Bookreviews

CYTOTAXONOMIC

PROBLEMS

OF THE

ARCTIC

FLORA

N o t e s on t h e book b y ,~SKELL a n d DORIS LOve: C y t o t a x o n o m i c a l Atlas of t h e Arctic Flora. -Vaduz 1975, 598 pp. (200.-- DM). ~SKELL a n d D o m s LOvE have r e c e n t l y published a book w h i c h will be of g r e a t value to all w h o are interested in Arctic b o t a n y . I t is a critical r e v m w of t h e c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s of arctic p l a n t s , a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y a check list of t h e Arctic flora w i t h n u m e r o u s t a x o n o m i c a n d n o m e n e l a t u r a l changes for families, genera, species u n d subspecies. B y t h e Arctic t h e a u t h o r s u n d e r s t a n d " t h e treeless l a n d of cold regions", or s h o r t l y t h e E u r a s iatic a n d A m e r i c a n t u n d r a . This region is divided into t w o subregions, t h e H i g h a r c t i e a n d Subarctic. The delimitation is s o m e w h a t a r b i t r a r y , b u t it is difficult to find a definition of t h e A r c t i c acceptable t o everybody. I n t h i s a r e a 1629 species a n d 270 subspecies are listed in all; c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s are k n o w n a p p r o x i m a t e l y in 90 % o f these taxa. T h e n u m b e r of higharetie e n d e m i c s is r e m a r k a b l e , a b o u t 24 %. The p r e s e n t book represents a n e n o r m o u s a m o u n t of work. T h e list of literature n u m b e r s 87 pages, t h a t m e a n s more t h a n 2000 publications i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y covering b o t h " w e s t e r n " and "eastern" authors. As in practically all p a p e r s b y /kSKELL a n d DORIS LOVE, one can find here a lot of n e w n a m e s due t o t h e t a x o n o m i c evaluation of p l a n t s f r o m t b e p o i n t of view of the "biological" c o n c e p t i o n of species a n d genera. According t o t h e a u t h o r s , a t a x o n "is defined biologically b u t identified m o r p h o l o g i c a l l y " , a distinct biological species is r e p r o d u c t i v e l y isolated a n d t h u s u n a b l e to effectively interbreed w i t h related t a x a a t t h e s a m e level. I f t h i s is so, w h y are e.g. Sallx myrsinites (2n = 152) a n d S. glauca (2n = 152), classified as s e p a r a t e species w h e n t h e y are k n o w n to cross often? On the o t h e r h a n d w h y t r e a t such well defined t a x a as Alchemillafdicaulis, A. glabra, A. vestita etc. (with 2n = 96 + if) a n d A. oxydonta (with 2n = 160 + ff) as subspecies of A. vulgaris, only because t h e y are a p o m i c t i c ? Do t h e y effectively interbreed? I n m y o p i n i o n t h e b i o c h e m i s t r y of p l a n t s should be t a k e n in a c c o u n t in t a x o n o m i c e v a l u a t m n , w h e n positively k n o w n . I f we have such morphologically different t a x a as Veratrum album a n d V. Lobelianum, w i t h geographical areas so widely different, a n d k n o w i n g t h a t one is poisonous e.g. for sheep and the oth3r not w h y t r e a t t h e m as mere subspecies of one b r o a d species? W h y t r e a t Pedicularis lanata a n d P. dasyantha as subspecies, w h e n t h e y are well defined morphologically, have different geographical areas a n d also differ biochemically, as m a y be seen f r o m t h e difference in flower a n t h o c y a n s , persistent in one a n d d i s a p p e a r i n g by d r y i n g in t h e another taxon? A p r o p o s Pedicularis dasyantha: it w o u l d be p e r h a p s m o r e correct n o t to cite TRAIJTVETTER as a u t h o r of t h i s epithet in connection w i t h t h e Spitsbergen p l a n t . My first description of t h i s species in S t u d i a B o t a n . ~echica 5: 4, 1942 reeds: "Pedicularis dasyantha HADA{~ sp. n. (r. lanata L vel var. dasyantha auct. Spitsb., a n TRAUTV. ?). The t y p u s of species in q u e s t i o n is based o n m y o w n collection, deposited in P R . ; I h a v e never seen t h e t y p e of TRAUTVETTERS f. dasyantha a n d I do n o t k n o w if it belongs to t h e P. dasyantha H~. I t is a p i t y t h a t such a distinct species as Coptidium spitsbergense (Ranunculus s. 1.) is n o t listed in t h e check-list. I t is p r o b a b l y h y b r i d o g e n o u s , b u t according t o a personal c o m m u n i c a t i o n f r o m JtrRC]~v it h a s well developed f r u i t s in t h e Soviet Arctic. Such c o m m e n t s only s h o w t h a t t h e p r e s e n t w o r k p r e s e n t s m a n y i n t e r e s t i n g p r o b l e m s for d i s c ~ i o n , a n d t h i s fact I appreciate v e r y m u c h . ~Iost of t h e n e w l y defined t a x a a r e clear cut a n d I believe t h a t t h e y will be accepted sooner or later b y m o s t b o t a n i s t s of t h e Arctic. The book b y /~SKELL a n d D o m s LOVE is a n i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n to t h e c y t o t a x o n o m y as well as p h y t o g e o g r a p h y of the Arctic a n d will be for y e a r s indispensable for e v e r y b o d y dealing w i t h Arctic b o t a n y . EMIL HA.DA~ -

