Thus, the biogeochemical forcing and sitates that a large fraction of the book learning more about and conducting ecological consequences of nutrient dy- be devoted not to biogeochemistry, but research in these specific marine systems. namics on ecosystem structure are exam- rather to the physical setting unique The bottom line: this book is a wonder- ined with emphasis on the coupling be- to each system. On the other hand, be- ful resource for students or researchers, tween coastal and pelagic, and terrestrial cause the fundamental biogeochemical especially those desiring an introduction and marine environments. interactions (e.g., primary production, to specific marine systems, and a list of There is an attempt to provide a com- respiration, assimilation of nutrients, the primary literature related to those mon structural thread to all chapters. redox chemistry) have parallels in all the systems. However, the reader will need to Each chapter starts with a description of systems, some redundancy could not search elsewhere for a more global pic- the main geographic and hydrographic be avoided when taking the “system ap- ture of marine biogeochemistry. features of the system, continues with proach.” Despite these limitations, the a presentation of the biogeochemical book certainly provides a comprehensive Adina Paytan ([email protected]. interactions, and concludes with some introduction to the major biogeochemi- edu) is Assistant Professor, Geological and remarks about environmental change. cal processes operating in the various Environmental Sciences, Stanford Univer- This structure, although providing a systems presented, and it serves as a great sity, Stanford, California, United States of link among the different chapters, neces- starting point for any one interested in America.

Frozen Oceans The Floating World of Pack Ice

A Book by David N. Thomas papers, with little deviation from the Firefly Books Ltd., 2004, 224 pages, presentation of facts. There is a great ISBN 1-55407-000-7, hardcover: $45.00 deal of information given in an acces- sible, if somewhat dry, manner. None of Reviewed by Harold Welch the material is referenced, which makes the book easier to read, but this means Frozen Oceans by scientist David N. there is no way to access the sources for Thomas is a glossy, well-produced book the facts given—they have to be taken on with nearly 200 color figures and pho- faith. However, I noted only a few minor knowledge of either the north or south tos, an introduction to polar and sub- factual and editorial errors, which gives polar regions, or science in general, will polar pack ice regions of the northern one confidence that the content is well find the going easy and interesting. The and southern hemispheres. Pictures are researched and accurate. subject of frozen oceans is covered very generally high quality but the reader will The layperson who perseveres will thoroughly, with virtually every aspect wish there were a few more that illustrate find the book very rewarding, even if not touched upon no matter how cursorily. specifics. The writing is straightforward always easy to understand. Oceanogra- Dr. Thomas approaches the subject and concise, reminiscent of scientific phers and people with some first-hand logically. The first third of the book is

This article has been published inOceanography , Volume 17, Number 4, a quarterly journal of The Oceanography Society. Copyright 2003 by The Oceanography Society. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this article by photo- 214 Oceanography Vol.17, No.4, Dec. 2004 copy machine, reposting, or other means without prior authorization of The Oceanography Society is strictly prohibited. Send all correspondence to: [email protected] or 5912 LeMay Road, Rockville, MD 20851-2326, USA. a thorough presentation of the physics, are covered in three short paragraphs. only people that heavily depend on the chemistry, meteorology, and geography There are two pictures of Antarctic fish, products of sea ice, yet there is no dis- of sea ice formation, within an overall but none of the polar cods. In the next cussion of this important top consumer global climate setting. If you are unsure chapter, “Life under the ice,” the author and their traditional knowledge of fish, what nilas is, or the keel depth of an has a good discussion of the fate of or- mammals, and seabirds in the Arctic. An iceberg, you will find the answer here. ganic matter released from the ice, but Antarctic food web, with four trophic Did you know that ice from icebergs off relatively little information on the ben- levels from primary producers to top Newfoundland is used to make vodka? thos of polar seas, which will come as predators, is shown, but no food web for I didn’t either. There is even a descrip- a disappointment to those who know the Arctic. This is an important omis- tion of the ice cover on the Caspian Sea, that benthic biomass is remarkably high sion because one characteristic of north something few oceanographers know in ice-covered polar seas, often reach- polar food webs is that the food chain is anything about. The book has an excel- ing a kilogram or more per square me- very long, with five trophic levels from lent discussion of the seasonal extent of ter. There is discussion whether oxygen primary producers to the top predators, ice cover, and the currents and winds controls organism size but no mention bears and humans, and four to seals and that drive the movements of pack ice in of the vast quantities of brittle stars, the toothed whales. The long food chain the Arctic and Southern oceans. The au- bivalves, and other benthos that con- in turn concentrates mercury and fat- thor discusses the implications of recent sume a high percentage of the primary soluble organic pollutants that threaten changes in sea ice thickness and distri- production in shallow polar waters and the existence of narwhal and polar bear, bution for climate change, summarizing entirely support populations of bearded and make Inuit mothers’ milk toxic to much of the knowledge generated by seals and walrus. A single chapter is de- their children. satellite coverage and putting it in his- voted to mammals, birds, and the ice. The role of Arctic cod, a strongly ice- toric context. Given the high general interest in ice- associated fish, is barely mentioned, yet Dr. Thomas then proceeds to the mi- associated macrofauna, this chapter is it is a keystone species that mediates en- crobiology of sea ice, beginning with a again a bit sparse, and the author misses ergy flow from herbivorous crustacea to good description of life within a block some opportunities to present interest- ringed and harp seals, narwhal, beluga, of ice, in-depth coverage that is at least ing facts, such as walrus sucking off sev- northern fulmar, and thick-billed murres. as detailed as the previous chapters on eral thousand of Mya truncata siphons Ringed seals are a quintessential ice spe- physics. The roles of protozoa, bacteria, and Serripes groenlandica feet daily— cies, but little of their biology is pre- and even viruses in the internal ice com- without ingesting any of the shells of sented. The spectacular Arctic bird cliffs, munity are discussed. Primary produc- these arctic bivalves. where millions of ice-associated guil- tion (photosynthesis) by diatoms and The book ends with chapters on lemots, murres, dovekies, fulmars, and other ice-adapted algae, and nutrient studying the pack ice, and pack ice gulls congregate to breed are not shown. sources and sinks, are presented and put threats and potential. Of some 195 illus- Threats to the Arctic ice-associated in context both within the polar oceans trations, about 30 show various scientific ecosystem also receive cursory treat- and for the globe, where the polar oceans activities, so you know that the scientists, ment, with no mention of the typical account for some 6.5 percent of Earth’s at least, are well covered. air currents that transport Eurasian pol- total productivity. I have only one major criticism of lutants into the Arctic. For example, on Next come the animals in and around Frozen Oceans; it emphasizes the south 12 April 1988 a single event dropped the ice. The all-important crustacea, pri- polar region about three-fold over the 12,000 tonnes of soil from the deserts of marily amphipods, copepods, and krill north polar region. For example, there is western China onto the northwest coast receive adequate treatment, but here no picture of the typical meltpond sea- of frozen Hudson Bay. Mercury concen- the author becomes a bit more super- scape that characterizes all flat Arctic ice trations in the snow over Arctic ice are ficial. Ice-associated fish, for example, in summer. Circumpolar Inuit are the often one hundred times higher than

