THE Official Magazine of the OCEANOGRAPHY SOCIETY

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CITATION Campbell, L. 2013. Review of Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Introduction to Marine Science, by David W. Townsend. Oceanography 26(2):186–187, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/ oceanog.2013.26.

DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2013.26

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downloaded from http://www.tos.org/oceanography Book REVIEWs

Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Introduction to Marine Science

By David W. Townsend, 2012, Sinauer chapters to be very clearly written, and Associates Inc., 512 pages, ISBN 978-0- they provide many descriptive examples 87893-602-1, $139.95 US that help to illustrate these principles. In the second half of the book, the Reviewed by Lisa Campbell focus shifts to organisms and ecosystems. Chapter 7 introduces a number of pro- As Townsend states in his preface, the cesses related to biology: photosynthesis goal of this new textbook is “to preserve and respiration, nutrient cycles, food the basic disciplinary elements and their chains and food webs, and factors con- order of presentation found in most trolling distributions. Again, I found the oceanography texts, but to include how it explanations very clear and the figures all relates to life in the sea.” He succeeds the “usual” outline of oceanography text- useful. The next four chapters introduce very well in providing balanced coverage books. In Chapter 1, aptly named “Early the major groups of organisms. Instead as he leads students on an exploration Foundations,” Townsend provides a of presenting the organisms follow- of the physical, chemical, and geological historical overview of some of the major ing an ecosystem approach, as in many fundamentals, and follows through with accomplishments by early explorers, and traditional oceanography textbooks, biological processes and organisms. he addresses the questions of scale, navi- Townsend’s discussion follows a taxo- And, Townsend holds true to his gation, and the technological develop- nomic outline, as seen in most marine promise of not skimping on the biology. ments enabling ocean exploration. biology textbooks. Chapter 8 covers the Of the 512 pages (plus appendices) in The next two chapters focus on geo- “Primary Producers,” including phyto- this book, Chapters 7–15 (~ 50%) focus logical concepts. Chapter 2 discusses plankton, macroalgae, and sea grasses. on biological topics. For comparison, the origins of Earth and its ocean and Images in this chapter are excellent. in a typical introductory oceanogra- introduces concepts of geophysics and Chapter 9, “The Zooplankton,” describes phy textbook (~ 500 pages), the first the origin of life on Earth. Chapter 3 the distributions and ecology of all the four chapters are devoted to geological continues the discussion of the forma- major groups; however, for the copepods, origins and processes, one chapter to tion of the ocean basins, traces the his- this chapter gives more detailed informa- chemistry (and some overlook chemical tory of the evidence for plate tectonics, tion on life cycles and ecological impor- oceanography), five chapters to physical and concludes with some mention of the tance. The “microbial loop” is also dis- processes (air-sea interactions, circula- sediment types found on the seafloor. cussed here. Chapter 10 presents “Marine tion, waves, tides, coastal processes), and Chapter 4 presents the chemical and Invertebrates,” featuring the taxonomic the last three or four chapters to biology physical properties of water and seawater. groups of the benthic invertebrates along (~ 30%). Conversely, marine biology Coverage is equal to or better than some with an overview of their ecology, fol- textbooks typically have one chapter on typical oceanography textbooks. In the lowed by a brief overview of the nektonic the seafloor and one chapter on chemical next two chapters, focus turns to physi- invertebrates (cephalopod molluscs)— and physical properties, with the remain- cal properties. Chapter 5, “Atmospheric which, of course, includes an entry on the der on biological and ecological topics Circulation and Ocean Currents,” dis- giant squid, Architeuthis. (80–90%). So, the very inclusive title (all cusses the driving forces of atmospheric Chapter 11, “The Fishes,” presents three terms—oceanography, marine biol- circulation, the creation of winds, and the the major physiological characteristics, ogy, and marine science) is appropriate, influence of the Coriolis force, the result- life histories, and ecological features of and courses with any of these titles could ing surface currents, and thermohaline three main groups of fishes. The chapter use this textbook. circulation. Chapter 6 focuses on the concludes with a short section on all the The chapters in this book do follow basics of waves and tides. I found these icthyological topics that, because of space

