Bookreviews

H. WALT~I~ DIE VEGETATION BETRACHTUNG

DER

ERDE

IN 0KO-PHYSIOLOGISCHER

Bd. I: Die tropiseheu u~d subtropischen Zonen. Dritto Auflago Vorlag O. Fischer, Suttgart 1974, 743 pp., 470 fig., 235 tab. The 3rd edition of this monumental work appears in a fully revised a n d improved version only 12 years after the first edition. No wonder t h a t this book had a swooping success. The ecophysiologieal approach, applied on a large scale to the world's vegetation, captivated the interest of m a n y biologists in this period of serious environmental problems, and of increased research into major ecosystems. Introducing the first edition the author wrote: "Due to modern transport the E a r t h became a fairly small planet. This fact resulted in the urgent need not only for steady progress in analysis but also for integrated synthetical effort." Towards such a synthesis the author has tried to assemble all crucial data and notions referring to the plant life of tropical regions. The b o o k / n e t with an affirmative response: 6 years later (1968) it was translated and published in the U.S.S.R., and after 9 years (1971) an English version also appeared. The newest German edition will, no doubt, find its foreign translators and editors, too. The introductory p a r t of t~he book has been abridged. I n spite of this it contains new chapters covering broad theoretical aspects of geobotany: "The origin of life on the E a r t h and the occupation of the land by plants", "The formation of floristic regions in connection with the notion of continental drift". Also, new conceptions are described in a chapter called "Toward analysis of the competition factor". Other chapters, like those entitled "Biosphere and ecosystems or biogeocoen [Germ. BiogeozSn]" and "Eeotypes and eeoeline" will also serve readers of the whole compendium, not only of t h e present volume. A new chapter called "Climatic zones and atmospheric circulation" has been written b y a distinguished meteorologist H. F L o ~ . The overall division of this book has also been altered. Instead of the original 13 chapters the new edition is divided into 3 main parts: I. The vegetation of the equatorial zone, II. The vegetation of the tropical zone with summer rains, and III. The vegetation of the subtropical arid zone. Obviously, the formal reorganisation is only secondary, and reflects eoosiderable revision of the contents. H. WALTZ-R,an experienced professor and scholar, could assemble not only large authentic observation a n d experimental results collected during his travels, but included also numerous contributions by other workers. Individual facts are not quoted in a descriptive way but tend to be integgrated into a system of ecophysiological interrelationships encountered in the Tropic. He managed to sort out an enormous a m o u n t of botanical knowledge referring to tropical and subtropical countries. I n the recent decade tropical vegetation has been thoroughly studied, and there is a great demand for a survea of all achievements. Many new diagrams, drawings and excellent photographs contribute to t h e instructive value of the book. All friends of tropical botany and even specialists will find t h e book most useful in b o t h education and further research. One point should be considered in one of the future editions: the ruderal and weedy vegetation of the tropical countries has not been summarized as yet. SLAVe M~IL H E J ~

