Bookreviews

]~. OBERDORFER StTDDEUTSCHE

PFLANZENGESELLSCHAFTEN

Zweite, stark bearbeitete Auflage Toil I (1977): 311 S., 6 Abb., 75 Tab., 35,-- DM; Toil I I (1978): 355 S., 7 Abb., 62 Tab., 44,-- DM. V E B -- G u s t a v Fischer Verlag, Jena. :Nahezu nach 20 J a h r e n erscheint wiederum das W e r k yon ERICH OBERDORFER ,,S/iddeutsche Pflanzengesellschaften". I m J a h r e seiner E r s t a u s g a b e (1957) war das B u c h ein wertvoller Beitrag zur europaischen S y n t a x o n o m i e , da es alle T y p e n y o n S y n t a x a h6herer Pflanzen, y o n Pionierbis zu Klimaxgesellschaften, von prim~ren Gesellschaften bis zur sekund~ren s y n a n t h r o p i s c h e n Vegetation umfasst. OBERDORFEI~ war b a h n b r e c h e n d in regionalen, phytoz6nologischen Studien reich belegt durch phytoz6nologische Tabellen der einzelnen Assoziationen. Jede Einheit war floristisch u n d 6kologisch charakterisiert u n d begriindet, unklare Probleme waren in Anmerk u n g e n er6rtert. Bei weitverbreiteten Assoziationen waren A n g a b e n fiber geographische R a s s e n angefiihrt, nahe verwandte Assoziationen wurden in Assoziationsreihen zusammengef/igt. Die sorgfaltig durchgefiihrte Monographie versehen m i t einem umfangreichen Literaturnachweis, die in B e d e u t u n g den R a h m e n einer regionalen Monographie weir fiberschritt, g a b den Anlass zu weiteren Studien a u c h ausserhalb Mitteleuropas. Eine Gruppe von PhytozSnologen, die sich in den sechziger J a h r e n m n OBERDORFER h e r u m bildete, ver6ffentlichte 10 J a h r e n a c h der Herausgabe der angefiihrten Monographle eine ,,Systematisehe ~ b e r s i c h t der w e s t d e u t s c h e n P h a n e r o g a m e n u n d Gefiisskryptogamen-GeseUschaften" (1967). Unter der Leitung von OBERDORFERwurden v o n dieser Gruppe (M~3LT.ER,G6~s, PHILIPI"I) erweitert dureh DIERSSEN, KORI~ECK, ]~RAUSE, LA:NGu n d SEIBERT, in kiirzester Z e i t die ersten zwei Bande der zweiten s t a r k u m g e a r b e i t e t e n Auflage herausgegeben. I m ersten Toil wurden 14 O r d n u n g e n von Fels- u n d Mauergesellschaften, alpinen Fluren, Wasser-, Verlandungs u n d Moorgesellschaften bearbeitet. A n diesem Toil beteiligte sich eine vehaltnism/issig grosse A n z a h l von Verfassern (8). Toil I I u m f a s s t 9 Ordnungen: Sand- u n d Trockenrasen, Heide- u n d Borstgrasgesellschaften, alpine Magerrasen, Saum-Gesellschaften, Schlag- u n d H o c h s t a u d e n - F l u r e n . A n diesem Toil beteiligten sich ausser d e m Herausgeber n u r n o c h zwei weitere Mitarbeiter (KORNECK u n d Mi)LLE~). Bereits aus den zwei Teilen (die H/ilfte des Gesamtwerks) ist ersicbtlich, wie untersehiedlich die neue Version v o n d e r ersten Ausgabe ist. Jedoch auch in dieser zwei neubearheiteten Teilen ist die Bearbeitung nich g a n z gleichmassig. Meiner Meinung n a c h wurde die breitgefasste Assoziation von den einzelnen Verfassern uneinheitlich zur Geltung gebraeht. OBERDORFER halt sieh strong a n die Hierarchie der Ordnungen, Verb~nde u n d Assoziationen. J~hnlich werden die S y n t a x a von S~IBERT, :KRAuSE et LAZqG, DIERSSEN, Mi)LLER (Lemnetea) Tri]olio-Geranietea), PHILIPPI (Phragmitetea) u n d KOR~-ECK (Nedo-Ncleranthetea, Festuco-Brometea, behandelt. Hingegen geben PHILIPPI (Isogto-Nano~uncetea)u n d PHILIPPI et OBERDORFER (MontioCardaminetea) U n t e r v e r b a n d e an. A u c h die Charakterisierung unklarer Gesellsehaften ist uneinheitlich; sie werden gew6hnlieh als ,,Gesellschaften" sowie als ,,weitere Gesellschaften", bzw. ,,fragliche Gesellschaften" bezeichnet. E s ist jedoch /~ussertst schwierig, bei einer so grossen Anzahl von Verfassern (9) eine absolute Einheitlichkeit in der LSsung s y n t a x o n o m i s c h e r Probleme zu erzielen. Wir wiinschen d e m Herausgeber viel Geduld bei der Beendigung der weiteren zwei Teile. N a c h dieser Charakteristik m u s s noch das hauptsachliche Problem besprochen werden, u n d zwar worin es Sich das von d e m Verfasserkollektiv n e u bearbeitete Werk v o n d e r ersten Auflage unterscheidet.

Tabello 1. Unterschiede in der Anzahl der Syntaxa der einzelnen Klassen in der 1. und 2. Auflago tier ,,Siiddeutschen Pflanzengesellschafton" 1957

1977--1978

i Asplenietea rupestris (F_. O~RDORF~R) Parietexiete8 judaicae (E. O ~ D O ~ E ~ ) TMaspietea rotundi]olia (P. S~I~E~T) Lemnetea ~(TK. Mi~LLER) Charetea]ragilis (W. K ~ U S E et G. LA~G) Potamogetonetea (TH. MtTLLER et S. GbRS) l~hragmitetea (G. PHILIPPI) Iso~to-Nanojuncetea (G. PHILIPPI) Litorelletea (E. OBERDORF]~R et K~. DIERSSEN) Utricularietea intermedio-minori8 (E. OB]~RDORF]~Ret KL. D~ERSS]:~) ~lontio-Cardaminetea (G. PHILIPPI et E. OB~RDORr~.R) Salicetea herbaceae (E. OB~RDORF~) Scheuchzerio Carlcetea/uscae (G. PHILIPPI et S. Gb~s) Oxycocco-Sphagnetea (KL. DIERSSEN) Sedo-Scleranthetea (D. KORN~CX) Festuco- Brometea (E. OB~RDORF~R et D. KOR~ECK) Carici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardi ( Kobresio-Elynetea)

(E. OBERDORFER) ~eslerietea variae (E. OB~aDORF~R) Juncetea tri]idi ( Caricetea curv~ae) (E. Om~RDO~ER) 1Vardo-Callunetea

(E. OB]~RDORF][~R) Tri/olio-Geranietea (TH. MTJLLER) Epilobietea angusti]olii (E. OSERDORF~R) Betulo- A donostyletea

(E. OBERDORF~R) Insgesamt: Klassen: 23

2

5

76

-

2

5

76

1

1

3

3

5

15

6

7

22

1

1

2

1

1

10

2 3 (+1)

13

1

2

15

1

3

26

1

3

15 (+17)

1

3

30 (+8?)

