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BOOKREVIEWS

Recent books in vegetation science K. Dierl3en: VEGETATION NORDEUROPAS; Verlag E. Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1996, 832 pp., 488 Figs., 96 colour photos, 112 Tabs. Price DEM 148.-, ISBN 3-8252-8115-9 This voluminous book offers the first generalized survey of the vegetation of a large part of Northern Europe (mainly Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). The present knowledge of the vegetation cover and its relation to the environment and human influences is summarized and.presented in a comprehensible style which makes the information accessible not only to vegetation scientists but also to other students of biology, landscape ecology, environmental management and nature protection. For this reason the introduction includes chapters on methods of vegetation research and rather detailed descriptions of natural conditions of the region and of the influences of the Quaternary glaciation. The chapters "Biogeographic regions", "The present flora and its origin" and "Prehistoric and historic development of land use" precede those parts dedicated to vegetation descriptions. They outline the geographical situation and environmental conditions in which vegetation processes took place in the past and where they procede at present. Vegetation is described within 7 groups. These correspond to groups of formations, to special habitat types, and to one special vegetation belt and one zone: forests, fresh-water and littoral vegetation, bogs, coastal vegetation, vegetation of the alpine belt and of the Arctic, vegetation moderately influenced by man, vegetation of biotopes strongly influenced by man. In each chapter general ecological factors, their dynamics and combination in individual biotope-types, as well as their dependence on the landscape, are outlined. The distribution and role of individual vegetation types in the landscape is described. Special autecological adaptations of important plants and their role in ecosystem processes are mentioned. Information on special structural features of the ecosystems and on the results of an ecosystem research (if available) is given. A large part of each chapter is devoted to the classification and relatively detailed descriptions of plant communities; the classification follows the Z~rich-Montpellier phytosociological school. In this respect the book shows the compatibility of this school with the phytosociological school of Uppsala. In fact, practically all the vegetation units of higher rank are used in the classification system of Central and Southern Europe. The classification is documented by phytosociological tables both for higher vegetation units and for subdivisions of individual associations. Many excellent photos illustrate the structure of described plant communities and their position in the landscape. The distribution of individual vegetation units is shown in maps. The threat to plant communities by human activities (large-scale agricultural and forest management, eutrophication or acidification of soils) and the methods of protection are discussed in each chapter. The coniferous forests belong to the classes Vaccinio-Piceetea and Pulsatillo-Pinetea. The broad-leaved deciduous forests are classified into the Querco-Fagetea, the waterlogged alder-carrs into the Alnetea glutinosae and the alluvial willow stands into the Salicetea purpureae.Within the fresh-water and littoral vegetation, plant communities of the following classes are described: Lernnetea minoris, Charetea fragilis, Potamogetonetea

pectinati, Litorelletea uniflorae, Utricularietea intermedio-minoris, lsoeto-Nanojuncetea, Bidentetea tripartiti, Montio-Cardaminetea and Phragmiti-Magnocaricetea. The vegetation of bogs is classified into the classes Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae and Oxycocco-Sphagnetea. Plant communities of coastal vegetation belong to the following classes: Zo.~terett'a marinae, Thero-Salicornietea, Spartinetea, Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea arenariae, Honckenyo-Elymetea and Juncetea maritimi. In the chapter on the vegetation of the alpine belt and the Arctic only the following 4 classes are characteristic for this region: Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, Carici rupestris-Kobresietea, Salicetea herbaceae and Betulo-Adenostyletea. Besides these, vegetation classes not specific for this region and described also in other chapters are considered in part when they are represented by alpine or arctic alliances. The chapter on vegetation moderately influenced by man is very heterogeneous from the syntaxonomic point of view. Plant communities of the following classes are considered there: Asplenietea trichomanis,

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Thla~pietea rotundifolii, Koelerio-Co~. nephoretea, Festuco-Brometea, Trifolio-Geranietea, Calluno-Ulicetea, Artemisietea ( Calystegietalia sepium), Epilobietea angustifolii, Rhamno-Prunetea. The vegetation of biotopes strongly influenced by man includes secondary plant communities both seminatural, such as meadows and pastures, and anthropogenic, such as ruderal or segetal communities. The following classes are considered in this chapter: Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Stettarietea mediae and Polygono-Poetea annuae. The last chapter presents the survey of plant associations or communities without rank treated in the preceding text. These vegetation units are arTanged in the hierarchical classification system of syntaxa, the nomenclature of which follows the Code of phytosociological nomenclature. To this system, which is based mainly on the vegetation of higher plants, a survey of selected bryophyte and lichen communities (synusiae) de~ribed from Northern Europe is appended. A list of references to data used for the phytosociological tables closes this chapter. The book is equipped with an index of plant names and subject index, which also includes the names of vegetation units.

Jaroslav Moravec R. Schubert, W. Hilbig & S. Klotz: BESTIMMUNGSBUCH DER PFLANZENGESELLSCHAFTEN MII-I'EL- UND NORDOSTDEUTSCHLANDS; Gustav Fischer Verla#, Jena & Stuttgart, 1995. Price DEM 78.-, ATS 609.-, SFR 86.-, ISBN 3-334-60910-3 This book contains an up-to-date and relatively complete survey of plant communities of central and north-east Germany. The region corresponds to the former German Democratic Republic. The book should prove useful for the determination of biotope-types using plant communities as indicators. Purely cryptogamic communities are not included. In the Introduction the abiotic and biotic conditions controlling the differentiation and distribution of plant communities are outlined. Special attention is given to the geology, climate and soils and their changes during the Quaternary as well as to the role of past and present human activities in the formation of the vegetation cover. The major florogenetic elements of the flora are briefly outlined in the concluding part of the Introduction. A concise methodological chapter gives information on methods used in geobotanical and ecological research. For the classification of plant communities the methods and hierarchical system of the Zilrich-Montpellier phytosociological school are used. For nomenclatural questions the Code of phytosociological nomenclature was consulted. Many papers by authors working in this region served as the data-base for this book. Notes on the practical use of the keys are provided and the key for the determination of vegetation classes precedes the main text. Plant communities are arranged in a hierarchical system within 10 broad physiognomic-ecological groups which usually contain several classes. Keys for lower syntaxa (down to associations) are included within each group. The main synonyms of individual syntaxa, diagnostic species and brief characteristics with indications of conservation status and endangerment are added. Original diagnoses (type-relev6s) of new associations are published in an appendix. Forests and woods (including plantations) start the main part of the book; this group includes the following classes: Atnetea glutinosae, Carpino-Fagetea, Quercetea robori-petraeae, Quercetea pubescenti-petraeae, Pulsatillo-Pinetea sylvestris, Vaccinio-Piceetea and Vaccinio uliginosi-Pinetea. Different shrub communities are listed in the second group containing the Betulo-Franguletea, Carici-Salicetea cinereae, Salicetea purpureae, Urtico-Sambucetea and Rhamno-Prunetea. Heath communities (group 3) represent a separate group with a single class: Calluno-Ulicetea. The communities of wood margins, wood clearings and hedges represent the fourth group; they are classified into Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei, Stellario nemorum-Geranietea silvatici, Melampyro-Holcetea mollis, Epilobietea angustifolii and Galio-Urticetea. Halophilous communities of salt water and salt soils are included in group 5 with the following classes: Zosteretea marinae, Ruppietea marinae, Thero-Salicornietea, Saginetea maritimae and Asteretea tripolii. Pioneer plant communities on rock-ledges, walls and screes constitute group 6 with classes such as Asplenietea trichomanis, Parietarietea judaicae, Thlaspietea rotundifolii and Violetea calaminariae. Fresh-water, littoral and spring communities are treated in group 7 with the following classes: Lemnetea minoris, Potamogetonetea pectinati, Utricularietea intermedio-minoris, Littoreletea uniflorae, Montio-Cardaminetea and Phragmitetea australis. Plant

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communities of swamps and mires are described in group 8 with 3 classes: lsoeto-Nanojuncetea, Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae and Oxycocco-Sphagnetea. Psammophilous communities, meadows, pastures and xerophilous grassland are treated in group 9 with the following classes: Ammophiletea arenariae, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Festuco-Brometea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Nardetea strictae. The last group includes mainly anthropogenic communities classified in classes such as Cakiletea maritimae, Bidentetea

tripartitae, Agrostietea stoloniferae, Agropyretea repentis, Polygono-Poetea, Sisymbrietea officinalis, Artemisietea vulgaris and Stellarietea mediae. The book will serve as an important source of information on the diversity of vegetation in central and north-east Germany. It will certainly be used for the monitoring of human impact on the environment as well as in nature conservation and land-use management.

