The reviews on this page were written between January and December 2002. They are placed here for in abbreviated form for archival purposes. Please note that for ease of loading, this file has been split into two pages.
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Allen.
ed. Environment 02/03
Anderson and Sarma. Protecting the Ozone Layer.
Aplin. Heritage.
Aplin. Australians and their environment. 2e.
Ashman and Puri. Essential Soil Science
Barlow and Clarke. Blue Gold.
Berry. Infinite Tropics: an Alfred Russel Wallace anthology.
Birkeland. Design for Sustainability.
Bonan. Ecological Climatology.
Bowman and Seastedt. Structure and Function of an Alpine
Ecosystem
Brown, Tompkins and Adger. Making Waves.
Bullock, Kenward and Hails. Dispersal Ecology.
Bush. Ecology of a Changing Planet. 3e.
Campbell and Luckert (eds). Uncovering the Hidden
Harvest.
Carter. The Politics of the Environment.
Cole. Pollution and Property.
Collins Wild Guide to British Wildlife.
Cotgreave and Forseth. Introductory Ecology
Cullingworth and Nadin. Town and Country Planning
in the UK. 13e.
Dauvergne. Loggers and Degradation in the Asia-Pacific.
Dodds. The Earth Summit 2002.
Doyle and McEachern. Environment and Politics. 2e.
Frankham, Ballou and Briscoe. Introduction to Conservation
Genetics.
Herrera and Pellmyr. Plant-Animal Interactions.
Herring. The Biology of the Deep Ocean.
Hinrichs and Kleinbach. Energy
Hoelzel. Marine Mammal Biology.
IPCC. Climate Change 2001. Synthesis Report
Jackson. ed. Global Issues. 02/03
Jacobson. Atmospheric Pollution.
Jamison. The Making of Green Knowledge.
Jarvis. Ecological Principles and Environmental Issues.
Jones, Duck, Reed and Weyers. Practical Skills in Environmental
Science.
Jordan (ed). Environmental Policy in the European
Union.
Kasperson and Kasperson. Global Environmental
Risk.
Krebs. Ecology. 5e
Levinton. Marine Biology. 2e.
Lewis. Wetlands Explained.
Light and Rolston. Environmental Ethics.
Liu and Taylor. Integrating Landscape Ecology
into Natural Resource Management.
Mackay. The Atlas of Endangered Species.
MacDonald. Biogeography.
Markandya and Halsnaes. Climate Change
and sustainable Development.
Marren. Nature Conservation
Miller. Essentials of Ecology
National Statistics. Guide to Statistics and
Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002.
O'Riordan and Stoill-Kleeman. Biodiversity,
Sustainability and Human Communities.
Plumwood. Environmental Culture.
Pullin. Conservation Biology
Pye-Smith. The Subsidy Scandal.
Quinn and Keough. Experimental Design and Data
Analysis for Biologists
Reynolds et al. Conservation of Exploited
Species.
Rome. Bulldozer in the Countryside.
Secretariat of the CBD. Handbook of the Convention
on Biological Diversity
Scheer. The Solar Economy
Simmons. An Environmental History of Great
Britain.
UNEP. Global Environment Outlook 3.
Warren. Managing Scotland's Environment
Warren and French. Habitat Conservation.
Wharton. Life at the Limits
Worldwatch Institute. State of the World 2002
Wright and Nebel. Environmental Science. 8e.
System Learning Edition.
Robert M Jackson. ed. Global Issues. 18e. 02/03.
John L Allen. Environment. 21e. 02/03 McGraw-Hill Dushkin. ISBN: 0 07
250683 0 / 0 07 250682 2
These two volumes form part of a far larger series so it makes sense to deal with them together. The basic idea is that the editors select a variety of current journal articles and group them under a series of headings to make a set of studies for students to analyse. The journals chosen represent a range of 'current affairs' journals from Environment and The Economist to Atlantic Monthly and Harpers. All have a North American perspective but the range appears broad enough to make them applicable elsewhere.
The first unit in the Environment volume gives a fair idea of the way the publications work. Each unit is made up of a number of articles. This unit 'the global environment' has four articles which deal with political thought, future planning, global environmentalism and degradation and corporate power (as a way of helping the environment). At the start of the unit there are a series of guides to help. A series of key points provides some questions to be considered whilst reading the articles. Some links are provided to specific websites. In common with many (especially North American) texts, the publishers have an on-line site to provide help, links etc. Finally, there is a brief commentary before the articles themselves. These articles are re-prints of recently (usually 2000 +) published articles but without any illustrations etc. that might have been in the original. This format is repeated for the other units in the book with a total of 30 articles in all between the 6 units. In addition to the help provided for each unit, the book has several pages devoted to key (mainly US) websites, a glossary of terms and (uncommon for such a compilation) an index. As part of the introduction each article has a few lines of writing describing the basic feature of the story (which helps one decide if it is suitable). A topic guide divides the papers into different categories so that one can cover not just the 6 units mentioned but also 58 topics. Obviously this limits the number of papers per topic (one or two is the most common and many are cited under more than one topic) but it does give the text a far broader appeal. The volume covering global issues has a similar format but, as one would expect, the range and nature of the topics and units differs.
