authors,with references included in foot- ecology books start with the small plants notes or the main body of the text. His and animals, following their interaction speculationsand personal opinions are and succession up to the climax condi- labelledas such;it is left to the readerto tion for that particularbiome. Usually at agreeor disagree. this point man is introduced and his role The 24 photographsare good, as are LENvlVIRONENTALis discussed briefly, whether detrimental the 15 figuresand the illustrationsat the or beneficial, stressing his part in pro- beginningof each of the 23 chapters.The FILMS ducing or contributing to pollution and index makes it a useful reference for overpopulation. desertlife. 16 mm, color and optical sound The readers of this book should not let Fascinatingfor a Californian,excellent the first few chapters discourage them as for others, well-writtenand easily read, CLOUDOVER THE CORAL REEF there are many new terms and concepts this book shouldbe includedon "recom- . . one of the most visually striking given. in efforts of documenting the decline Hardesty considers detail areas mended reading" lists for ecology and fall of an ecosystem that students of information seldom found in anthro- courses,high school level and above, or are likely to experience"-The Sci- pology or ecology texts, e.g., the interac- for enjoyableleisure time readingfor the ence Teacher. 27 min. Price $350 tion of humans as hosts to parasitic layman. microorganisms. The presence of mea- RosetteD. Dawson THEPOISONED SEA sles and other diseases in our population Southern ilinois University Shows the effects of sewage pollution are usually taken for granted, and we

Edwardsville in coastal waters. "Well suited for an mistakenly believe their incidence and Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/40/2/125/35770/4446180.pdf by guest on 24 September 2021 introduction to water pollution . . . control depend upon the number of in- sewage treatment . . . oceanography, ecology, or conservation."-The Sci- dividuals who have been inoculated or DIMENSIONSOF ECOLOGY ence Teacher. 27 min. Price $350 vaccinated. A reference from F. Fenner by Jonathan L. Richardson. 1977. states that it is necessary to have a mini- OxfordUniversity Press (200 Madison Purchase, rental or preview from mum of 4-5,000 new individuals in order Avenue, New York 10016). 412 p. MOONLIGHTPRODUCTIONS/Dr. LeeTepley to maintain measles in a population of $16. 300,000 or larger. 2650 California Street, Dept. BT After many decades in which the Mountain View, California 94040 The author includes so many ecologi- appearanceof a new ecology textbook cal topics and concepts it is almost im- was as infrequentas a good sprucecone possible for me to do justice to a book of crop, the late sixties broughta spate of this caliber. A few examples of the inter- esting such books. Authors approached the weigh pros and cons. He is resourceful subjects treated are: genetic and subjectfrom many viewpoints.Within a in adducingevidence. He interruptswith demographic adaptation, fertility rates, time and fieldwhere generalists and a wide variety apt quotations.And it is impossibleto motion studies, social organiza- of specialists are now competing to tellwhether he is a botanistor a zoologist. tion and prestige, natural pulses, and consume students'dollars, can there still Further,though he writesscience, not density dependent processes. The book be a niche that the late arrivalhere re- natural history, he realizes that many contains an excellent glossary, an exten- viewedmay aspire to occupy? persons need understandingof ecology sive bibliography, data, and many good Let us see. At the firstrandom opening without the abilityto manipulatesym- graphs and diagrams. I would highly two glaring typographicalerrors stood bols throughpages of derivations.Quan- recommend Ecological Anthropology as forth on oppostie pages ("Michoaean" titativeideas are present,but mostly in a book for either advanced high school for Michoacan on page 376 and the form of graphicalrepresentations. A ecology classes, or for college environ- "HealthHen" for Heath Hen on page differentialequation slips in without mental science courses. 377). Further,type sizes, marginsand fanfarewhere needed on page 341. Lester D. Shields page size seemed unlikelyto beckon to A future professionalecologist pro- WestHigh School a reluctantstudent. Some photographs ceeding up the highroad of a great SaltLake City, Utah were muddy. The use of internalbold- universitymay well bypassthis introduc- face terms seemed to have been gov- tion to the science. But if he or she has erned by whim rather than principle. the good fortuneto begin trainingalong Rather copious borrowing of figures BIOLOGICALRECLAMATION OF a gentlerpath and encountersecology as SOLIDWASTES caused a heterogenityof styles that will an undergraduatein the company of win by ClarenceG. Golueke.1977. Rodale no prizesfrom book designers. futurelawyers, doctors, office managers, So much for the bad news. As fre- Press (OrganicPark, Emmaus, Penn- and accountants,all may profitin differ- sylvania18049). 249 p. $5.95. quently happens, however,first impres- ent ways from Dimensions in Ecology. sions proved unreliable.There are actu- HavenKolb The book adequatelycovers some of ally very few typos.Admirable economic Hereford High School the traditionalmethods used to dispose use of space should be appreciatedby Parkton,Maryland of biologicalwastes. Topics considered the purchasing student. Vegetation are disposal techniques,such as com- photographsare notoriouslydifficult to posting,sanitary landfills, and recycling. reproduceclearly. Similar rebuttals are The main topic, the reclamationof bio- possiblefor the other commentsabove. ECOLOGICALANTHROPOLOGY logicalwastes, provides the L. readerwith a None is reallyimportant. by Donald Hardesty. 1977. John detailedand interestingaccount of Willey and Sons (605 proc- Whatis importantfor the clientelethat Third Avenue, esses that may help to solve some of the I see this book addressingis its balance New York 10016). 310 p. $12.95. problemsthat we are confrontedwith and tone. I thinkDr. Richardson is a good This rather unusual book discusses in disposingof wastes. teacher.He may not be a greatmaster of ecology from the standpoint of man and I wouldsuggest that this book be used Englishprose style, but he can keep a all of the interacting forces that affect for college level instructionor for indi- discussionflowing. He knows how to man and his success on the earth. Many vidualswho are alreadyemployed in the

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