Jaroslav Moravec H.-U. Frey: WALDGESELLSCHAFTEN UND WALDSTANDORTE IM ST. GALLEN BERGGEBIET (Woodland communities and woodland sites in the mountainous region of canton of St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland); VerOffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes ETH, Stiftung Riibel, Ziirich, 1995, 126. Heft, 280 pp. + Karten- und Tabellenband. Price SFR 85.-, ISSN 0254-9433 This new thesis from the Geobotanical Institute ETH, Zfirich, is a good example of a detailed regional phytosociological study focusing on applications in forestry. The aim of the study was to make a regional forest survey for an area in eastern Switzerland which could be used by foresters for vegetation mapping. As mapping based on the extensive phytosociological tables would be a difficult task for forestry practice, special sheets with an idealized presentation of each of the 68 vegetation types recognized were prepared, including a short description, typical relev6, idealized picture of the stand within the local vegetation zonation, distribution map, ecogram, etc. Vegetation types are compared by ecograms, Ellenberg's "Zeigerwerte" and correspondence analysis. This is completed by an identification key to forest communities, syntaxonomical discussion and phytosociological tables. The phytosociological system was tested for its applicability by different people involved in forest mapping programmes (forest maps of several small territories within the study area are attached). Besides the results of local interest, the author discusses several general methodological problems of vegetation survey and explains them, using particular aspects of his study as examples. Assuming that vegetation is a continuum, each researcher who tries to build a phytosociological system chooses an idealized type for each vegetation unit which includes the floristic composition, environmental characteristics and physiognomy of the vegetation. This concept of the idealized type influences field sampling in which site selection is preferential, so as to sample stands which are close to the researcher's concept of types. Consequently, analysing large phytosociogical data-sets sampled by different authors, we face such problems as (1) the data are biased by the different initial hypotheses of the authors and (2) there is usually a spatial autocorrelation within the data resulting from the limited study areas of some authors. Thus a multivariate analysis of such a data-set hardly produces an objective reflection of the variation within the vegetation: we have to examine the input data carefully so as to formulate a sound interpretation. Another problem is that, at least in forest vegetation, multivariate analysis using only floristic information is successful in distinguishing the vegetation units in extreme habitats, but fails to recognize them in average habitats where the floristic differences are less pronounced. However, average habitats usually occupy a major part of any territory and are of crucial importance for forestry. That is why environmental information must also be used alongside floristics to distinguish vegetation units in average habitats. I personally find the issues addressed very important for phytosociology: sometimes we should probably pay more attention to the sampling procedure and the nature of the data and the results we have. That is why Frey's study, although primarily a regional one, is also valuable for phytosociologists whose research preferences are not in Central European forests.

Milan Chytr~

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Bookreviews

R. Pott: DIE PFLANZENGESELLSCHAFTEN DEUTSCHLANDS, ed. 2; Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1995, 622 pp., 449 Figs. Price DEM 78.-, SFR 74.-, ATS 577, ISBN 3-8252-8067-5 (UTB), ISBN 3-8001-2693-I (Ulmer) Three years after the first edition of this work (see Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 30:109-110, 1995) the new, considerably expanded and completed second edition of the "Survey of plant communities of Germany" appeared. From the quantitative point of view, 195 pages and 177 figures (mostly black and white photographs) were added. Nevertheless, the basic structure of the book remained unchanged. This new edition contains all 46 classes grouped into 11 physiognomic-ecological groups, as in the first edition. However, the class Franguletea alni and the "circle" of anthropogeneous shrub and woodland communities of neophytic species (like Robinia pseudacacia, Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Lycium barbarum, etc.) are added. Within the Franguletea alni a new order Rubetalia plicati is described by H.E. Weber in this book. This order, with only one alliance, Lonicero-Rubion silvatici, includes some new associations of different species of Rubus, described here also by Weber. The second order, Salicetalia auritae, contains the alliance Salicion cinereae, which was placed in the class Alnetea glutinosae in the first edition. The "circle" of anthropogeneous shrub and woodland communities has the position of a class but it does not have the traditional hierarchical structure of other vegetation classes; it contains 4 groups of plant communities which are described as communities without rank. In comparison with the first edition many further plant communities, described as associations or communities without rank, are included in individual alliances. Some changes in nomenclature of individual syntaxa can also be found. Similar to the first edition, synonymy as well as references to phytosociological data (relevrs or tables) are given only rarely. For newly described associations type-relevrs are added in accordance with the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The bibliography is increased from 23 to 31 pages and the index of syntaxa is also increased proportionally. The new and better organised design of the text contributes to a more user-friendly book which will undoubtedly provide a more comprehensive source of information on the vegetation of the whole of Germany, for both students of phytosociology and specialists in nature conservation and land management in the whole of Central Europe.

Jaroslav Moravec

A. Henderson-Sellers & A.J. Pitman: VEGETATION AND CLIMATE INTERACTIONS IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS. Advances in Vegetation Science 12; K/uwerAcademic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1991, 238 pp. Price NLG 273.-, USD 180.-, GBP 95.-, ISBN 0-7923-1061-6 The impact of climatic changes on vegetation and land degradation was the topic of conference held in Sydney, Australia in 1990. Selected papers from the conference are presented here bringing an interdisciplinary approach to understanding of desertification processes in the special conditions of the Australian continent. The book is thematically divided into four parts: Overview, Measurement, Modelling and Management. At first, the process of desertification is characterized on a worldwide scale. The effects of abiotic factors, man and animals may have started or fastened this process during the historical period. Global climatic changes make the process more intensive; some approaches to the situation in endangered regions are proposed (M.M. Verstraete, S.A. Schwartz). On the basis of the Australian experience, a way to reduce landscape overuse in semi-arid regions is proposed. The role of the Land Care Movement in the prevention of soil degradation and application of suitable land management is emphasized (B.R. Roberts). The phenomenon of E1 Nifio (Southern Oscillation) is explained; it is responsible for regular reoccurrence of extremely dry or wet periods in Australia. This special rainfall characteristic distinguishes the Australian region from other semi-arid regions of the world (N. Nicholls). The effects of topography, various plant communities, advection and increased CO2 concentration (greenhouse effect) on soil water availability and plant reaction were considered in a study of vegetation evaporation. This makes it possible to extrapolate measurements to larger spatial scales (EX. Dunin). The role of vegetation cover in preventing wind erosion of soil is modelled in several ways. A method of estimating threshold wind velocity required to initiate erosion is proposed to improve the former model (J.E Leys). Satellite

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427

remote sensing is recommended to monitor nature sources and environmental changes as complementary to in situ measurements; the specific properties of the two measurement techniques are compared (M.M. Verstraete, B. Pinty). Methodological questions connected with the determination of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (N20, methane, CO2) are discussed in connection with impact of the greenhouse effect on semi-arid regions (O.T. Denmead). Simulation of drought was performed using known drought precursors (mainly differences in sea surface temperature leading to the El Nifio phenomenon) (B.G. Hunt). The author compared the statistical and deterministic approaches used to interpret the data measured and to predict drought on a world-wide scale. Canopy-Atmosphere models represent processes on canopy scale including physical and biological factors influencing the canopy microclimate and atmospheric exchanges. Special properties of homogeneous and heterogeneous terrain are considered in land-surface models, as well as the effect of vegetation in models of energy partitioning at the surface vegetation layer (M.R. Raupach). A.J. Pitman showed that surface climatology simulated by a Atmospheric General Circulation model is dependent upon the fraction of the grid square receiving precipitation: the size of the grid square influences estimates of rainfall intensity and thus run-off evaporation proportions. The coupled boundary layer growth/canopy evaporation model makes it possible to predict the evaporation rate on the catchment or regional scale (H.A. Cleugh). To improve global climate models, ecosystems were grouped into highly generalized life zones on a world-wide scale (A. Henderson-Sellers). The models were used to predict the response of ecosystem groupings to temperature changes induced by doubling atmospheric CO2. P.B. Mitchell reviewed the history of the settlement of semi-arid areas in New South Wales in relation to vegetation dynamics and land degradation; the data obtained were used to predict vegetation range dynamics dependent upon land management. Annual rainfall is the main determinant of annual primary production in arid and semi-arid land. A method of expressing land capability as a function of available soil moisture is described (D.A. Thomas, V.R. Squires). An evaluation of the influence of past management on changes in the land in New South Wales is given by J. Prichard. Several ways were compared: the use of historical information sources and any other information available, e.g., estimates of carrying capacity, the use of unpalatable plants to monitor change, etc. Past vegetation changes subsequent to white settlement in the Piliga forests in northern New South Wales were examined as well as their possible causes (E.H. Norris, P.B. Mitchell, D.M. Hart). The last paper, by R.L. Heathcote, surveyed patterns of drought in Australia and its impact on nature and the human community. The private strategies of farmers and pastoralists and the official policies of governments are evaluated, aimed to prevent or, at least, minimize the unfavourable impact of drought. The book brings valuable data on climate-vegetation relationships and shows some possible solutions to problems connected with land use and degradation. Thus, it is useful not only for researchers, but also for everyone who is interested in land planning and management, nature conservation or agriculture under such special conditions.

