Helgol/inder Meeresunters. 46, 447-452 (1992}
Buchbesprechungen [Book reviews]
L i k e n s , G . E . : T h e
Ecosystem Approach:
Its U s e a n d A b u s e . ( E x c e l l e n c e i n E c o l o g y . 3.) O l d e n d o r f / L u h e : E c o l o g y I n s t i t u t e , 1992, 166 pp., D M 5 9 . - .The books in the publication series "Excellence in Ecology" are written b y the recipients of the Ecology Institute Prize. G e n e E. Likens received the prize in 1988 in limnetic ecology.
As the integrative character of ecology is e n d a n g e r e d b y specialization a n d fractionation of this science, Likens promotes a n e w definition of ecology: "Ecology is the scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution a n d a b u n d a n c e of organisms a n d the transformation a n d flux of e n e r g y a n d matter." If this definition were a c c e p t e d b y the majority of ecologists, the way would b e o p e n e d to a n " e n c o m p a s s i n g a n d synthetic view of nature". In the following chapters, Likens explains the pros a n d cons of the 5 different current a p p r o a c h e s commonly u s e d in ecosystem ecology. T h e s e are the "Empirical or Natural History A p p r o a c h " , the "Balance or B u d g e t a r y Approach", the "Experimental Approach", the " C o m p a r a t i v e A p p r o a c h a n d the M o d e l i n g or Simulation Approach". Likens emphasizes the necessity to coordinate information from all these different a p p r o a c h e s in order to gain c o m p r e h e n s i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g of ecosystem functioning. His examples from ecosystem research originate mainly from "The H u b b a r d Brook Ecosystem Study" w h e r e "Sustained Ecological Research" has b e e n conducted since the middle of the sixties. Likens shows that long-term studies can b e a powerful tool to help focus research o n f u n d a m e n t a l questions. As ecosystems c h a n g e their structure a n d function with time, Likens supports a n e w paradigm in ecology b y Pickett et al. (1992) who, pointing out t h a f ecosystems are n e i t h e r closed nor self-regulating, advocates instead a "flux of n a t u r e " concept.
Results from ecological research are p r e s e n t e d c o n c e r n i n g w a t e r flux and cycling, pollution with toxic metals such as lead a n d mercury, sulfur, b a s e cations, nitrogen, especially nitrate, eutrophica- tion, atmospheric c a r b o n dioxide, acid rain. The author points out the world-wide significance of the atmospheric input of pollutants. Likens explains that one of the most serious e n v i r o n m e n t a l problems of the 21st century will b e the availability of good a n d healthy water. In the last two sections of his book, Likens describes his efforts to m a k e the results from basic r e s e a r c h visible to the general public a n d to convince policy decision m a k e r s to consider environmentally i m p o r t a n t facts. He e m p h a s i z e s the responsibility of each of us towards resolving e n v i r o n m e n t a l problems. This book will inspire ecologists to consider n e w integrative a n d synthesizing concepts in their scientific work, a n d more t h a n that also to t h i n k about their role in society. R. A s m u s (List/Sylt)
R h e i n h e i m e r , G.: M i k r o b i o l o g i e d e r G e w / i s s e r . 5. Aufl. J e n a : F i s c h e r , 1991, 294 pp., D M 7 8 , - - .
Seit dern E r s c h e i n e n der 4. Auflage in 1985 gibt es n e u e E n t w i c k l u n g e n u n d S c h w e r p u n k t e im Bereich der Gew/issermikrobiologie. Ein Beispiel ist die Diskussion fiber d e n Einflul~ der k l e i n e n Bakteriovoren wie Nanoflagellaten u n d Ciliaten auf die Zahl d e r Bakterien, sowie ihre Rolle im N a h r u n g s n e t z . Z u n e h m e n d e s Interesse gibt es im HinbIick auf die B a k t e r i o p h a g e n u n d a n d e r e Viren im Gew~isser, die Pflanzen u n d Tiere befallen. Dies gilt a u c h ffir die Plasmiden, ldeinen, ringfhrmig g e s c h l o s s e n e n DNA-Doppelstr~nge, die in vielen Bakterien vorkommen.
