Buchbesprechungen

Helgol~nder Meeresunters. 44, 507-517 {1990)

Buchbesprechungen [Book reviews]

S o m m e r U. (Ed.): P l a n k t o n E c o l o g y . S u c c e s s i o n in P l a n k t o n C o m m u n i t i e s . Berlin: S p r i n g e r , 1989, 369 pp., D M 198,-.

U. Sommer, from the Max-Planck-Institute of Limnology, P15n, Germany, is editor of this book on {freshwater} plankton ecology and author of two of the 9 chapters. The book focusses on mechanisms which bring about plankton succession, such as physical control, nutrition, limitation of growth, competition, predation and parasitism. This makes the contributions, though based on limnological work, also valuable to the marine planktologist and general ecologist.

The first chapter "Toward a Darwinian ecology of plankton" by U. Sommer shows the inchnation of the author towards theoretical concepts, suggesting general mechanisms that may trigger plankton species replacement. Plankton communities are indeed well suited for testing general ecological theories, as plankton species can often be easily cultured and have short generation times. Sommer starts by reviewing the three concepts of functioning of communities and ecosystems. The "Darwinian" concept of the nutrition n e e d e d for survival and reproduction is favoured. It implies a primarily negative interaction between populations {competition, predation, parasitism}: The editor presents the "PEG-Model" of plankton seasonal succession, a sequence of 24 steps of seasonal change in phyto- and zooplankton in an ideahzed lake. This model e m e r g e d from discussions among the 30 members of the Plankton Ecology Group (PEG}.

In Chapter 2, S. Reynolds reviews the "Physical determination of phytoplankton succession", addressing the impact of physical variables (temperature, stratification, light) on the dynamics of the individual species, whose prevalence may be related to major changes in the physical environment. In Chapter 3, U. Sommer discusses "The role of competition for resources in phytoplankton succession", focussing on the nutrient elements nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon and reviewing the various nutrient limitation models. The next two chapters deal with the impact of zooplankton and parasites on phytoplankton succession. R. W. Sterner reviews "The role of grazers in phytoplankton succession", which covers selective mortality of phytoplankton species as well as growth enhance- ment of other species by zooplankton excretion. Van Donk investigates "The role of fungal parasites in phytoplankton succession". Although many phytoplankton parasites are described, their quan- titative effects are still almost unknown.

Chapters 6 and 7 cover the most important mechanisms of zooplankton succession. W. R. DeMott explores "The role of competition in zooplankton succession", dealing mainly with competi- tion for food. The equilibrium models (niche partitioning) and noneqnilibrittm models (environ- mental and predator influence} are compared. "The role of predation in zooplankton succession" is reviewed by Z. M. Gllwicz and J. Pijanowska. Fishes are the main and best investigated zooplankton predators. Their influence on zooplankton mortality is investigated and predation versus competi- tion as source of succession discussed. In Chapter 8, "Toward an autecology of bacterioplankton", C. Pedros-Alio reviews the quantitative importance of bacterioplankton. Though this part of the plankton community might contribute around 30 % of the total production of phytoplankton, quantitative data on the significance of bacterioplankton is fairly recent. Species identification being most problematic with bacteria, ecological concepts such as diversity, competition and succession cannot be apphed. The concept of the guild is introduced, in order to place bacteria within the same paradigm as the other planktonic members. In the last chapter, H. Glide reports on "The role of grazing on bacteria in plankton succession". Despite the lack of species determination, which limits succession studies on species or population levels, it is justified to study the importance of bacteria in

M a r i n e S y m b i o s e s . P r o c e e d i n g s of t h e F i r s t E i l a t S y m p o s i u m o n M a r i n e S y m b i o s e s . ( S y m b i o s i s , Vol. 4) R e h o v o t (Israel): B a l a b a n P u b l . , 1987, $ 75.

Das Buch b e i n h a l t e t e i n e n Tell der Vortr~ige, die auf d e m 1. Eilat S y m p o s i u m on M a r i n e Symbioses g e h a l t e n wurden. 22 Beitr/ige, z.T. al.~ Review, z.T. als Originalarbeiten, g e b e n e i n e n lJ'berblick fiber aktuelle F o r s c h u n g s s c h w e r p u n k t e aus d e n v e r s c h i e d e n s t e n B e r e i c h e n m a r i n e r Symbiose. K e n n z e i c h n e n d ffir dieses F o r s c h u n g s g e b i e t sind die sehr u n t e r s c h i e d l i c h e n wissen- schaftlichen Ans~itze: Sowohl molekularbiologische, biochemische u n d physiologische als a u c h ethologische u n d 6kologische Aspekte w e r d e n untersucht. D e m e n t s p r e c h e n d grol5 ist a u c h die Vielfalt der beteiligten Organismen: c h e m o a u t o t r o p h e Bakterien, h e t e r o t r o p h e B a k t e r i e n (z.B. Leuchtbakterien), a n a e r o b e p h o t o a u t o t r o p h e Bakterien, C y a n o b a k t e r i e n , Prochloron, einzellige A l g e n (Zooxanthellen, Chlorella), Protozoen, Schw~-nme, Coelenteraten, Polychaeten, Muscheln, Krebse, Ascidien u n d Hsche.

Eine G l i e d e r u n g der Beitriige in v e r s c h i e d e n e G r u p p e n ist nicht v o r g e n o m m e n worden. Einen b r e i t e n Raum n e h m e n A r b e i t e n fiber v e r s c h i e d e n e Endosymbiosen ein, z. B. M u s c h e l n / c h e m o a u t o - trophe Bakterien, KoraUen/ZooxantheUen oder Ciliaten/ChloreUa. D e m g e g e n f i b e r s t e h e n Ektosym- b i o s e n wie bei Fischen mit L e u c h t b a k t e r i e n oder bei d e m Pompejiwurm,

Alvinella

sp., rnit seiner epibiotischen Bakterienflora. A u c h U n t e r s u c h u n g e n fiber lockere mutualistische Assoziationen wie z.B. die Putz-Symbiosen bei Fischen, KoraUen u n d Krebsen sind enthalten. Themenm/iBig s t e h e n natfirlich die v e r s c h i e d e n e n F o r m e n der Interaktion zwischen d e n S y m b i o s e p a r t n e r n im Vorder- g r u n d ",vie Stoffaustausch zwischen Wirt u n d S y m b i o n t e n oder Detoxifikations-Mechanismen. In diesem Z u s a m m e n h a n g wird a u c h die Frage n a c h der S t e u e r u n g yon W a c h s t u m u n d V e r m e h r u n g yon E n d o s y m b i o n t e n d u t c h d e n Wirt b e h a n d e l t , oder die Induktion yon M e t a m o r p h o s e n bei d e n Wirtsorganismen durch A u s s c h e i d u n g e n der Symbionten. Ebenfalls a n g e s p r o c h e n wird das Pro- blem: Wie e r k e n n t der Wirt ,,seine" Symbionten, u n d wie k a n n sich anschlieBend eine Endosym- biose etablieren?

