Nature Vol. 278 1 March 1979 Student books supplement 97 Marine eftects of compression are evident: the students a good follow-up to lectures, • book is rather uneven, physiological and guide and encourage further read science considerations rec·eive scant attention ing. It deserves a place in libraries and and some sections--for example, that on student bookshelv·es in many coun- An Introduction to Marine Science. By on fisheries--are too short to give a tries. P. S. Meadows and J. I. Campbell. representative view. A. B. Bowers Pp. 176. (Blackie: Glasgow and Lon I believe that this textbook will be A. B. Bowers is Senior Lecturer in the don, 1978.) Paperback £5.25. a valuabie adjunct to taught courses Department of Marine Biology, University in marine science; it will give serious of Liverpool, UK. THis is the latest addition to Blackie's Tertiary Level Biology series of text books designed for course options at chapter l. In this respect it is difficult advanced undergraduate level in uni Freshwater to know whether or not the book has versities and polytechnics. The word necessarily been produced with the Introduction in the title should be biology chapters in a sequence to avoid repeti interpreted in this context: the book Biology of Fresh Waters. By P. S. tion and produce a smooth continuity. assumes that its readers possess a good Maitland. (Blackie : Glasgow and Lon The remaining chapters are : field biological knowledge and a reasonable don, 1978.) Hardback £11.50; paper studies; adaptation to environment; background in physical science. Ad back £5.75. communities and energy flow; and fresh vanced school students, first-year water and man-all admirable topics undergraduates and interested non but not necessarily introduced to tlie specialists would find R. V. Tait's Biology of Fresh Waters is one of a reader in the right order. Elements of Marine Ecology (Butter number of titles in a series called Although freshwater biology has worths: London, second edition, 1972) Tertiary Level Biology, which covers been the subject of many books an easier and more congenial first book selected areas of biology at advanced designed for various levels of reader on marine science. undergraduate level. Although designed ship, quite often the same illustrations Meadows and Campbell's book specifically for course options at this appear with a monotonous regularity. covers a wide field, both geographically level within universities and polytech It is therefore refreshing to see new, and scientifically. Consideration of the nics, the series will be of great value to and in some cases original, figures, dia marine ·envi.ronment ranges from the specialists and research workers in other grams and tables, and the author has fields who require a knowledge of the used some of the results of his own poles to the tropics and from abyssal essent.ials of a subject. research on the River Endrick and depths to mangrove swamps. There is a There are few, if any, books dealing Loch Leven with good effect. The very short introduction indicating the with this subject in a comprehensive drawings of plants and animals are extent and characteristics of the oceans manner for undergraduates; this book particularly good but those illustrating and of the ecological zones (with their is therefore a welcome addition to the various types of equipment are poor associated biotic communities) that are list of available textbooks for biology (Fig. 5.3, 5.4, and 8.2) and in some described in later chapters. This is fol students. The author has had consider cases naive (Fig. 5.15) or unnecessary lowed by a description of water circu able experience in both teaching and (Fig. 8.5). lation and movement, and the more research in this field and has put this Man's influence on the freshwater important physical and chemical pro to good use in compiling this work. environment has been given a wide, cesses that occur in the sea. Intertidal After dealing with the physical, though uneven, coverage. Although this regions, estuaries, the sea floor and chemical and biological characteristics subject must necessarily be brief, a few tropical inshore regions are then of the freshwater environment he intro more references to further reading treated in some detail with respect to duces the reader to the plant and could have been given to the reader geomorphology, ecological significance animal kingdom in a most thorough who had an interest in any of the sub and interactions between the plants and concise manner, which is of great jects covered, which include fish and animals that live there. Collecting value to the student of both biology and farming, hydro-electricity, navigation, gear and methods of investigation are ecology. In these days of early spe pollution, recreation and agriculture. described and illustrated. There is a cialisation few students get the neces Dr Maitland should be congratulated special chapter on "Productivity, sary basic grounding in plant and on producing a very valuable student Plankton and the Pelagic Environ animal taxonomy and morphology, and handbook on freshwater biology which ment" and another on fisheries and the author has appreciated this in pro will be of use to students both in the farming. A good bibliography has been viding a 35-page summary on this topic. British Isles and abroad. classified into reference books, popular Having provided the foundation to Derek Mills books, marine review journals, ab the subject Dr Maitland goes on to Derek Mills is Senior Lecturer in fresh stracts, and research journals con consider standing and running waters; water ecology and fisheries management cerned with marine science. There is a here, there is inevitable repetition from at the University of Edinburgh, UK. comprehensive index with useful cross references. The style of the book is very terse. A great deal of information has been The complete Factual content, conceptual approach, packed into a short space by making readability, layout, production and cost the text and illustrations interdepen biologist rank among the more important. And for dent rather than complementary; the general biology college teacher, the imaginatively conceived diagrammatic EVEN within a course the best teachers do balance is particularly difficult to find . presentation of facts and concepts is not rigidly adhere to a recommended The three books reviewed here cover used to save more lengthy explana textbook. Although such bibliolatry much of the same ground at a similar tions. In consequence both text and would be an anathema, the choice of academic level; they are all well written; mustrations require close attention student texts is an important, even and they are all intended for a primarily from the student. Some unwelcome crucial process. What are the criteria? American audience (although Hardin
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