This book will appeal to an international audience as well as be irresistible to local readers. Anyone working or with an interest in Australia's arid zone should need ready access to this book. There is no equivalent publication out there at the moment, and this book has many authoritative chapters, richly illustrated with colourful material.
The challenge of this book was to assemble current knowledge on particular topics and concepts, and principles relating to them. It is also forward-looking by identifying where there are gaps or inadequacies in knowledge, and where future research needs to be directed. Lead authors were encouraged to take such an approach; they had the opportunity to involve any author they considered appropriate. The final product shouldbe a fabulous resource, also for university courses, especially at MSc level.

Introduction

Seeing Red: Some aspects of the geological and climatic history of the Australian arid zone
Evolutionary history
Mineral nutrition of plants in Australia's arid zone
Ecophysiology of Australian Arid-Zone Marsupials
Ecophysiology of Australian Arid-Zone Reptiles
The evolution, physiology, and ecology of the Australian arid zone frog fauna
Terrestrial invertebrates of the Australian arid zone
Subterranean fauna of the arid zone
Fire regimes and ecology of arid Australia
Archaeology and rock art of the north-west arid zone with a focus on animals
Weeds in Australian arid regions
Feral animals in the semi-arid and arid regions of Australia; origins, impacts and control
Climate Change.