A Practical Guide to Nature Study fills a gap in literature dedicated to nature-based education.  Whether you consider yourself a novice or seasoned naturalist, your nature study will benefit from this unique and holistic approach.  As a student of nature, you will build naturalist skills, become more ecologically aware, learn basic natural histories of common flora and fauna, and explore a regional field guide. Through the nature journal exercises presented, A Practical Guide to Nature Study will help you make connections necessary for interpreting your surrounding landscape. 

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART I: Discovering Nature Chapter 1 – Building Your Naturalist Skills 1.1 Nature Awareness Define Nature What Is a Naturalist? Your Naturalist Intelligence Becoming a Naturalist Relating Nature to Your Life Where to Focus Your Attention Observing Animals in the Wild Wildlife Through the Seasons Naturalizing Day and Night Improving Your Observation Skills Making Better Identifications 1.2 Naturalist Activities Preparing for the Outdoors The Simple Naturalist Taxonomy: Classifying What You Observe Going Deeper into Nature The Sit Spot The Field Inventory 1.3 Reflecting on Chapter 1—Building Your Naturalist Skills Chapter 2 – Nature as Your "Place" 2.1 Making Connections—An Ecology Primer Ecology Defined An Ecological Perspective Ecological Knowledge Ecology's Scale of Life 2.2 Landscape Shapers— Glaciers, Climate, Winter, Fire, Humans Glaciers Climate Winter Fire Humans 2.3 The Watershed—A Broad, Yet Local Perspective What Is a Watershed? Scales of Place Making It Real Protecting and Improving Watershed Quality 2.4 Scientific Thinking Inquiry Process Nature Studies 2.5 Reflecting on Chapter 2—Nature as Your "Place" Review Questions Chapter 3 – Parts of Nature: Terrestrial Habitats and Freshwater Systems 3.1 Regional Landscapes 3.2 Classifying and Interpreting Habitats Habitat Defined Classifying a Habitat A Habitat's Wildlife Habitat Signs and Stimuli 3.3 Terrestrial Ecosystems Succession Community Characteristics Forestry Management Goals 3.4 Basic Geology and Soil Types Rock Types Soil Basics 3.5 Freshwater Ecosystems Water Properties and Nature Lake Environments River Characteristics Wetland Wonders 3.6 Reflecting on Chapter 3—Parts of Nature PART II: The Science of Nature Study Chapter 4 – Ecology Essentials 4.1 Scales of Life: Populations and Communities Population Dynamics Community Relationships 4.2 Evolution Basics Background Basic Genetics Scientific Law and Scientific Theory How Evolution Occurs Evidence for Evolution 4.3 The Four Spheres of Earth and Energy Flow The Four Systems Form an Ecosystem Parts of the Biosphere 4.4 Biogeochemical Cycles Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Water Cycle 4.5 Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management Benefits of Biodiversity Levels of Species Loss What Causes Biodiversity Loss? Conservation Approaches Why Should Nature Be Managed? PART III: Natural Histories and Field Guides Chapter 5 – Fungus 5.1 Importance 5.2 Defining Fungus 5.3 Fungus-like Organisms 5.4 Kingdom Fungi 5.5 Spore Dispersal Wind Dispersal Water Dispersal Animal Dispersal Bursting-cell Dispersal Rounding-off Dispersal Basidiospore Discharge 5.6 Ecological Role of Fungus Lichen 5.7 Mushroom Hunting 5.8 Field Guide: Fungus How to Identify Fungus Fungus Species Chapter 6 – Plants 6.1 Plant Basics 6.2 Plant Divisions Moss Ferns Conifers Flowering Plants 6.3 The Woody Structures 6.4 What Happens to Leaves in the Fall? 6.5 Ecological Importance of Trees 6.6 Field Guide: Primitive Plants Kingdom Protista—The Phytoplankton, Green Algae Kingdom Plantae—Division Bryophyta, The "Mosses" 6.7 Field Guide: Herbaceous Plants Ferns and Their Relatives Wildflowers Plant Families to Know Identification Key Wildflower Species Accounts 6.8 Field Guide: Identifying Trees Questions to Ask Yourself Tree Identification Keys Which Tree Key Should I Use? Coniferous Tree Key Deciduous Tree Keys (Broadleaf Trees and Shrubs) 6.9 Field Guide: Trees and Shrubs Conifers (Evergreen; Needleleaf) Deciduous (Broadleaf) Chapter 7 – Invertebrate Animals 7.1 Animal-Like Organisms: Kingdom Protista 7.2 Freshwater Invertebrates: Kingdom Animalia 7.3 Arthropods Class Insecta Class Arachnida—Spiders, Ticks, and Mites Subphylum Crustacea—Zooplankton and Crayfish Class Diplopoda—Millipedes Class Chilopoda—Centipedes 7.4 Field Guide: Insects, Spiders, and Other Arthropods Arthropod Identification Key Arthropod Species Chapter 8 – Vertebrate Animals 8.1 Fish Overview Fish Classes Fish Management What Can I Do? Field Guide: Fish Fish Family Identification Key Fish Species Accounts 8.2 Amphibians Overview Amphibian Evolution Frogs and Toads—Order Anura Salamanders—Order Caudata Amphibian Anatomy and Physiology Vocalizations Migration Dormancy Amphibian Decline Why Should We Care? What Can We Do? Field Guide: Amphibian Species Accounts Frogs Salamanders 8.3 Reptiles Overview Distribution Reptile Evolution Types of Reptiles Reptilian Skin and Skeletal Features Reptile Physiology Growth and Longevity Reptile Threats What Is Being Done? Field Guide: Reptile Species Accounts Turtles Snakes Lizard 8.4 Birds Overview Bird Evolution Anatomy Physiology Bird Behavior Bird Conservation and Management What Can We Do to Help the Birds? Making Connections Field Guide: Birds Determine the Bird Size What is the Bird's Shape? Silhouettes Field Marks Patterns in Flight Foraging Style Habitat Common Birds to Know Bird Species Accounts Birds Identification Key 8.5 Mammals Overview Mammal Evolution Groups of Mammals Skin Glands Mammary Glands Sweat Glands Hair Structures and Functions Mammal Physiology Skeletal System What Can You Do? Review Questions Field Guide: Mammals Signs of Mammals Mammal Species Accounts Mammal Identification Key 8.6 Chordate Characteristics Comparison Chart Conclusion: Wrapping the Bundle References Index