1

1

6

1

1

12

1

2

9

1

4

8

1

1

4

1

2

9

1

2

8 (+67)

2

2

8

2

2

9

3

4

3

5

2

3

3

2

2

7

-

4

10

3

8

2C

2

3

21

2

5

17

--

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

3 (+1 ?)

1

2

8

1

1

2

1

1

3

2

3

15

2

5

15

1

2

20

20 (+2?)

--

18 (+17~

2

4

10

1

3

12

1

2

4

1

3

7

70 288

27

38

(+137)

48 155

(4)

~OOKREVIEWS

439

Selbstverst/~ndlich widerspiegelt sich die intensive syntaxonomische Arbeit der verflossenen 20 Jahre sehr ausdriieklich in einer griindlichen Bearbeitung der Hierarchic syntaxonomischer Einheiten. Da es den Leser bestimmt interessieren wird, wie gross der Unterschied in der Anzahl der Syntaxa der einzelnen Klassen in der ersten und zweiten Ausgabe dieser Monographie ist, wurde er in Tab. 1 veranschaulicht. Die Unterschiede in dem Gesamtzuwachs der beschriebenen (und gleichzeitig ,,anerkannten") Assoziationen sind direkt ans der Anzahl der Syntaxa (links die Angabe f'fir das J a h r 1957, rechts die Angabe ffir das J a h r 1977) ersichtlieh: Ordnungen (27, 38), Verb/~nde (48, 70), Assoziationen (155, 288). Provisorisch ocler vorl/iufig beschriebene Einheiten sind in dieser Anzahl nicht einbegriffen. Die TabeUe zeigt einen deutliehen Zuwachs yon Syntaxa bei den vneist~n Klassen vielleicht mit Ansnahme yon Montio-Cardaminetea, Juncetea trifidi (friiher Caricetea curv~dae)

und Betula-Andenostyletea. Ein weiterer Unterschied in dem rezensierten Werk ist die Art der Pr/~sentierung der Syntaxa in den Tabellen. Sie werden nicht f'tir einzelne Assoziationen oder Verb/inde angegeben, sondern in synthetischen Tabellen der Klassen mit Kolonnen der Stetigkeitswerte fiir die elnzelnen Assoziationen. Dies f'fihrt zwar zu einem Verlnst zablreicher Details, vorhanden in den Tabellen der Erstausgabe, die besonders wiehtig sind f'tir eine Bewertung der einzelnen Rassen und geringeren Abweichungen der Assoziationen; dies befreit aber die Tabellen yon unn6tigem Balast und verleiht ihnen eine gr6ssere ~bersichtlichkeit. Derselbe Vorgang wurde bei den einzelnen Verb~nden beibehalten. Fiir Assoziationen mit einer geringen Anzahl yon Aufnahmen stehen die einzelnen Aufnahmetabellen zur Verfiigung. Meiner Meinung nach zeigt die Neuauflage der ,,Siiddeutschen Pflanzengesellschaften" die Wiedergeburt einer Tendenz, die zur Rtickkehr und zu einer ,,Restauration und Renaissance" der ursprtinglich breiten Assoziationen und Verb~nde im Sinne der Ziirich-Montpellier-Schule fiihrt. I n dem vielfach erg/inzten Literaturverzeichnis der neuen Auflage sind Literaturverweise auf tscheehoslovakische, jugoslawische und polnische phyt~z6~n|ogische Arbeiten besonders begriissenswert. S~AVOMIL HE~N~2 T. A. RABOTNOV FITOCENOLOGIJA Izdaterstvo Moskovskogo universiteta, Moskva 1978, 1--384, 44 Figs., 26 Tables. We have greatly welcomed the fact t h a t Soviet geobotanists having completed the 5-v(,,amed "Field geobotany" (Polevaja geobotanika) have started to give considerable attention to geobotanica textbooks and manuals. The present book arises out of a course held b y Professor RABOT~OV at the Department o f Geobotany, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov State University, Moscow. The book has been dedicated to the late academician SUKA6EV, a foremost Soviet geobotanist. Professor RABOTNOV, an outstanding, creative personality of the Soviet geobotany, a pupil and later collaborator of Professor L. G. RA~ENSKIZ, has for m a n y years been engaged in geohotanical research work of grasslands. He is weU-known in the world b y his set of papers on the llfe cycle of herb perennials to readers of our periodical by his papers on consortia (Fells Geobot. P h y t o t a x . , Praha~ 1: 1--8p 1972), and to participants in the X I I t h Botanical Congress in Leningrad as Chairman of the symposium on Coenopopulations. Professor RABOTNOV is one of the pioneers in this field. Having lectured for several tens of years in phytocoenology at the Moscow University it is to be expected t h a t the profile of the present textbook will be specific. The volume is divided in 6 chapters. Chapter I deals with relationships of plants and their consortia, Chapter I I with relationships of plants and phytocoenoses, Chapter I I I with the organisation of phytocoenoses, Chapter IV with their productivity, Chapter V with succesions o f phytocoenoses, Chapter VI with the classification and ordination of plant communities. As indicated by the headings of the individual chapters, the author has intended to provide mainly for a perfect understanding of the principal problems arising in modern phytocoenology. Therefore~ he omitted to t r e a t problems of quantitative ecology (Russian translation of the book b y GREIOSMITH 1967), mathematical problems (V. I. VASILBVI6 1972), and the history of geobotany