ZdenkaHroudovd

W. Hilbig: THE VEGETATION OF MONGOLIA; SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, 1995, 258 pp. Price DFL 125.-, USD 78.50, ISBN 90-5103-106-8 Detailed phytosociological investigations on the vegetation of Mongolia in the 1970s and 1980s were mainly made by two independent research teams: a Russian team from Ufa, led by Boris M. Mirkin, and a German team from Halle University. For Mirkin and his team, the well-known founders of the application of the Braun-Blanquet approach in Russia, this research was rather an important opportunity for methodological training in the early period, whereas the latter team included leading German phytogeographers and phytosociologists who were working systematically on the ambitious project of the geobotanical overview of Mongolia. The phytosociological results of German expeditions to Mongolia, based on about 1900 relevrs sampled in various parts of the country, are summarized in this book. Largely, it is a translation of the poorly accessible volume published in German (HILBIG1990), completed with some general chapters, synoptic relevrs taken from the manuscripts by Mirkin and his Russian colleagues, and several current references. However, the

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system of plant communities is almost the same as in the German edition, except for some minor nomenclatural changes. The introductory chapters include a brief history of botanical research in Mongolia, a geographical description of the country and the methods of vegetation analysis used. In the vegetation description, most attention is paid to the most widespread types of Mongolian vegetation: forests, shrubberies, steppes, semi-deserts, deserts and alpine vegetation. The other vegetation types recorded in Mongolia and treated in this book include tall-forb vegetation, vegetation of rocks and stony sites, aquatic vegetation, marshlands, montane seep water and stream vegetation, Isoeto-Nanojuncetea and Bidentetea vegetation, halophytic vegetation, meadows and pastures, arable fields and ruderal vegetation. The book ends with the description of vegetation profiles in some selected areas. I like the style the book is written. It is not just a boring description of vegetation structure and species composition, unfortunately so typical of a lot of phytosociological papers, but it uses an attractive narrative language with much consideration of the history and dynamics of particular vegetation types. It also reflects the author's deep phytogeographical knowledge of the Mongolian flora. Number of maps and high-quality black-and-white photos of different types of vegetation and landscape contribute to the reader's deeper understanding of the Mongolian vegetation. For the classification of plant communities, the concept of broad vegetation units is used, in contrast to the narrow units of the Russian authors. Plant communities are assigned to the physiognomical types of vegetation and no hierarchy of high-ranked syntaxa is used for classification. Particular plant communities are documented by synoptic tables. I only regret that most of the individual phytosociological relev6s are not published (they are largely included in author's 1987 thesis). The "Vegetation of Mongolia" summarizes the results of the early period of phytosociological research in the country. Having started practically from nothing, the author was hardly able to cover all the vegetation types present in Mongolia and to give concise data on the distribution of particular vegetation types in a country whose area is almost three times that of France. Nevertheless, all the main vegetation types are treated in this book, giving a good overview of the general vegetation patterns in Mongolia (note that a lot of European countries with a long history of vegetation science do not have a book like this!). I am sure that this book will be considered one of the classic monographs of world's vegetation science.

REFERENCES HILBIG W. (1990): Pflanzengesellschaften der Mongolei. Erforsch. Biol. Ress. MVR 8: 5-146.

Milan Chy~ Hagen S. Fischer: SIMULATION DER R~,UMLICHEN VERTEILUNG VON PFLANZENGESELLSCHAFTEN AUF BASIS VON STANDORTSKARTEN. Dargestellt a m Beispiel des MaB-Testgebiet Davos. VerOffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes ETH, Stiftung Riibel, Ziirich, 1994, 122. Heft, 143 pp. incl. 20 Figs., 28 Tabs., 7 maps. Price SFR 58.-, USD 39.-, ISSN 0254-9433 This small booklet tries to approach the possibility of quantitative prognosis of the changes of vegetation on the basis of planned and foreseen chan~es of the site. As a model for testing this scientific programme a territory covering an area of about 100 km in the Swiss Alps (in the surroundings of the town of Davos) was chosen. The work is divided into six main chapters: (1) introduction, (2) testing territory of Davos, (3) site data in the data bank MaB-Davos, (4) Bayes model, (5) meadow model, and (6) discussion. In the short introduction, the significance of modelling is emphasized. The vegetation is conceived as a stochastic process of changes in the sense of LEGENDRE& LEGENDRE(1983) and PODANI (1984). In the second chapter the natural properties of the territory under study are discussed (geographical situation, climate, geology and soil). The vegetation is represented by a synsystematic survey of vegetation units down to the rank of subassociation where possible. Thus, this survey includes 13 classes - predominantly, of course, of high mountain units (the obsolete, identical terminology for both alliance and suballiance forms a remarkable

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contrast to the modem conception and the method applied here). The floristic content of the units is presented by means of a synoptic table presented in a non-traditional graphic way and divided into 6 basic types of communities. The third chapter is devoted to the sets of site data used in the data bank MaB-Davos. Those site factors are selected which influence the vegetation; they are divided into physical and biotic factors. For the use of the data bank they were categorized into 4 basic groups, viz. (a) the climatic factors (altitude, exposure, direct solar radiation, duration of the snow-free period), (b) the edaphic factors (geology, soils, inclination), (c) anthropo-zoogeneous factor (landuse and its history), (d) vegetation data. For the vegetation map of the territory, 62 mapping units of various ranks - from the subassociation to the alliance - were used. In the chapter on the use of the landscape a very interesting table is presented; it illustrates the changes in the landscape within the time period of 1900-1984 and indicates the percentage representation of individual plant communities. (Of course, it is self-evident that for the construction of such a table a sufficient number of comparable data from a long time period must be at one's disposal - the significance of monitoring the vegetation and landscape is emphasized here!). In the subsequent text the Display system for the digital scanning mapping (concept of the virtual color map and description of the programme ZDF_GPX for the presentation of the map on screen, for the print, etc.) is described. The data bank consists of a series of scanning filters and sub-programmes. All sub-programmes are related to the literature. The main part of the publication deals with the Bayes' classificator. The model enables to elaborate the variable types and functions and the mutual simulation of them. It is conceived in the way that it is maximally usable and its conclusions can be interpreted as the digital maps. In the discussion the fact is emphasized that the system represents a nondynamic, determinative model for the simulation of the spatial division of vegetation types. The publication is significant in that it represents a practical methodology to be used for almost any landscape for which at least the basic data regarding the vegetation, ecology and vegetation mapping have been gathered.

REFERENCES LEGENDRE P. & LEGENDRE L. (1983): Numerical ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam. PODANI J. (1984): Spatial processes in the analysis of vegetation; theory and review. Acta Bot. Hung. 30: 75-118.

Jl?i Kolbek

U.H. Graf: ZUR INDIKATION VON BODENN.A.HRSTOFFEN IN STREUWIESEN; Verrffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes ETH, Stiftung Riibel, Ziirich, 127. Heft, 1996, 148 pp. Price SFR 55.-, USD 67.-, ISSN 0254-9433 This study deals with hay meadows surrounded by intensively cultivated fields in the pre-alpine foothill region of the Canton of Ziirich. The author used vegetation transects and lateral nutrient gradients to investigate the possibility of using indicators of soil nutrient content in the meadows, partly using vitality parameters of selected species and partly by floristic parameters of the vegetation. The content and availability of the basic nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - were determined by soil analysis. Vitality parameters of 15 species and floristic characteristics were examined to assess their suitability as indicators of soil nutrients. The author investigated vegetation cover, number of stems, number of flowering plants, their height and several morphological characters on leaves and inflorescences. Results show great variation between the transects. Only 3 species (Filipendula ulmaria, Molinia coerulea and Lysimachia vulgaris) and 10 parameters could be regarded as suitable for indicators of soil nutrients. The vegetation of the transects was described by group similarities bases on the fuzzy set theory (Feoli and Zuccarello). Relevrs of the site, chosen according to phytosociological criteria, are used as reference groups. The comparison of the methods showed that the similarities of communities (on wet sites) indicate soil nutrient supply better than does the vitality of any one species. Using various methods the author not only gathered a large amount number of data concerning the plants, vegetation, soil and their relationships, but also

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carried out a very thorough comparison with the data from the literature. This comparison shows the complexity of these problems. In addition to the above, there are many other important factors (not investigated by the author), which influence the relationships between nutrients and the vegetation of hay meadows, e.g. the dynamics of the water regime, past and present land use, soil acidity and base content, climatic and weather condition, etc. The work closes with the recommendation for applied nature conservation, to use permanent transects for the monitoring of eutrophication. The work will be useful not only for ecologists investigating relations between plants and their habitat, but also for conservationists working on the management on abandoned meadows.