BOOKREVIEWS

329

KAMI~ RYBNi~EK DIE VEGETATION DER MOORE DER BOHMISCH-MJ~HRISCHEN

IM S~DLICHEN HOHE

TEIL

Academia, Praha 1974, 243 S., 79 Abb., 74 Tab. (toilweise in Beilage), 17 K a r t e n in Beilage. I n der Reihe der Monographien ,,Vegetace ~SSR A" erscheint als sechster Band die umfangreiche Arbeit yon K. RYBN:~EK, in der der Autor die Ergebnisse seiner langfristigen phytozSnologischen und synSkologischen Forschungen fiber die Moore im sfidlichen Tell der BShmiseh-M~hrischen HShe zusammenfasst. Obwohl der Autor selbst den regionalen Charakter der Studie hervorhebt, diirfte die Bedeutung der Arbeit nicht nur die Grenze des studierten Gebietes fiberschreiten, sondern auch wesentlieh zur LSsung der Probleme der Moorvegetation ganz Europas beitragen. Naeh der einleitenden ~t~bersieht fiber die natfirliehen Verh~ltnisse folgt ein methodisches Kapitel, in dem der Autor eine Reihe der bodeutenden theoretisehen Fragcn der phytozSnologischen und synSkologisehen Forschtmg der Vegetation aufgreift. E r befasst sich mit den nomonklatorischen Problemen, der Feststellung der nomenklatorischen Typen, der Bedeutung der Dominanten, mit den standortliehen ~md floristischen Indikationen der Einheiten usw. E r hebt aueh die Notwendigkeit hervor, den ganzen Reichtum der Moosschieht zu beriicksichtigen ,besenders beim Studium der Moorgesellsehaften. Bei den standortsanalytisehen Methoden betont er die Bedeutung der Analyse des Moorwassers -- neben den Analysen des Bodens. Eine ausfiihrliehe Klassifikation und Beschreibung aller Syntaxa der Moorvegetation des Gebietes auf der Basis der Ziirich-Montpellier-Schule stellt den K e r n des ganzen Werkes dar. Werm auch die Auffassung des Autors iiber einige Vegetationseinheiten wohl Gegenstand weiterer Diskusionen sein wird, so bleibt doeh als grosser Vorteil die ausffihrliehe, aber saehliche Begriindung allor Klassifikations~nderungen und Verschiebungen. Der Autor kann dabel auf eigene Erfahrungen, nieht nur aus der BShmisch-M~hrischen HShe, sondern aueh aus anderen Teilen Europas, einschlieslieh Skandinaviens zuriickgreifen. Die Moorvegetation der BShmisch-M~hrlschen HShe setzt sich vor allem aus Einheiten der Scheuchzerio.Caricetea ]uscae zusammen. Dabei unterscheidet der Autor in den Tofieldietalia den von ihm schon frfiher besehriebenen Verband Caricion demissae und begrfindet dessen Selbstst~ndigkeit. In diesen Verband reiht er das Scorpid~o-Utricularietum und das Chrysohypno-Tri. chophoretum all~ini ein. Den zweiten Verband der Ordnung stellt das Sphagno.Tomenthypnion mit den Assoziationen Sphagno warnstorfiani-Eriophoretum latifolii, Sphagno-Caricetum appropinquatae und Sphagno.Caricetum lasiocarpae vet. Sehr interess~nt ist die kausale Erkl~rung des Vorkommens der syntaxonomisch nicht n~her eingereihten beachtenswerten Gesellschaften der Braunmoorkomplexe: Sphagnum Juscum-Ges. und Sphagnum palustre-Polytrichum atriCtumGes. Aus den ScheuchzerieJalia f'tihrt der Autor zwei Verb~nde auf: das l~hynchosporlon albae m i t dem Rhynchosporetum albae und das Eriophorion gracilis mit vier Einheiten: Agrosti caninae-

Caricetum diandrae, .Meezio.Carice~um limosae, Caricetum chordorhizae und Carex lasiocarpaGesellschaft. Bei dem einzigen Verband der Caricetalia Juscae -- dem Caricion ]uscae, n i m m t der Autor eine Teilung in zwei Unterverb~nde vor, u. zw. in das Sphagno.Caricion canescentis mit dem Sphagno.Caricetum rostratae und das Ranunculo.Carician fuscae m i t Juncetum fil~'formis, Junco.Caricetum fuscae und Car,icetum diandrae. Ausserdem studierte der Autor auch die Vegetation der degradierten TorfbSden, und zwar das Nardo-Festucetu~ capillaris und das SphagnoNardemm aus dem Violion caninae (Nardo.CaltuneZea). Die Gesellschaften der Oxycocco.Sphagnetea, wohin er die Pinus silvestri~-Sphagnum magellanicum.Gesellsehaft zuordnet, h~lt er im Gebiet ffir seknndfir. Eine Reihe der Assoziationen ist noch welter in Untereinheiten geteilt. Jede Gesellschaft ist mit einer pr~zis ausgearbeiteten phytozSnologischen Tabelle belegt, neben den Grundmerkmalen (oft mit der Charakteristik der wlchtigsten Arten) werden auch die charakteristischen Standortverh~ltnisse (mit TabeUen belegen) und Beispiele des Bodensprofils angeftihrt. Die Beschreibung jeder Assoziation schliesst eine ~rbersieht fiber ihre Verbreitung und ein Literaturvergleich ab. Syndynamische Beziehungen der Moorgesellsehaften mit vorsichtigen, aber belegten Schlussfolgerungen sind in einem selbstst~ndigen Abschnitt zusammengefasst. I n dem wichtigen Kapitel fiber die synSkologisehen Beziehungen der Moorgesellsehaften werden die ausschlaggebenden Faktoren flit die standortliche Differenzierung einiger Gesellsehaften und die Gesetzm~issigkeiten ihrer Verbreitung betont. Einen grossen Dokumentationswert und nfitzliche Informationen ffir die Praktiker bringt das Kapiteh ,,~bersicht, Charakteristik und l~utzungsmSglichkeiten der