440

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 14, 1979

(C~. TRASS 1976). A special manual on methods of geobotanical research work has been made available b y the Department of which Professor RABO~U~OVis Head. Typical of the author's approach to the principles of phytocoenology is the fact t h a t the Introduction is basically an introduction to the foundamental terminology: phytocoenosis, geobiocoenosis-ecosystem-biosphere. I t starts with a definition of the terms phytocoenosis and geobiocoenosis in the classical concept of SvxA6v.v (1935, 1964) which is followed b y R a b o t n o v ' s own concept of both terms based on a comparison with the literature and on a more profound explanation. H e adds to the basic terms the term consortium, first introduced to phytocoenology b y Ramenskij (1952). Chapter I I introduced b y consortia and their components deals most comprehensibly with parasitic and symbiotic relationships, and from these aspects with lianae and epiphytes. Considerable attention i s given to plant-animal relationships from the standpoint of consortia. The author continues in explaining relationships of plants in phytocoenoses giving thought also to cllelopathies and competition. Chapter I I I -- 0rganisation of phytocoenoses -- contains the author's various concepts of coenotie populations. Having regard to the structure of phytocoenosis, RABOTNOV emphasizes not only structural phenomena in the phytocoenosis (layers, synusiael mosaic) and but mainly and particularly variations and fluctuations in plant communities. The author published earlier a number of original papers on problems of fluctuation in grassland stands.' I t is most uncommon to include a chapter on the productivity of phytocoenoses in a t e x t b o o k on phytoeoenology. Generally, this is contained in ecological textbooks. This is evidently another confirmation o f RABOT~OV'S specialization in grassland research, in which productivity is a m a j o r criterium. Although the chapter is brief, it includes global data on the primary production of the plant cover of the E a r t h published b y BASILEVI6, RODI~ et ROZOV (1970). The author used SUKA~EV'Swell established system of succesion types in his chapter on the succession of the vegetation, but treated anthropogenic changes (e.g., recreational and technogenic succession) in a new way. The volume is concluded by a chapter on classification and ordination. Particularly this last chapter provides conclusive evidence for the fact t h a t RABOTNOV has a deep understanding of geobotany, and a comprehensive knowledge of the pertinent world literature. Objective information is given on fundamental phytocoenological trends in which the association is regarded as a basic classification unit. Following ALEXSANDROVA (1969), T~ASS (1976), MAZXNO(1969) and DOCHMAN, he explains with great insight the theoretical principles of the BRMJ~r-BLA~Q~T School (pp. 331--334). I n addition he tries to approach with great objectivity other classification trends such as the physiognomic-ecological classification (ELLE~BERO, MUErmER-DoMBoIs), the dynsmic-genctic classification suggested by CL~.M~.NTS and developed b y GOROD~OV (1946) in the USSR. He also places papers on forest typology (CAJA~nE~, AICHI~GE~, ZT.AT~iX) in the group of the dynamic-genetic classification. The historically genetic classification pending on the classics, PACZOSKYand SU~A6EV found its principal representative in SO6AVA who developed phytocoenogenetics as an independent branch. The biogeocoenological classification first suggested by MoRozov was developed by SUF~A6EVin a rather theoretical way. Practical aspects of this classification were developed by UTKIN et DyT.IS (1968). RABOTNOV regarded R A ~ N S X I J (1910) as the founder of the concept of the vegetation continuum, which was further developed in the twenties b y the American GLEASON. The volume contains a wealth of references to the Soviet and the foreigh literature. This list of references includes important sources of the world literature. Unfortunately m a n y references in the t e x t are not on the list. I~ABOT~OV'S book merits special attention. I t will be most useful to readers who are not familiar with the fundaments of the Russian and Soviet geobotany, and to those who wish to compare various compendia and textbooks on phytocoenology published in recent years. SLAVOMIL HEJN~

