University of Chicago Press: New Titles from 'Alaska Sea Grant College Program'

Common Edible Seaweeds in the Gulf of Alaska

Dolly Garza — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Seaweed is fast becoming a new favorite snack, as eaters everywhere are realizing what Alaska Natives have known for millennia: seaweed can be a healthy and tasty treat. Found in abundance along Alaska’s shores, it has been believed to do everything from regulating digestion to reducing swelling. Dolly Garza, a Haida-Tlingit Indian, offers an easy-to-use guide for locating, identifying, and preparing several species of edible seaweed—and even one beach plant.

The second edition of this useful book adds Garza’s personal accounts about collecting seaweed, telling stories of harvesting the plants and preparing them with her family. More than twenty-five recipes cover seasonings, snacks, and main and side dishes. They allow readers to try out the recipes enjoyed by Garza’s family for generations as well as find the inspiration to try out their own variations. The book carefully presents ten key seaweed species found in the Gulf of Alaska, along with photos of each so that readers know exactly which ones to pick. Readers will learn how to easily make seaweed a healthy part of their everyday diets.

Guide to Marine Mammals of Alaska

Kate Wynne; Pieter Folkens — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The authoritative book on Alaska marine life, Guide to Marine Mammals of Alaska is a clear and concise look at all twenty-nine of Alaska’s mammal species, including whales, dolphins, seals, walrus, and polar bears. Now in its fourth edition, this award-winning book is fully revised with updated information on range and status of all the species.

Meant to be a user-friendly and travel-ready resource, the guide provides an overview of each species with data on body type, size, color, behavior, habitat, and more. Maps detail range and migration patterns while full color photos accompany each entry. A glossary, introduction to mammal types, and naming chart make recognizing the different Alaska mammals easy and accessible. In addition to the extensive photographs, the book includes Pieter Folkens’s highly accurate illustrations to assist in precise identification.

The book itself is a rugged tool that is waterproof and spiral bound, encouraging readers to get out and start spotting fascinating Alaska creatures from land or from sea.