-

~0OKR~VIEWS

333

R , O. WHYTE

TROPICAL SPECIES

GRAZING

LANDS: COMMUNITIES

AND CONSTITUENT

Dr. W Junk b. v. Publishers, The Hague 1974, 222 pp. Teachers of ecology a n d all who have tried to find some general data pertinent to tropical grasslands face the frustrating experience of lacking literature. The tropical rain forest, for example, received an excellent treatment in the monograph by RICHA~DS (1952) which made all subsequent compilations very much easier. Despite the intricate structure of tropical forest, most ecologists consider the tropical grasslands as more diversified and complicate ecosystems. The regional variability of the savannah and tropical steppe vegetation, obviously, creates a much wider scale of ecological problems t h a n those encountered within the rain forest. R. O. WHYTE h a d the courage and knowledge to compile a summarising picture of tropical grasslands. The result is reasonably successful. The book is not a review of the literature. R a t h e r it is a reiteration of most important biological and ecological data on tropical grazing lands, together with the main principles of management a n d the objectives of present-day research. Both from the geographical point of vmw and from t h a t of subject m a t t e r the coverage of the book is very wide. The grasslands of Africa, America, Australia and Asia are described and analysed, using both local literature and numerous FAO reports. The reader gets fairly broad information on the evolution of grass cover in all continents. The problems of climatological factors in grassland ecology are mentioned- Types of grass cover and succession in tropical grazing lands are discussed. Levels of production, methods of management, a d d i t i o n of legumes to sward, replacement of natural covers b y seeding are other headings of the main chapters. Other divisions include data on members of the family Graminae and Leguminosae. Autecological and physiological features of dominant life-forms, including some genetical problems, are also mentioned. The contents of the chapters slightly overlap and the reviewer feels t h a t this could have been avoided b y a more rigid division of taxonomic, syntaxonomic, ecological and economical aspects. The morphology and biological features of the constituent life-forms (grasses, sedges, legumes) could have been describes in one of the introductory chapters. The sedges (fam. Cyperaceae) are rather underestimated in the description: ma~)y types of tropical grasslands are dominated b y this group, a n d in most of t h e m sedges are sub-dominant species with relatively high p r i m a r y production. The author admits (p. 16) t h a t the majority of his references cover t h e period of t h e past five to ten years. Indeed, the selection of the supporting papers, reports and maps was carefully streamlined towards modern investigations, leaving obsolete literature aside. This was a very reasonable approach since taxonomic, ecological and economical data on tropical grazing lands have been corrected b y recent work. The author even quotes maps illustrating the distribution of various grassland types. Referring to Africa, RATTRAY'S map (1960) has been cited as the latest achievement in this subject. The reviewer thinks t h a t the savannah and steppe types in the older map published under the auspices of the Association pour l ' E t u d e Taxonomique de la Floro d'Afrique Tropical (1958) are of greater value t h a n the grassland types of RA~'TI~Au Also the comprehensive monographs by GERMAII~ (1952, 1965, etc.) from Zaire should not have been omitted. W~'ZTE'S book includes m a n y valuable and elaborate diagrams illustrating relationships, structures and functions. Two diagrams (p. 15) even use the modules of the energy circuit language introduced to ecology by H. T. ODUM. The meaning of these modules is not adequately explained which reduces the clarity of the pictures representing the energy flow in the Serengeti Region, Tanzania, and in Luangwa Valley, Zambia (the reader will find the explanation of the modules in ,,Environment, Power, and Society" by H. T. O p u s , 1971). On the whole we find the WHYTE'S book very instructive and useful for both agriculture and botany. Unless an other more comprehensive monograph is published, this book may play a similar role in the development of tropical grassland ecology as t h a t of RICHARDS' monograph quoted above in the field of tropical forest ecology. JAN J~.~IK