4 4 8 B u c h b e s p r e c h u n g e n [ B o o k r e v i e w s ]
c h e n d ist a u c h das Interesse der Gewfisserfkologen a n leistungsf~higen Kl~ranlagen, a n der Selbstreinigung der G e w a s s e r d u t c h die Mikroorganismen, a n d e n P a r a m e t e m ffir d i e Gew~isser- kontrolle sowie a n d e r N o t w e n d i g k e i t des kontinuierlichen mikrobiologischen M o ~ i t o r i n g s ge- st/egen.
Diese T h e m e n u n d a n d e r e w u r d e n in der 5 , fiberarbeiteten Auflage ausfiihrlicher o d e r n e u b e h a n d e l t . N e u e Literaturquellen (ca. 50 n e u e Zitate) von 1985 bis zur G e g e n w a r t w u r d e n ber/ick- sichtigt. Einige Kapitel w u r d e n vollst~indig n e u g e s c h r i e b e n u n d der Inhalt n e u g e o r d n e t , u m e i n e n b e s s e r e n U b e r b h c k zu e r m f g h c h e n . N e u e Fotografien u n d A b b i l d u n g e n mit d e n n e u e s t e n D a t e n w u r d e n h i n z u g e f f i g t Der Abschnitt fiber Viren w u r d e auf d e n m o d e r n s t e n Stand g e b r a c h t , u n d es gibt e i n e n n e u e n A b s c h n i t t fiber Plasmide. Die jfingsten V e r S f f e n t h c h u n g e n fiber d i e Rolle der h e t e r o t r o p h e n N a n o f l a g e l l a t e n und die Mikrobenschleife ("microbial loop") w u r d e n b e r f i c k s i c h t i g t Im Hinblick auf die jfingsten Ereignisse (z. B. R o b b e n s t e r b e n in der Nordsee) war es s e h r nfitzhch, ein n e u e s Kapitel fiber Krankheitserreger bei Pflanzen u n d Tieren der Gew/isser sowie ihre Bek~impfung zu schreiben; es enth~ilt a u c h e i n e n Abschnitt fiber V o r b e u g u n g u n d T h e r a p i e . Das Kapitel fiber d e n A b b a u von organischer Substanz wurde ebenfalls erweitert. Neu ist d e r A b s c h n i t t fiber die mikrobielle M a t t e n b i l d u n g . Forschungsergebnisse, die mit n e u e n oder v e r f e i n e r t e n Metho- d e n erzielt w o r d e n sind (z. B. fiber die extrazellul~ire Enzymaktivitiiten}, f a n d e n a u c h B e a c h t u n g .
Die 5. Auflage ist u n e n t b e h r l i c h nicht n u t ffir S t u d e n t e n der F a c h r i c h t u n g Mikrobiologie, s o n d e r n a u c h ffir Wissenschaftler, die in der Forschung u n d Lehre aktiv sind. Es ist e i n wertvolles N a c h s c h l a g e w e r k e b e n s o ffir S t u d e n t e n u n d Fachleute a n d e r e r Disziphnen wie Botaniker, Zoolo- gen u n d M e e r e s k u n d l e r , die sich ffir die W e c h s e l b e z i e h u n g zwischen M i k r o o r g a n i s m e n u n d
hOheren O r g a n i s m e n interessieren. M. Rieper-Kirchner (Helgoland)
L i b e s , S.: An Introduction to M a r i n e B i o g e o c h e m i s t r y . N e w Y o r k : W i l e y , 1 9 9 2 , 734 pp., s 45.95.
