140 Book reviews / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 249 (2000) 139 –142
Developments in environmental biology of fishes series will be forced to purchase this
Volume to ensure continuity. The journal Environmental Biology of Fishes in my view is a popular one, and most university and research institution libraries with an interest in fish are likely to subscribe to the journal. I shall be hesitant to encourage the purchase of this Volume by these, especially in the present milieu of funding limitations. I am also not convinced of the ethical and moral basis of attempts by publishers at further commercialisation of already published material.
Sena S. De Silva
School of Ecology and Environment,
Deakin University, P.O. Box 423, Warrnambool,
Victoria,
Australia, 3280
P I I : S 0 0 2 2 - 0 9 8 1 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 1 7 6 - 3
Biology of Marine Mammals
edited by J.E. Reynolds and S.A. Rommel; Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington; 1999; 578 pp.; GBP 44.95, US$ 75.00; ISBN 1-56098-375-2
This work was written with the objective of providing a much-needed textbook for students and academics wanting to teach marine mammalogy. To achieve this aim the editors brought together a series of authors to give an overview of their field of expertise. The book is then divided in ten chapters starting with a general introduction on marine mammals followed by reviews of specialised subjects such as environmental contaminants in marine mammals.
In the first chapter, Introduction, there is a fine example of the didactic nature of the book, the first pages concentrating on defining ‘‘what is a marine mammal’’ and why such different groups (from the phylogenetic point of view) as polar bears, sea otters, pinnipeds and cetaceans are all grouped under the same term (marine mammal). The introduction also goes on to describe each group in more detail, with the differences and similarities clearly explained, and is, thankfully, not too technical.
The second chapter deals with the Functional Morphology of the group. It is not as easy to read as some of the other chapters but that is in part due to the difficult subject matter and the amount of information provided. One aspect, which I think is a very good idea, and perhaps could have been provided in some of the other chapters as well, is a list of the abbreviations used in the text. By having all of them grouped in one place it provides a useful tool for any student browsing through the chapter.
Book reviews / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 249 (2000) 139 –142 141
The next two chapters deal with Sensory Systems and Energetics. In the first one, vision, chemoreception, tactile sensation, and magnetic detection are defined, the mechanisms involved are explained and, more important, an overview is given to explain the differences encountered by marine mammals having moved from an air-based to a water-based medium. In addition, sensory systems are compared between marine mammal groups. For Marine Mammal Energetics (Chapter 5) the authors provide a valuable insight into this complex subject including an explanation of the basic concepts of energy flow before moving into explaining the major areas of energy expenditure.
Chapter 6 (Reproduction in Marine Mammals) not only concentrates on describing the organs and processes involved in reproduction but also includes valuable sections on the effects that the environment can have on reproduction for each marine mammal group. These effects include diseases and anthropogenic factors such as contaminants. Finally, the chapter is nicely wrapped up with an explanation of the importance that the knowledge of reproductive parameters of a population has for its management.
Chapter 7 (Communication and Cognition) gives an insight into this still controversial subject while chapter 8 (Behaviour) describes and compares the different behavioural patterns found in marine mammals. This chapter includes a small but, again, useful glossary of terms.
Chapter 9 deals with Distribution, Population Biology and Feeding Ecology of
Marine Mammals. In this chapter, apart from concepts and data for each group, attention is also given to the methods used to study distribution, estimate abundance, study foraging ecology, etc. including the pros and cons of each method which is something very important and absent in much relevant literature.
I particularly enjoyed reading the last chapter — Environmental Contaminants and
Marine Mammals. In a clear and easily digested way, the author gives an overview of which type of compounds are considered contaminants (from their formula, to their origin, in which species’ tissues, and areas they have been found and a detailed summary of the research on their effects on marine mammals). Also the author gives, at the end of the chapter, tables where results for each species are presented with reference to the authors. Very useful if you are looking for more detailed insight into a particular species, area or contaminant.
I like many things from this book.
• The presence of a summary / conclusion in most chapters and an overview of which topics are being covered.
• The inclusion for each subject of sources for more in-depth information on particular topics.
• Each chapter has its own bibliography list and in some cases (e.g. chapters 4 and 10) there are also tables summarising the knowledge for each species.
142 Book reviews / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 249 (2000) 139 –142
The authors have managed to achieve what they set out to do ‘‘a book which could be used as an introduction for students, a reference for professionals in related fields and a comprehensive resource for marine mammal biologists and managers’’.
´ M.B. Santos Vazquez
Zoology Department,
Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue,
Aberdeen AB24 2TZ,
UK