334

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 11, 1976

E. G. FARNWORTH et F. I3. GOLL]~Y (ed.) FRAGILE

ECOSYSTEMS

E v a l u a t i o n of Research and Applications in the Neotropics Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1974, 258 pp. The meaningful title -- readily explained by the sub-title -- m a r k s a highly interesting book produced as a report of the I n s t i t u t e of Ecology, U.S.A. The activities of this institute are directed towards t h e organisation of ecological research, a n d refer n o t only to ecologists of all trades but also all institutions interested in the progress of environmental studies. Nowadays. i t is generally accepted t h a t serious environmental problems desire urgent action, both in t e m p e r a t e a n d tropical countries. The tropics provide m a n k i n d with t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of vast mineral resources, crops a n d water. They also provide examples of considerable misuse of the landscape. The majority of tropical ecosystems, admittedly, c a n be called "fragile ecosystems" since their balance is easily upset a n d original resources p e r m a n e n t l y destroyed. Taking into account t h e n u m b e r of research facilities a n d scientists in tropical regions, sound policy a n d adequate cooperation in e n v i r o n m e n t a l research are highly desirable. The I n s t i t u t e of Ecology organised several successful workshops a n d sponsored m a n y research projects, of which t h e present report on neotropical ecology seems t o be of o u t s t a n d i n g value. I n its origin a n d method of d a t a selection t h e book is really exceptional. I t is based on c o n t a c t s with more t h a n 2500 persons interested in tropical ecology; it utilises the papers, advice a n d ideas of more t h a n 400 contributors; a n d it was compiled b y more t h a n 100 ecologists who met to discuss a n d write the report. The resulting work presents a very broad scale of up-to-date problems a n d recommends clearly defined steps in future ecological activities w i t h i n t h e Neotropics. Six major c h a p t e r s describe particular problems involved in t h e tropical ecology of South a n d Central America: (1) tropical population ecology, (2) tropical ecosystems -- structure a n d function, (3) recovery of tropical ecosystems, (4) the interaction of m a n a n d tropical environments, (5) t h e impact of regional changes on climates a n d aquatic systems, a n d (6) mechanisms to support a n d encourage research a n d education in tropical ecology. E a c h of these chapters contains a separate introduction, explicit recommendations for further research, a review of t h e existing knowledge a n d related gaps, a n d a separate list of the most i m p o r t a n t references. The chapter on population ecology recommends comparative studies of the t o t a l biology in i n d i v i d u a l tropical species, i.e. t h e i r morphology, physiology, ecology a n d behaviour. A t a t i m e when taxonomical work is m a k i n g good progress, stress on the biology of species c a n n o t be overemphasized. (In the recommendation referring to t h e examination of "ecological equivalent species", the concept of "vicarious forms" corn only used b y European authors a n d transferred to English literature in " F o u n d a t i o n s of P l a n t Geography" by S. A. C)-~ in 1944 could have been utilised.) The recommendation stressing better cooperation between ecologists a n d t a x o n o m i s t s contains m a n y good arguments which are relevant for temperate biology as well. The chapter on tropical ecosystems emphasises the structural a n d functional phenomena involved. The interpretation of ecosystems in the context of t h e needs of h u m a n society, a n d in view of t h e further development of ecological theory, is well balanced. One point is suggested for re-examination: the hypothesis t h a t all process rates arc higher in the tropics t h a n in analogous temperate regions. The report contains numerous ideas extracted from a broad selection of zoological and botanical studies. Scholars interested in tropical ecology will appreciate the selection of s t r i k i n g examples of peculiar interrelationships in a tropical landscape. The chapter on the recovery of tropical ecosystems discusses major factors and processes in p r i m a r y a n d secondary succession. Next the chapter on Man's i n t e r a c t i o n broadly describes t h e consequences of agriculture, forestry a n d local industry. The chapter on the i m p a c t of regional changes on climate and water contains interesting views on the influence of technology. The specific role of various pollutants in the tropics marks essential differences between environm e n t a l problems in temperate a n d in tropical countries. The last chapter examines the mechanisms necessary for the improvement of ecological research in t h e tropics. All scientists who have practical experience of tropical studies will appreciate t h e multilateral analysis a n d recommendations included in this section. Hitherto, u n i n t e n t i o n a l overlapping and parallel research has often proceeded in ncighbouring countries.