BOOKREVIEWS

441

W. TISCHLER

EINF~HRUNG

IN

DIE

0KOLOGIE

G. F i s c h e r Verlag, S t u t t g a r t et N e w Y o r k 1976, 307 S., 97 Abb. T h e book o p e n s w i t h a w i t t y m o t t o b y TH. FOOTAGE w h i c h e x p r e s s e s a sceptical view of p r o g r e s s in u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e e c o n o m y of n a t u r e (,,Wie N a t u r e s d r a u s s e n t r e i b t " ) , fully e n d o r s e d b y t h e a u t h o r . Since it is e c o l o g y t h a t s t u d i e s t h e e c o n o m y of n a t u r e t h e a u t h o r ' s s c e p t i c i s m is directed t o t h e v e r y o b j e c t of his book, i.e., t o w a r d s u n d e r s t a n d i n g ecologictd laws. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a f t e r r e a d i n g t h e b o o k t h e r e a d e r is likely to concede t h e t r u t h of t h i s outlook. I n t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n t h e a u t h o r clarifies his s t a n d p o i n t s t a t i n g his preference for a n a l y t i c a l a s p e c t s regarded f r o m v a r i o u s p o i n t s o f view a n d d o c m n e n t e d b y n u m e r o u s e x a m p l e s as c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e s y n t h e t i c v i e w s o f m a n y c o n t e m p o r a r y t e x t b o o k s of ecology -- m o s t l y w r i t t e n in E n g l i s h -- w h i c h are b a s e d o n t h e holistic a p p r o a c h to ecology. T h e a u t h o r ' s e x a m p l e s h a v e b e e n m o s t l y c h o s e n f r o m t h e w o r k s o f his o w n a n d o f h i s p u p i l s a n d from older s t u d i e s w h i c h described t h e g i v e n p h e n o m e n o n in full detail, e v e n if c o n t e m p o r a r y s t u d i e s were available, s h o w i n g a m o r e m o o e r n c o n c e p t i o n a n d detailed e v a l u a t i o n . T h e a u t h o r d e s i g n e d l y a d o p t s a c o n c e p t i o n o f ecology w h i c h is r e g a r d e d b y m a n y people as ,,classical" or , , o u t d a t e d " . T h e c o n t e n t s of t h e b o o k is in c o m p l e t e h a r m o n y w i t h t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n o f i n t e n t , i t s h o u l d be a d d e d , in order to i n f o r m t h e reader m o r e fully, t h a t t h e b o o k is chiefly c o n c e r n e d w i t h zoological ecology, w i t h e m p h a s i s o n p a r a s i t o l o g y as well. T h i s is easily discernible in t h e first p a r t of t h e book, w h i c h is d e v o t e d to t h e a u t e e o l o g y of species (four chapters), to t h e b i o s y s t e m s a n d p o p u l a t i o n s (two chapters), a n d to e c o s y s t e m (one c h a p t e r ) . T h e second p a r t o f t h e b o o k , called l a n d s c a p e ecology ( L a n d s c h a f t s 6 k o l o g i e ) , consists o f s e v e n c h a p t e r s a n d d i s c u s s e s v a r i o u s blomes, once a g a i n p r e d o m i n a n t l y f r o m t h e p o i n t of view of t h e a u t e c o l o g y a n d s y n e c o l o g y o f a n i m a l species. A b o o k f o u n d e d o n t h e principles o f ,,classical" ecology w o u l d be w e l c o m e if t h e ,,classical'* f r a m e w o r k did n o t l i m i t t h e view to one b r a n c h o f science, l e a v i n g o u t t h e i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y links. T h e ecology of t o d a y is a n i n t e g r a t e d science o f r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n o r g a n i s m s o n all t r o p h i e levels a n d t h e i r abiotie e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d it is t h i s i n t e g r a t e d a p p r o a c h t h a t is chiefly m i s s i n g in t h e book. T h e a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d f u n c t i o n of p l a n t s a n d m i c r o o r g a n i s m s in t h e e c o s y s t e m s a n d b i o s p h e r e is d i s p r o p o r t i o n a l l y small. Little a t t e n t i o n is d e v o t e d to t h e i m p a c t of m a n a n d to t h e a c t u a l c h a n g e s of biosphere c a u s e d b y his a c t i v i t y . T h e zoological s t a n d p o i n t p r e d o m i n a t e s e v e n in s u c h a c o m p l e x c h a p t e r as t h e one on e c o s y s t e m s . T h e a u t h o r defines t h e e c o s y s t e m as a s p a t i a l a n d t e m p o r a l f u n c t i o n a l u n i t o f bioeenosis a n d biotope, w i t h a n i n t e r n a l f e e d b a c k n e t w o r k . H e s a y s t h a t t h e biotope for p l a n t s is f o r m e d b y t h e abiotic p a r t of t h e ecos y s t e m o n l y , while t h a t o f a n i m a l s includes also p l a n t s . T h e d e e o m p o s e r s a r e n o t regarded as a structural unit. E v e n if t h i s u n c o m m o n a p p r o a c h to e c o s y s t e m s is r e s p e c t e d , it is n e c e s s a r y t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y to a c h a p t e r o n t h e m s h o u l d n o t o m i t t h e citations, e.g., o f TANSLEY a n d ODUM. R e f e r e n c e s in t h i s c h a p t e r -- like in o t h e r s -- i n c l u d e m o s t l y G e r m a n s t u d i e s of a n a l y t i c c h a r a c t e r a n d o n l y to a lesser degree s t u d i e s w r i t t e n in E n g l i s h , w h i c h a t p r e s e n t p r e d o m i n a t e in literature. T h i s selection n e c e s s a r i l y d e p r i v e s t h e b o o k o f m a n y u p - t o - d a t e views. T h e f u n c t i o n a l a s p e c t s of e c o s y s t e m s are d i s c u s s e d in one of t h e s u b c h a p t e r s . P r i m a r y p r o d u c t i o n is ascribed to g r e e n p l a n t s , s e c o n d a r y p r o d u c t i o n to h e t e r o t r o p h i c o r g a n i s m s , t h e c o n s u m e r s are identified w i t h t h e d e c o m p o s e r s . I n a s u r v e y o n page 115, w h i c h s h o w s t h e species c o m p o s i t i o n of t h e biosphere, m i c r o o r g a n i s m s do n o t a p p e a r a t all. T h e a b s e n c e of t h e d e c o m p o s e r block b o t h i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f s t r u c t u r e s a n d in t h e f u n c t i o n i n g o f a n e c o s y s t e m is t h u s q u i t e c o n s i s t e n t . T h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e ,,classical" d e s c r i p t i v e a p p r o a c h over t h e f u n c t i o n a l one is a p p a r e n t in n u m e r o u s figures, e.g., o n pp. 94, 96, 124, 163, 164, etc. T h e figures m a y be m o r e didactic t h a n t h e t e x t , b u t t h e i r i n f o r m a t i v e v a l u e does n o t e n h a n c e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n in t h e t e x t a n d , in s o m e cases, t h e y m a y p r o d u c e e r r o n e o u s ideas. F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e f u n c t i o n a l d i a g r a m o n ,,the food relations of biocenoses in t h e sea a n d on t h e s h o r e s " (p. 94) s h o w s a c o m p l i c a t e d food n e t w o r k o f a n i m a l s w h i c h are r e p r e s e n t e d b y s y m b o l i c d r a w i n g s w i t h o u t a n y description, l i n k e d b y arrows. T h e p r i m a r y source o f f o o d , h o w e v e r , is missing. T h e n u m e r o u s d i a g r a m s e x p r e s s v a r i o u s s t r u c t u r a l p h e n o m e n a or q u a l i t a t i v e r e l a t i o n s b u t , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e q u a n t i t a t i v e t r o p h i c or cenotie relations are e x p l a i n e d n e i t h e r in t h e d i a g r a m s n o r in t h e t e x t . W i t h o u t a n y d o u b t , t h e figures t e s t i f y t o prolonged p e d a g o g i c a l a c t i v i t y of t h e a u t h o r in t h e s u b j e c t of zoology. I n s o m e places t h e a u t h o r a t c m p t e d to i n t r o d u c e a b o t a n i c a l s t a n d p o i n t , b u t h i s choice w a s

44~

F O L I A G E O B O T A N I C A ET P H Y T O T A X O N O M I C A , 14, 1 9 7 0

o f t e n n o t t o o h a p p y . Too m a n y errors h a v e f o u n d t h e i r w a y i n t o r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l s e c t i o n s o f t h e t e x t . T h u s , e.g., w h e n t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f p l a n t s a g a i n s t f r o s t is d e s c r i b e d on p. 25, t h e a u t h o r s p e a k s o f t h e o s m o t i c m e c h a n i s m in cells a n d s a y s t h a t ,,in t h i s w a y t h e loaves, b u d s a n d r e s e r v e o r g a n s c a n s u r v i v e t h e t e m p e r a t u r e s o f -- 5 to -- 7 ~ for s e v e r a l h o u r s , in e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e s e v e n t h e t e m p e r a t u r e of -- 12 ~ (sic!). T h e b o t a n i c a l sources to t h i s p a r t are r e p r e s e n t e d in t h e Referen~ ces b y o n l y one a u t h o r (SAKAI 1960, c o n t r i b u t i o n of 2 pages), while e x t e n s i v e a n d d e t a i l e d w o r k s o n t h e f r o s t - r e s i s t a n c e o f p l a n t s , e.g., b y LARCH~R, are n o t m e n t i o n e d at all. I n a p a r a g r a p h on d o r m a n c y t h e a u t h o r s a y s t h a t t h e spores of c r y p t o g a m s a n d t h e pollen o f p h a n e r o g a m s c a n s u r v i v e u n f a v o u r a b l e periods o f d r o u g h t , h e a t a n d cold in a s t a t e o f cryptobiosis. B u d s a n d seeds a r e not m e n t i o n e d . O n p a g e 31, t h e influence o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l factors o n t h e g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f p l a n t s is d i s c u s s e d . H o w e v e r , t h e principles a n d r e s u l t s o f t h e g r o w t h a n a l y s i s o f p l a n t s , p r o d u c t i o n e c o l o g y a n d its significance for t h e e x i s t e n c e of p l a n t o n t h e g i v e n site, etc. are d i s c u s s e d n o w h e r e in t h e book, t h o u g h in t h e s e fields " c l a s s i c a l " w o r k s w r i t t e n in G e r m a n do exist, e.g., BOYSE~I O n p a g e 29, t h e reader c a n find a s u b c h a p t e r on " t h e influence of c h e m i c a l f a c t o r s o n life p r o c e s s e s " , o n l y a h a l f a page long. I t lists biogeoelements, i n c l u d i n g m i c r o e l e m e n t s , t h e i r influence a n d t h e d a m a g e suffered b y t h e i r s h o r t a g e . A n t h r o p o g e n i e influence, m a n i f e s t e d in t h e applicat i o n o f c h e m i c a l s u b s t a n c e s s u c h a s fertilizers, in p o l l u t i o n b y h e a v y m e t a l s , s u l p h u r dioxide, biocides a n d t h e i r residues, is n o t m e n t i o n e d a t all, a l t h o u g h it is h i g h l y topical. I n t h i s case, t h e "classical" approach has become truly outdated. F i n a l l y it m a y be said t h a t it w o u l d be m o r e to t h e p o i n t if t h e title of t h e b o o k r a n : I n t r o d u c t i o n t o A n i m a l Ecology. T h o s e w h o are s e a r c h i n g for i n f o r m a t i o n in t h e field o f a u t e c o l o g y a n d p o p u l a t i o n ecology o f a n i m a l s w o u l d p r o b a b l y be satisfied. T h e d i s c o r d a n c e b e t w e e n t h e title " I n t r o d u c t i o n to E c o l o g y " a n d t h e c o n t e n t s , however, l e a d s t o d i s a p p o i n t m e n t w h i c h is d e e p e n e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e b o o k does n o t a n s w e r a n y q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e stresses c a u s e d b y h u m a n a c t i v i t y a n d t h e l i m i t s o f l a n d s c a p e a n d e c o s y s t e m s t a b i l i t y . R e c a l l i n g t h e i n t r o d u c t o r y m o t t o t h e r e a d e r feels t h a t its s c e p t i c i s m h a s b e e n fully justified b y t h e b o o k itself. MrLENA RYcm~ovsKA

