This is one of those books which I wished I had studied in depth ...rather than just skimming over the surface. It is a scholarly work with 15 papers on different subjects. They cover the following topics:
1. Geology and geomorphology
2. Soils
3. Giant submarine canyons (From the Murray River)
4. Climate
5. Native vegetation
6. Aborigines
7. Mammals
8. Birds
9. Reptiles and amphibians
10. Fossil vertebrates
11. Invertebrates
12. Fishes
13. Intertidal invertebrates
14. Intertidal ecology of marine organisms
15. Historical perspective. Kangaroo Island---1803
From what I've read, each section is interesting and accurate. Though I would have liked to see more about the koalas ....even though they are apparently an introduced species. (As is the platypus). I was especially fascinated by the giant undersea canyons apparently caused by the Murray River and the changing sea levels over thousand of years.
Unfortunately time is closing in upon me and I don't think I'm going to be able to wish-fulfil and read this thoroughly so I'm passing it on to Satoru in Japan who will really appreciate it. Four stars from me. ( )