B00KREVIEWS

335

The priorities of t h e research were seldom adequately understood. I n m a n y cases visiting scientists coming from t h e temperate regions continued their more personal research activities. Lack of cooperation was tremendous. The reviewer of t h i s book remembers, for example, indep e n d e n t ecological research carried out in various countries of tropical Africa. English and French speaking scholars in neighbouring countries tackle similar problems w i t h o u t satisfactory cooperation. The linguistic barriers between French, English and Spanish authors are incredibly great. Certain organisations, such as the West African Science Association, or the Association pour l'Etude Taxonomique de la Flore d'Afrique Tropieale have c o n t r i b u t e d to b e t t e r understanding, b u t in m a t t e r s of ecology these contacts are insufficient. I n m a n y ways, the report of The I n s t i t u t e of Ecology can promote b e t t e r cooperation in tropical ecology a n d environmental research. Moreover, m a n y temperate areas deserve similar t r e a t m e n t a n d organisation. Fragile ecosystems can be found all over the world. JAn JENf~

H. ELLEI~BERG,K. ESSER, H. MERX1KOI,LER, E. SCHNEPF et H. ZIEGLER (ed.) PROGRESS

IN BOTANY

-- F O R S T S C H R I T T E

DER

BOTANIK

36

Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1974, X V I I I + 359 pp. 16 figs. While the previous volumes reviewing progress in p l a n t morphology, physiology, genetics, systematics a n d geobotany were published almost exclusively in German, t h e 36th volume of this book has been w r i t t e n predominantly in English. This change is also reflected in t h e bilingual title. P a r t A -- Morphology (edited b y E. SCHI~TEPF)deals w i t h general a n d molecular cytology (W. W. FRAlCKE,U. SCHEER, W. HERTH), w i t h t h e cytology a n d morphogenesis of prokaryotic cell (G. DREWS), with t h e morphology a n d moprhogenesis of algal cells (G. F. LEEDALE) and with t h e morphology a n d a n a t o m y of higher plants, b o t h of the vegetative (W. HAGEMANN), as well as reproductive (U. HAMA~N} organs. P a r t B -- Physiology -- under t h e editorship of H. ZI~.GI~R reports the physiology of meiosis (A. F. CReEs), photosynthesis a n d carbon metabolism (E. LA~rZKO,G. J. KELLY), the metabolism of carbohydrates a n d organic acids (M. KLUGE), t h e metabolism of inorganic compounds of nitrogen (E. KESSLER), the flavonoid biosynthesis (H.-R. SCH~3T'rE), growth physiology (K. D~RFFI, ING), t h e physiology of development (G. FELLENBERG) a n d of m o v e m e n t respectively (E. SCHONBOHM). I n P a r t C -- Genetics -- (editor K. ESSER) t h e following chapters are to be found: Replication (W. ST~TLING), Recombination (G. I-IOBOM), Mutation, Mutagen Testing (H.-J. RHAESE), F u n c t i o n of the Genetic Material, Control Elements for DNA-, RNA-, a n d Protein Synthesis (R. Hu~rER), E x t r a k a r y o t i c Inheritance (B. DuJO~ et G. MICHAELIS). Taxonomic p a r t D edited b y H. MERXM~LLER deals with the t a x o n o m y a n d phylogeny of fungi (E. MULLER),w i t h t h e systematics of lichens (J. POELT), bryophytes (W. SCHULTZE-MOTEL) a n d of pteridophytos as well (D. MEYER). The last p a r t E -- Geobotany (editor H. ELLENBER@) includes information on the progress in floristic geobotany (E. J. J)~GER), in the history of flora a n d vegetation during the Quaternary (B. FREI~ZEL), a n d in p l a n t sociology (R. KNAPP) a n d ecology (M. RUNGS). The book ends w i t h a n index. I f we compare the 36th volume with the preceding one, we see t h a t the basic division of the book is the same a n d t h a t in the course of time some partial disciplines reviewed have changed (apart from further changes, e.g. in the person of individual reviewers the individual branches). This 36th volume is again of a high scientific value ZDE:NICK~ERNOHORSX~"

