Managing Changing Prairie Landscapes

Liette Vasseur is associate vice-president of research at Laurentian
University.

Originating from a conference held at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in
2003, this book focuses on the changes that have occurred and continue
to happen in the Prairie Provinces. The volume takes a multidisciplinary
approach as it explores various aspects of the changing prairies
ecosystem, from biological to socio-economic components.

All ecosystems are changing naturally or under the influence of human
activities. Managing Changing Prairie Landscapes explores the various
implications of these changes not only for human communities but also
for natural and managed ecosystems. Written by different authors, the
chapters present aspects of land use changes and management.

The editors should have combined chapters or topics to reduce
repetitiveness. Topics such as exotic species, C3 and C4 plants and
their survival, and evapotranspiration in ecosystems are each discussed
in at least two different chapters, in some cases with strong overlaps.
In addition, the treatment of abbreviations and units should be
consistent across chapters.

Caveats aside, this book broadens our understanding of the factors
influencing the sustainability of a Canadian ecosystem that, despite
being often taken for granted, is essential for the production of much
of the world’s agricultural grain.