This "Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry" is a treatise on m a r i n e c h e m i s t r y w i t h i n the framework of k n o w l e d g e that is normally widely distributed in different textbooks o n physical, geological, biological a n d chemical oceanography. It is - in my opinion - the first m a r i n e chemistry textbook to successfully c o m b i n e all the pre-requisites n e e d e d for fascinating reading. This is the kind of book that has been missing for decades~
T h e book, sectioned into six parts, opens up its instructions with the physical chemistry and redox chemistry of seawater, deals then with the chemistry of marine sediments, with organic biogeochemistry and isotope geochemistry, and closes with a treatise on marine pollution. A n appendix is attached containing tables with physical and chemical data. A glossary a n d a subject index conclude the book. Each of the six parts is subdivided into different chapters ending with a set of questions and calculations, as well as suggestions for further readings. T h e proportion of text to figures and tables is in the one to one range which provides quick access to the problems and a clear understanding of the facts. Fundamental knowledge is concisely presented, and the hot topics (global chmate change, Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis) are discussed in a well balanced way.
! see in this book only one very small flaw which, however, does not detract from its merits. While drugs, toxins and other organic products from the sea are mentioned in the "Organic Biogeochemistry" part, there is no mention of the very exciting topic of bioactive c o m p o u n d s that act through the seawater phase (e.g. pheromones) nor is there any reference to Scheuer's n e w "Binorganic Marine Chemistry" series in the respective "Further Readings" section.
I consider this book to be a major breakthrough in marine chemistry teaching, and I a m convinced that it will endure and, by force of its excellent structure, will b e c o m e the basis for future
editions. G. G a s s m a n n (Hamburg)
R i d d e r , C. de, D u b o i s , P., L a h a y e , M . - C . & J a n g o u x , M . (Eds): E c h i n o d e r m R e s e a r c h . R o t t e r d a m : B a l k e m a , 1990, 3 4 3 p p . , D M 1 8 5 , - ,
Echinoderms"(Briissel, Belgien, 18.-21.9. 1989). Dem Ziel der Konferenz, e i n e n O b e r b h c k fiber d e n a k t u e l l e n S t a n d der europfiischen E c h i n o d e r m e n - F o r s c h u n g zu g e b e n , entspricht die Z u s a m m e n - setzung der Autorenschaft: N e u n u n d s i e b z i g der i n s g e s a m t 88 Autoren k o m m e n aus Europa (Prank- reich: 29, Belgien: 16, Niederlande: 9, Deutschland: 7, United Kingdom: 6, Itahen: 4, Irland: 3, Jugoslawien: 2 sowie D~inemark, (~sterreich u n d Schweiz: je 1). Damit e r w e i s e n sich F r a n k r e i c h u n d Belgien deutlich als die Z e n t r e n der europ~iischen Echinodermen-Forschung.
Nach bew~ihrtem Muster (vgl. B u c h b e s p r e c h u n g "Echinoderm Biology", H M 43, p. 585) sind die Einzelbeitr~ige a u c h dieses Bandes u n t e r v e r s c h i e d e n e n Topics zusammengefa[~t. Mit 17 Arbei- t e n n i m m t der Bereich "Morphology a n d physiology" d e n gr61~ten Raum ein, gefolgt y o n "Repro- duction, d e v e l o p m e n t a n d larval biology" (8), "Growth, population dynamics a n d ecology" (7), "Evolution, systematics a n d biogeography" (4), "Palaeontology"(4} u n d "Symbiosis" (2). Drei weitere Beitr~ige w e r d e n u n t e r "Plenary Lectures" gelistet; 11 liegen lediglich als Kurzfassung vor. Die f i b e r w i e g e n d e Zahl (34) ist in Engllsch verfa~t, die fibrigen (22) in Franz6sisch.