Denisa Bla,~kov~i Alfred Mayer: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE COASTAL VEGETATION OF SARDINIA (ITALY) AND CRETE (GREECE) WITH RESPECT TO THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN INFLUENCE; IHW Verlag, Eching bei Miinchen, 1995, 264 pp., 20 Tabs., 114 text Figs. Price DEM 98.-, ISBN 3-930167-13-1 This study is a very elaborate monograph of the coastal vegetation of two Mediterranean islands. The author has worked on this study for three years in various seasons. The climate of both islands is accurately described with climatograms and maps of temperature and precipitation distribution in various seasons. Geology and soils are described with more than sufficient accuracy. Palaeogeographic history, necessary for understanding the distribution and evolution of the dominant genus Limonium, is also well elucidated. A useful part of the study is the key to the species of the genus Limonium in both islands: 41 species of this genus (including two new ones) are reported from Sardinia and 17 species (including three new ones) from Crete. Each species is thoroughly described and illustrated, and in most cases their chromosome numbers are also reported. The main part of the study presents a description of the coastal plant communities, their habitats, life strategies of their components and their distribution in the Mediterranean region. Local distributions of all littoral associations in Sardinia are represented by 23 colour maps. Human impact on the coastal vegetation is diseussed on 5 pages. The following plant communities are described in detail: Crithmo-Limonietalia (alliances Crithmo-Frankenion and Crithmo-Limonion); Euphorbietalia peplis (alliance Euphorbion peplis); Thero-Suaedetalia (alliance Thero-Suaedion); Ammophiletalia (alliances Agropyro-Honckenyion, Ammophilion australis and Medicagini marinae-Triplachnion nitentis); Helichryso-Crucianelletalia maritimae (alliance CrucianeUion maritimae); Cysto-Micromerietalia (alliance Hyperico empetrifolii-Micromerion graecae). To sum up: it is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the Mediterranean coastal vegetation, its ecology, distribution and syntaxonomy.

Emil Hada~:

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431

Recent books in plant systematics

J.I. Sprent & D. McKey (eds.): ADVANCES IN LEGUME SYSTEMATICS. Part 5. The nitrogen f a c t o r ; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1994, X +241pp. Price GBP 12.-, ISBN O-94763- 77-X The extensive literature concerning the Leguminosae family arising as a result of the International Legume Conferences has been enriched by this new book. Part 5 in the "Advances" series is one of the four parts (5 to 8) which arose from the third conference at Kew in 1992. This volume contains 19 contributions covering a very large range of topics and providing a lot of new information. Only some of the more interesting results will be mentioned in the following review. The article of P.E Cannon is devoted to the biological relationships between members of the biotropic fungi PhyUachoraceae (Ascornycota) and their plant hosts. The current classification of the Phyllachoraceae and of the Leguminosae are compared and a number of statements are made which largely support the current classification of the Leguminosae at subfamily and tribal level. Other papers are explicitly connected with nitrogen nutrition or the nitrogen content of legumes or with the role of legumes in nitrogen nutrition of herbivores. Several contributions report on studies of nodule structures (e.g. articles by S.M. de Faria, J.I. Sprent, H. Cavalcante de Lima, N.O. Aguilar, J.M. Sutherland, K.E. Giller and others). Among the better known results are: (1) not all legume species are nodulate, (2) those which associate with rhizobia may produce nodules, (3) different morphologies found among the nodulating species are a result of how the host plants respond towards bacterial infections, (4) the nodule anatomy is very uniform among species of the same tribe and this also has potential for use in the systematics of the Leguminosae. S.M. de Faria & J.I. Sprent add an evolutionary hypothesis of legume rhizobial penetration and nodule development. Root penetration may occur via infection thread formation or without infection threads. The infected region of the nodules may be formed by progressive invasion of infection threads or via mitosis of previously infected cells. The latter appears to occur in the more highly evolved species and the former in the more primitive ones. The ratio of infected to uninfected cells generally increases in the more evolved species. In contrast, F.M.S. Moreira & A.A. Franco, who isolated and examined 682 strains of rhizobia from 6 caesalpinioid, 18 mimosoid and 26 papilionid genera for characters such as growth rate and gum production as well as total cell protein profiles, found that there is no clear pattern linking rhizobial taxa to the host group. This chaotic situation (as stated also in the preface of this volume) may reflect the imposition of a series of environmental constraints on an underlying coevolution or the fact that rhizobia were assessed for molecular properties other than their nodulation genes. Of the other contributions mention should be made at least of the paper of P.G. Waterman, who reviewed the structural diversity of secondary metabolites of the Leguminosae, including both nitrogen-containing and nitrogen-free compounds. He suggests, on the basis of results, that the Papilionideae in particular (although not exclusive of the other sub-families) possess a nitrogen-rich economy and this is reflected in the type of metabolite most commonly produced. The editors hope that readers of this volume will not confine their attention to their specialized interest chapters but will enjoy the stimulus of considering their subject from new angles; I believe that their hopes will come true.

Pavol M~irtonfi U. Jensen & J.W. Kadereit (eda.): SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION OF THE RANUNCULIFLORAE. Plant Systematics and Evolution, Supplement 9; Springer Verlag, Wien & New York, 1995, 361 pp. Price DEM 280.-, ATS 1960.-, USD 222.-, ISBN 3-211-82721-8 The special supplement issue focuses on the superorder Ranunculiflorae. It deals with the systematics and evolution of the taxonomic group at different systematic levels and in various contexts. '/'he volume is based on papers and posters presented at the International Conference "Systematics and Evolution of the Ranunculiflorae'" held on 10-11 September, 1994 at Bayreuth, Germany.

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Attention is first paid to the entire Ranunculiflorae. Its delimitation and the history of the concept is reviewed by Kubitzki. Many detailed studies using morphological and/or molecular approaches follow. They result in often divergent opinions on the phylogenetic relationships among the constituent taxa. The spectrum of the approaches used consists of wood anatomy (Carlquist), micromorphology of sieve-element plastids (Behnke), epicuticular wax structure (Barthlott & Theisen), floral structure and floral biology (Endress), structure of the androecium (Ronse Decraene & Smets), pollen morphology (Blackmore et al.) and seed structure (Briickner). A morphologically-based cladistic analysis of Ranunculid genera has been performed by Loconte, Campbell & Stevenson. The molecular techniques are represented by the analyses of secondary compounds (Jensen) and chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequence data (Hoot & Crane). The inclusion and systematic position of several members are considered differently by certain authors.. A few examples can be given. There is, for example, disagreement about the inclusion of Glaucidium and Nelumbo into Ranunculiflorae. Certain authors mention an affinity of the Ranunculiflorae to "woody Magnolids" (Magnoliiflorae), but a possible close relationship is excluded by others. Equally, no consensus was reached on interfamiliar relationships or basal and derived taxa in the Ranunculiflorae. All major families (Lardizabalaceae, Menispermaceae, Papaveraceae s. 1., Ranunculaceae) are considered as basal by the different authors, and diverse sister group relationships between families are proposed. Opinions on mono- or paraphyly of the Ranunculiflorae also differ: their origin is mostly assumed as monophyletic. However, paraphyly is also considered in relation to the Dilleniales. Opinions on subordinated taxonomic levels also differ widely. Phylogenetic studies considering the Papaveraceae s.1. on the basis of morphological characters are presented by Kadereit et al.; by Blattner & Kadereit, Schwarzbach & Kadereit and Jork & Kadereit, based on restriction site variation of DNA fragments; and by Shneyer et al., supported by serological findings. A phylogenetic analysis of Corydalis was presented by Lidtn et al. The exact position of certain genera - Circaeaster (Oxelman & Lidtn), Sargentodoxa (Hoot et al.), and Hydrastis (Tamura and Kosuge et al.) - was discussed, but remains mostly unsolved. Further contributions deal with Ranunculaceae. Many different characters have been considered for the classification and an appropriate description of the phylogenetic relationships within the family. The spectrum of approaches used involves embryo morphology (Engell), serological legumina data (Jensen), and analysis of fatty acids of seed oils (Aitzetmtiller). Non-molecular data was analysed numerically by Nikolid. Molecular data included in this volume (Jensen et al., Hoot, Johansson, Kosuge et al.) in particular, further improves the understanding of the family. A few papers are devoted to Berberidaceae. New molecular evidence (Kim & Jansen, Adachi et al.) largely supports earlier morphologically based classifications. A phylogenetic interpretation of inflorescence structure and other morphological characters, however; results in a partly different cladogram (Nickol). Finally, other accounts deal with certain special problems. These include the reproductive biology of Nigella (Weber), Ranunculus subg. Batrachium (Dahlgren), and some Ranunculus species (Steinbach & Gottsberger). Evolutionary trends and patterns in the Anemoninae (Ehrendorfer) and phylogenetic analysis of a legumin cDNA of Hepatica nobilis (Lang & Fischer) complement the spectrum of papers dealing with the Ranunculiflorae. A framework for the combination of data in a phylogenetic analysis on a theoretical basis is submitted by Bandelt. The book under review brings together a lot of interesting information and the 38 contributions significantly improve our understanding of the systematics and evolution of the Ranunculiflorae. It is a useful tool for all specialists as a standard approach to modern plant systematics.