C. L. KUCERA THE

CHALLENGE

OF ECOLOGY

2 n d ed. T h e C. V. M o s b y C o m p a n y , S a i n t L o u i s 1978, 326 pp., 156 Figs. T h e e n v i r o n m e n t of o u r biosphere, t h e p o p u l a t i o n e x p l o s i o n of m a n as t h e d o m i n a n t species on e a r t h a n d t h e influence o f his a c t i v i t y on all b i o m e s o f t h e world, i n c r e a s i n g like a n e x p o n e n t i a l c u r v e , c o m p e l ecologists to e n l a r g e t h e i r p r e s e n t k n o w l e d g e o f tile s t r u c t u r e s o f biocenoses a n d t h e i r abiotic e n v i r o n m e n t b y a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e i r f u n c t i o n i n g a n d b y a n a b i l i t y to prognost i c a t e t h e i r c h a n g e s r e s u l t i n g f r o m i n c r e a s i n g civilization stresses. T h e s t u d y o f s y s t e m s , in w h i c h v a r i o u s a p p r o a c h e s o f m a n y scientific disciplines are i n t e g r a t e d , h a s b e c o m e a m e a n s o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g ecological processes a n d t h e i r m a n a g e m e n t in t h e l a n d s c a p e a n d in t h e entire biosphere. T h e u s e f u l n e s s o f ecology as a science o f relations a n d f e e d b a c k s b e t w e e n o r g a n i s m s , i n c l u d i n g m a n , a n d t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t , w a s n o t realized before t h e ' s e c o n d h a l f o f t h i s c e n t u r y . T h e q u e s t i o n s a n d t h e u r g e n c y a c c o m p a n y i n g it are i n c r e a s i n g p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y to t h e r a t e o f civilization c h a n g e s . T h i s n e w s i t u a t i o n e v o k e d p r o m p t r e a c t i o n especially a m o n g t h e ecologists o f i n d u s t r i a l l y developed c o u n t r i e s , in w h i c h d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t s t a r t e d earlier. T h e a u t h o r o f t h e b o o k a p t l y called " T h e Challenge o f E c o l q g y " is one o f t h e s e s c i e n t i s t s w h o did n o t h e s l t a t e t o a b a n d o n t h e l i m i t e d biological f r a m e w o r k a n d to e n t e r t h e socio-economic s p h e r e , voicing a n u r g e n t a p p e a l for r e v a l u a t i o n of t h e d e e p - r o o t e d c o n c e p t of technological s u p e r i o r i t y over n a t u r e . T h e b o o k is c o n s i s t e n t l y b a s e d o n i n t e g r a t e d ecology a n d d e a l s w i t h e c o s y s t e m s , p o p u l a t i o n s , a n d biosphere. T h e v a r i o u s b i o m e s a p p r o a c h e d f r o m t h e f u n c t i o n a l ( r a t h e r t h a n s t r u c t u r a l ) a~peet, and withxospecr $o,ant3ar~nous a c t i v i t y , w h e t h e r viewed as a positive or as a n e g a t i v e influence, p e r m e a t e s t h e whole section. T h e a u t h o r s a y s t h a t a t ~alesent p r a c t i c a l l y n o b i o m e

BOOKRE~rIEW$

443

can be found which is not strongly influenced by man, whether through pollutants, exploitation, selective inurement to species diversity, overpopulation, etc. The author does not limit his views to the traditional standpoint of "natural science"; with earnest biological urgency he also solves problems of u r b a n ecology. The book was written, above all, for the students of American universities. This explains why the examples chosen as illustrations of various chapters come mostly from the U.S.A. Nevertheless, the highly instructive and informative value of the book does not suffer from it at all. The discussion of the developing countries, oceans, coal reserves, etc. takes the entire biosphere into consideration. All chapters are presented in an extraordinarily vivid and attractive way, and call for an active participation on the part of the reader. The end of each chapter offers a short s u m m a r y which recapitulates the most important phenomena discussed in the chapter and a list of questions which stimulate the reader to further conskteration of the m a t t e r and to search for other sources of information. An extensive selection of these sources is always given in References and Additional Reading. The whole book discusses problems from the point of view of the biosphere and its functioning. The various phenomena are documented b y examples of ecosystems and populations or if necessary, on the level of species autecology and even its physiology. I n addition to the Introduction, the book consists of the following sections: a) The ecosystem, with chapters on Air and water, The soil environment, Diversity and s~'luctare, Energy relationships, Organic turnover and cycling processes, Biotic succession. b) The biomes, with chapters on Terrestrial communities, The world ocean. c) Populations, with chapters on Population ecology, Urban ecology. Appendices to the book include a list of Selected readings on environmental issues, List o f endangered species, Population and income data, and Glossary of scientific terms. The most important section, however, is the concluding chapter of the book, caUed Imperatives. I n it the author expresses some critical ideas on the present state of biosphere, the growing h u m a n population, the increasing demands of m a n and the carrying capacity of the earth for the h u m a n population. H e compares the rapidly deteriorating environment with inefficient endeavours t o improve it and concludes the book with an appeal on a more philosophical t h a n scientific level: "The real ecological challenge is to change traditional attitudes toward our only environment and its unique biotic diversity.., and, in the Olympian sense, toward even ourselves". The book offers vattmble ecological information, analytic in character, reflecting the considerable scientific activity of the author. Its nucleus, however, is formed b y a synthesis of the present knowledge on biosphere and b y the predictive aspects, which are not only of interest for the biologists, ecologists, zoologists and botanists of today but also imperative for our present civilization as a whole. A book of this t y p e should be studied b o t h b y scientists and b y people of authority in pedagogical, managerial and government circles. Its style, selection and presentation of material are highly conducive to t h a t g o a l MILEI~A RYCHNOVSK/~