330

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 10, 1975

Moore im siidlichen Tell der BShmisch-Mahrischen HShc." Dieses Kapitel enthalt ein eingehendes topographisehes Verzeichnis (mit Karte) yon allen Torflagern des Gebietes mit Angabcn fiber Late, Grbsse, M~i~htigkeit, Vegetation und auch mit eincr Bewertung der Lokalit~ten im Hinblick auf Naturschutz und allgemeine 6konomische Fragen. Des Buch endet mit Zusammenfassung (aueh in tschechischer und englischer Sprache), Literaturverzeichnis, Tabellen usw. und Registern der Pfianzengcsellschaften und Pfianzennamen. Des ganze Werk wird sicher nicht nur ffir den Phytoz6nologen und 0kologen yon Wert seiu. Es ist zu wtumchen, dass, es auch in die H~nde der Praktikcr -- Landwirte, Melioratoren lind Naturschutzarbeiter und aller, die tiber die Zukunft der Landschaft entscheiden, gelangt. DXl~ISA BLA~KOV~ J. KvgT (ed.) LITTORAL

OF THE

NESYT

FISHPOND

Ecological Studies Studie ~SAV, No 15., Acadamia, P r a h a 1973, 175 pp. This little volume is a collection of preliminary results of research acomplished mostly under the Czechoslovak I B P / P T project (Czechoslovakia PT/5, I B P News, No. 13; 28, 1969), dealing with the structure and productivity of fishpond read-belt ecosystems. All the 34 short communications are focussed exclusively to the nature reserve Nesyt fishpond, a typical man made shallow water reservoir of the Pannonian Lowland in Southern Moravia. Nesyt fishpond is the largest of several "Lednice Fishponds", refuges for rich wetland wildlifes, submitted under protection in 1953 (see LtrTHE~ et Rzos•A, Ed.: Project Aqua, I B P Handbook No. 21, 1969, 1971). The papers are some of the preliminary results presented at the Conference on the Ecology of Nesyt Fishpond at Lednice in May 1971. Besides this, some suanmarized results of earlier investigations are included. The specialization of 28 authors grouped around the Nesyt fishpond research project has determined the selection of the problems studied. The m a i n interest was focussed more on the ecological structure t h a n on the functions of the ecosystem. The individual communications are not arranged iu any thematical groups following the main viewpoints of an integrated ecosystem research. However m a n y contributions can fill up the first approach to the block scheme of principal constituents and relationships in the reed-belt ecosystem as it is presented in the introducingpaper. Some communications deal with the abiotic factors in the ecosystem, as the mesoclimate on the whole area of the Leduiee fishpouds, followed during several years of investigations, the microclimatological characteristics in the reed-belts, with the water chemistry in different sites of the fishpond, irivestigated during two seasons, with the chemistry of submerged soils and sediments, and with the seasonal changes in some compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus, followwed ir~ the water inside the littoral stands. The macrophyte vegetation ot the Nesyt fishpond and of its littoral zone, and of the halophytic communities irL the supratittoral with saline soils was described and evaluated from the synecological point of wiew. The map of t h e macrophyte vegetation in the littoral was performed to follow further succession stages and to estimate primary productivity of predominant types of vegetation at representative areas. The vegetation of algae and blue greens was described on the population level from four ecologically distinguished groups: (1) the vegetation of mud-water interface, (2) the algal vegetation atached on stones, (3) periphyton on aquatic plants and (4) free floating clusters of filamentous algae. The same inventary descriptions deal with the phytoand zooplankton. A detailed morphological s t u d y has been made of different morphotypes of the d o m i n a n t Phragnites communis TRIN., with respect to the production characteristics. F u r t h e r investigations in primary production concern the spatial distribution of biomass in different zones of the fishpond shore, along the transect from the dry land across the read belt stands to the open water Special attention has been given to the annual increments of underground biomass of dominant populations of Phragmites commu~vis. Destructive controle of the productivity of read and cattail stands (Typha angustifotia) was simulated during the season by cutting the living stands in full

