For many people, thoughts of the United Arab Emirates conjure images ofultramodernskyscrapers and rolling sand dunes. However, the Emirates are a rich mosaic of ecosystems and habitats that support surprisingly diverse communities of organisms, and there is growing awareness of the importance of these previously underappreciated natural assets.A Natural History of the Emiratesprovides a comprehensive overview of the unusual environmental setting of this young nation, and surveys the major ecosystems and the marine and terrestrial organisms occurring across the nation. Fromfreshwater streams in the hyperarid Hajar Mountains to the worlds most temperature-tolerant coral reefs, the UAE is home to an astounding variety of uniquely adapted organisms that are providing insights into climate change andhow organisms cope with and respond to extreme environmental conditions. The book closes with a section on human interactions with this unique environment, andproposes initiatives to ensurethe protection of these unique natural assets into the future.

This is an open access book.