GERALD J. BAKUS, Ph.D., is Professor of Biology at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He has more than five decades of experience in the fields of biology and ecology. He obtained training in terrestrial biology as an undergraduate student, freshwater biology as a master's degree student, and marine biology for his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, Seattle. In addition to his many published research and review articles, Dr. Bakus is the author of Coral Reef Ecosystems (1994), Quantitative Analysis of Marine Biological Communities (2007), Natural History of Oregon (2009), and Natural History of California (2011). The book titled Natural History of Santa Catalina Island was developed from a multimedia CD developed at the University of Southern California. It was based on a course titled Ecology and Natural History of California offered at Santa Catalina Island in January. Dr. Bakus teaches general ecology, marine biology, natural history of California, and quantitative biology. The principal reason for producing this book is to make people aware of this remarkable island and receive enjoyment from observing its great natural beauty. - from Amzon