BOOKREVIEWS

331

vegetation in the summer season at different hights about ground level. The productivity od the syausia of duckweed was followed by measuring the seasonal changes in the growth rate of Lemna gibbs, influenced by the increasing shading effect of the stands of Typha angustifolia and Phragmites communis, in comparison with the growth on unshaded open water. Similarly the biomass of the synusia of submerged macrophytes was estimated during the same growing season. The methodical approach toward the assessment of productivity of filamentous algae has been made to prepare the real estimates of the participation of littoral algae in the primary production ballance of the whole fishpond littoral. Two papers only deal with the production processes of primary producers, especially with water ballancc (transpiration and water saturation deficit) in the read stands. Seven papers had been devoted to the role played by secondary producers in the ecosystem. Among the primary consumers 21 species of mammals occur whose population density is related to the fluctuating water level. Quantitative data have been obtained only on small mammal species, as e.g. Arvicola terrestris and Ondatra zibethica. The control of reed-belt stands b y Graylag goose (Anser Anser} feeding, nesting and damaging the stands mechanically by moving, has attained a high value, as it was described only in the foreign lakes and river deltas. I n such wetland habitat highly populated by waterfowl the plant materials composing numerous birds'nests may be of some interrest, because of possibly high degree in decrease of primary biomass production. The qualitative composition of the nest material, the lenght of the plant parts used i n n e s t construction, the dry weight of the nests as well as the proportion of fresh material used in the nest construction was followed in the nests of six bird species, inhabiting the littoral. However, compared with the high average annual primary production of the read-belts, the value of the destruction by birds constructing their nests from plant material can be neglected.--On the other hand, the infestation of 8 to 10 % of reed stems by four species of the flies of the genus Lipara, gallproducing pests of Phragmites communis, resulted in a decreased production of reed by about 37 % dry weight and in a shortennig of stems by 36 % per 1 infested s h o o t . - - F r o m the food sources of insectivorous vertebrates in the reed-belts, representatives of 17 families, 80 genera and 116 species of Coleoptera have been invontarized. I m p o r t a n t component of the Nesyt fishpond ecosystems are parasitic blood-sucking Diptera, mostly mosquitos, F r o m this group 16 species belonging to 4 genera have been found in the reed-belt communities. The mediterranean species Culex modestus FIC. which is a parasite of man, ducks and hedgehogs and a potential vector of infection agents, especially of viruses, has represented in several years more t h a n 99 % of adult mosquito population in the summer seasom--The fish production are related to the seasonal development of plankton, and to oxygen bearing vascular submerged plants and algae, which provide also food substrate for benthic organisms. The decomposition processes are represented by one preliminary communication on the three season measurements of the rates of cellulose decomposition in the stands, sapropel and subsooil under the zone of littoral vegetation, and in the open water. The volume is completed by a complex bibliography of scientific informations on Nesyt fishpond, amounting to 146 numbers, aud containing m a n y previous extensive publications. Rather few quantitative data are eor~tained i~ the short communications of the present volume. These can be found in some other publications cited in the bibliography. The short communications present rather first steps of interpretations of results of numerous a n d different investigations which will contribute to the national synthesis of the research on the ecology of wetlands, presented in the national Czechoslovak I B P - P t project by the fishpond littoral ecosystems. DAGMAR DYKYJOV~.

H. PRECHT, J. CHRItTOPHERSEN, H. H~SSEL, and W. LARCHER

TEMPERATURE

AND

LIFE

Springcr-Verlag, Berlin, I{eidelberg et New York 1973, xix -~ 779 pp., 263 Figs. This book ranks among the rare biological compendia which present a manysided picture of the effect of temperature, the basic factor in all biota on earth. I t s primary influence is analysed from molecular level up to whole plant and animal populations.

