The Hidden Company That Trees Keep - by James B Nardi (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book takes a deep dive into the complex and endlessly fascinating relationships between trees and the many organisms that rely on them throughout their entire lifecyles. Some of these stories will be familiar, but others, particularly at the micro-level, will be something of a revelation. Nardi examines every part of the tree to show how the tiniest organisms use micro spaces in leaf scales, twigs, or bark to thrive while larger organisms such as birds and mammals exploit the individual tree's more visible resources and - in return - help seed dispersal or other types of propagation. Nardi's immense knowledge is captured in fully accessible text alongside his own copious and wonderful drawings, rendered in both black-and-white and color. The result is a masterly overview that will guide the reader through the co-evolutionary history of organisms and their tree hosts"--

Book Synopsis

A spectacularly illustrated journey into the intimate communities that native trees share with animals, insects, fungi, and microbes

You can tell a lot about a tree from the company it keeps. James Nardi guides you through the innermost unseen world that trees share with a wondrous array of creatures. With their elaborate immune responses, trees recruit a host of allies as predators and parasites to defend against uninvited advances from organisms that chew on leaves, drain sap, and bore into wood. Microbial life thrives in the hidden spaces of leaf scales, twigs, and bark, while birds, mammals, and insects benefit from the more visible resources trees provide. In return, animals help with pollination, seed dispersal, and recycling of nutrients. The Hidden Company That Trees Keep blends marvelous storytelling with beautiful illustrations and the latest science to reveal how the lives of trees are intertwined with those of their diverse companions.

• Features a wealth of richly detailed drawings accompanied by breathtaking images of microscopic landscapes on leaf, bark, and root surfaces
• Includes informative fact boxes
• Draws on new discoveries in biology and natural history
• Written by one of the world's leading naturalists

Review Quotes

"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

"[A] beautifully presented and well-illustrated book on a unique ecosystem and obviously a real labour of love by the author and full of fascinating information and the latest science."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association

"Wonderfully accessible . . . full of fascinating information and written by a research scientist. . . . Engaging with and encouraging the reader to linger and absorb what is being said at a leisurely pace."---Sean Sheehan, Pris

"Ideal for naturalists and examines these relationships [between trees and ecosystems] in an insightful way."-- "English Garden Magazine"

"Highly recommended."---G.C. Stevens, Choice

"A tree may be bound to a single spot for the whole of its term. It may endure for centuries and seem heroically resigned, doomed even, to isolation. Yet its entire existence is one prolonged process of sharing. It is a lesson from trees we should heed. Nardi's book is the perfect place to learn it."---Mark Cocker, New Statesman

"Fascinating from a British perspective. The presentation in one volume of the sheer number of different species, their interdependence on each other . . . was certainly eye-opening. These organisms need to be less hidden for us all to appreciate and recognise the importance of trees as highly complex ecosystems, to increase the likelihood of them being treated with the respect they deserve."---Mary Cooper, Small Woodland Owners' Group

"This is a lovely book for anyone keen to dive deep into the wide variety of life supported and sustained by trees. Written by James Nardi . . . the book is a detailed natural history of trees and their interactions with microbes and animals, incorporating tree biology and a lot of entomology."---Penny Sarchet, Wild Wild Life, New Scientist

"[The] illustrations are beyond charming and it's just so packed with information."---Margaret Roach, A Way to Garden

"[A] magnificently-illustrated portal to the secret lives of microbes, fungi, and mosses, squirrels, insects, and lizards alike."---Mike Lunsford, Tribune-Star

"In a word, it is superb. James Nardi has done a magnificent job."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

"[A] wonderful book. . . . [This] timely and beautifully written work has the potential of enlightening potential learners on all levels."---Steve Dixon, Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

James B. Nardi is a research scientist in the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His books include Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners, Discoveries in the Garden, and Close Encounters with Insects and Spiders.