336

BOOKI~EVlEW8

B. SLAVIK METHODS

OF STUDYING

PLANT

WATER

RELATIONS

Ecological Studies 9. -- Academia, Prague, and Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et l~ew York 1974, 449 pp. To compile a manual of methods in such a lively field as t h a t of the s t u d y of p l a n t water relations is an ungrateful task. The author, even with the help of qualified staff, can never be quite sure t h a t he has not overlooked or wrongly assessed an i m p o r t a n t contribution to the field, Therefore, the prospective user o f such a book, when confronted with the question "to buy or not be buy", may feel greatly relieved in his indecisiveness noting t h a t the compilation and organization of all the material was undertaken by such a competent specialist as Dr. SLAViX from the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. The author prepared a well organized review of all available methods, enabling the interested reader to chose the procedure best suited to his particular problem. This aim is also helped by tables confronting i m p o r t a n t features of related methods. In most cases the t e x t presents enough detail to allow the successful duplication of an apparatus or procedure. Technical details are often clarified b y means of numerous instructive illustrations. None the less, when appropriate, the reader is advised to consult the original paper. A critical selection of information was applied above all at the level of detail presented. This has resulted in a true (ie. handy) manual in spite of the far greater extent of the total of 1163 quoted original sources.

JIl~i I~LEHLA F. E. WIE~OLAS~: (ed.) FENNOSCANDIAN TUNDRA ECOSYSTEMS P A R T 1. P L A N T S A N D M I C R O O R G A N I S M S Ecological Studies 16. -- Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1975, 366 pp., 90 Figs., 95 Tabs. The present volume presents the results of I B P projects concerning the tundra in Fennoseandia. Extreme environmental conditions and relatively simple ecosystems make the tundra biota very attractive for ecologists. I t would take too much space to discuss all the interesting results from various aspects of tundra ecology, presented in this volume by nearly four decades of Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish scientists, working on projects in Hardangervidda (S. Norway), Abisko (N. Sweden}, Kevo (N. Finnland) and some other sites. We shall therefore only name the main groups of problems and pick out some of the m a n y interetsing items presented here. 1. Site description, 2. Abiotic variables, 3. Primary producers: Plant structure (Plant commtmities, Dispersal, Grazed and Ungrazed tundra, Phenology, Leaf area and leaf angles etc.), Biomass and production (Subarctic and subalpine forests, Heaths, Alpine meadows, Growth of Andromeda polifolia etc.), P l a n t processes (Weight increase in some lichens, Growth of Rhacomitrium lanuginosum and Dicranum elongatum, Effect of continuous light on photosynthesis in mosses, Seasonal p a t t e r n of photosynthesis, Pigment structure etc.) 4. Deeomposers (Biomass and production of soil and litter fungi, Microfungal populations, Bacterial populations, Decomposition rates, Carbon losses etc.) 5. Nutrient cycling (Nitrogen fixation in lichens, bacteria and blue-green algae, Mineral eol~tent of tundra plants, Analysis of precipitation, Organic compounds in tundra plants etc.). There are plenty of figures and tables with precise information as well as references, for each chapter. The volume ends with a rich Subject ir~dex. This book on Fermoscandian tundra ecosystems will be useful and extremely interesting not only for students of Artic and Alpine vegetation and ecology, but for all interested in general ecological problems. EMIL H~DA5