332

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 10, 1975

The book is a work b y sixteen co-authors; t h e principal four a u t h o r s n a m e d in the title were perhaps also editors of t h e four principal parts: "Microorganisms", " P l a n t s " , "Poikilothermic A n i m a l s " , " H o m e o t h e r m i c A n i m a l s " . T h u s the work can be considered as consisting of four i n d e p e n d e n t a n d u n c o n n e c t e d t h e m a t i c units. I f s u c h a book could be w r i t t e n b y one a u t h o r only, he would probably s t a r t w i t h physical a n d physico-chemical expositions. Subsequently, t h e principles of t h e r m i c s would be applied to biological systems. General laws valid on the celluar level would perhaps be placed before chapters on multicellular organisms. After discussing t h e reactions of various groups of organisms, t h e a u t h o r would conclude t h e book w i t h a discussion on t e m p e r a t u r e limits of life a n d on t h e a d a p t a t i o n of organisms to climatic zones on t h e earth, on t h e effect of t e m p e r a t u r e on m u t u a l r e l a t i o n s a n d energy t u r n o v e r s in whole ecosystems, a n d on t h e role of t h e t e m p e r a t u r e factor in t h e biosphere of our planet. As u n d e r present conditions it is impossible for one person to be t h e a u t h o r of s u c h a book, it can easily be u n d e r s t o o d w h y t h e publication lacks t h i s s y n t h e t i c view a n d w h y its chapters are disconnected. Nevertheless, the basic general criteria are n o t absent; it is necessary to look for t h e m in t h e text. E.g., t h e biological application of t h e r m i c s a n d t h e r m o d y n a m i c s are discussed in t h e chapter on poikilothermic a n i m a l s (pp. 303--317). The effect of e x t r e m e t e m p e r a t u r e s , discussed on cellular level a n d valid for all organisms (especially the susceptibility of cell components, causes a n d m e c h a n i s m s of injury, a n d modes of protection), are discussed in detail in t h e c h a p t e r " P l a n t s " (pp. 322--262). On t h e other h a n d , even if t h e following chapter r e t u r n s to t h e s a m e subject in t h e c o m m e n t a r y on a n i m a l s (e.g., mechanical d a m a g e by ice crystals, pp. 237 a n d 413), there are no cross references in either. T h e problem of t e m p e r a t u r e a n d geographical distribution of different species on t h e earth, described in detail only in t h e c h a p t e r on h o m e o t h e r m i c a n i m a l s (pp. 712--732), concerns, however, only m a m m a l s a n d birds. Similar ecological aspects are a b s e n t in t h e preceding three parts, although, e.g., o u t s t a n d i n g p l a n t ecologists assisted in writing t h e c h a p t e r s on plants. Finally, the reader would m i s s a chapter on whole ecosystems, their s t r u c t u r e s a n d f u n c t i o n s in dependence on t e m p e r a t u r e . These r e m a r k s more or less consider subjects n o t t r e a t e d in t h e book. On t h e other hand, t h e e n o r m o u s q u a n t i t y of i n f o r m a t i o n in t h e publication is admirable. Literature published all over t h e world is referred to, b o t h hemispheres being equally represented. The facts are critically reproduced; m o s t of t h e a u t h o r s are experienced e x p o r i m e n t a t o r s themselves, so t h a t t h e book is 1~o compilation. The book comprises discussions on t h e influence of t e m p e r a t u r e on t h e growth a n d multiplication of microorganisms, resistance a d a p t a t i o n s , t h e response of microorganisms to freezing t e m p e r a t u r e , t h e r m o p h i l o u s organisms, t h e genetic regulation of t e m p e r a t u r e responses, etc. The section " P l a n t s " includes discussions on t h e effect of t e m p e r a t u r e on metabolic processes, e.g., c a r b o h y d r a t e metabolism, water balance, mineral n u t r i t i o n ; a n o t h e r extensive c h a p t e r is concerned w i t h t h e effect of t e m p e r a t u r e on growth a n d development, t e m p e r a t u r e resistance and survival, a n d t e m p e r a t u r e limits. The energy b u d g e t of p l a n t s is also mentioned. Poikilothermic a n d h o m e o t h e r m i c a n i m a l s are discussed a t t h e s a m e length, w i t h e m p h a s i s on specific features of a n i m a l physiology. Chapters s u c h as those on resistance, a d a p t a t i o n s , t h e r m o reception, behaviour, t e m p e r a t u r e limits of life concerning all a n i m a l s including m a n , discuss t h e m a t t e r in great detail. Considering t h a t m o s t physiological t e x t b o o k s are a r r a n g e d according to t h e f u n c t i o n s of organisms, regardless of t h e influence of e n v i r o n m e n t a l factors, t h i s book is singular in its instructive aspect, a d o p t i n g a n opposite a t t i t u d e : one of t h e decisive factors is discussed as regards its influence on s t r u c t u r e s a n d physiological processes in living organisms. As applied research needs information on all reactions to t h e experimental factor r a t h e r t h a n t h e s y s t e m of functions in t h e given organism, t h i s publication will p e r h a p s become a h a n d b o o k , f r e q u e n t l y consulted in all physiological a n d ecological laboratories. T h i s m a y call for a n o t h e r edition after some time. I t will be highly useful if t h e n e x t edition could be enlarged b y including t h e aspects m e n t i o n e d above. MILE~rA I~yCHI~OVSKA

