50 Keystone Fauna Species of the Pacific Northwest: A Pocket Guide

by Collin Varner

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Collin Varner is a horticulturalist/arboriculturalist. Over his forty-year career, he worked at the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden, assumed responsibility for conserving 25,000 trees across campus, and taught courses in native plant studies. Now retired, Varner is an avid photographer, world traveller, and bestselling author of The Flora and Fauna of Coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, Edible and Medicinal Flora of the West Coast, Invasive Flora of the West Coast, and the award-winning The Flora and Fauna of Stanley Park.

Reviews

[Liam Ragan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this so you don’t have to. This book represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what a keystone species is, to the extent many of the species listed are invasive to the region, misidentified, or simply not found here. If you think I’m being bombastic;

1. Page 64 - Cross Orbweaver - invasive species from Europe
2. Page 34 - Cooper’s Hawk - includes a photo of a Red-tailed Hawk, a species from a different genus entirely
3. Anna’s Hummingbird - only arrived in BC in the 70s as part of a range expansion driven by ornamental plants in urban areas
4. Page 44 - Acorn Woodpecker - not found in BC, with single vagrants turning up here lost every handful of years

A disappointingly widespread missed opportunity to raise awareness about the diverse, fascinating, and most importantly real ecological diversity of the PNW.

[Fabio Mologni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice short guide on the keystone species of the PNW. However, there are two problems with it. The title suggests a focus on keystone species, yet the book provides only a definition of the term "sui generis". A keystone species is defined as a species that disproportionately impacts the ecosystem relative to its abundance. The lack of this definition becomes apparent throughout the book. As far as I know, the species included are all keystone species. The ecological role section of each species though does not specify why they are keystone species. It merely lists their ecological function. In other words, the same description could be written for non-keystone species. In addition, some species have a "threatened" section, others do not.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book. Good photos.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by UBC professor, photographer, and traveller.