ZdenSk Kaplan

Christopher D.K. Cook: AQUATIC AND WETLAND PLANTS OF INDIA; Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1996, 385 pp. Price GBP 95.-, ISBN 0-19-854821-4 A very instructive and comprehensive book, containing information on aquatic and wetland plants - an abundant group in the vegetation of tropical regions. The book includes the region limited by the foothills of the Himalaya (up to 1000 malt.), most of Pakistan (to Karachi), the whole Indian Peninsula, and eastwards to the border with China, Laos and Thailand. Ferns and fern allies and seed-bearing aquatic and wetland plants are included; plants confined to marine or highly brakish water are excluded. Aquatic and wetland plants which

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occur in the Himalaya but which do not extend to the south were also excluded, but are mentioned in the text following the family or genus description. The identification keys are presented in the first part of the book: the basic key to the main groups and keys within each of these main groups (keys 1 to 10) leading to families or individual genera. All the keys are dichotomous and are based on easily observed vegetative characters - this is of great importance because of the frequent occurrence of water plants in a sterile state. The descriptive part is divided into families (arranged alphabetically). Each family includes a key to the genera, and within each genera is a key to species determination. The author has tried to give information on plants and their occurrence as precisely as possible; the reliability of literature sources in regional floras and the determination by various authors were taken into account. The text for each species contains a description of the plant (especially its diagnostic features), a short ecological diagnosis (if sources were available), distribution type and distribution in individual regions of India. All species are accompanied by drawings of the whole plant or plant parts with important diagnostic features. The illustrations are simple, as is usual in determination keys and focus on important plant details (they are not "portraits" of plants, as the author stated in the preface). They are fully adequate for this book. The author, with numerous co-workers, has summarized an extensive amount of data on the distribution, biology and ecology of the plants (only chromosome counts are lacking), and has created a valuable synthesis. The book is necessary not only for anyone who is interested in the flora of peninsula India, but it is a useful source of information for researchers and students of tropical floras or taxonomy and the distribution of wetland and water species on a worldwide scale.

Zdenka Hroudovd D.J.N. Hind, C. Jeffrey & G.V. Pope (eds.): ADVANCES IN COMPOSITAESYSTEMATICS; Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, 1995, 469 pp. Price GBP 26.95, ISBN 0-947643-73-7 This volume contains 16 more or less general papers which coincide with the systematic session of the 1994 international conference "'Compositae: Systematics, biology, utilization" in Kew, U.K. After reading the introductory paper by C. Jeffrey my first impression was that this book would include principally papers covering perhaps the most attractive fields of recent systematics, i.e. the acquisition of data by using of the methods of molecular biology and cladistic data analysis. Subsequently I was pleasantly surprised that the editors achieved a reasonably balanced approach in allocating space to various classical and modem methods in Compositae systematics. The above mentioned introductory paper by C. Jeffrey (Compositae systematics 1975-1993, developments and desiderata) is without doubt extremely interesting. It is not only a useful summary of the development in Compositae systematics during the past 20 years but also a critical evaluation of some widely applied approaches and methods. It brings together the most important more general papers from such research areas as palynology, carpology, anatomy, morphology and ontogeny, molecular systematics, cladistic data analysis, ecology and genetics. The author stresses some Sources of possible errors in data interpretation, e.g. wrong assumptions of character-state constancy within taxa, tenuous presumptions of homology and synapomorphy and omission of relevant characters and/or taxa in cladistic analysis. A fairly large amount of space is given to traditional systematic accounts of selected genera or higher units (7 papers). My personal preferences are the papers by Y.R. Ling dealing with the genera Artemisia L. and Serephidium (BESSER) FOURR. (= Artemisia sect. Tridentatae RYDB.) in the New World. They complement and complete the author's studies in this genus (genera) and provide a world-wide taxonomic concept. Other papers deal with the genera Mikania WILLD.,Vernonia and Helichrysum MILL. corr. PERS. in Africa and South America. An important part of this book represents contributions using chemical data. Although the emphasis has changed during the past 20 years from the secondary metabolites to proteins and nucleic acids, the former still provide an important tool for the detection of variation and complexity at various taxonomic levels, as demonstrated in the genus Arnica (G. Willuhn et al.). Allozyme analysis combined with cytogenetic studies are used by Huber & Nilsson to demonstrate the close genetic affinity of many northern and other Eurasiatic Erigeron species.

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Of particular interest is the paper by M.L. Devore and T.F. Stuessy. They employ techniques of molecular biology (cpDNA restriction site analysis, rbcL sequence data and mapping of the inverted repeat region) along with morphological, distributional and palaeontological data to determine the place and time of origin of the Asteraceae. I can also recommend the review of hypotheses on ancestral chromosomal base-numbers in the Astereae and the genus AsterL. by J.C. Semple. Comparative morphological and morpho-anatomical approaches are presented by studies of achenes of the genus Filifolium KITAM. and of related genera by L.G. Mouradian, and of the cypsela hairs of Nassauviinae (Mutisieae) by S.E. Freire and L. Katinas. Similar to many other publications this book reflects the fact that many so-called traditional approaches to the study of plant biosystematics have been re-invigorated in the past decade by powerful techniques adapted from molecular biology.

Jindiich Chrtek jun. B. Mathew: A REVIEW OF ALLIUM SECT. ALLIUM; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1996, 176 pp., 6 Figs., 16 color plates, 1 map. Price not given, ISBN0-947643-93-1 The genus Allium belongs to the largest genera in the world with respect to the number of species. The last monograph was published more than one hundred years ago. Since that time, only revisions in some selected areas have been carried out. For that reason the book reviewed is probably the start of a new period, characterized by monographs of particular, smaller groups such as sections or subgenera. A group which is economically important is the subject of the first of such books. It has been prepared by Brian Mathew from Kew Gardens, with direct assistance from several other authors covering chromosome counts, biochemical studies and leaf anatomy. The book is successful in many respects. It is a brief survey of existing knowledge about this group which is not easy. The difficulties are connected with insufficient herbarium material (in particular many leaf characters are absent at flowering time); full description of taxa should be based on living material. Another difficulty is connected with the clonal character of many small populations, mainly cultivated plants, reflecting only a limited amount of morphological variation. The book starts with a concise characteristic of section Allium: its history and possible structure, synonymy, definition and morphological characters. Leaf anatomy is than reviewed in detail by M. Gregory. The description of anatomical characters is given for all taxa with references to the literature. This list is very detailed, including even local national literature. The next part is devoted to cytology (M.A.T. Johnson, N. Ozhatay) and is also a complete evaluation. A survey of flavonoids (by J.B. Harbome and C.A. Williams) is the topic of the following chapter, data for which are presented here for the first time. This chapter is followed by a brief survey of the ecology, distribution and economic value of the section. The main part of the book consists of a list of accepted taxa and their characteristics. This part is followed by a selected bibliography, appendix (Living material studied), and name index. Characteristics of each species consist of synonyms, important illustrations, full description, chromosome numbers, data on flowering time, ecology, distribution and often additional notes. The species concept is a reasonable one although it is somewhat narrower than that of Stearn (Flora Europaea, Vol. 5). This is reflected, for example, in the treatment of A. scorodoprasum and A. rotundum as separate species. One can easily discuss the value of this or that species or subspecies. However, a different point of view is not a test of the validity of the author's concept: only future acceptance - or non-acceptance - of this review will show if he is right. It is my feeling that this book will have a considerable influence on the future treatment of this genus. The book clearly indicates gaps in our knowledge: if we compare the chapter on the history of the sect. Allium (p. 3) with species groups within the sect. Allium (p. 52) we quickly realize the lack of relationships between many species. It is a pity that the author did not discuss the relationships between bulbilliferous and capsulliferous species (as Steam did). He evidently considers this difference as important (cp. the separate treatment ofA. rotundum and A. scorodoprasum). This fact probably lead to the treatment of A. rilaense PANOV as a synonym of A. gunatum and not of A. vineale as did Steam in Flora Europaea. However I must say that according to my personal experience at least some capsulliferous (without bulbils) types of A. vineale are not stable. This