BOOKREVIEWS

333

A. HADAS, D. SWARTZENDRUBER,P. E. RIJTEMA, M. FUCHS and B. YARON PHYSICAL

ASPECTS

OF SOIL

WATER

AND

SALTS

IN

ECOSYSTEMS

Ecological Studies 4. - - Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1973, pp. xvi + 460, 221 Figs. The volume contains papers discussed at the symposium on "Soil, water physics and technology" held in Rehovot, Israel, in 1971. p a r t I of the book, " W a t e r Status and Flow in Soils", (204 pages), comprises 20 papers in two sections: A. "Water Movement in Soils", and B. "Energy of Soil W a t e r and Soil-Water Interac~ tions", Individual contributions deal with t h e abiotic aspects of soil-water relations, such as field capacity, hysteresis effects, streaming potentials, the theory of infiltration and redistribution of water in soil, etc., with the exception of a paper by HAl)AS nad STIBBE on water movement towards seeds and seedlings. The contributions dealing exclusively with the properties of the abiotic component of the ecosystems -- the soil -- are not explicitly mentioned in this review. None the less it may be quoted from the condensed remarks and discussion closing P a r t I t h a t "mathematical models describing water movement in and into the soil.., are becoming somewhat complicated and cumbersome." P a r t II, "Evapotranspiration and Crop-Water Requirements", is divided into two sections: A. "Evaporation from Soils and Plants", and B. "Crop-Water Requirements". I t includes 16 papers (159 pages). The first paper brings the reflections of Prof. STANHILL on the overpublication of evapotranspiration data, which should be stored in data-banks rather t h a n published; on the often indiscriminate use of such terms as evaporation, transpiration and evapotranspiration; as welt as on difficulties with PENMAN'S evapotrauspiration equation in conditions where, according to its definition, it ought not be, applied anyhow. SKIDMORE and HAGAI~ presented model data on the effect of windbreak-modified mieroclinaate on potential evapotranspiration for the Great Plains region, USA. HANKS et al. compared lysimetric records of evapotranspiration with its estimates computed b y several methods; considerable differences among methods were found. LAMBERT and PENNING de VRIES reported on transpiration and water uptake, water potential changes of the leaf, root a n d soiI, and of other variables studied on a dynamic model of the soilplant-atmosphere system based on the IBM Continuous Systems Modelling Program. This program was also used b y LEGG and LONG in a study of microclimate factors as affecting evapoiation and transpiration of a wheat crop. The p a p e r b y Vu~I~ is concerned with scheduling the irrigation of maize by three simple bioclimatic methods. LAUTER, MAKOKO and DE BACKER described how to define the upper limit of the suction range when irrigating crops according to the resistance data measured b y gypsum blocks. DRAYCOTT compared accumulated potential evapotranspiration with accumulated rainfall, irrigation and measured soil moisture deficit in the top 120 cm of soil under two densities of sugar beet. RAWITZ and HILLEL reported on a runofffarming trial with almonds in the Negev of Israel; the runoff farming in a region with 200-- 250 m m rainfall is possible a t contributing-to-receiving area ratios of 3 - - 6 : 1. Three-year experiments in southwest Spain b y J. M. ARANDAhave shown t h a t 475 m m of irrigation water was the least quantity required for a maximum yield of maize. The depth from which moisture was extracted by irrigated tea in southern Malawi was found b y Willat to depend on the moisture deficit and therefore, on the irrigation t r e a t m e n t . A series of experiments conducted in Israel on citrus water requirements were summarized by SHMUELLI et. al. A number of conclusions have been reached pertaining to the seasonal changes in water requirements of the crops, to irrigation efficiencies of different treatments, etc. LEVlN, BRAVADOand ASSAF compared several irrigation regimes apptled to apple tress and found considerable differences in yields as well as in irrigation efficiency. The remarks and discussion to P a r t I I enlighten critically the results, conclusions and general philosophy of some of the papers. P a r t III, "Salinity Control", includes 8 contributions (89 pages). The study reported by SaAKED and BANIN on plants grown in saline environments revealed t h a t little advantage, if any, can be expected from considering ionic activities instead of concentrations in ion-uptake experiments. YARON, S~rAT.~rEVETand SHIMSHI descibed the patterns of salt distribution under trickle irrigation in a cotton field on a loessial sierozem. Z~R and BRESlmR modelled the changes of total and osmotic soil water potentials for different irrigation regimes and two potential transpiration rates to demonstrate the possible importance of the quality of irrigation water and of the accumulation of salts under short irrigation intervals. The effects of soil moisture a n d salinity

F O L I A GEOBOTAN IC A ]~T P H Y T O T A X O N O M I C A , 10, 1975

334

on young Shamouti orange trees were studied by HELLER, SItALttEV]~Tand GOELL. The response of pepper plants to irrigation water quality and timing of leaching was studied b y MEI~I and SHALHEVET on small field plots. The remarks and discussion to P a r t I I I pointed above all to problems with non-uniform salt accumulation under trickle irrigation and to the merits of different methods of leaching and reclaiming the soil. The book is pleasant to read although it contains relatively numerous errors and misprints. The organizers of the symposium and the editors of the proceedings are to be congratulated for bringing together so m a n y outstanding specialists. The volume resulting from their joint activities represents a useful selection of important contributions to the field outlined b y the title, even if aspects typical of the ecological conditions of the host country predominate. This is partly balanced by the inclusion of physically oriented papers on the water and air movement in the soil, on the evaporation from bare soil, On the exchange processes taking place during leaching, etc., describing the respective processes mathematically and eventually enabling a better managem e n t of ecosystems. The ideas and concepts put forward in such papers may widen the "niche" of more biologically oriented future research. JIRf ]~LEHLA