Wie der S y m p o s i u m s b a n d "Echinoderm Biology" (s.o.), so erschien a u c h " E c h i n o d e r m Re- search" i n n e r h a l b eines J a h r e s n a c h d e m Symposium u n d besitzt damit e i n e n h o h e n Aktualit~its- grad. W i e d e r u m w u r d e n als Druckvorlage " C a m e r a - r e a d y " - T e x t m o n t a g e n der Autoren v e r w e n d e t , was zwangsl~iufig zu einer gewissen H e t e r o g e n i t a t u n d U n r u h e des Schriftbildes ffihren mu~te. Die Druckqualit~t der A b b i l d u n g e n ist d u r c h w e g gut. Ein Autorenregister ist v o r h a n d e n ; leider aber
fehlt ein taxonomischer Index. G. L a u c k n e r (List}
P e a r c y , W. G.: Ocean Ecology of North Pacific Salmonids. ( B o o k s i n R e c r u i t m e n t F i s h e r y O c e a n o g r a p h y . ) S e a t t l e , W a : U n i v e r s i t y of W a s h i n g t o n P r e s s , 1992, 179 p p . , U S $ 2 5 . - c l o t h , U S $ 1 5 . - p a p e r .
The book is b a s e d on a workshop organized in 1983 by the author a n d on a lecture h e l d b y the author at the University of W a s h i n g t o n in 1989 as part of the lecture series "Recruitment Fishery O c e a n o g r a p h y " . T h e contents are a r r a n g e d u n d e r the following headings: (1) G e n e r a l biology of the salmonids; (2) O c e a n entry; (3) Estuaries; (4) Survival; (5) The O r e g o n Coho story; (6) the Subarctic Pacific; (7) Migration a n d guidance mechanisms. W.G. Pearcy is not only the reviewer b u t also a contributer of a n u m b e r of scientific publications, a n d a speciahst in the field of the oceanic life of the migratory salmonids.
The reference list provides more t h a n 500 papers. This is not a lot w h e n the complete h t e r a t u r e on North A m e r i c a n migratory salmonids is considered, but regarding only the oceanic literature it is a r e a s o n a b l y h i g h n u m b e r a n d the scientist starting with investigations on the Pacific side of North America may b e provided with a fair a m o u n t of hterature. However, I would prefer also to look into the literature on the Atlantic migratory salmonids w h i c h does not cover the g e n u s Oncorhynchus but the g e n u s Salmo w h i c h is p r e s e n t on b o t h sides of the continent. In some fields, it would doubtlessly h a v e provided, b y the addition of a few more pages, less hypothetical conclusions. Also, it would h a v e increased the n u m b e r of interested buyers, a l t h o u g h this circle may not b e small b e c a u s e scien- tists working on the dynamics of other marine fish populations may also b e interested; the studies on salmon and its migratory relatives allow in some cases less equivocal conclusions, due to its i n l a n d w a t e r origin a n d destination, t h a n do studies on pure m a r i n e species, assisting with comparative aspects. The reader, thus for example, may b e astonished that according to the author's calculation the variation in t h e mortality of pure m a r i n e fish is not more p r o n o u n c e d t h a n in the s a l m o n which, owing to its large eggs a n d protected egg deposition, may h a v e a favoured h a t c h i n g d e v e l o p m e n t . P a p e r a n d technical expertise of the about 35 figures are not of the best quality; t h r e e p a g e s of i n d e x are r a t h e r m e a g r e ; in addition, the systematical a r r a n g e m e n t is negligent, e.g. some chapters h a v e a summary, others not. This is, however, c o m p e n s a t e d by a quick production of a n u p - t o - d a t e review a n d by the low price of the book which will attract customers. It is not m e a n t to b e valid for the next century b u t for the next decade, w h i c h m a y b e the deadline for writing a n u p d a t e d n e w
450 B u c h b e s p r e c h u n g e n [ B o o k r e v i e w s ]
A n d e r s , K. & M f l l e r , H.: Atlas der F i s c h k r a n k h e i t e n im W a t t e n m e e r . ( B e r i c h t e . U m w e l t - b u n d e s a m t 3 / 9 2 . ) B e r l i n : S c h m i d t , 1992, 112 pp., D M 7 6 , - .