Die Beitr~ige e n t h a l t e n eine FfiUe n e u e r Informationen u n d sind e n t s p r e c h e n d d e n Richtlinien der Zeitschrift ,,Symbiosis" gut redigiert. Da naturgem~iB in solchen Proceedings n u r eine d u r c h die Interessen der T a g u n g s t e i l n e h m e r b e g r e n z t e A n z a h l yon T h e m e n a n g e s p r o c h e n wird, k a n n das Buch k e i n e n lfickenlosen Oberblick fiber s~imtliche Bereiche der m a r i n e n Symbiose bieten. Nicht erw~ihnt sind z. B. Endosymbiosen zwischen c h e m o a u t o t r o p h ~ n Bakterien u n d P o g o n o p h o r e n oder Oligochaeten, e b e n s o Symbiosen, bei d e n e n m e t h a n o t r o p h e Bakterien beteiligt sind. Weitere Vortr~ige des Symposiums sollen jedoch im f o l g e n d e n Band yon ,,Symbiosis" e n t h a l t e n sein.

Der Preis des Buches ist im Hinblick auf die gute Druck- u n d Abbildungsqualitiit a n g e m e s s e n . Dieser S y m p o s i u m s b a n d wird vor allem ffir Wissenschaftler r e l e v a n t sein, die auf e i n e m v e r w a n d t e n G e b i e t arbeiten. Da es a b e r zur Zeit kein a n d e r e s Buch gibt, in d e m die in d e n l e t z t e n J a h r e n recht stfirrnisch v e r l a u f e n e Entwicklung in der rnarinen Symbioseforschung z u s a m m e n h ~ i n g e n d d a r g e - stellt ist, dfirfte es a u c h ffir weitere Leserkreise interessant sein. R. S c h m a l j o h a n n (Kiel)

Ax, P. (Ed.): Microfauna Marina. Vol. 5. S t u t t g a r t : F i s c h e r , 1989, 3 2 9 p p . , D M 9 4 , - . Die Buchreihe ,,Microfauna Marina" hat es sich zum Ziel gesetzt, ,,das S p e k t r u m u n t e r s c h i e d - lichster A s p e k t e der Okologie, Systematik u n d Evolution, der Morphologie u n d Ultrastruktur e b e n s o ,,vie der L e b e n s w e i s e dieser F a u n e n k o m p o n e n t e des Meeres" zu erschlieBen. Diese Vielfalt der T h e m e n k o m m t a u c h im jetzt v o r l i e g e n d e n Band 5 zum Ausdruck, der 12 v o n e i n a n d e r u n a b h S n g i g e Beitr~ge enthSlt, die tells in deutscher, tells in englischer Sprache verfagt sind.

In 3 Beitr~igen wird die B e a r b e i t u n g d e r interstitiellen F a u n a von G a l a p a g o s fortgeffihrt. U. Ehlers u n d B. Sopott-Ehlers b e h a n d e i n die Taxa

Haloplanella

u n d

Pratoplana

(Plathelminthes). W. Mielke legt in zwei Beitr~gen eine B e a r b e i t u n g der H a r p a c t i c i d e n - T a x a Tetragonicipitidae u n d Metidae vor. N e b e n morphologischen w e r d e n d a b e i a u c h evolutive A s p e k t e b e h a n d e l t .

Ultrastrukturelle Befunde u n d ihre I m p h k a t i o n e n ffir das phylogenetische System der jeweili- g e n Taxa b e h a n d e l n vier Beitr~ige. Dabei b e s c h r e i b t J: B r i i g g e m a n n erstmalig das vollst/indige Exkretionssystem eines r h a b d o c o e l e n Plathelminthen. SchhelJhch ffihrten G. WeUner u n d K. Reise e i n e n 6kologischen Vergleich der P l a t h e l m i n t h e n b e s i e d l u n g eines geschfitzten u n d eines exponier- ten S a n d s t r a n d e s der Insel Sylt dutch.

Da a l l g e m e i n e B e s t i m m u n g s w e r k e ffir viele G r u p p e n der M e i o f a u n a wie z.B. P l a t h e l r n i n t h e n fehlen, ist es a u c h ffir Anf~uger auf diesem Arbeitsgebiet notwendig, direkt auf die Spezialliteratur zuzugreifen. Die Buchreihe ,,Microfauna Marina" ist hiefffir eines der Standardwerke. A n g e s i c h t s der g u t e n A u s s t a t t u n g des Bandes u n d der h o h e n Qualit~it der Beitr~ige, nicht zuletzt a u c h der zahlreichen A b b i l d u n g e n u n d Fotographien, erscheint der Preis yon DM 94,- a n g e m e s s e n .

W e r n e r A r m o n i e s (List)

A t h e r s u c h , J., H o m e , D. J. & W h i t t a k e r , J. E.: Marine and Brackish Water Ostracods. ( S y n o p s e s of t h e B r i t i s h F a u n a . N. S. Nr. 43). L e i d e n : Brill, 1989, 343 pp., $ 82,50.

P u b h s h e d for The L i n n e a n Society of London a n d the Estuarine a n d Brackish-Water Sciences Association b y E. J. Brill, Leiden, N e w York, K e b e n h a v n , K61n, 1989, 343 Seiten, 137 Textfiguren, 7 Tafeln u n d jeweils 10 REM-Fotos yon Schalen.

Im R a h m e n der n e u e n Serie der "Synopses of the British Fauna" l e g e n drei b e k a n n t e bfitische Pal~iontologen ein u m f a n g r e i c h e s Werk fiber die Ostracoden aus m a r i n e n u n d b r a c k i g e n Gew~issern Grol~britanniens vor. Obwohl yon Pal~iontologen geschrieben, k a n n auch der Biologe mit d e m v o r g e l e g t e n B a n d roll zuffieden sein. M a n m e r k t d e n Autoren an, dab sie sich seit l a n g e m a u c h rnit der biologischen Seite dieser meist d u t c h Pal~iontologen b e a r b e i t e t e n G r n p p e vertraut g e m a c h t h a b e n . Dies zeigt sich i n s b e s o n d e r e in d e n e i n f f i h r e n d e n Kapitein, die die Morphologie der ~iu~eren Harttefle (Schale u n d Extremit~iten) b e h a n d e l n u n d a u c h auf einige M e r k m a l e des W e i c h k 6 r p e r s (Fortpflanzungsorgane) eingehen. In d e n f o l g e n d e n Kapiteln w e r d e n die Entwicklung, Okologie u n d Zoogeographie, Feinde u n d M e t h o d e n der Pr,iparation besprochen. Diese Kapitel b l e i b e n verst~indlicherweise kurz. A n s p r e c h e n d e A b b i l d u n g e n erg~inzen d e n sehr gut l e s b a r e n Text.

Den Hauptteil des Buches, u n d dies ist ja a u c h A u f g a b e des Synopsis, n i m m t die Systematik ein. V e r s c h i e d e n e Systeme w e r d e n kurz diskutiert u n d durch eine e i g e n e Voflage eines Systems der britischen O s t r a c o d e n erg/inzt. Erfreulich ist der sorgf/iltig erarbeitdte Schlfissel, der his zur G a t t u n g ffihrt, im w e i t e r e n Veflauf des systematischen Textes a b e r auch Artenschlfissel enth~ilt. Im faunisti- s c h e n Teil der Systematik w e r d e n alle aus GroBbritannien b e k a n n t e n Ostracoden aufgeffihrt, es wird auf d e n Verbleib des Holotypus h i n g e w i e s e n sowie auf die Typus-Lokaht~it. Eine kurze Diagnose wird gestellt, B e m e r k u n g e n h i n s i c h t h c h frfiherer B e a r b e i t u n g e n u n d systematischer Probleme angeffihrt u n d die V e r b r e i t u n g b e s c h r i e b e n . Zu j e d e r Art findet sich eine Textfigur, die Schale u n d einige Weichteile wiedergibt, u n d yon vielen a u c h ein REM-Foto im A n h a n g . M a n c h m a l h/itte m a n sich eine ausffihrlichere Darstellung der Extremit6ten gewfinscht. Das Buch ist mit e i n e m Glossar auf d e n Seiten 316-322 versehen, enth~lt ein Schriftenverzeichnis u n d e i n e n u m f a n g r e i - c h e n Index.

