The Deep-Sea Floor - Hardcover

Sneed B. Collard III has been a biologist and a computer scientist. He's put his knowledge and experience to use by writing more than thirty children's books, including MANY BIOMES, ONE EARTH; BEAKS; and TEETH. He began writing after graduating with honors in marine biology from the University of California at Berkeley. After earning his master’s in scientific instrumentation at the University of California at Santa Barbara, he continued to hone his craft while serving as a computer consultant for biologists. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

Gr. 2-4. One of the great frontiers of scientific discovery in recent years has been the deep-sea floor. In a brief, lucid account illustrated with many watercolor paintings, Collard explains the basics of oceanic geology, including crustal plates, abyssal plains, and trenches; the sonar technology and deep-sea submersibles that have made exploration possible; and the sometimes exotic-looking varieties of wildlife that have been observed. The short section on deep-sea vents and cold seeps offers a simple explanation of chemosynthesis and points out that not all life on Earth relies on photosynthesis. This section is a good example of highlighting a change in scientific knowledge that contradicts statements made in many older books that are still in classrooms and libraries. Wenzel's watercolors are equally effective in picturing the strange, deep-sea environment and in illustrating the specifics of geology, biology, and technology referred to in Collard's informative text. A list of recommended books and Web sites will lead children to more about this alien, undersea world. A glossary is appended. Carolyn Phelan
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