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435

character is probably under environmental control and for this reason it is not correct to treat these types as separate taxa regardless of the taxonomic value (in the book reviewed these types are considered as subspecies). I consider the underestimation of the literature from central and southeastern Europe as the most important shortcoming. Some good iconograph]es are not mentioned at all (e.g. Atlas flory Polskiej or Iconography of Hungarian flora). This is a pity, especially with respect to the fact that no illustrations are presented. Information about the distribution (or distribution maps) would also be valuable. References to certain floras are also omitted: Flora of Romania by C. Zahariadi or Flora of Bulgaria. This leads to the omission of some published names (e.g.A. bosniacum KUMM. et SENDTN. or A. sphaerocephalon subsp, burcicum NY~,R., both belonging to the group of A. sphaerocephalon). On the other hand, literature written in Russian is well represented. As a whole, the book by B. Mathew is not only a review: it is a full taxonomic treatment of the Allium section Allium and an essential source for descriptions of species belonging to this section. In short: Congratulations! Well done! Frantiiek Krahulec

436

Bookreviews

Other books received B. Frenzel (ed.): EVALUATION OF LAND SURFACES CLEARED FROM FORESTS IN THE ROMAN IRON AGE AND THE TIME OF MIGRATING GERMANIC TRIBES BASED ON THE REGIONAL POLLEN DIAGRAMS. Palaeoclimate research, vol. 12, European Science Foundation Project, Special issue 7; Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literature, Mainz; Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, etc., 1994, 135 pp. Price DEM 58.-, SFR 64.-, ISBN 3-437-30764-9 This special volume is devoted to the scientific programme "The European climate and Man since the last glaciation (EPC)", which is supported by the European Science Foundation. The general aim is to highlight the influence of man on the climate during last 10 000 years. The series of EPC workshops has been organized to elucidate the response of man to climatic changes from the early Neolithic times to the Roman Iron Age and the following Migration period. The last 8th EPC workshop was organized in Germany in 1991. Twenty eight palynologists from 17 countries of west, central and eastern Europe contributed to this workshop and consequently to this volume. The main topic was the use of non-tree pollen percentages in the detection of deforested land surfaces in the time period between 1800 and 1450 B.P. (about A.D. 200 and 600). Later on, selected representative radiocarbon dated pollen diagrams were taken for the forthcoming electronic compilation of maps illustrating the percentage frequency of non-tree terrestrial plant pollen (NAP) in 1800 and 1450 B.P.J.-L. De Beaulieu kindly consented to make these maps. Three introductory contributions summarize methodological approaches to the problem of land clearance (Berglund B., Methods for quantifying prehistoric deforestation; Aaby B., NAP percentages as an expression of cleared areas and Welinder S., Reforestation, Comments on the workshop idea). Similarly, the use of pollen data in modeling the process of deforestation from 5000 B.C. to A.D. 2000 is a subject of another article by S. Welinder. Records from the most important sites in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and in the former Soviet Union form the second half of the book. They are published as key information sheets which include the site name, main geographical information, publication data, timespan of pollen diagrams, number of C14 dates, type of sediment, site area, percentages of NAP for the two chosen time scales and a short comment assessing the current stage of investigation of the Roman and Migration periods. The volume brings together many palynological data referring to the Subatlantic period. It is an excellent overview of palynological research in European countries and a good example of the usefulness of pollen diagrams for the reconstruction of various events during the postglacial period.

HeLenaSvobodovd

B.E. Berglund, H.J.B. Birks, M. Ralska-Jasiewiczowa & H.E. Wright (eds.): PALAEOECOLOGICAL EVENTS DURING THE LAST 15 000 YEARS. Regional Syntheses of Palaeoecological Studies of Lakes and Mires in Europe; John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, etc., 1996, 764 pp. Price GBP 110.-, ISBN 0-471-95840-9 This publication is a final result of the International Geological Correlation Project IGCP 158 B "Palaeohydrological changes in the temperate zone in the last 15 000 years concerning lake and mire environments". This project was initiated in 1977 and ended in 1988. Meetings with field conferences were organised every year. The IGCP programme 158 B was based on a continuation of traditional regional studies, but with an uniform sampling strategy and high quality laboratory methods. Geographically the project was intended to cover the temperate and subartic regions of the North American and Eurosiberian continents, but the project collaboration concentrated on Europe. The editors devoted a great

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deal of effort to collect all the synthesis of the regional contributors from the 21 countries involved in the project and their work on nearly 500 sites from 100 regions is presented in this volume. The aim of the project was to detect biotic as well as physical environmental changes on the basis of multidisciplinary stratigraphical studies of lake and mire deposits, using a variety of field study sites. For such work nearly every country in Europe was subdivided into physical-geographically uniform type regions, where the representative reference sites were selected for palaeovegetation and for the detailed interpretation of environmental changes. The reference sites were defined from the lakes (often ancient lakes) or mires (bogs) with preference for long cores with continuous sedimentations covering the time scale from the Late Glacial 15/13 000 to 10 000 years B.P. and the Holocene from 10 000 years B.P. to the present. The pollen profiles of the excellently prepared and well documented pollen profiles reflect the paleoecological changes since the last glaciation related to vegetation, lake development, mire and lake hydrology, soil erosion and human impact. Each of the 21 chapters is devoted to one country. Although the approach to the synthesis were influenced by the specific conditions in different geographical regions, the final articles were obviously produced by teams of researchers collaborating together in order to interpret the regional units better. The published syntheses of the vegetation reconstructions are presented by more than three authors from Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria and Bulgaria. There are two authors for the synthesis of Russian Karelia and Poland and the last five papers covering Lithuania, England, Wales, Scotland and the Faeroe Islands have one author. The interpretations of the vegetation history explain the main features of the region, with many special remarks on the topography, climate, soils, geology, population and landscape use, generally included on the maps. The time space correlations of local pollen assemblage zones are compared in each type region. Altogether 178 reference pollen diagrams are published in this volume in a unique style. This publication offers with great precision the paleovegetational reconstruction over the whole territory of Europe with the combination of different palaeoecological techniques detecting both hydrological and biotic changes. The volume is completed by the list of all biostratigraphical IGCP 158B reference sites. The time-stratigraphical information presented was used as a fundamental basis for the establishment of the European Pollen Database centre in France. The high quality of the publication is combined with the summarization and standardization of the data at the level of continental synthesis. The book would be greatly appreciated by experienced scholars as well as by students_

Helena Svobodova J. Pokorn~ & J.P, Ondok: MACROPHYTE PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT; Rozpr. Ceskoslov. Akad. V~d, Rada Mat.-P~fr. V~d, Academia, Praha, 1991, 117 pp. Price 69.- CZK, ISBN 80-200-0407-6 Photosynthesis - an essential life process of autotrophic organisms - represents in water environment the factor with important ecological aspects. Dependent on 02 and CO2 regime, changes in pH may affect equillibrium in redox processes in water and the solubility of some ions. With increasing pH, NH4 § ions are converted to gaseous NH3 in concentrations considered to be lethal for most fish species. This represents a serious danger to fish stocks and makes difficulties for fishpond management. The reviewed work brings together a complex survey of all ecological aspects connected with photosynthetic processes of submersed macrophytes. In the introductory chapter, the main effects of photosynthesis and their impact on aquatic ecosystems are briefly reviewed, along with the main problems discussed in the volume. The subsequent chapters are devoted to specific themes: Habitats and methods: detailed description of the habitats studied (South Bohemian fishponds, localities in Poland and Austria) and apparatus and methods used for the study. The authors contributed to some improvements in the methods generally used: e.g., special types of glass chambers for measuring photosynthesis and an oxygen sensor for the evaluation of oxygen concentrations developed in cooperation with their colleagues in physical chemistry.