B. YARON, E. DANFORS et Y. VAAD~A (ed.} ARID

ZONE

IRRIGATION

Ecological Studies 5. -- Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 19 73, pp. x -~- 1--434, 181 fig. This book, edited by YARO~, DANFORSand VAADIA,and written (with the exception of one Swedish and one Dutch contribution} by seicnttists from Israel, is destined mainly for agronomists, hydrologists and soil scientists, but it can be equally well used by physiologists concerned with the water economy of plants, as well as by ecologists. The book is divided into eight parts. The first deals with the environmental conditions of arid zones, i.e. climate (dry and hot summer, short rainy season in winter} and soils. The chapter on soils gives fundamental principles of the formation a n d classification of soils in arid and semiarid zones and ends with a very useful comparison of common terms in the FAO and l~S-classificatious of soils. (Some of the terms sound somewhat unusual to the Central European geobotanists, e.g. rendolls in the IIS classification for our rendzincs, natrargids, natrixeralfs, natraqualfs for our solonetz, ustalfs and xeralfs for red and brown Mediterranean soils, ere,}. In the second part the water resources of arid regions are discussed, in accordance with the fundamental principles of arid-zone hydrology. The knowledge of the principles of water transport in the soil-plantatmosphere continuum is indispensable for successful irrigation practice; this topic is thoroughly worked out in the third part. The n e x t deals with the chemistry of irrigated soil, studied as a dynamic relationship between the properties of soil colloids and the chemical composition of irri gation water. Selected methods of measurement for irrigation technology, such as soil survey measurements of the water status in soils, the estimation of evapotranspiration, water status in plants etc. are given in the fifth p a r t of the book. Salinity in irrigated fields is a crucial problem; it affects about 4 million hectares in different p a r t s of the world. I t is discussed in the sixth part of this publication. P a r t VII. deals with irrigation technology, and the last one discussed crop water requirements. All the chapters are accompanied b y m a n y figures, tables and equations, necessary for understanding the many problems of arid zone water, soils and plant life. Arid Zone Irrigation is well written and will be useful equally to those concerned with the practical problems and to scientists, interested in the plat life of deserts and subdeserts. Reading this extremely instructive book, one cannot avoid thinking, how much better it would be if the country where such work has be done, would concentrate its efforts on dealing with its deserts b y the methods so well outlined in this compendimn, instead of other less peaceful and less lasting enterprises. EMIL ~ADA~

BOOKREVi_EWS

335

J . R . ST~I~ (ed.) CULTURE

METHODS

AND

GROWTH

MEASUREMENTS

Handbook of phycological methods Cambridge 1973, xii + 448 pp., s 8.--, $ 19.50 At the instigation of the Phycological Society of America, a work was planned to deal in four volumes with the basic topics of modern methods of experimental phycology. The purpose, according to the editor's preface, was "to present a synthesis of experimental aspects of phyeology in a single source book". The first volume contains culture methods and growth measurements. Cytological methods, biochemical techniques, physiological processes and field-oriented methods will follow in the next three volumes. As there exists no other complex publication up to now, the book has proved to be very desirable. I t is evident t h a t such a work should be as concise as possible, while the choice of the important methods should be complete. This intention has not been equally fulfilled in all the chapters. Even though the reasonable principle t h a t "each chapter is concerned primarily with the method, rather t h a n theories behind the m e t h o d " is kept to (however, the respective citations would be very useful), yet not all the chapters arc of equal worth. The authors were probably restricted only to members of the Phycologieal Society of America. This, however, has some disadvantages. Several fields which the authors apparently do not know from their own experience are treated rather superficially and incompletely. Under separate subject headings (sections), the chapters are worked out by different authors. The first volume contains 5 sections: (I) "Isolation and purification", (II) "General equipment and methods", (III) "Special culture methods", (IV) "Growth measurements", and (V) "Bless-