Das im 2/3 DIN A 4 (B 5}-Format e r s c h i e n e n e reich b e b i l d e r t e z w e i s p r a c h i g e (Deutsch/Eng- lisch} Heft - die B e z e i c h n u n g Atlas ist wohl etwas zu hoch gegriffen - b i e t e t e i n e a n s p r e c h e n d e Z u s a m m e n s t e l l u n g der ~iuBerhch e r k e n n b a r e n Pischkrankheiten, die derzeit irn D e u t s c h e n Watten- m e e r b e o b a c h t e t werden. Die kleinformatigen, a b e r d u r c h w e g g u t e n v o r w i e g e n d f a r b i g e n Abbil- d u n g e n e r l a u b e n a u c h d e m nicht v o r g e b i l d e t e n Benutzer eine schneUe E i n o r d n u n g v o r g e f u n d e n e r K r a n k h e i t s p h ~ n o m e n e . Der b e i g e g e b e n e Text informiert kurz a b e r meist treffend f i b e r die wichtig- sten K r a n k h e i t s k e n n z e i c h e n u n d - d a t e n wie Symptome, Verbreitung, BefaUsraten etc. Vielfach w e r d e n zur Erl~iuterung a u c h histopathologische u n d elektronenoptische B e f u n d e angeffigt. Erleichtert wird die B e n u t z u n g durch eine vorangestellte Definition der wichtigsten fischpathologi- s c h e n Begriffe sowie d u t c h e i n e n origineUen Bestimmungsschlfissel, der es erm6glicht, die Art der I4xankheit einzukreisen, u m d a n n mit Hilfe vor aUem der A b b i l d u n g e n d e n B e f u n d g e n a u a n z u s p r e - chen.
Als U r s a c h e n der e i n z e l n e n K r a n k h e i t e n w e r d e n haupts~ichhch infekti6se O r g a n i s m e n u n d Parasiten benarmt. Ob a u c h a n t h r o p o g e n e V e r s c h m u t z u n g e n i n s b e s o n d e r e der Kfistengew~isser ffir b e s t i m m t e K r a n k h e i t e n verantwortlich bzw. mitverantworflich g e m a c h t w e r d e n k 6 n n e n , darfiber v e r h e r e n die Autoren k a u m ein Wort u n d s c h w e i g e n die betreffende, i n z w i s c h e n r e c h t umfangrei- c h e Literatur tot. N o c h v e r w u n d e r l i c h e r a b e r ist, dab dieses a n s o n s t e n d u r c h a u s e r n p f e h l e n s w e r t e B~indchen in d e n Berichten des U m w e l t b u n d e s a m t e s e r s c h i e n e n ist, zumal es a u c h n o c h reichhch Daten u n d A b b i l d u n g e n aufweist, die bereits a n frfiherer Stelle (H. MSller/K. A n d e r s : "Diseases a n d parasites of m a r i n e fishes." M611er-Kiel, 1986} publiziert w o r d e n sind u n d damit in k e i n e m unmittel- b a r e n Z u s a m m e n h a n g mit d e n v o m U m w e l t b u n d e s a m t , d e m L a n d e s a m t ffir d e n N a t i o n a l p a r k des Schleswig-Holsteinischen W a t t e n m e e r e s u n d dern Umweltministerium des L a n d e s N i e d e r s a c h s e n in Auftrag gegebenen Untersuchungen der Jahre 1988/89 stehen. N. Peters (Hamburg)
A m l a c h e r , E.: T a s c h e n b u c h der F i s c h k r a n k h e i t e n , G r u n d l a g e n d e r F i s c h p a t h o l o g i e . 6. Aufl., S t u t t g a r t : F i s c h e r , 1992, 5 0 0 p p . , D M 9 8 . - .