VERNE GRANT ORGANISMIC

EVOLUTION

V. I-L Freeman and Company, San Francisco 1977, 13 + 418 p., 36 Figs. The book reviewed represents a survey of the most i m p o r t a n t knowledge on the evolution of organisms. V E ~ E GRANT is a well-known author of publications on evolution and speciation in plants and in this book he has extended the topic to the whole organismic world. He started his investigations in biosystematics and his approach to t h e basic evolutionary theory is therefore primarily a genetic one. I n his book he discusses the processes producing evolutionary changes in organisms and basic factors causing these processes. He gives heed to principles rather t h a n to details and gives preference t o ~eleet examples for illustration of these principles rather t h a n to catalogue facts. The text of this book stems from GRA~T'S tmivet'sitsr l ~ - ~ r o s 4"or post~ir~hial students. Though the author does not w a n t his book to be a textbook only, it bears (in a good sense) the impress of its origin, in the well-organized and logical arrangement of the subject-

444

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 14, 1979

matter and the method of presentation (very precise expression and brief sentences). The text of the ~hapters is divided into sections devoted to individual phenomenona. The book has 8 main parts with 39 chapters. The texts of individual chapters are short and therefore the book could remain medium length. Individual chapters represent in fact introductions to the relevant special subject-matter, not an exhaustive survey. Most chapters carry lists of recommended literature referring to the topic. When the author attempts an explanation of the diversity of t h e organismic world he professes the synthetic evolutionary theory, arising from elements of Darwinism and Mendelism in thirties of this century. From this standpoint he deals with three main evolutionary levels - - microevolution, speciation and macroevolution. Interesting is the division of the usual concept o f microevolution into microevolution proper (i. e. formation of variability) and speciation. Microevolution is there defined rather narrowly as a systematic change in the frequencies of homologous alleles, chromosome segments or chromosomes in ~ local population. Evolutionary changes are a phenomenon happening at the level of populations and population systems, therefore t h e author pays attention both to the statics and to the dynamics of populations. In the sense of t h e now generally accepted evolutionary theory he discusses the importance of mutations, recombinations and natural selection. He pays relatively great attention to t h e last mentioned phenomenon in particular. He pays heed at length to the genetic drift and stresses its importance. A separate main section is devoted to problems of acquired characters; phenotypic modifications, transduction and induction, as well as the evolutionary role of induction are dealt with here. In the t e x t on speciation GRA~T discusses problems of origin of races and species, isolation mechanisms among species, ecological differentiation, geographical speciation (which is considered by him as the most important t y p e o f origin of new species), further types of speciation (quantum speciation, allopolyploid speciation) and the text ends with a general theory of speciation. Here also the biologica! species is compared with the taxonomic species; semispecies is acknowledged as a justified evolutionary unit between subspecies and species. Two of the main sections of the t e x t (on microevolution and specia~ion) have been discussed at large b y GRA~T in sore@ of his earlier works (especially in the book ,,Plant speciation", 1971; German translation published in 1976). A further main section is devoted to macroevolution, which is' underestimated or neglected b y some evolutionists. GRA~T delimits macroevolution as evolution from the genus above. He rather supports an extension of microevolutionary theory to the area of macroevolution; however, he refuses simple extrapolations from the area of microevolution to t h a t of macroevolution. According to the author macroevolution differs especially in t h e fact t h a t it represents a historical process. The time factor, evolutionary trends, specialization, molecular changes, population structure in relation to macroevolution, evolution of major groups and extinction are dealt with in this part of the book. When discussing evolutionary trends GRA~T opposes orthogenetic interpretations; nor does he accept the alleged tendency of mutations in the direction of the trend. He emphasizes the importance of smM1 populations for evolution; the process of quantum evolution in particular (a rapid evolution in small populations) may explain the absence of various evolutionary missing links. G~A~T generally also opposes saltations in the sense of the macromutations of GOLDS~IITI~, but he admits the existence of a rapid evolution realizing its results in relatively few generations only (a moderate compromise viewpoint between saltationism and gradualism). Compared with the character of the text on microevolution and speciation (which are accessible for experimental investigation), the text on macroevolution rather seems to be of a somewhat dlscussive character. I t is surprising t h a t most examples of macroevolution have been taken over b y the author from zoological manuals, though he himself is originally a botanist. Further main sections of the book -- on human evolution and on the social implications of evolution -- have not direct'relation to botany, from which viewpoint alone the book is reviewed here. The book ends with a key to technical terms (a useful substitute for a terminological glossary), a list of literature cited, and author and subject indexes. I t is hardly possible to give critical comments on this book. Besides the general objection t h a t examples from the plant kingdom are too little used in the text on macroevolution, the existence of another concept of orthogenesis (J. KENNETH, Dictionary of Scientific Terms, Oxford 1952) may be mentioned here, against which the objections given b y the author in pp. 259--260 could hardly be raised. I t is interesting t h a t practically no attention is paid to clinal variability; also relatively little attention is given to ecotypes. This book b y VER~E GRA~ZTbrings in a concise form all the basic information on the evolution of organisms. I t is a good source for study of evolution problems from the general viewpoint

:B00KREVIEWS

445

a n d prepares t h e reader well to extend his knowledge in f u r t h e r specialized literature. T h a n k t o its excellent pedagogical character it m a y also be a suitable m a n u a l e v e n for university teachers lecturing on evolution. JOS~.F HOLUB