In der v o r g e l e g t e n Form ist die vorgelegte Synopse die u m f a n g r e i c h s t e m o d e r n e Ostracoden- f a u n a Europas. Sie wird auf lebhaftes Interesse vieler Biologen u n d Pal~iontologen stoBen, i n s b e s o n - dere weft die yon Klie (1938) erstellte F a u n a in "Dahl, Tierwelt Deutschlands" n u n m e h r v611ig veraltet ist. Das Buch sei allen Biologen w a r m empfohlen, die im b r a c k i g e n oder m a r i n e n Lebens-

r a u m arbeiten. G. H a r t m a n n (Hamburg)

F e l g e n h a u e r , B., T h i s t l e , A. B. & W a t h n g , L. (Eds): Functional Morphology of Feeding and Grooming in Crustacea. ( C r u s t a c e a n . I s s u e s 6.) R o t t e r d a m : B a l k e m a , 1989, 2 4 0 p p . , D M 120,50.

After crustacean phylogeny, larval growth, adult growth, biogeography, a n d b a r n a c l e biology, functional morphology has b e c o m e the topic of the sixth volume of " C r u s t a c e a n I s s u e s ' .

A basis for t h e physiological u n d e r s t a n d i n g of sensory cuticular structures is g i v e n in the c h a p t e r by C. D. Derby. It reviews k n o w l e d g e of function a n d morphology in m e c h a n o r e c e p t i v e a n d chemoreceptive sensilla of the Crustacea. Most of the available information on t h e physiological response properties of their n e u r o n s is restricted to larger Decapoda; h o w e v e r , t h e s e data show already in principle, h o w those sensors d e t e r m i n e the quahtative, quantitative, directional, a n d temporal nature of different stimuli.

Since the cuticle surface is exposed to bacterial a n d other fouling, g r o o m i n g is a n essential b e h a v i o u r in crustaceans. R. T. Bauer s u m m a r i z e s information o n morphological a n d b e h a v i o u r a l adaptations to g r o o m i n g in the Decapoda, a n d h e suggests evolutionary t r e n d s in the relationship b e t w e e n the m o d e of locomotion a n d the d e g r e e of speciahzation of body grooming.

This broad r e v i e w is followed b y a c h a p t e r on gill a n d embryo grooming in h t h o d i d crabs (by G. Pohle), serving as a particularly w e l l - d o c u m e n t e d example h o w t h e s e e x t r e m e l y sensitive structures are protected from fouling organisms. - Terrestrial crustaceans r e v e a l quite different b e h a v i o u r a l a n d structural adaptations of the n e e d for grooming. T h o s e aspects of functional morphology in amphipods, isopods, a n d terrestrial a n o m u r a n a n d b r a c h y u r a n crabs are r e v i e w e d b y J. G. Holmquist.

The following s e v e n chapters deal with the functional morphology of feeding, i n c l u d i n g b o t h external a n d internal cuticular strctures t h a t are related to the u p t a k e a n d m e c h a n i c a l p r o c e s s i n g of food. The major c r u s t a c e a n taxa for w h i c h the available information has b e e n r e v i e w e d include the Nectipoda (F. R. S c h r a m & C. A. Lewis), Conchostraca {J. W. Martin), C o p e p o d a (S. B. Schnack), M y s i d a c e a (Y. Crouau), E u p h a u s i a c e a (J. M. Mauchline), a n d Decapoda (J. R. Factor). Since copepods, mysids, euphausiids, a n d d e c a p o d s are very i m p o r t a n t m e m b e r s of m a r i n e a n d b r a c k i s h w a t e r communities, most of these articles are of special interest also to m a r i n e ecologists w h o study trophic relationships in the ecosystem. The chapter written by J. R. Factor includes m u c h e v i d e n c e from larval stages, d e m o n s t r a t i n g the o n t o g e n y of functional morphology.

The last c h a p t e r (B. E. F e l g e n h a u e r & L. G. Abele} concentrates on the functional m o r p h o l o g y of the foregut in the lower Decapoda. T h e authors conclude that t h e s e structures are less r e l a t e d to diet t h a n to the p h y l o g e n e t i c position of a taxon, s u g g e s t i n g t h a t they m a y b e useful taxonomic characters.

This volume is characterised b y excellent illustrations, in particular n u m e r o u s s u p e r b s c a n n i n g electron micrographs a n d h n e drawings. T h e y will surely heip to captivate also those r e a d e r s w h o are not specifically i n t e r e s t e d in morphology, or, not even, in crustaceans. T h e q u a h t y of the illustrations fits that of the articles t h a t were written by k n o w n specialists. As F. R. S c h r a m puts it in the preface: "this b o o k exemplifies perfectly the alms of ' C r u s t a c e a n issues', to p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h on

the cutting edge of the s c i e n c e . " K. A n g e r (Helgoland)

W i l l m a n n , R.: M u s c h e l n u n d S c h n e c k e n der N o r d - u n d Ostsee. M e l s u n g e n : N e u m a n n & N e u d a m m , 1989, 3 1 0 pp., D M 4 4 , - .

Nach den b e i d e n von Erich Ziegelmeier b e a r b e i t e t e n u n d yon der Biologischen Anstalt Helgo- l a n d h e r a u s g e g e b e n e n Muschel- u n d Schneckenb~indchen (erschienen zuerst 1957 bzw. I966 als S o n d e r d r u c k e der "Helgol/inder wissenschaftliche M e e r e s u n t e r s u c h u n g e n " } stellt das v o r l i e g e n d e W e r k die erste u m f a n g r e i c h e r e Z u s a m m e n f a s s u n g u n s e r e r Kenntnisse yon Systematik, Biologie u n d Okologie der M o l l u s k e n a n Nord- u n d Ostsee dar.

Ein allgemeiner Tell ffihrt in d e n Bau, die Lebensweise u n d Fortpflanzung d e r h e i m i s c h e n M u s c h e l n u n d S c h n e c k e n ein. A u c h e i n i g e interessante A n m e r k u n g e n fiber ihre B e d e u t u n g im Nahrungsgeffige der L e b e n s g e m e i n s c h a f t e n sind hier in e i n e m e i g e n e n Kapitel k n a p p z u s a m m e n - gefal~t.

