{"product_id":"the-galpagos-a-natural-history-9780465035977","title":"The Galpagos: A Natural History","description":"\u003cp\u003eCharles Darwin called it \"a little world within itself.\" Sailors referred to it as \"Las Encantadas\"- the enchanted islands. Lying in the eastern Pacific Ocean  straddling the equator off the west coast of South America  the Galgos is the most pristine archipelago to be found anywhere in the tropics. It is so remote  so untouched  that the act of wading ashore can make you feel like you are the first to do so.  Yet the Galgos is far more than a wild paradise on earth-it is one of the most important sites in the history of science. Home to over 4 000 species native to its shores  around 40 percent of them endemic  the islands have often been called a \"laboratory of evolution.\" The finches collected on the Galgos inspired Darwins revolutionary theory of natural selection.  In The Galgos  science writer Henry Nicholls offers a lively natural and human history of the archipelago  charting its course from deserted wilderness to biological testing ground and global ecotourism hot spot. Describing the island chains fiery geological origins as well as our species long history of interaction with the islands  he draws vivid portraits of the life forms found in the Galgos  capturing its awe-inspiring landscapes  understated flora  and stunning wildlife. Nicholls also reveals the immense challenges facing the islands  which must continually balance conservation and ever encroaching development.  Beautifully weaving together natural history  evolutionary theory  and his own experience on the islands  Nicholls shows that the story of the Galgos is not merely an isolated concern  but reflects the future of our species relationship with nature-and the fate of our planet.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651745898549,"sku":"ByrdShop_0465035973","price":45.93,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780465035977.jpg?v=1781839057","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-galpagos-a-natural-history-9780465035977","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}