J . RZ6SKA (ed.) THE

NILE,

BIOLOGY

OF AN ANCIENT

RIVER

Dr. W. J u n k B. V., Publishers, The H a g u e 1976, 417 p. H u m a n life h a s frequently been compared to a river, b u t the comparison remained a literary one. Few a t t e m p t s h a v e actually been m a d e to illustrate a water course in strictly biological terms. W i t h a host of collaborators JULIAN RZ6SKA compiled a book explaining in detail how life was distributed between two river banks, along t h e reaches of a s t r e a m , within the liquid m a t t e r simply considered as "flowing water". Admittedly, t h e Nile is a suitable model for s u c h a s t u d y . W e could hardly find a better example t h a n t h a t offered b y this great watercourse: with its magnificent sources situated in equatorial a n d E t h i o p i a n lakes, and w i t h e n o u r m o u s variation along its 6000 k m long s t r e a m crossing forest, s a v a n n a and desert regions. Moreover, a river w i t h a n o u t s t a n d i n g geological evolution a n d a remarkable sequence of cultural development on its banks. Five m a j o r chapters m a k e up t h e book: (I) Origin and history of t h e Nile, (2) The Nile, a lifo artery, (3) H y d r o l o g y and sediments, (4) Hydrobiology a n d limnology of the m a i n parts of t h e Nile s y s t e m , a n d (5) Hydrobiology a n d limnology of the whole river s y s t e m . A v a r i e t y of topics from geology, Pleistocene history a n d palaeolimnology of headwaters are discussed in t h e introd u c t o r y c h a p t e r of t h e book. A l t h o u g h t h e Nile is a n ancient river, t h e existing hydrological p a t t e r n m a y only be 10,000 years old. E v e n during t h a t period there h a v e been drastic changes in t h e basic n a t u r e of the river, e.g., its drainage area was sometimes a u g m e n t e d b y overflow f r o m Lake R u d o l p h basin t h r o u g h the Pibor a n d Sober rivers. Dr. RZSSKA a n d Pros TACKHOLMare t h e d o m i n a n t authors of t h e t e a m t h a t describes impora n t plants a n d a n i m a l s of t h e Nile basin in the second chapter. M a n y b o t a n i s t s will welcome t h e compilation of interesting d a t a on riverain flora of E g y p t a n d S u d a n . Brief papers outline t h e occurrence of m a m m a l s , birds, amphibia, reptiles a n d invertebrates. Various parts of the book deal with p h y t o p l a n k t o n , zooplankton a n d fishes. Chapter IV contains a set of small regional m o n o g r a p h s referring to various parts of t h e Nile s y s t e m : W h i t e Nile, Blue Nile, L a k e Victoria, L a k e T a n s , L a k e Nasser a n d Lake N u b i a , etc. F u t u r e aspects of the. latter lakes are analyzed b y B. ENTZ who suggests t h a t s e d i m e n t a t i o n of m u d will approach t h e A s w a n H i g h D a m o n l y after several h u n d r e d years. Subjects of special importance are e x a m i n e d in chapter V, e.g. t h e invasion of Eichhornia vrassipes, schistosomiasis, t h e role of insects in h u m a n ecology, t h e distribution o f benthos, etc. A paper b y J. F. TALLINGdescribes water characteristics of t h e whole Nile system. I n this precious work hydrologists a n d biologists will find attractive d a t a referring to differences between t h e Blue and W h i t e Nile. Other parts of t h e book describe t h e features of t h e f a m o u s Sudd s w a m p s in S u d a n , a n ecologically o u t s t a n d i n g biome of t h e world. A great deal o f editorial work h a s been devoted to the assemblage of d a t a a n d papers from a u t h o r s living, presently, in d i s t a n t p a r t s of the world. I n a few cases the editor s u m m a r i z e d m a n u s c r i p t s which did n o t m a t c h t h e objectives of t h e book. Lists of references a t t a c h e d t o individual papers contain f u r t h e r source of information on t h e " F a t h e r of all Rivers". Generally s p e a k i n g - - a n interesting book whose message will inspire scholars far beyond t h e boundaries of biology. JAN JENIK

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FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXON0~IICA. 14, 1979

ROLF SIEwI~o (ed.) EVOLUTION Bedingungen -- Resultate -- Konsequenzen Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart et New York 1978, X X + 450 S., 142 Abb. Unter ~litwirkung yon hervorragenden Fachleuten erschien ein interessantes Bfichlein fiber Entwieldtmg im breitesten Sinne, das nieht n u t die :Evolution der organischen~ sonclern aueh die Entwicklung der anorganisehen Welt umfasst, einschliesslich der Entstehung des Kosmos. Die Fortschritte der Wissenschaft in den letzten Dezennien erm6glichen schon eine genauere Vorstellung, wie dieser Prozess verlaufen ist. Der Begriff Evolution ist in dieser Publikation mib wenigen Ausnahmen (z. B. Kapitel 6) im breiterem Sinne angewandt, als es in der Biologie fiblich ist, we streng zwisehen Entwicldung (eines Individuums wghrend seines Lebens = Ontogenese) und Evolution (gerichtete Anderungen der taxonomischen Gruppen = Phylogenese) tmterschieden wird. Die ersten drei Kapitel befassen sich mit der Entstehung des Kosmos, zu der nach dem Standart-Modell der Kosmologio durch einen Urknall vor ca. 15 Milliarden Jahre gekommen ist, und mit seiner weiteren Entwieklung. Dabei wird die Sternentwieklung, die Elementsynthese und die chemische Entwicklung er6rtert. Auch die weiteren zwei Kapitel sind der E n t w i c k h m g der anorganischen Welt gewidmet. Kapitel 4 behandelt die Entwieklung der Erdkruste und Kapitel 5 die Entwicklung des irdischen Sauerstoffbudgets, dank der Photosynthese der grfinen Pflanzen. Erst Kapltel 6 beginnt sich mit der biologischen Evolution zu befassen und in seiner Einleitung ist auch dor Unterschied zwischen Entwicldung trod Evolution erw~hnt. Dieses Kapitel behandelt die E n t s t e h u n g der Evolutionsidee, die Nachwei~e der Evolution, ihro Wege und Ursaehen. Kapitel 7 (Evolution frfihestens Lebons) und 8 (Evolution der Stoffwechsel und der hiologischen Energiegewinnung) er6rtern die chemischen und biochemisehon Wege, die zur Entstehung der organischen, zum Leben unentbehrlichen Verbindungen trod zur Entwieldung der Stoffweehsel- trod Energiegowinnungsprozesse schon in der pra~vitalen Epoehe gof'fihrt. haben. Das Kapitel 9 berichtet iiber die E n t s t e h u n g der eukaryotischen Zelle, d.h. der Zelle mi$ Kern, Plastiden und Mitoehondrlen. Dies~r Vorgang wird durch die Endosymbiontenhypothese erkl~rt, die a n n i m m t , dass die Chloroplasten aus symbiotischen b]aualgen~hnliehen Prokarionten, die Mitochondrien aus symbiotischen bakterien~hnliehen aeroben Prokarionten entstanden sind. Die zwei weiteren Kapitel befassen sieh mit der Evolution im Tierreieh (Kap. 10) und bei Pflanzen (Kap. 11). Kapitel 12 bringt die palaeontologischen Bewelse der Evolution der Organismen, wobei die ~ltesten Fossilfunde (wahrscheinlieh Bakterien) aus 3,4--2,7 Milliarden J a h r e alten Sehichten stammen. Die eukaryonten Fungi imperfec~i scheinen 2,3--2,7 MiUiarden Jab-re alt zu sein, hingegen wurde ffir die Algen und Prize das Alter yon 1,2--1,4 MiUiarden J a h r e bewlesen. Die Fossilien zelgen, dass zuerst ein Mangel an Sauerstoff in der Atmosphere herrschte. Die E n t s t e h u n g der Blaualgen war ein Umschlagpunkt. Die Anreicherung der Atmosphere durch Sauerstoff und die Entstehung des Ozon-Schirmes bildete die Vorbedingungen fiir die Besiedlung des Festlandes dureh die Organismen. Weitere Kapitel behandeln die Bedeutung einiger Fachgebiete ffir die Deutung der Evolution, wie die Embryologie, Zoogeographle und 0kologie. Eine Gruppe yon Kapiteln 17--20 ist der Selektionstheorie, den genetisehen Grundlagen der Ver/indoruug der Arten, der Populationsgenetik und der E n t s t e h u n g der Arten gewidmet. Es ist yon der H y p o t h e s e ausgegangen, dass sowohl die Makroevolution als auch die Mikroevolution diesetben Ursachen hat, vor allem die Mutationen, Rekombinationen, Migration und Gendrift. Die Ursachen der Makroevolution wurden noch nieht experimental bewiesen. Die letzten Kapitel sind der Entwlcklung des Menschen und der Entwiekung seiner K u l t u r und Technlk gewidmet. Das Buch behandelt fast alle Vorg~nge der Entwicklung bzw. Evolution, die sowohl in der organischen als aueh in der anorganischen Welt bekannt sind. Zur Erg~nzung kann man nur dia Bodenentwieklung (vgl. W. KUSIENA, 1948: Entwicklungslehre des Bodens), und die Sukzession (vgl. z. B. F. E. GLEM~NTS, 1916: Plant succession), die ein spezielles sfch einander beeinflusaendes Prozess darstellen (vgl. J. MORAV~C, 1969, Folia Geobot. Phytotax., 4: 133--164), vorschlagen. Obwohl das Buch die KoUektivarbelt yon 18 Autoren ist, von denen die meisten an der