Der zweite A b s c h n i t t des Buches enth~ilt d e n speziellen Teil. Er wird eingeffihrt d u r c h e i n e n a u f w e n d i g e n d i c h o t o m e n Bestimmungsschlfissel. Im AnschluB d a r a n w e r d e n die e i n z e l n e n A r t e n in Wort u n d Bitd vorgestelit.

zusteuern. Nur in sehr w e n i g e n als "Naturffihrer" konzipierten W e r k e n k a n n m a n solche gestrafft zusammengefal3ten u n d doch u m f a s s e n d e n Informationen z u m L e b e n der e i n z e i n e n A r t e n finden. H i e r d u r c h wird die Formenvielfalt als Folge u n t e r s c h i e d h c h s t e r L e b e n s w e i s e n deutlich. Allerdings w a r e die eine oder a n d e r e A h b i I d u n g zu e i n e m Eigelege (z. B. bei Nepttmea-, Nucetla-, Lacina-

A r t e n u n d Littorina mariae/obtusata} sehr hillreich gewesen. B e d a u e r h c h e r w e i s e s t e h e n die {angebhch} "erstklassigen Farbfotos" (bis auI w e n i g e A u s n a h m e n ) in schaffem Kontrast z u m Text. Reproduktion, A u s l e u c h t u n g u n d a u c h f a r b h c h e W i e d e r g a b e lassen sehr zu w ~ n s c h e n fibrig. In e i n i g e n Fallen muI5 m a n die Objekte erst zwischen vielen a n d e r e n miihsam s u c h e n (z. B. S. 119). Die A b b i l d u n g auf Seite 191 zeigt fibrigens nicht die Dattel-, s o n d e m die WeiiSe B o h r m u s c h e l (Barnea candida). Es ist a u c h schade, dal3 vom Konzept des Layouts h e r leicht m i t e i n a n d e r zu v e r w e c h s e l n d e A r t e n nicht n e b e n e i n a n d e r gestellt wurden, wie es a u c h ffir d e n Bestimmungstext u n d die dazuge- h S r i g e n Fotos sinnvoll g e w e s e n w~re. Durch die ungleichm~dSige ("unruhige") S e i t e n e i n t e i l u n g o h n e klares u n d d u r c h g e h a l t e n e s Layout (siehe z.B. die m o d e r n e n Naturffil~er yon Parey, l:ranckh- Kosmos, GrMe & Unzer} mu~ der Leser st~indig zwischen Text, A b b i l d u n g u n d Bestimmungsschlfis- sel hin u n d herbl~ittern. Das dilffte sich ffir d e n u n g e f i b t e n Sammler im Freiland als u n p r a k t i s c h erweisen. Es stellt sich in diesem Z u s a m m e n h a n g fiberhaupt die Frage, ob in e i n e m Naturffihrer dieser Art ein dichotomer Bestimmungsschlfissel sinnvoll ist. Viel schneller k o m m t m a n wohl b e i m gezielten Bl~ittern u n d B e s c h a u e n der r e l e v a n t e n A b b i l d u n g e n zum Ziel. Hinweise zu i h r e m Auf- f i n d e n (z. B. die G r u p p e aller turrafSrmigen Schnecken) h a t t e n als A b b i l d u n g e n im Vor- u n d Nach- satz u n t e r g e b r a c h t w e r d e n kSnnen. Viele V o g e l b e s t i m m u n g s b f i c h e r sind in dieser Hinsicht bei- spielhaft konzipiert. Die schlechtesten A b b i l d u n g e n betreffen b e d a u e r l i c h e r w e i s e g e r a d e die G r a p p e der K l e i n s c h n e c k e n ("Rissoacea"), die o h n e h i n a m schwierigsten zu b e s t i m m e n sind u n d d a h e r extrem praziser A b b i l d u n g e n bedfirfen. Vielleicht w a r e n hier d u r c h g e h e n d v e r g l e i c h e n d e A b b i l d u n g e n direkt n e b e n e i n a n d e r sinnvoller gewesen. A u c h die Vollst~ndigkeit der A r t e n ist nicht g e g e b e n . Allerdings w e r d e n einige N e u f u n d e u n d wissenschaftliche E r k e n n t m s s e (z. B. fiber die Strandschnecken} seit der D r u c k l e g u n g von Ziegelmeiers W e r k e n beriicksichtigt, u n d a u c h die g e h a u s e t r a g e n d e n Opisthobranchia finden d a n k e n s w e r t e r w e i s e E i n g a n g in d e n b e s c h r e i b e n d e n Tell. Trotzdem f e h l e n bei d e n geh~iusetragenden S c h n e c k e n g e g e n f i b e r Ziegelmeier m e h r als 20 Arten, d a r u n t e r so auffalhge u n d charakteristische F o r m e n wie Colus gracialis, Arca lactea u n d die a n der Ostsee d u r c h a u s nicht seltene Theodoxus fluviatilis (und a n d e r e Brackwasserformen}. V6Uig v e r s c h w i e g e n wird a u c h die mit etwa 30 Arten a n d e n d e u t s c h e n K~isten v e r t r e t e n e G r u p p e der mar~h-~en " N a c k t " - S c h n e c k e n . Die M u s c h e l n sind d a g e g e n fast l~ckenlos prasentiert. Leider ist die Taxonomie (besonders bei d e n Schnecken} in dieser A b h a n d i u n g n i c h t auf d e m a k t u e l l e n S t a n d tier Wissenschaft. Die zu diesem T h e m a r e l e v a n t e IAteratur {Hoisaeter, 1986; Graham, 1988} w u r d e nicht berficksichtigt. Die A n g a b e n z u m Erstbeschreiber u n d B e s c h r e i b u n g s d a t u m sind - u n v e r - st~indlicherweise - lfickenhaft, l=fir M o l l u s k e n k u n d l e r a b e t ist a u f g r u n d der v e r w i r r e n d e n N a m e n s - g e b u n g e n in d e n v e r g a n g e n e n J a h r z e h n t e n ein sorgf~iltiger U m g a n g mit der Taxonomie u n d d e r e n scharfen Richtlinien unerlalShch. So u n t e r s c h e i d e t der Autor z.B. nicht zwischen d e n in der Wissenschaft scharf g e t r e n n t e n B e z e i c h n u n g e n " = " u n d "syn.".

Ein kurzes Fazit zum SchlulS: l~fir eine Bestimmung im Freiland b i e t e t Willmanns W e r k keinerlei V e r b e s s e r u n g g e g e n f i b e r dem e r h e b l i c h preiswerteren D o p p e l b a n d yon Ziegelmeier ( z u s a m m e n n u r DM 8,-}; der aulSerordenthch a n s p r e c h e n d e Tell a b e t h e b t das Buch g e g e n f i b e r a n d e r e n e r s c h w i n g h c h e n B e s t i m m u n g s w e r k e n (auch aus d e m e n g h s c h e n Raum} z u m i n d e s t in dieser Hin- sicht w o h l t u e n d hervor. Wer k n a p p u n d u m f a s s e n d e i n e n (bebilderten) Einblick in das L e b e n der M u s c h e l n u n d S c h n e c k e n a n u n s e r e r Kfiste g e w i n n e n will, d e m ist dieses Buch trotz seiner o.g.

Schw~ichen zu empfehlen. K. J a n k e (Helgoland)

GrassY, P. P. (Ed.): T r a i t ~ d e Z o o l o g i e . T. V, 4: C 4 p h a l o p o d e s . P a r i s : M a s s o n , 1989, 804 pp., F F 1100.

