The Assembly of a Northern Ecosystem, and the Discovery of its Natural History. Setting the Stage
The Emergence of the North Woods
The Birth and Death of a Beaver Pond
Capturing the Light. How Long Should a Leaf Live?
Foraging and Food Webs. Foraging in the Beaver's Pantry
Mouse Wars, Fungi, and Spruce
What Should a Clever Moose Eat?
Tent Caterpillars, Aspens, and the Regulation of Ecosystems
The Diversity of Warblers and the Control of Spruce Budworm
The Dance of Hare and Lynx
Pollinators, Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds. Skunk Cabbages, Blowflies, and the Smells of Spring
When Should Flowers Bloom and Fruits Ripen?
Everybody's Favorite Berries
Coevolution of Crossbills and Conifer Cones
Fire and the Dynamics of the Landscape. Does Fire Destroy or Maintain the North Woods?
The Correlated Evolution of Serotiny, Flammability, and Fire
Epilogue: Climate Change and the Disassembly of the North Woods
Postscript: The Beauty of Natural History.
