PREFACE
The second volume of "Desert Biology" continues with a further documentation of conditions and of life in the arid regions of the world. It
comes at a time when we are witnessing an accelerated interest in the hot,
dry regions of our planet. Continued advances in functional architecture,
in large-scale air-conditioning efforts, and in sanitary engineering practices
have fostered comfortable desert living. New agricultural undertakings,
improved business communications, creation of new sport and recreational
facilities—coupled with decentralization of business, government, and
organization offices—promise to bring about an increased immigration of
people into the desert regions.
The desert looms important in man's concern for energy. Recent attention has been given to the high average solar radiation of desert areas,
pointing toward possible development of solar energy farms using new
solar-electronic power devices. And political and economic vicissitudes,
especially in connection with oil, have focused attention anew on the arid
regions of North Africa and the Middle-East with their petroleum reserves.
Persistent inquiry into the physical and biological aspects of desert
structure and of man's relationship to it will provide foundations enabling
society to deal intelligently with this oftentimes hostile, yet intriguing,
frontier. Let us hope that the fragile and delicately poised arid regions are
not subjected to the technological blunders made in other regions. I believe
with many others that even slight ecological damage to arid regions may
not be reparable for scores of years. Indeed, the damage may be irreversible. Let us act wisely.
Editing of this volume was carried out while I held a training grant
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or its predecessors. My
wife Susan was always willing to help correct manuscripts, read proof,
xiii
The second volume of "Desert Biology" continues with a further documentation of conditions and of life in the arid regions of the world. It
comes at a time when we are witnessing an accelerated interest in the hot,
dry regions of our planet. Continued advances in functional architecture,
in large-scale air-conditioning efforts, and in sanitary engineering practices
have fostered comfortable desert living. New agricultural undertakings,
improved business communications, creation of new sport and recreational
facilities—coupled with decentralization of business, government, and
organization offices—promise to bring about an increased immigration of
people into the desert regions.
The desert looms important in man's concern for energy. Recent attention has been given to the high average solar radiation of desert areas,
pointing toward possible development of solar energy farms using new
solar-electronic power devices. And political and economic vicissitudes,
especially in connection with oil, have focused attention anew on the arid
regions of North Africa and the Middle-East with their petroleum reserves.
Persistent inquiry into the physical and biological aspects of desert
structure and of man's relationship to it will provide foundations enabling
society to deal intelligently with this oftentimes hostile, yet intriguing,
frontier. Let us hope that the fragile and delicately poised arid regions are
not subjected to the technological blunders made in other regions. I believe
with many others that even slight ecological damage to arid regions may
not be reparable for scores of years. Indeed, the damage may be irreversible. Let us act wisely.
Editing of this volume was carried out while I held a training grant
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or its predecessors. My
wife Susan was always willing to help correct manuscripts, read proof,
xiii