This volume on the anatomy, systematics a n d biology of cephalopods fills the gap in "Trait4 de Zoologie" w h i c h h a s b e e n present for a long time.

a n d conferring with h e r well-qualified t e a m in Banyuls a n d other e m i n e n t biologists a n d p a l a e o n - tologists specializing in cephalopods who are not m e m b e r s of the "Banyuls g r o u p " . Thus, s h e eventually s u c c e e d e d in p r o d u c i n g an impressive, c o m p r e h e n s i v e survey. It does justice to b o t h the special significance of this h i g h e s t evoluted group of molluscs with 700 r e c e n t species a n d also to the standards e x p e c t e d of a "Trait6-volume".

The book has a b o u t 800 p a g e s including 454 illustrations i n t e g r a t e d in t h e text, a n d has over 2000 references to hterature, mainly up to 1982/83; in some chapters the book refers to work as r e c e n t as 1987, t h o u g h the results thereof could not b e incorporated into the text.

The two introductory chapters are c o n c e r n e d with the general organisation a n d special status of cephalopods a m o n g molluscs. The following 11 chapters in the first half of t h e b o o k h a v e a very great range, including b u o y a n c y a n d locomotion; they also treat anatomy, cytology a n d physiology of the various i n n e r o r g a n systems, according e a c h a different emphasis: c u t a n e o u s stuctures, nervous system, s e n s e organs, neurosecretion a n d endocrine organs, digestive organs, blood, circulatory-, coelom- a n d excretory system, genital organs. The r e a d e r will a p p r e c i a t e t h a t specialized biochemical, electrophysiological a n d pharmacological subjects - e.g. the volumes of h t e r a t u r e o n the giant axon system - could not b e treated.

The s e c o n d part of the volume is a b o u t reproduction, embryology, growth a n d hfe e x p e c t a n c y a n d the n a t u r a l e n e m i e s a n d parasites of the cephalopods - all with different w e i g h t i n g . It describes the geographical environment, migration a n d vertical distribution of the different species, also considers catching a n d economic significance of cephalopods, thus leaving the systematics - with primary reference to such of Voss (1977) - a n d evolution of the species to b e t r e a t e d a d e q u a t e l y in the two very c o m p r e h e n s i v e concluding chapters.

The texts a n d h e a d i n g s of the clearly structured chapters confine t h e m s e l v e s to the essential thematic correlations; their formulations arouse interest by their h i g h level of information, e x p r e s s e d in short striking syntax e n a b l i n g the " n o n - n a t i v e reader" to follow. Even ~omeone w h o k n o w s n o F r e n c h w h a t s o e v e r c a n g a i n v a l u a b l e information, stimulation a n d help for his o w n scientific work a n d t h o u g h t just by c o n t e m p l a t i n g the large n u m b e r of carefully selected a n d well r e p r o d u c e d illustrations (graphics, schemes, macro- a n d microphotographs a n d electronmicrographs), the tabu- lar hsts a n d the carefully p r e s e n t e d bibliography.

As mentioned, some reservations may derive from the fact that absolutely u p - t o - d a t e material could not b e considered. We also anticipate some of our specialist colleagues o b j e c t i n g t h a t their

"very

important" field w a s not a c c o r d e d sufficient t r e a t m e n t or t h a t certain significant quotations

a n d material were neglected. Nevertheless, this volume is, a n d will r e m a i n for a l o n g time the most c o m p r e h e n s i v e survey a n d richest source of easily available information on the biology of the cephalopods for the scientist as well as i n t e r e s t e d student. R. S c h i p p (Giessen) L o z a n , J. L., L e n z , W., R a c h o r , E., W a t e r m a n , B. & W e s t e r n h a g e n , H. v. (Eds): W a r n - s i g n a l e a u s d e r N o r d s e e . W i s s e n s c h a f f l i c h e F a k t e n . B e r l i n : P a r e y , 1990, 4 2 8 pp., D M 3 9 , - .

In d e m Buch "Warnsignale aus der Nordsee", mit d e m der Parey-Verlag seine P u b l i k a t i o n e n auf d e m G e b i e t der N a t u r u n d des N a t u r s c h u t z e s fortsetzt, h a b e n sich die 5 H e r a u s g e b e r u n d mit i h n e n m e h r als 50 Wissenschaftler die A u f g a b e gestellt, e i n e n Beitrag zur Absch~itzung der Umweltsituation der Nordsee zu leisten, der die interessierte Offentlichkeit u n d b e r u l l i c h mit F r a g e n des N a t u r s c h u t z e s befaBte Fachleute gleichermaBen informieren will.

Eine der St~irken des Werkes ist, dab ausschlieBlich Wissenschaftler zu Wort k o m m e n , die seit l~ingerem u n m i t t e l b a r in der Umweltforschung t~itig sind. Dieser U m s t a n d b e i n h a l t e t ffir die A u t o r e n die M6ghchkeit, ihrer Informationspflicht g e g e n / i b e r der Offentlichkeit n a c h z u k o m m e n , u n d ffir d e n interessierten Leser die seltene G e l e g e n h e i t des direkten Zugriffs auf ungefilterte u n d j o u r n a h - stisch u n a u f g e a r b e i t e t e Originahnformation. Die yon d e n e i n z e l n e n Autoren verfaBten u n d somit a u c h inhaltlich zu v e r t r e t e n d e n Artikel h a b e n in fachlicher Hinsicht ein h o h e s MaB a n Authentizit/it u n d Kompetenz u n d lassen d e n Leser t e i l h a b e n a n der Erforschung der L e b e n s p r o z e s s e u n d d e r B e d e u t u n g abiotischer u n d biotischer F a k t o r e n im Okosystem Nordsee.

tr~ige u n d der u m w e l t r e l e v a n t e n Substanz- u n d Stoffklassen wie Schwermetalle u n d Organochlor- v e r b i n d u n g e n im Wasser u n d d e n Sedimenten. Die Situation der Nahrstoffe ffir das P h y t o p l a n k t o n - w a c h s t u m wird im Z u s a m m e n h a n g mit d e m Problem der H y p e r t r o p h i e r u n g u n d d e m in i h r e m Gefolge a u f t r e t e n d e n Sauerstoffmangel b e h a n d e l t . Er ist w a h r s c h e i n h c h e Ursache ffir Ver~inderun- g e n d e r I n d i v i d u e n d i c h t e u n d der Populationsstrukturen der p e l a g i s c h e n u n d i n s b e s o n d e r e d e r w e n i g m o b i l e n b e n t h i s c h e n L e b e n s g e m e i n s c h a f t e n . Weitere Beitr~ige des Kapitels b e h a n d e l n die A u s w i r k u n g e n der O l v e r s c h m u t z u n g u n d die Problematik radioaktiver Substanzen.