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Universit/~t Erlangen-Ntirnberg t~tig sind, zeichnet es sich durch einheitliche Fassung aus. Die einzelnen Kapitel kniipfen gut an einander an und bringen nut die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse. Dadurch wird das Kernproblem -- die Evolution sensu late -- viel anschaulicher. Als recht wichtig halten wir die Kapitel, die den ~ b e r g a n g yon der unbelebten zu der belebten Materie erkl~ren. Die zusammengefassten Erkenntnisse sind sehr umfangreich, wobei in den einzelnen Fachgebieten n u t die wichtigsten Angaben und Entdeckungen erw~hnt werden. Trotzdem bietet dieses Werk einen plastischen und anschaulichen Uberblick fiber die Evolution sowohl den Interessenten der allgemeinen Biologle als such den Spezialisten der Evolutionsproblematik. MILO~ DEYL JAR0SI,AV MORAVEC D. DYKYJOV./~and J. Kvi~T (ed.) POND LITTORAL

ECOSYSTEMS

Structure and Functioning Ecological Studies 28. -- Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1978, X I V + 464 pp. I n 1965-- 1974 a team of ecologists investigated within the Czechoslovak I B P Wetland Project the fresh-water littoral ecosystems of two fishponds of Czechoslovakia--one in Southern Bohemia (T~ebofi Basin), the other in Southern Moravia (Lednice Region). The results of these invstigations completed by more general information on the two fishpond areas under consideration, on their general ecology and biotic communities, on fishpond management and need o f conservation of fishpond plant communities and wildfowl form the contents of the present volume of Ecological Studies in which there are 27 contributions participated. Preceded by a short introduction to the ecology of fishpond littorals the t e x t is divided into 8 sections; a taxonomic index (with divisions for higher plants, Algae and other microorganisms, higher plant communities, Evertebrata and Vertebrata) and a subject index close the work. Section 1 (83 pp.) brings a general survey on the geological, hydrological and pedological conditions of the areas under study. A complete survey of higher plant communities in terms o f the Ziirich-Montpellier syntaxonomic system is also included. Further, general information on algal populations in relation to Macrophyte communities, on animal populations and decomposers and on the development of wetland and aquatic vegetation of the T~eboh Basin since the Late Glacial is given. Section 2 (57 pp.) contains more detailed information on the environment of the investigated fishpond littorals, especially on climatic conditions, radiation climate, water chemistry and on the structure and chemistry of the fishpond b o t t o m . Section 3 represents the largest part (133 pp.) of the book. I t treats primary production and the production process in the littoral plant communities. As the production estimates depend much on the method and sampling technique used various ways of assessing the growth, development and production (both of above- and belowground parts) are evaluated in the first part of this section. The second p a r t deals with photosynthesis-- with estimation of its efficiency from growth analytical data and from gas-exchange measurements as well as with modeling of photosynthetic production. The third to fifth parts inform on water relations in selected reedswamp communities, on nutrient uptake of these communities and on growth, production and nutrient uptake of duckweed communities, respectively. Section 4 (43 pp.) brings data on the structure and functioning of algal communities in fishponds. Though microphytes are generally of inferior importance in fishpond littoral ecosystems, t h e y may participate appreciably in the total material a n d energy budget of the total fishpond, as the presented data show. Section 5 (13 pp.) deals with the decomposition processes in fishpond littoral ecosystems. Attention is given primarily to microbial transformation of dead organic matter, detritus formation and mineralization and to spacial and temporal variation in litter and celulose decomposition. Section 6 (39 pp.) is given to the animal constituents of the pond littoral ecosystems--constituents more diverse t h a n the plant constituents are. As it was not possible to cover all animal life, the structure, density and production in selected populations or animal groupings were followed

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in the reedswamp ecosystem--mammals, birds, soil surface Arthropods, invertebrates as destroyers of common reed, and macrofauna of invertebrates. Section 7 (27 pp.) deals with fishpond management and exploitation of reed and the effect on the littoral communities. Plant communities b o t h integrate and indicate this effect--some of t h e m may benefit while others are suppressed. Special attention is given to exploitation of the common reed for the building industry and to its cultivation for these purposes. The concluding section 8 (10 pp.) discusses briefly some problems of the conservation of plant communities and wildfowl in the fishpond biotopes from the point fo view of protection of the genetic pool and biosphere reserves in areas greatly influenced b y man. The book reviewed is of a multipe i m p o r t a n c e - - i t represents a complex ecological study of fishpond littoral ecosystems of the temperate zone, it brings the first more accurate data on the primary production of littoral plant communities from Czechoslovakia, it offers a bulk of information practicable in management of fishponds and fishpond regions, and last but not least it reflects like a snapshot the state of important Czechoslovak fishpond regions at the given time. The book is well-arranged, its layout and print of a high quality. Both in the contents and in the form it represents a valuable contribution to the series "Ecological Studies". ffA.R.OSLAV MOR.AVEC