontologists and especially nature lovers whether artists, gardeners or environmental activists.Kingdoms and Domains is a unique and indispensable reference for anyone intrigued by a planetary phenomenon: the spectacular diversity of life, both microscopic and macroscopic, as we know it only on Earth today. New Foreword by Edward O. Wilson The latest concepts of molecular systematics, symbiogenesis, and the evolutionary importance of microbes Newly expanded chapter openings that define each kingdom and place its members in context in geological time and ecological space Definitions of terms in the glossary and throughout the book Ecostrips, illustrations that place organisms in their most likely environments such as deep sea vents, tropical forests, deserts or hot sulfur springs A new table that compares features of the most inclusive taxa Application of a logical, authoritative, inclusive and coherent overall classification scheme based on evolutionary principles

An all-inclusive catalogue of the world's living diversity, Five Kingdoms defines and describes the major divisions of nature's five great kingdoms-bacteria, protoctists, animals, fungi, and plants-using a modern classification scheme that is consistent with both the fossil record and molecular data.

Generously illustrated and easy to follow, it not only allows students to sample the full range of life forms inhabiting our planet but to familiarize themselves with the taxonomic theories by which all organisms' origins and distinctive characteristics are traced and classified.

This completely revised and updated third edition includes an introduction by Stephen Jay Gould.

* New ideas on molecular systematics, symbiogenisis, and the place of microbes in the evolution of life

* Newly expanded chapter openings that define each kingdom and place its members in context in time and space

* Definitions of terms in the glossary and, now, also appropriately placed throughout the book

* A new table comparing the main features of each kingdom, showing the logic of the overall classification scheme

* A list of prehistoric dioramas in science museums and in U.S. national parks and monuments guiding readers to trips to the past

* A list of websites directing students to additional information

"This extraordinary, all inclusive catalogue of the world's living organisms describes the diversity of the major groups, or phyla, of nature's most inclusive taxa. Developed after consultation with specialists, this modern classification scheme is consistent both with the fossil record and with recent molecular, morphological and metabolic data. Generously illustrated, now in full color, Kingdoms and Domains is remarkably easy to read. It accesses the full range of life forms that still inhabit our planet and logically and explicitly classifies them according to their evolutionary relationships. Definitive characteristics of each phylum are professionally described in ways that, unlike most scientific literature, profoundly respect the needs of educators, students and nature lovers. This work is meant to be of interest to all evolutionists as well as to conservationists, ecologists, genomicists, geographers, microbiologists, museum curators, oceanographers, paleontologists and especially nature lovers whether artists, gardeners or environmental activists."--Jacket "An all-inclusive catalogue of the world's living diversity, Five Kingdoms defines and describes the major divisions, or phyla, of nature's five great kingdoms - bacteria, protoctists, animals, fungi, and plants - using a modern classification scheme that is consistent with both the fossil record and molecular data. Generously illustrated and remarkably easy to follow, it not only allows readers to sample the full range of life forms inhabiting our planet but to familiarize themselves with the taxonomic theories by which all organisms' origins and distinctive characteristics are traced and classified."--BOOK JACKET. Five Kingdoms: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth was a groundbreaking work when first published in 1982 and this sweeping perspective of life's diversity has now been updated to include information on the impact of molecular biol