Im zentralen, z w e i t e n Kapitel s t e h e n die L e b e w e s e n u n d die bei i h n e n b e o b a c h t e t e n oder v e r m u t e t e n A n d e r u n g e n a u f g r u n d der ver~inderten Umwelt- u n d Lebensraumsituation. Im Unter- kapitel "Plankton" f i n d e n sich D a r s t e l l u n g e n fiber Ver~inderungen b e i m Phytoplankton, fiber M a s s e n v e r m e h r u n g e n u n d toxische Effekte sowie Zooplankton u n d Bakterien. U n t e r "Benthos" sind M a k r o a l g e n u n d Seegr~iser, die Bodenfauna, wirtschaftlich genutzte Muscheln, S c h n e c k e n u n d Krebse, die Situation des Hummers, biologische Ver~inderungen im W a t t e n m e e r u n d die Rolle tierischer Parasiten in d i e s e m Biotop dargestellt. Es folgen weitere Unterkapitel fiber Pische (Gefiihrdungen der Fischfauna, i n s b e s o n d e r e der migratorischen Arten, L a n g z e i t e n t w i c k l u n g v o n Fisch- u n d Krebsbest~inden im Wattenmeer, fischereiliche Einflfisse, F i s c h k r a n k h e i t e n u n d embryo- nale MiBbildungen), Seev6gel (u. a. SeevSgel als Opfer der Olpest, Bestandsver~inderungen fisch- fressender VSgel) u n d Meeress~iuger (Robbenbestiinde, S e e h u n d s t e r b e n im W a t t e n m e e r 1988/89, die Situation der Wale, i n s b e s o n d e r e des Schweinswals). In allen U n t e r k a p i t e l n w i d m e n sich einzelne Beitr~ige oder Abs~itze d e n B e l a s t u n g e n der O r g a n i s m e n u n d ihrer O r g a n e m i t Schwer- metallen u n d chlorierten Kohlenwasserstoffem

U n t e r d e m Tirol "Was wird getan?" besch~iftigt sich das 3. Kapitel mit d e m Biomonitoring u n d d e n i n t e r n a t i o n a l e n O b e r e i n k o m m e n zur Verhfitung der M e e r e s v e r s c h m u t z u n g . Das 4. Kapitel faBt die vielfiiltigen Befunde des 3. Kapitels z u s a m m e n , u n d das 5. Kapitel informiert in k o m p r i m i e r t e r Form fiber Herkunft, Transport, Verbleib u n d A u s w i r k u n g e n der Schadstoffe, u m schliei~lich e i n e n Katalog von F o r d e r u n g e n u n d Maf3nahmen vorzuschlagen, die als effektive H i l f s m a ~ n a h m e n ffir die Nordsee g e e i g n e t sind. Den AbschluI~ des Buches bilden eine Liste yon Erkl~irungen wissenschaftli- cher Begriffe u n d ein u m f a n g r e i c h e s Literaturverzeichnis.

Den H e r a u s g e b e r n ist es gelungen, die betr~ichtliche Zahl yon Einzelbeitr~igen d u r c h fibersicht- h c h e u n d straffe G h e d e r u n g zu einem l e s e n s w e r t e n Werk z u s a m m e n z u f i i g e n . Die Artikel sind d u r c h w e g flfissig g e s c h r i e b e n u n d durch zahlreiche A b b f l d u n g e n u n d TabeUen d o k u m e n t i e r t u n d aufgelockert.

Als nfitzhch e r w e i s e n sich die z u s a m m e n f a s s e n d e n Schluf~betrachtungen jeweils a n d e n Kapi- telenden, in d e n e n a u c h persSnliche Situationseinsch~itzungen der Forscher mit a n k l i n g e n . E b e n s o stellen die Z u s a m m e n f a s s u n g e n der H e r a u s g e b e r im 4. Kapitel u n t e r d e m Titel " O b e r b h c k fiber die Warnsignale" ein sachlich a u s g e w o g e n e s u n d k o m p e t e n t e s D o k u m e n t zur Umweltsituation der Nordsee dar. Der aus d e m im 5. Kapitel dargestellten B e l a s t u n g s z u s t a n d a b g e l e i t e t e Katalog yon F o r d e r u n g e n u n d M a B n a h m e n zum Schutz der Nordsee k a n n als fundierte G r u n d l a g e ffir umwelt- relevante E n t s c h e i d u n g e n V e r w e n d u n g finden. Die Ffille von Sachinformationen dfirfte das Buch zu e i n e m e r g i e b i g e n N a c h s c h l a g e - u n d Q u e l l e n w e r k w e r d e n lassen.

Sprachlich sind die Texte angesichts der betr~ichtlichen A u t o r e n z a h l verh~iltnism~iBig einheit- lich. Es ist vorzuschlagen, dab sich Wissenschaftler i. a. auf n e u t r a l e B e s c h r e i b u n g e n b e s c h r ~ n k e n . S i e sollten Worte wie Killeralgen (S. 5) nicht n u r in A n f i i h r u n g s z e i c h e n setzen, s o n d e r n sie g~inzlich meiden. Fragwfirdig ist die Genitivbildung des Wortes Biomonitoring d u r c h Anh~ingen eines "s" (S. 312).

D i e w e n i g e n formalen S c h w ~ c h e n beeintr~ichtigen den positiven G e s a r n t e i n d r u c k nicht. Mit der FfiUe s e i n e r Originalbeitr~ige bietet das Buch e i n e n u m f a s s e n d e n Oberblick fiber die vielf~iltigen B e d r o h u n g e n d e s L e b e n s r a u m s Nordsee u n d die Vielgestaltigkeit d e r w i s s e n s c h a f t l i c h e n Unter- s u c h u n g e n in e i n e m h o c h g r a d i g v e r n e t z t e n Okosystem, in d e m der M e n s c h i n t e g r a l e r Bestandteil ist u n d das d u r c h i h n in e i n e m Brnchtefl seiner Geschichte gr56te Ver~inderungen erf~hrt, Das Werk informiert fachlich einwandfrei fiber die k o m p l e x e n Z u s a m m e n h ~ n g e z w i s c h e n e i n e r schier u n f i b e r s c h a u b a r e n O r g a n i s m e n z a h l u n d -vielfalt u n d i h r e m zwar riesigen, a b e r - wie die Z u n a h m e der Schadstoffkonzentrationen zweifelsfrei ins BewuBtsein ruff - e n d l i c h e n L e b e n s r a u m . Das Buch v e r m e i d e t V e r e i n f a c h u n g , wo Vielfalt u n d Widersprfichlichkeit d e r Problematik g e r e c h t werden, u n d befreit d u r c h Sachinformation von hinderlicher Emotionalit/it.

Der Offentlichkeit g e g e n f i b e r d o k u m e n t i e r t es schlieBlich U m f a n g u n d Inhalt staatlicher F6rde- r u n g s m a B n a h m e n im m a r i n e n U m w e l t b e r e i c h d u t c h Einrichtung v o n S t r u k t u r e n u n d Organisatio- n e n zur F o r s c h u n g s f 6 r d e r u n g u n d Bereitstellung u n d gezielte V e r g a b e v o n Mitteln u n d Sachbeihil- fen, die d e n w e s e n t l i c h e n Teil der dargestellten U n t e r s u c h u n g e n erst e r m 6 g l i c h t h a b e n . A n g e s i c h t s der t h e m a t i s c h e n Aktualitfit, der fachlich k o m p e t e n t e n u n d l e s b a r e n Darstellung sowie der vielseiti- g e n V e r w e n d b a r k e i t wird dieses Buch die Wfinsche einer b r e i t e n Leserschaft n a c h Sachinformation

erfiillen. D. Siebers (Hamburg)

D e k k e r , L., B o w e r , B. T., K o u d s t a a l , R.: M a n a g e m e n t o f T o x i c M a t e r i a l s i n a n I n t e r n a - t i o n a l S e t t i n g . A C a s e S t u d y of C a d m i u m i n t h e N o r t h S e a . R o t t e r d a m : B a l k e m a , 1987, 116 p p . , D M 6 7 , - .

