directly into microbial ecology, the only 44 percent of its hay intake, leav- adaptability, and ultimate demise may heart of hydrothermal vent ecosystems. ing loads to shovel at the other end. reflect our own. Working her way up the organiza- Such facts highlight the complexities Nancy J. Pelaez, Ph.D. tional hierarchy, the author leads her of life with elephants. The story of Assistant Professor reader through symbiotic relationships Morgan Berry, owner of the elephant Biological and on to physiological and trophic that sired Packy, adds dimension. Mor- California State University Fullerton ecology. The next dyad of chapters gan's partner, Eloise, was disembow- Fullerton, CA 92834-6850 covers reproductive ecology and com- eled by Packy's sibling during a circus munity dynamics. The chapter on cog- performance in 1978. Morgan remained nate communities that follows gives dedicated to the hard work of caring I SCIENTIFICFRAUD | roughly equal coverage to both Atlan- for his nine-elephant herd until his tic and Pacific sites; it includes a rather body was found folded up, absolutely Voodoo Science: The Road from Fool- thorough-going analysis of both biotic flat, next to an elephant staked outside ishness to Fraud. By Robert L. Park. and abiotic ecological relationships. his barn. We begin to comprehend, if 2000. Oxford University Press, Inc. (198 Many readers will be fascinated by not accept, the extermination of nearly Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016). the final chapter, which relates current all male elephants in the U.S. earlier 230 pp. Hardback $25. ideas about the origin of life to certain this century. _ What is "voodoo science?" It facts about hydrothermal vents and According to John Lenhardt, Animal is nothing more than another their communities. A final section of Operations Manager at Disney's Ani- name encompassing Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/63/2/140/49968/4451063.pdf by guest on 23 September 2021 this chapter deals with extraterrestrial mal Kingdom, three percent of ele- and fraudulent science and what Park hydrothermal systems and the search phants in the U.S. and Canada have calls "" and "pathological for life in outer space. been in involved one or more human science." Park expertly and entertain- This book is a must read for persons deaths. Some of these deaths are attrib- ingly, and even, at times, humorously, interested in marine biology or ocean uted to bull elephants in musth look- explains the nature of several cases in systems in general or in deep-sea and ing for a fight. In terms of evolution, which people have not only fooled hydrothermal vent ecology in particular. musth may be nature's way to get themselves, but others as well. young bulls to the herd bull. Dr. David J. Fox challenge Each case explored-power lines In the absence of a herd, the human Department of Ecology and and cancer, Vitamin "O," , trainer has the place of the Evolutionary Biology alpha , male-until the trainer shows a of The University of Tennessee sign machines, extravagant expenditures weakness and the elephant Knoxville, TN 37996 challenges. for space exploration, and more-is Warm and touching contacts with debunked expertly. Years ago, as a female elephants exemplify the loving young student, my eyes were opened bonds elephant workers develop with I ANIMALBEHAVIOR to fraudulent science when I read Mar- their charges. However, examples of tin Gardiner's Facts and Fallacies in aggressive females that slam around the Name of Science. I had hoped that The Astonishing Elephant. By Shana elephant calves show that aggression this book would be capable of opening Alexander. 2000. Random House Pub- is not limited to males in musth and the eyes of my young students today. lishers (299 Park Ave., New York, NY help us comprehend the current sys- Unfortunately, it is not easily accessi- 10171) 300 pp. Hardback $25.95. tem of "protected contact only." ble to them. _ Those old enough may remem- This story of co-existence of man The tales of delusion and sham are tC ber the historic photos of a and elephant often reveals more about certainly interesting. And who can live U.S. elephant birth at the zoo in man's caring and cruel behaviors than deny that we all need to be sufficiently Portland, Oregon, in 1962. The birth about elephants. A biologist may want scientifically literate to recognize the of Packy, the male Asian elephant, was more detail on elephant physiology salesman? Frequently Park reported for Life Magazine by Shana and survival skills-but perhaps that uses the Paul Harvey technique of Alexander. In her new book, The remains to be learned. While the book putting off "the rest of the story" until Astonishing Elephant, Shana reports provides more questions than answers, some later time-perhaps chapters that Packy is now "certainly the largest it is delightfully written, with enough later. For my students, the rest of the Asian elephant anyone has ever seen." examples to prove that each one of us story is too far away and the tale too Packy's story provides a unifying shares responsibility as we determine technical or convoluted. theme as the author meanders through how we will co-inhabit the Earth In the interest of brevity, he has the history of human interactions with with elephants. omitted references. This is unfortunate, elephants. The conversational survey Teachers will find anecdotal details since much of its value could be the of anecdotal stories about elephants to interest and motivate students to simplified explanation with references reveals reverence for the awe and fear delve into the ethics of animal han- for more development or a guide to inspired by elephants in myth, war, dling. Zoology students will appreciate the historic documents related to the religion, the early American entertain- the pitfalls that come with emotional issue. Maybe I am deluding myself, ment industry, and even throughout attachments, and the reasons why but I think a few well chosen refer- modern scientific research efforts to modern researchers translate their love ences would help me use the book to breed elephants in captivity using arti- of an animal into the distanced effort engage my students in Park's work. ficial insemination. and care required for saving a species. How nice it would be to have the The demands for the care of ele- Fascination has been fatal for both newspaper headline related to an phants make it astonishing that man elephants and humans, highlighting issue. I'm pleased that the editor didn't has assumed a role with elephants: an risks and questions that will interest cut the index. elephant in the wild forages 50 tons students in learning more so that we Rachel Hays annually and requires 60 gallons of can take the steps that may result in Wanganui City College water per day. The elephant digests salvation of a species whose diversity, Wanganui, New Zealand

140 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 63, NO. 2, FEBRUARY2001