Mit d e r 6. d e u t s c h e n Auflage seines " T a s c h e n b u c h der P i s c h k r a n k h e i t e n " v e r a b s c h i e d e t sich E. Arnlacher als B u c h a u t o r v o n s e i n e n Lesern u n d wfinscht sich in s e i n e m Vorwort, d a b sein W e r k yon b e r u f e n e r Seite weitergeffihrt w e r d e n m f g e . Ich schheSe mich d i e s e m W u n s c h an; d e n n zum e i n e n w~re es bedauerlich, w e n n Amlachers reicher Wissensgrundstock verloren g i n g e ; zum a n d e r e n w a r e es a b e r a u c h wfinschenswert, dieses Werk kfinftig u n t e r zeitgem/iBeren G e s i c h t s p u n k t e n n e u zu fiberarbeiten.
Das Buch g h e d e r t sich in zwei Abschnitte. Der allgemeine Teil informiert fiber U n t e r s u c h u n g s - techniken, a l l g e m e i n e A n g a b e n zu Fischorganen. Prophylaxe u n d Therapie. Die Kapitel "Immun- biologische G r u n d l a g e n der I n f e k t i o n s a b w e h r " u n d "Die e n t z f i n d h c h e n R e a k t i o n e n " w u r d e n erg/inzt. Anschliel3end wird die Vielfalt der F i s c h k r a n k h e i t e n in e i n e m speziellen Tell systematisch a b g e h a n d e l t D e n Virosen u n d Bakteriosen wird d a b e i der breiteste Raum z u g e s t a n d e n . Krankhei- ten, die d u r c h Prize, DinofiageUaten, Einzeller. Helminthen, Krebse u n d U m w e l t p a r a m e t e r hervor- g e r u f e n werden, folgen u n d die G e s c h w u l s t k r a n k h e i t e n schliel~en die Z u s a m m e n s t e l l u n g a b Das Literaturverzeichnis b e e i n d r u c k t durch s e i n e n U m f a n g yon ca. 1300 Zitaten.
Das S c h w e r g e w i c h t u n d die St~rke dieses Werkes liegen in s e i n e n A u s f f i h r u n g e n zur M e t h o d i k d e r F i s c h k r a n k h e i t s u n t e r s u c h u n g e n , die gleichermafien ffir Studenten, H o b b y a q u a r i a n e r u n d Fischzfichter yon Interesse sind. Auch die Kapitel fiber virale u n d bakterielle E r k r a n k u n g e n einheirnischer Forellen u n d Karpfen lassen die reichhaltige E r f a h r u n g des Autors auf d i e s e m G e b i e t e r k e n n e n .
Todesfolge hervorrufen, erscheint mir fahrl~issig - zumal da das z u g r u n d e l i e g e n d e Literaturzitat im Verzeichnis fehlt. Der Lebenszyklus von Lernaeocera branchialis entspricht k e i n e s w e g s d e m von
Lernaea {S. 372) u n d dab die ~Lymphocystose" als Folge einer Wasservergiftung ausgel6st wfirde {S. 376) ist n a c h h e u t i g e m Wissensstand eine freie Erfindung des Autors oder a b e r e i n e unkritisch f i b e r n o m m e n e Spekulation.
Die A n g a b e des Verlages auf d e m Buchrficken "Das umfangreiche Literaturverzeichnis pr~isen- tiert sich auf d e m n e u e s t e n Stand" k a n n nur als gezielte IrrefOhrung des K u n d e n g e w e r t e t w e r d e n . Dies ist b e s o n d e r s ~irgerhch, da der Autor selbst diese A n g a b e in s e i n e m Vorwort einschr~inkt. Lediglich etwa 1% der Zitate sind jfingeren Datums als 1986. Im Kapitel "Vergiftungen" ist nur ein Zitat jO.uger als 1975. Bei d e r Lymphocystis-Krankheit, die g e r a d e von d e u t s c h e n Wissenschaftlern in d e n letzten J a h r e n umfangreich b e a r b e i t e t wurde, ist der Wissensstand bei 1966 s t e h e n geblie- ben. Aktuelle Stichworte wie Angufllicola, Klieschenpapillome, Lalchpapillomatose o d e r Maulgra- nulomatose fehlen g~inzlich.