say". Section (I) comprises 10 chapters and is one of the best parts of the book. One certainly could object to chapter (1) "Growth media". Relatively specialized media such as Volvox-, Porphyridiurn- or Polytomella-m exist in great amounts and the selection of just these three does not seem to be justified. On the other hand, one must admit t h a t with regard to the numerous up-to-date media in use, a representative choice is very difficult. However, the number of 17 pages devoted to the culture media of freshwater species against 26 pages devoted to marine species, does not seem to be adequate, if we consider the numbers of the freshwater and the marine model organisms used in experiments. -- The list of the world collections of algal strains (p. 2) is very incomplete. I t comprises in the main only the chief collections of the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, J a p a n and the German Federal Republic. I m p o r t a n t collections from France, India and the U.S.S.R. arc missing. A hand-collection of the Botany Department of the Charles University is given from Czechoslovakia, but the central Czechoslovak collection of the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences is lacking. -- During the purification of the strains by antibiotics, changes of the original strain may arise caused b y mutation. I n this connection an identity test of the isolated strain with the original material should have bean discussed. Under section (II) four chapters are included which describe the equipment and the methods of laboratory cultivation, sterilization, the use of lyofilization for the maintenance of the strains and the avoiding of toxic and inhibitory materials in the cultivation process. Chapter 11 and 13 are on a very good level. We may consider it a weakness t h a t the method of sterilization by peracetic acid and the use of lamlar flow chambers with HEPA-filters, which ensure sterility during isolation and inoculation have not been included. Mostly only fluorescent tubes are recommended for the illumination of the strains. However, their spectrum lacks the infrared b a n d and some of the strains do not even grow on them. Bulbs should be mentioned, as they may give greater quantity and better quality of light. Throughout the book the authors recommended different types of lux- and photometers for the measuring of light intensity. However, the range of their sensitivity spectrum does not correspond to the phytosynthetie active radiation (PhAR). I f the amount of radiation available for plants is to be measured, it is necessary to correct the cell sensors b y filters. A similar type of PhARmeters is published e.g. in K U B ~ et HL-~DEK (1963). Measuring light energy by W/area]time is to be recommended instead of ft-c or lux.

336

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXOI~OMICA, 10, 1975

Most objections may be raised to section (HI) "Special culture methods". I n chapter (15) "Continuous culture methods", there is above all an insufficient selection of test organisms an most of the results from countries other t h a n U.S.A. are lacking. The old-fashioned equipment presented has m a n y deficiencies. -- Chapter (16) "Mass culture", is worked out most unsatisfaetorily. Its level is already apparent from the bibliography. I n so far as it was considered to be too specialized, it should have boon given special treatment, perhaps in another volume. The author entirely failed to give results from France, the German Federal Republic, the U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakia, and partly also from J a p a n and America. The list of organisms used for mass cultivation is insufficient and distorts the present state of this field of phycology. The technical description of the equipment is incomplete. The mass cultivation of N-fixing blue-green algae is not mentioned. The description of the saturation of the C02 suspension does not contain the latest methods. The control of the physiological state and health conditions of the culture are not included. I t is true t h a t several problems as e.g. overheating are mentioned, but no m e t h o d of prevention is given. -- Chapter (17) "Light temperature gradient plate", also needs to be completed. For instance the measurement of temperature differences between the surface and the bottom of the agar plate, and the way of dosing CO2 are missing. The little instructive photograph of the apparatus ought rather to be replaced by a diagram. -- Under this section a series of import a n t methods such as the cultivation of single cells in special chambers, the method of microcinematography, the special cultivation of filamentous and macroscopic marine algae as well as blue-green algae developing water-bloom, and in particular the methods of study the life-cycles by means of synchronized cultures are all lacking. Perhaps some of t h e m will appear in some of the following volumes. Section (IV) contains 6 chapters. Growth evaluation is certainly possible not only be the given methods of carbon analysis, dry-weight, packed cell volume, optical density, a n d pigment analysis, but also by the determination of proteins, nitrogen-content, nucleic acids or ATP-contont and by the use of mierocalorimotry. The Coulter Counter should be especially mentioned for homogenous laboratory suspensions of algae; the application to natural phytoplankton belongs to field methods. The procuder of Coulter Counters would have surely provided a photograph for the purposes of reproduction and a diagram of a more modern type t h a n is illustrated in the book. Section (V) is also incomplete, as it comprises only a brief selection (biotin, cyanocobalamin thiamine, v i t a m i n content), which could easily be completed b y specialists (e.g. tests of trophic potentials, etc.). I n our opinion, a separate article should be devoted to the question of the control of environmental factors, which is substantial for algal culture. This also concerns temperature, the maintenance of pH, 002 saturation, etc. -- Moreover, we miss methods of the stability evaluation of the cultivated genotype in the collections and how to assign and unequivocally quote the strains used in different exporimente. I t is a wellknown fact t h a t if we order the same strain from different places, we obtain heterogeneous material. The book which necessarily must be a compilation should comprise excerptions of at least the main world literature of recent years. I n this respect, m a n y of the authors were not up to the task they were given. I n conclusion, it can be said t h a t this publication has indisputable value, being useful in m a n y respects, especially because it is unique. Nevertheless, being a compilation which in such books is always of extraordinary significanece, it does not fulfil the editors' avowed intention in several chapters, thus disappointing, the reader's expectations. I n several fields of phycology it does not give an adequate survey of up-to-date phyeologieal methods. JAROM~ LUKAVSK~r JIi~i KOMAREX