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Photosynthesis and the aquatic environment in submersed macrophytes. These include the special morphological and physiological adaptations of submersed plants and special features of their photosynthesis (internal lacunal system, ability to use low irradiance, bicarbonate utilization, etc.). The mutual relationships between the main environmental factors - radiation regime, water temperature regime, oxygen regime and inorganic carbon - forming a dynamic system which is greatly modified by the vegetation, are discussed. Photosynthesis of individual plants: using analytical and empirical approaches the authors try to define the photosynthetic response of individual plant species to external factors. The response to the main factors (irradiance, temperature, inorganic carbon) are discussed comparing literature sources with the authors' own measurements. Attention was paid to the response to particular concentrations of inorganic carbon in different forms (photosynthesis inhibition, dependence on pH). A relatively greater proportion of dark respiration and lower photorespiration was found in submersed macrophytes compared to terrestrial plants. Stand photosynthesis: response to irradiance and temperature: methods of measuring in situ are compared with calculations, including the structure of a stand (extinction of irradiation), integration over depth and diurnal changes. Structural characteristics and the depth profile of a stand are especially important in submersed macrophytes with a tendency to accumulate biomass in the uppermost layers. Modelling photosynthesis of stands: synthesis resulting from previous analyses of macrophyte-environment relationships. A more global model is produced, in which photosynthesis of the vegetation is determined and its effects on oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations and on the pH regime in the aquatic environment are examined (the most advanced model involved vertical stratification of the vegetation). This provides the possibility to use the model for the prediction of the effect of vegetation on aquatic environments, which has important applications for fisheries. In the concluding remarks, the results are applied to express the environmental characteristics of water bodies of different trophic levels. Various types of water bodies, from oligotrophic lakes to hypertrophic fishponds, are characterized by their plant biomass, irradiance extinction, pH and oxygen concentrations. The indisputable qualities of the book are its clear and sound explanations of the processes studied and the synthesis of the results. It would be useful for students and research workers, and as a source of information for fishery management and for all who are interested in the function of submersed macrophytes.

Zdenka Hroudovd

R. Undacher: PHANART - DATENBANK DER GEF~.SSPFLANZEN MII-rELEUROPAS. Erkl/irung den Kennzahlen, Aufbau und Inhalt; Ver~ffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes ETH, Stiftung Riibel, Ziirich, 1995, 125. Heft, 436 pp. Price SFR 78.-, USD 65.-, ISSN 0254-9433 Roland Lindacher, in co-operation with Reinhard BScker, Florian A. Bemmerlein-Lux, Anke Kleemann and Stephan Haas, under the guidance of Herbert Suk0pp presents here PHANART, Database of Central European vascular plants. The database was produced as part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) priority ("Schwerpunkt") programme "Digitale Geowissenschaftliche Kartenwerke" at the Institute of Ecology of the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. The present publication is intended to be a syllabus and reference list of the vascular plants of Central Europe in the sense of EHRENDORFER(1973), together with ecological, taxonomic and other descriptions. It should be noted, however, that the database is mostly oriented to the area of Germany and less to the other parts of Central Europe. Database output includes data on 7300 taxa of vascular plants with 44 parameters taken from 19 works of various authors. The nomenclature of the taxa generally follows EHRENDORFER(1973) with the corrections published in 1975 by Gutermann. Synonyms can be found in Appendix 2 and they include not only synonyms and "included" species of Ehrendorfer's list, but also the data from several recent works published for the area of Germany and Switzerland. Apart from the names of "species and infraspecific taxa and the author's abbreviations, Ehrendorfer's numerical code for each taxon and corresponding codes of families are also given. Vernacular German names are provided for most of the taxa. 22 columns from the database are devoted to the indicator values and other descriptions of plants taken from the works of ELLENBERGet al. (1991) and LANDOLT(1977). Among the Ellenberg's indicator values the following are presented: values of light, temperature, continentality, moisture, changes of water level, soil

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reaction, nitrogen and salt content, resistance to heavy metals, life form, persistence of leaves, anatomical structure, and phytosociological behaviour. Landolt's indicator values are represented by humidity value, additional data on humidity, soil reaction, nutrient, humus, dispersion, light, temperature, and continentality values. Nine other columns are devoted to the data on hemeroby, distribution types, pollination types, plant geography data and others. While the data on plant geography are valid for the whole of Europe, and the data of ELLENBERGet al. (1991), with certain limitations, for Central Europe, the other data are valid only for parts of Central Europe. LANDOLT's (1977) indicators values are valid for Switzerland, other indicator values or other data only for the area of Berlin or Germany. In addition in special columns, information from the Red lists of Austria, Switzerland, the Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin, Baden-Wiirttemberg and that of Bayem is included. It is pity that although the whole territory of the Czech Republic is included in "Mitteleuropa" in the sense of this database, no data from the Red list of the Czech Republic are provided. The reviewed publication is a good example of current efforts towards the full computerisation of data on plant distribution and ecology. REFERENCES EHRENDORFERF. (ed.) (1973): Liste der Gefiiflpflanzen Mitteleuropas. Ed. 2. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. ELLENBERG H., WEBER H. E., DOLL R., WIRTH V., WERNER W. & PAULISSEND. (1991): Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scripta Geobot. 18: 1-248. LANDOLTE.(1977): Okologische Zeigerwerte zur Schweizer Flora. VerSff. Geobot. Inst. Riibel Ziirich 64: 1-208. Karol Marhold

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H.C.I. A'l-rl D E L C O N V E G N E - P R O C E E D I N G S O F T H E M E E T I N G ; Webbia 48,

1993,~Firenze, 849pp., 121 photos (incl. 5 coloured), 23 tabs., 14 graphs, 6 maps. The book under review contains papers presented at the international meeting "150-HCI Botanical collections and scientific research" held at the Botanical Museum of the University of Florence, 16 - 18 September 1992. The meeting was organized on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Herbarium Centrale Italicum (HCI) by E Parlatore in 1842. During this event the ceremony in honour of Prof. Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli's 80th birthday took place on 19th September. The lectures and communications were divided into three main sections: (1) Herbarium Centrale Italicum and other Florentine botanical collections (9 contributions); (2) Herbaria in scientific research (45); and (3) Technical and practical aspects of the herbaria: education, recording, conservation (9). The closing lecture was given by SM. Waiters. The first section of the meeting was dedicated mostly to the Herbarium Centrale Italicum and its most important collectors Parlatore, Webb and Micheli. An interesting attempt to show the activities of the Florentine herbaria in quantitative analysis of loan-requests and number of visitors (E Cuccuini) and also contribution dealing with loans and material lost (G. Moggi and G. Aldobrandi) were presented. The second section "The herbaria in scientific research" was divided into five parts: General aspects (9 contributions); National herbaria and research (5); Institutional herbaria and local floristic research (9); Individual herbaria and botanical research (12); Historical collections (9). In the part on general aspects some interesting lectures and communications were presented, e.g. the important role of herbarium material for taxonomic and floristic studies (B. Vald6s), the documentation of destroyed biotopes in herbarium collections (B. Marchetti), the detection of long-term environmental and climatic changes on beech leaves through study of herbarium specimens (R. Gellini and E. Paoletti), an example on how to obtain information about botanical travels in the past from herbaria (G. Bueno). The foundation of palynotheca - one of the new botanical collections in Torino, was also presented (R. Caramiello and V. Fossa). In the part concerning national herbaria there were 5 contributions devoted to the history and present state of herbaria in Russia, Slovak and Czech Republics, Switzerland (Geneve) and former Yugoslavia (Belgrade). The majority of the 21 contributions dealing with the institutional and individual herbaria, originated from Italy. In the last part of the section concerning historical collections, attention was paid to pre-linnean herbaria. In his interesting lecture C.E. Jarvis presented his interpretation of early binomial plant names with regard to

