This is a book about how scientists gather information through observation and field work. It is a series of 25 short extracts from various field notes on what was discovered and some of the pitfalls of those discoveries.
In truth there is an unevenness in the various reports. The best ones were those in which the author faced difficulties in collecting information from caving in South Australia hunting for elusive blind spiders, being stalked by a pack of hyenas in the Serengeti Plains in Africa or dealing with rather amorous mountain gorillas.
On the other hand, searching for fungi or looking at how intensive almond plantation management affected local pollinating insects while interesting didn’t quite have the same excitement as other stories involving Polar bears or sharks.
Wild Science is a book to dip into, finding those stories which might excite curiosity and interest and certainly encompasses the wide scientific work which is accomplished and rarely written about.
Reviewed by Anthony Llewellyn-Evans
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Helen P Waudby is an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Gulbali Institute at Charles Sturt University, and a conservation biologist with the NSW Government. She has over 20 years’ experience in wildlife research and conservation, and also co-edited the book Wildlife Research in Australia: Practical and Applied Methods.
With contributions from Cara Penton, Terrah Guymala and Warddeken rangers; Christopher R Dickman; Euan G Ritchie; Pam Catcheside; Neil R. Jordan, Laura Kojima; Leonardo Guida; Manu E. Saunders; David M Watson; Jessica Marsh; Erika M. Roper; Laura M. Skates; Andrew E. Derocher; Isabel Castro; David G. Hamilton; Abi T Vanak; Jodi J . Rowley; Wayne Boardman; Robert Heinsohn; Jo Isaac; Lydia McLean; Tracy Ainsworth; Dieter F Hochuli; and Bradley P Smith.
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