186 Oceanography | Vol. 26, No. 2 constraints and the introductory nature which is usually included in oceanog- and deep diving marine mammals, or of this textbook, had to be left out. raphy textbooks, is omitted; the roles the Redfield ratio. Next, Townsend returns to a more of bacteria are mentioned just briefly; All figures, both photographs and ecological discussion. Beyond benthic viruses are mentioned just once and graphics, are very sharp. The quality of or pelagic ecosystems, Chapter 12 sum- marine snow not at all. But overall, I the images of the plankton, in particular, marizes the features and processes of found the coverage sufficient for an is superior to that of other textbooks I several of what he terms “more interest- introductory oceanography or biological have used. At the end of each chapter, ing marine environments,” including the oceanography course. there are several tools for students: a intertidal zone, estuaries, salt marshes, The textbook is written in a very bulleted chapter summary, 10 or 11 mangrove forests, coral reefs, the deep engaging style. Throughout, Townsend discussion questions, and a list of refer- sea, and hydrothermal vents. Chapter 13 asks questions and then provides illus- ences for further reading. Chapters do discusses higher trophic levels—the trative answers. For example, he asks not contain lists of terms or lists of Web reptiles, birds, and mammals. It provides “How salty is the sea?” and calculates links (but I do not see these omissions details on the history of whaling and case the number of Morton’s salt containers as limitations). studies of individual species. that would be required to make seawater An eBook version of this textbook is The last two chapters deal with marine in a tub of freshwater. He explains how available through several commercial resources and human impacts on the copepod filter feeding would be like “try- websites. They have options for offline ocean. In Chapter 14, “Fisheries and ing to catch a bubble in thick syrup by reading and a tool for note taking and Aquaculture,” Townsend begins the swiping at it with a fork” and that a more saving with the document. The quality of discussion with trophodynamics and realistic understanding of particle selec- the text in the chapter I previewed was historical trends of commercial fisher- tion is using “feeding appendages like a bit blurry on my computer screen, but ies. He provides a good but very brief canoe paddles.” In describing the com- on zooming in, clarity improved. The overview of the principles of fishery sci- petition for space between barnacles in images in the chapter I previewed were ence, maximum sustainable yield, and the intertidal zone, he likens the warfare in color and good resolution. the status of fisheries, and concludes to “using their edges almost like shovels, In his Preface to the Student, with a discussion of aquaculture, includ- [as] they cut beneath and dislodge.” He Townsend asks “Why is the ocean impor- ing a brief mention of its limitations. injects references sparingly, but does cite tant?” He points out that the unknown, Finally, Chapter 15, “Human Impacts,” the primary literature (which appears in the unusual fascinate most of us, and discusses the issues of pollution and cli- footnotes). This format is unusual for an often it is just these things that compel mate change. Pollution issues include the undergraduate textbook, but instructors us to investigate more. This textbook will recent Deepwater Horizon explosion and can use the footnotes to teach students serve as an excellent introduction for stu- subsequent oil spill. how to reference the primary scientific dents because it does encompass more of The textbook also includes three literature and thus emphasize the impor- the life that initially draws many students appendices. Appendix A describes tance of citing references. to the study of the ocean, but keeps the satellite remote sensing, including its The layout of the book is very nicely explanations grounded in understanding history, types of data collected, and a done as well. There is sufficient white why things work the way they do, and to good description of ways to overcome space so the pages do not appear dense, this end should provide the thoughtful sampling limitations. Appendix B is an and inserted text boxes with definitions student with ways to answer the question overview of El Niño and La Niña, and or examples are clearly set out. The “Why is the ocean important?” Appendix C describes deep-sea explora- content of “boxes” includes additional tion from the bathysphere to DSV Alvin. information or reminders of concepts Lisa Campbell ([email protected]) Of course, not all topics can be and principles, for example, how satel- is Professor of Oceanography and Biology, included in an introductory textbook. A lite altimetry is used to produce bathy- Texas A&M University, College Station, detailed discussion of coastal processes, metric maps, Beer’s Law, the bends TX, USA.

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