The report is p r e s e n t e d by Delft Hydraulics, Netherlands. It results from the A n a l y s i n g Bio- spheric C h a n g e (ABC) Program sponsored by IFIAS. It constitutes a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e literature study on Cd in the North Sea for the purpose of a "Han-noni~ation of N o r t h Sea Politics" in the Netherlands. It should e n a b l e the d e v e l o p m e n t of a n overall Water Quality M a n a g e m e n t Plan for the Dutch part of the North Sea. The latter goal is h i g h l i g h t e d by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l context of m a r i n e resources m a n a g e m e n t , specifically within the E u r o p e a n Community.

After a short description of the hydrographic conditions, some e v e n t s giving r e a s o n for g e n e r a l concern were discussed; mainly:

- skin diseases on flat fish in the G e r m a n Bight a n d the Dutch W a d d e n Sea - some massive local fish kills

- some massive reductions of two bird species b e t w e e n 1940 a n d 1965 - significant reductions in the resident seal a n d dolphin populations since 1945 - eutrophication, algal blooms a n d oxygen depletion

- c h a n g e s in a b u n d a n c e and diversity of s p e d e s in some coastal areas

- the c o n t i n u i n g buildup of the concentration of certain substances in sediments.

In that context, the n e e d for h a r m o n i z e d international m e a s u r e s is stressed. B e c a u s e of the complexity of t h e problem, m a n y g o v e r n m e n t a l d e p a r t m e n t s a n d a g e n c i e s within n a t i o n s a n d from various i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations h a v e to b e involved.

C a d m i u m (Cd) was chosen for analysis b e c a u s e of

- increasing c o n c e r n for potentially adverse long-term effects of h e a v y m e t a l s such as Cd - the existence of a n EC directive on Cd

- the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of the Dutch Water Quality Monitoring Program.

Such m e a s u r e s a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s refer to the properties of Cd, its r a t h e r h i g h toxicity, its persistency a n d its bioaccumnlation potential.

sublethal effects are observed in a very broad range of concentrations b e t w e e n several m g a n d a few ~tg 1-1.

Cd is concentrated in certain organs, such as liver, kidney, h e p a t o p a n c r e a s and c o r r e s p o n d i n g organs. Concentrations of a few h u n d r e d ~tg g-1 s e e m to be critical. Cd is accumulated b y m a n throughout his whole life to a steadily increasing level.

The discharge of Cd from various sources via - atmospheric deposition

- riverine inputs

- oceanic cross b o u n d a r y flows - coastal outfalls

- d u m p i n g of d r e d g e spoils, industrial w a s t e s and s e w a g e sludges

- incineration of industrial wastes - marine transport a n d

- offshore off & gas operations

is estimated for the Dutch part of the North Sea to b e 138 t per year. The main portion enters via the river Rhine.

In a study performed in 1982-1983 by Salomons & Kerkdljk, Cd concentrations b e t w e e n < 1.5 a n d > 3 ~tg 1-1 w e r e found in the surface sediments of the Dutch coast. The highest concentration was found in the vicinity of the coast of South Holland.

Analysing the international mechanisms for w a t e r quality m a n a g e m e n t , the authors r e c o g n i z e d that Cd is on the black list of all the relevant legislative frameworks, such as the Oslo Convention, the Paris Convention, the Rhine Convention, the HC directives and a n u m b e r of national regulations. In the Netherlands (and elsewhere}, the first drastic reduction of Cd discharges in the middle of the 70s was followed by moderate stepwise improvements later on. Success differed significantly from one b r a n c h of the industry to another. In general, the discharge of nearly 30 t p.a. from industrial activities into Dutch waters in 1975 d e c r e a s e d to 19 t p.a. in 1980 and 18 t p.a. in 1985.

A significant contribution to Cd contamination of the Dutch coast stems from d r e d g i n g s in the Rotterdam Harbour area. A classification and a stratification of the most heavily polluted fraction to an artificial peninsula has significantly improved that situation. - A set of proposals is m a d e for further reduction of Cd input into the North Sea referring to the most important sources, such as: - fertilizer plants,

- agricultural operations,

- s e w a g e treatment,

- chemical plants.

Last but not least, the meaningfulness of the study itself is critically discussed. The authors state that it is not e n o u g h to ask for financial support a n d the benefits of certain measures only. A set of further questions would be more adequate.

The ABC framework for the analysis of marine resources m a n a g e m e n t and the HC-directive on

Cd are attached as appendixes. K.R. Sperling (Hamburg}

S c h e u e r , P. J. (Hd.): B i o o r g a n i c M a r i n e C h e m i s t r y . Vol. 3. B e r l i n : S p r i n g e r , 1989, 175 p p . , D M 1 4 8 , - .

Paul Scheuer's third volume in the bioorganic marine chemistry series deals with t h r e e topics. Bioactive compounds, in general the chemistry a n d function of peptides, and more specifically the sperm-activating p e p t i d e s of sea urchins a n d those found in cone shell venoms, are discussed in the first three chapters. Another topic, ecological problems, reviewed in two chapters, covers the epibiosis of marine algae and benthic invertebrates a n d the feeding behaviour of marine gastropods. The last topic is a summary of the research activities on marine natural products for their potential in medicine and agriculture. Presenting his third volume, Paul L. Scheuer again follows precisely his intentions m a p p e d out in the first volume by continuing to review all aspects of bioactive c o m p o u n d s derived from marine organisms.

toxins a n d e c h i n o d e r m s are not covered, but peptides from freshwater algae, particularly the cyanobacteria, are included. The structural formulae of 169 different p e p t i d e s , mostly toxins, p r o d u c e d by s e v e n p h y l a (algae, sponges, tunicates, coelenterata, molluscs, worms, vertebrates) are depicted.

Norio Suzuki's p a p e r on "Sperm-activating peptides from sea urchin e g g jelly" describes his o w n work over the last six years in detail a n d summarizes the work of others in this field. The term "sperm-activating peptides" was first i n t r o d u c e d by him a n d m a r k s a series of oligopeptides (with 6 to 14 amino acid residues) which play a n i m p o r t a n t role in sea urchin reproduction. T h e purification, structure, function a n d distribution of s u c h peptides as speract, resact, mosact a n d other 23 sperm- activating peptides are explained.

M a s a k i Kobayashi et al. from Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Tokyo, reviews in "Cone shell toxins a n d the m e c h a n i s m s of their pharmacological action" m a i n l y t h e i r own work on cone shell v e n o m s from w h i c h several toxins (geographutoxins, conotoxins, myotoxin, eburnetoxin, tessulatoxin) with novel pharmacological properties were isolated. These toxins a r e o h g o p e p t i d e s with 22 to 29 amino acid residues a n d act as Na-Ion or Ca-Ion c h a n n e l blocker.

