The Jade Coast: Ecology of the North Pacific Ocean

The verdant coastline from northern California to southeast Alaska bursts into a rich hue of jade green when the sun emerges from behind a brooding canopy of cloud. This is the Jade Coast - brooding in winter, sparkling in summer and always abounding with life. The coastal waters of the Jade Coast support over 400 species of fish, 161 species of marine birds, 29 marine mammals and over 6500 species of invertebrates. The sheer abundance of some of these animals is staggering. The rivers support some of the largest salmon runs in the world. The estuaries and bays support millions of birds whose migrations span the western hemisphere. In the offshore waters, whales from Mexico and Hawaii feed below the ocean surface. Among the myriad of islands, fjords, and channels are quiet coves within earshot of raging tidal passages, and near-Mediterranean climates within sight of rainforests and mountain-top glaciers. This mosaic of habitats and associated life forms make the evergreen shores of the North Pacific a Shangri La for the naturalist. More than 80 stunning photographs grace The Jade Coast, and bring the book's important messages to life.