440

Bookreviews

pre-nineteenth century herbaria. He pointed out the fact that as long as the system of binomial nomenclature exists, we need historical collections with type material. The last section devoted to technical and practical aspects of herbaria is shorter. Experience with inventorising and cataloguing with the help of computers was presented in 4 contributions; one of them was aimed at scientific research (C.C. Heyn). Some specific problems were solved in communications by N. Passalacqua (the insertion of new material into a large herbarium) and M. Iberite (insect-free conditions in herbaria). It was a pity that this certainly practical method of how to maintain insect-free herbaria was given only in Italian without an English summary. Z. Bunke evaluated the importance of herbarium sheets especially for historical exhibitions and she also added some practical advice and ideas for successful exhibitions. S.M. Waiters gave the closing lecture concerning the future of herbaria. He indicated substantial modifications of various aspects of herbarium politics in the future: the new generation of naturalists has changed attitudes towards the collecting of plants; further it is necessary to accelerate the computerization of herbaria and last, but not least, he mentioned the problem of excessive material in large herbaria. The value and importance of herbaria should be in the quality of its research, not in the size of the collection. Waiters suggested not only the rationalization of our herbaria by reducing their size, but also "... substituting for routine curation more appropriate teaching or research activities". During the final ceremony the personality and scientific activity of R.E.G. Pichi Sermolli are celebrated. Two lectures representing the most important fields of botanical research pursued by Prof. Pichi Sermolli were delivered by the tropical plant expert P. Bamps and by the pteridologists H. W. Bennert and G. Fischer together with 5 communications of Italian colleagues from the 5 universities where Prof. Sermolli carried on his didactic and scientific work. As might have been predicted in such a meeting, a great number of the lectures and communications were aimed at specific problems of individual collections or provided information on specific herbaria. Far fewer general problems of herbaria were addressed and only a few of them really indicated directions for progress in botanical research. But all contributions proved the fact that herbaria represent, and will continue to represent, an irreplaceable source of information. The book is appealing and useful, especially for all those ~ho are involved with the making and maintenance of herbarium collections, but every botanist could find and choose something interesting to him/her.

Blanka Sko6dopolovd

H.-D. Behnke, U. LOttge, K. Esser, J.W. Kadereit & M. Runge (eds.): PROGRESS IN BOTANY 55 (Fortschritte der Botanik). Structural Botany - Physiology - Genetics Taxonomy Geobotany. Springer-Verlag, Berlin etc., 1994. 393 pp., 23 Figs. Price DEM 298.-, ATS 2324.40, SFR 293.-, ISBN 3-540-57321-6 -

The 55th volume of this well-known series celebrates the physiologist Prof. H. Zigter (Mtinchen) who has been an editor of Progress in Botany/Fortschritte der Botanik for 33 years. It is divided into 5 main sections that consider structural botany (edited by H.-D. Behnke, 2 papers), physiology (U. Liittge, 9), genetics (K. Esser, 6), taxonomy (J:W. Kadereit, 3) and geobotany (M. Runge, 1). Some of these 21 review articles should be of particular interest to plant ecologists and taxonomists, e.g. Comparative morphology, anatomy, and function of the stem and root of the flowering plants (W.C. Dickinson), UV-B effects on terrestrial plants and aquatic organisms (M. Tevini), Molecular aspects of natural and induced incompatibility in flowering plants (Ch. Gietl), Population genetics (J. Tomiuk & K. W6hrmann) and, of course, the papers included in the sections Taxonomy and Geobotany - Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi 1991-1992 (H.J.M. Sipman), Molecular systematics 1991-1993 (K.J. Sytsma & W.J. Hahn), Karyology and cytogenetics (M. Rrser) and Plant population ecology (W. Seidling, U. Starfinger, J. St6cklin). Although some material in this volume falls outside the field of interest of most readers of Folia Geobotanica & Phytotaxonomica, it reflects research activities in such rapidly developing areas as plant genetics and physiology. It would be redundant to recommend Progress in Botany to readers, since all botanists sensu lato know this respected series as a reliable source of information in all fields of plant science.

Bohdan Slav~

Bookreviews

441

Brown: Macroecology; The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1995, 269 pp. Price USD 42.50, GBP 33.95, ISBN 0-226-07615-6

J.H.

Reviews printed on the back cover all found this book exciting and consider it a milestone in present day ecological thinking. Of course, every publisher would pick up the best parts of reviews to promote a book but however attractive such stories might sound, one should read them with caution. However, in the case of James Brown's Macroecology, the excitement of the reviewers seems justified. As the author states in the preface, virtually all his colleagues who call themselves ecologists are reductionists, using the experimental approach to try to understand how small ecological systems work. All his colleagues who call themselves biogeographers, paleobiologists and macroevolutionists are holists. This book describes a research program called "macroecology" that adresses some of the interdisciplinary questions. Macroecology is a "nonexperimental, statistical investigation of the relationships between the dynamics and interactions of species populations that have typically been studied on small scales by ecologists .... and on much largers scales by biogeographers, paleontologists, and macroevolutionists." An effort is made to unifying these two approaches and to offer new insights into the study of abundance, distribution and diversity of living things. Hence macreecology, compared to more traditional attitudes, advocates the creation of a less detailed picture with, however, a potential for broader generalizations. Despite the indisputable achievements in ecology, biogeography, systematics, paleontology and evolutionary biology, many fundamental questions remained unanswered and many new ones have been raised. This book is for those ecologists who believe that there is much data on particular problems but generalizations based upon these data are rather poor. The author himself gives a perfectly fitting description of this book - it is a progress report. To me, the emphasis is on the word "progress".

Petr Py~ek

Hanne N. Rasmussen: TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS: FROM SEED TO MYCOTROPHIC

PLANT; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995, 450 pp., 30 line drawings, 18 Tabs., 10 halftones. Price GBP 45.-, ISBN 0-521-45165-5 Terrestrial orchids have great appeal, but unfortunately they rank among the most vulnerable of all plant species, and little is known about how they reproduce in nature. This book contains a detailed survey of the biology of terrestrial orchids, from seed dispersal to establishment and life of the adult plant, based on comparisons of field and culture experiments. The unusual mode of obtaining energy by means of mycorrhiza is examined and evaluated in terms of plant structure and function and the impact of this mycotrophic nutrition on orchid evolution. The book makes it clear that an understanding of germination, life histories and seasonal phenology in natural habitats is essential for the success of culture methods, propagation and conservation. The final chapter is a systematic presentation of the life history, endophytes and propagation of 36 genera of terrestrial orchids. The potential readership ranges from undergraduate and postgraduate students to professional researchers.

CONTENTS 1. Properties of dust seeds; 2. Seed development; 3. Seed survival; 4. Requirements for gerrmnation; 5. Fungi; 6. Germination processes; 7. Underground organs; 8. Orchid mycorrhiza; 9. Abiotic factors in growth and development; 10. Life history and phenology; 11. Propagation; 12. Effects of orchid mycorrhiza; 13. Description of genera; Appendices: media; names and synonyms; References; Index.

Pavel Kindlmann

442

Bookreviews

R. Mac Nally: ECOLOGICAL VERSATILITY AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995, 435 pp. Price GBP 45.-, USD 69.95, ISBN 0-521-40553-X hardback The aim of the author was ambitious: to develop the concept of ecological versatility, to overview the results of the studies on species versatility and related phenomena, and to discuss the relationship between versatility and processes which may influence it: interspecific interactions, population stmcture, interspecific competition. The final topic was the relationship between habitat versatility and ubiquity. This book is, in fact, about niche breadth and resource utilisation. To avoid the linguistic problems with the concept of the specialisation - generality continuum the author introduced the term "ecological versatility". It is defined as the degree tO which fitness derived from utilising various resources matches the availability of those resource. Unfortunately, in the'chapter where a comprehensive analysis of the 145 studies dealing with "versatility" in natural populations is represented, not many papers were shown to match the above rigorous definition. In other words, population fitness has not often been well defined and measured. Therefore, in the following chapter, which analysed the effects of various processes on ecological versatility, a much broader definition was accepted. Of course, the book could not include all the topics which may be relevant to resource utilisation. Its value is rather in the clarification of the concept and sharply delimited usage of individual terms. Many concepts which may be of crucial importance for some taxonomic groups of organisms, such as plants (the author is a specialist on cicadas and birds), are discussed very briefly and perhaps without respecting all specific problems on resource utilisation. On the other hand, much attention is paid to birds, other vertebrates, some groups of insects, and also to parasites and parasitoids. After reading the book I am not completely convinced that the new term "ecological versatility" is really needed. "Specialisation" is perhaps good enough. On the other hand, the well delimited concept of ecological versatility may stimulate research on resource utilisation based on more sharply defined terms and more consistent ideas on resource utilisation. In this way, the concept of ecological versatility may become justified. Also the evolutionary view of niche breadth and resource utilisation, missing in this book, should be developed to make the picture more complete. I hope that the book will attract readers interested in resource utilisation related phenomena, as they may be inspired by the clarity of the concepts, and their relationships, presented in the book.

Leon,Klimei