"Epibiosis of m a r i n e algae a n d b e n t h i c invertebrates: Natural products c h e m i s t r y a n d o t h e r m e c h a n i s m s i n h i b i t i n g settlement a n d overgrowth" is the title g i v e n by A n d r e w R. Davis et ai. from H a r b o r Branch O c e a n o g r a p h i c Institution, Florida, to their review. This c h a p t e r deals with natural antifouling strategies of marine algae a n d non-motile invertebrates. Primary film formation, mac- rophytic a n d epizooic fouling as well as the physical a n d chemical defense strategies of organisms to r e m a i n unfouled are described in detail.

Kanzo S a k a t a from Shizuoka University, Japan, introduces us in " F e e d i n g attractants a n d stimulants for m a r i n e gastropods" to the chemoreception a n d chemotaxis of f e e d i n g b e h a v i o u r in carnivorous a n d herbivorous gastropods. While amino acids prevail as p h a g o s t i m u l a n t s for carnivor- ous gastropods, glycerolipids isolated from g r e e n algae act selectively as f e e d i n g stimulants to herbivorous gastropods. Besides reviewing the literature, the author illustrates bioassays with good figures a n d careful explanations.

Finally, m a r i n e product chemistry fulfils its destiny w h e n the structure of a n u n k n o w n com- p o u n d has b e e n elucidated a n d the ecological m e a n i n g of c o m p o u n d s has b e e n revealed. Then, m a n will come a n d try to m a k e use of these c o m p o u n d s a n d will ask for a sensible application of the g a t h e r e d knowledge. In this particular case, m a n is r e p r e s e n t e d b y M a t t h e w Suffness et ai. from the National C a n c e r Institute, N.I.H., Bethesda, USA, who apply bioassays in s c r e e n i n g m a r i n e natural products in order to detect antitumor or cytotoxic compounds. The review

"Discovery

a n d develop- m e n t of antineoplastic a g e n t s from natural sources" is d e d i c a t e d to this kind of problem. It deals with assay selection, a n d validation a n d reveals historical a n d current strategies in s e l e c t i n g s c r e e n i n g systems like "In vivo models as tumor screens" a n d "Disease-oriented s c r e e n i n g systems". Finally, it describes the scale-up isolation a n d bulk production of the bryostatins, p o t e n t a n t i t u m o r c o m p o u n d s from the bryozan

Bugula neritina.

This third volume on bioorganic m a r i n e chemistry is very valuable r e a d i n g for m a r i n e chemists, biologists a n d all scientists interested in bioactive compounds. It offers n e w insights into n e i g h b o u r - ing fields a n d s h a r p e n s the reader's a w a r e n e s s of hitherto u n k n o w n developments.

G. G a s s m a n n (Hamburg)

E h r l i c h , H. L.: G e o m i c r o b i o l o g y . 2 n d e d . N e w Y o r k : D e k k e r , 1990, 6 6 4 p p . , $ 162. Geomicrohiology has come of age. The term s h o w e d up in literature as late as 1960, a b o u t thirty years ago. The first textbooks on geomicrobiology were t h e classical study "Geological Microbiol- ogy" b y Kuznetsov (1962 English edition), the Symposium Proceedings "Geomicrobiology a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l Biogeochemistry" {ed. W. E. Krumbein, 1978), a n d the first edition o f t h e book "Geomicrobiology" by H e n r y Ehrlich in 1981. At that time, the text was a p p r o x i m a t e l y half the size (and half the price) of the p r e s e n t edition but it was very useful a n d helpful as a n introduction into the n e w field a n d as a source of cross-references.

u n d e r s t a n d i n g of global ecology and global equilibria of atmosphere, hydrosphere, g e o s p h e r e and, last not least, the totality of living and d e a d matter thoughout endogenic a n d e x o g e n i c material cycles. A major criticism of the book may b e that the eminent role of geomicrobiology in t h e present- day global discussion is not elaborated in a special chapter. The whole text focusses on this problem in many ways without mentioning, however, the main defenders of global biogeochemistry a n d the structuring role of microorganisms in the global processes, namely Vernadsky & Lovelock.

In the introductory 6 chapters, earth as a microbial habitat, the evolution of life, a n d t h e fact that 80 % of life history on earth is microbial life history, as well as lithosphere a n d h y d r o s p h e r e as special habitats are treated. Chapter s e v e n deals with methodology in a very thorough way. Chapters 8-17 treat the major elements a n d their microbial cycling, namely carbon (as carbonate), silicon, phosphorus, nitrogen, arsenic a n d antimony, mercury, iron, m a n g a n e s e , chromium, sulfur {Chapter 18 is specifically dedicated to the biogenesis and biodegradation of sulfur ores), selenium a n d tellurium. Chapter 20 treats organic carbon compounds in the form of fossil fuels. A brief but useful glossary is followed by a more e x t e n d e d but not exhaustive index. In the glossary, cyanobac- teria {oxygenic phototrophic bacteria) are m e n t i o n e d but not the anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. In the index, however, oxyphototrophs a n d anoxyphototrophs do occur.

It is unfortunate that the e x p a n d i n g field of oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and their mutual relationships as well as their geological impact is not subject of a specific chapter and that the cover photograph is ill defined (p. 459).

On the other hand, the "dark" side of geomicrobiology i.e. the chemoorganotrophs, the chemoheterotrophs and the chemolithoautotrophs are extensively covered throughout all chapters a n d give a rich survey of geological activity of many genera.

A large part of the book deals with the interesting n e w microbial systems of the d e e p sea hydrothermal vents and covers a lot of this furious environment in which bacteria occur that withstand temperatures far above 110 ~ a n d 500 atm. In the summary of the chapter on geomicro- bial processes, H. Ehrhch does not dare to go as far as some authors to imply a n d derive an influence of microbiota on tectonic and volcanic processes, an influence which, however, n o w a d a y s is postulated even by geophysicists {Anderson, Caltech) and geophysiologists (Lovelock, Krumbein).

The presentation of photographs is much better than in the first edition, a n d it is difficult to find printing errors in equations and tables. The reference sections (chapterwise) cover a w i d e r a n g e of the international literature. It is well b a l a n c e d a n d ranges from important older literature to the most m o d e m citations. On average the references cover less than 10 % of the text, w h i c h often take too much space in m o d e r n textbooks. An excellent and n e w summary is also given of t h e individual scenarios for the evolution of life a n d metabolic processes. The introduction o f geological and geochemical hterature is modern a n d updated. Finally, it may b e worthwhile mentioning, on the b a c k g r o u n d of the vast information on the geochemical turnover promoted by prokaryotes, the criticism of the first "geomicrobiologist" namely C. G. E h r e n b e r g (1895-1876) w h o said that he cannot fully accept the "new" theory of evolution by Darwin mirrored in the microbial world in view of the importance of microbiota and their a p p a r e n t evolutionary stability over millions of years. One is t e m p t e d to ask, w h y the functioning a n d m a i n t e n a n c e of a h u g e system of life on earth n e e d s the addition of macroorganismal input. One a n s w e r may b e that macroorganisms are m u c h better m e d i a of fast transport of h u g e masses of organic a n d inorganic matter with and against gravity. Ehrlich s u c c e e d e d thus in explaining geochemical and biogeochemical cycles so thoroughly a n d extensively that the input of macroorganisms into the global cycle seems to n e e d further explanation.

Because of the extensive coverage of marine environments, aquatic systems and sediments, sedimentary rocks and ore deposits, the book is very useful as an introduction a n d source of specific information for marine biologists, sedimentologists, aquatic chemists and even physicists.