Oceanography Vol.17, No.4, Dec. 2004 215 they are in snow south of the polar pack. arctic is mercifully free of such resource- Ready movement of contaminants from extraction issues. Harold Welch ([email protected]) is a the industrialized northern hemisphere These are, however, relatively minor retired marine biologist with Fisheries and to the ice is one very important differ- criticisms of an overall very good book. Oceans Canada. He has worked seven win- ence between the Antarctic and the Arc- There is much in here for anyone inter- ters and twenty five summers conducting tic. Another important difference is the ested in some aspect of frozen oceans, research in the Arctic, most recently spend- presence of in situ oil and gas develop- and no matter how qualified the reader, ing fourteen months aboard the Canadian ment in ice-covered northern seas. One it will definitely be a learning experi- icebreaker Des Grosseiliers as leader of the wonders how the Northwest Passage will ence. Frozen Oceans will be an impor- biological component of the SHEBA (Surface fare if liquefied natural gas tankers tran- tant popular reference as well as a fun Heat and Energy Balance of the Arctic) ice sit the Passage day and night throughout read for anyone remotely interested in drift experiment. the year, as has been proposed. The Ant- polar oceanography.

The Sea’s Enthrall Memoirs of an Oceanographer

A Book by Timothy Parsons simple language and few words, a short Ecce Nova, 2004, 187 pages, ISBN 0- story of his life, from his early childhood 9731648-7-5, paperback: $19.95 years in England and Ceylon, up to and including his winning The Japan Prize Reviewed by David W. Townsend in 2001. He brings us through his life’s landmark events—both personal and The name Timothy R. Parsons is imme- professional—and introduces us to his diately recognizable to biological ocean- most unforgettable characters, including only field of biology he was aware of at ographers. Most of us have routinely that special science teacher to whom he the time—agriculture. His interest in used one or both of his manuals of sea credits his pursuing a career in marine analytical chemistry subsequently led water analysis (the first published with science (most of us can relate, I am sure). him to pursue his Ph.D. in biochemistry. J.D.H. Strickland in 1965; the second He shares with us intimate aspects of his From McGill, Parsons took his first job with Y. Maita and C.M. Lalli in 1984), personal life and high points in his sci- in Nanaimo, British Columbia, work- or we used as students (or teachers) the entific career, all the while weaving in his ing under John Strickland at the Pacific first bona fide textbook on biological political views on the environment. Oceanographic Group of the Fisher- oceanography, published with M. Taka- Having decided that he wanted a ca- ies Research Board of Canada. Those hashi in 1973 (and which also saw later reer in “something in biology,” Parsons early years helped to form the scientist revisions). In nearing the end of a re- left England for Canada and McGill we have come to know today. “Violently markable career, Parsons tells us here, in University where he would study the seasick and retch[ing] constantly...” on

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