Es w~re b e s s e r for dieses Buch g e w e s e n , w e n n der Autor sich auf solche Teilbereiche der Fischkrankheiten beschr~inkt h~itte, die er auch fiberblickt. Das Werk w~re d a n n handlicher, billiger u n d e m p f e h l e n s w e r t e r geworden. H. M611er (Kiel)
B o u d o u r e s q u e , C . F . , A v o n , M . & G r a v e z , V. (Eds): L e s E s p f i c e s M a r i n e s ~ P r o t 6 g e r e n M 6 d i t e r r a n 6 e . M a r s e i l l e : GIS P o s i d o n i e , 1991, 448 p p , , F F 150.-.
This book covers the p r o c e e d i n g s of an international colloquium held in N o v e m b e r 1989. It gives in its first part a c o m p r e h e n s i v e account of numerous species of plants (Posidonia, N e p t u n e ' s grass) a n d animals (from s p o n g e s to mammals) characteristic of the Mediterranean, as well as a report on their p r e s e n t status of survival and on measures for their protection. The s e c o n d part deals with the official attitude of certain regional authorities adjacent to the M e d i t e r r a n e a n shores concerning conservation, describes the official steps towards protection, and reports on the national legislation a n d regulations concerning nature conservation. It concludes with the p r e s e n t a t i o n of various ~action plants" for the M e d i t e r r a n e a n and with recomrffendations from t h e experts.
By focussing on single species, s u p p l e m e n t e d by pertinent literature, this book gives valuable a n d detailed information on the respective organisms. Attention is drawn to significant species of the Mediterranean Sea which are most t h r e a t e n e d and in n e e d of immediate protective action on a local, regional and national/international scale. The contributions, p r e s e n t e d by n u m e r o u s experts, differ in character. Some describe the biology, occurrence a n d autecology without direct relation to protection. Others deal with more applied aspects, focus on conclusions r e g a r d i n g the status of the populations in various areas, and on immediate steps to be t a k e n for protection. Several articles may report on the s a m e species, elucidating its situation in different areas. Detailed m a p s of the geographical a n d local species distribution are also provided. This might turn out to b e a problem regarding species such as Corallium rubrum, the Red Coral, as the maps give valuable hints to diving souvenir hunters a n d for other illegal commercial exploitation. It is doubtful w h e t h e r the inclusion of microscopically small, rare a n d delicate animals, such as m e s o p s a m m i c gastropods, will contribute much to elucidate the problem of M e d i t e r r a n e a n species protection.
One major problem in nature conservation has, in m a n y areas, b e e n r e c o g n i z e d a n d overcome. Even though it is reasonable to protect single, significant species, m o d e r n nature conservation pohtics must focus on the preservation of entire biotopes, of larger areas. In the long term, only this broader view will g u a r a n t e e even the conservation of t h e single species to which the book mainly refers.
One may dispute w h e t h e r the editors h a v e b e e n well advised to exclude English, the interna- tional scientific l a n g u a g e to a very large extent, and focus on French and Spanish. E v e n though the use of these two latter l a n g u a g e s will help the local authorities to u n d e r s t a n d the n e c e s s a r y steps, it will not help to draw international attention to the problem of protection of the Mediterranean. That this internationally well f r e q u e n t e d sea urgently n e e d s protection will soon b e c o m e evident e v e n to the most uninformed tourist.
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scientists, for t h e decision-makers in charge of the environmental bureaucracy a n d the politics b e h i n d it, It is written by scientists for scientists, for an insider group of peers who are already aware of the problem, but who are normally not in a position to be heard or to u n d e r t a k e direct measures. Thus, the book leaves a rather ambiguous impression. It is certainly valuable for scientists, but are they really the ones w h o primarily n e e d advice about "the species to protect in the MediterTanean" ?