Overall, this is a very interesting set of texts. The writing is very accessible and should provide few problems for upper secondary students. Despite its US market focus the text has a wide range of ideas and examples and often choses articles critical of conventional ideas. The website is useful in a range of settings. For example, there are pages dealing with evaluating web resources and studying which can be used to great effect. There has been very little published like this in recent years. The only text that comes to mind is the Scientific American series and those were aimed at a higher education market. Students and educators wanting to use a range of articles should consider these books seriously.
Stephen O Andersen and K Madhava Sarma. Protecting
the Ozone Layer. Earthscan. ISBN: 1 85383 905 1
The ozone layer, or more correctly (or should that be incorrectly) the ozone hole is one of those issues that has aroused great public interest if nothing else (like science!). It has been linked to all manner of phenomena from global warming (with a little justification) to El Niño (with far less justification). The ozone layer epitomises the complexity of environmental situations: it is important that we get a clear overview of the situation. This text, subtitled the United Nations history gives some indication of the treatment of the subject matter.
Essentially, we are treated to a thorough historical analysis of the ozone layer from its earliest 'discovery' through to the Montreal Protocol and after. Rarely is an issue given this kind of treatment but then rarely do we find an issue with such a high profile, potentially successful outcome. The opening chapter does more than just set the scene; it provides us with an overview of ozone science. One of the first revelations is the time over which ozone has been studied. Far from being a current problem, ozone and its effect was known in the 19th century. There is also the opportunity of looking briefly at the Montreal Protocol and of getting some idea of the current situation. The next few chapters work through the problem from a historical perspective. Chapter two looks at the 'early' times from 1974-87 which was when the ozone problem was first discovered and the early ideas to combat it put in place. Just because the Montreal Protocol was put forward in 1987 it didn't mean that the problem stopped then. As chapter three makes clear there was a good deal of diplomacy needed to get enough signatures for the protocol to be signed. Finally, we get a chance to see the current situation (up to 2001) in chapter four which highlights the meetings after the ratification (13 to the publication of this text) and proposes some ideas for the future. As clear-cut as these rounds of diplomacy might seem there's far more to the situation than that. The remaining chapters cover some of the crucial elements. Ozone is a chemical and the technological advantages needed to be looked at as chapter five makes clear. Given that there is no world government, the UN has to look hard just to get the parties to the conference let alone to actually sign anything. As chapters six and seven make clear this was far from easy with so many factions pulling in their own direction. Today, the media can make or break many cases and so it is both interesting an illuminating to see chapter eight devoted to media analysis. NGOs have grown considerably since the few seen at Stockholm in 1972 and thus the penultimate chapter deals with their influence leaving a final, brief chapter to sum up the successes to date and the prospects for the future. Despite some media coverage recently the situation is not 'solved' especially with new ozone-depleting chemicals still being produced (five new ones recently and all outside the Montreal Protocol meaning more negotiations.
Books like this are essential to counter the rising tide of misleading material being published. The text is not designed to be a fast look at the subject but an authoritative account (by two leading participants in the process) of the way in which this issue has been dealt with (seemingly quickly by many standards). This text, linked to data on UNEP websites, will provide us with the sort of background we need in other controversial areas. This should be a standard reference text for anybody trying to take this matter seriously.
Graeme Aplin. Heritage: Identification, Conservation
and Management. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 019551297 9
Until the 1970s, much of the work of conservation in both natural and cultural realms was carried out with little regard to its wider implications. During that decade there was a radical shift from conservation-as-protection to conservation-as-wider-public-good. This effectively brought conservation from within the work of a range of specialists to the general public. Of course, the rise of general interest in all things environmental can be traced to the Stockholm conference in 1972 but it is possible to name two more direct influences. In 1972, UNESCO started to consider the idea of a global conservation register. By 1975 this was the World Heritage Convention in much the same framework as we know today. The other, a text by Freeman Tilden Interpreting our Heritage (1977 - University of North Carolina) became a key document in presenting what we had found to the general public. Today, it is accepted that all conservation areas have some form of educational input in the form of boards, signs etc. and most people can recognise some form of hierarchical conservation typology even if it is just the idea of National Parks. Despite all the advances made in the last 30 years there has been very little published accessible material on the topic of heritage. Here, Aplin tries to redress the balance by looking at the multi-facetted world of heritage conservation.
The most obvious point, as covered by the introduction and chapter one, is just what is heritage? It is at this seemingly simple starting point that we get to appreciate some of the problems we are likely to face. One person's heritage is someone else's junk. Heritage is personal to the culture and times it is produced in/for and yet, as the author makes clear, heritage is also economics. This implies that heritage must be marketable and presumably, rejected if it fails this test. Chapter two starts addressing some of these difficulties by examining heritage interpretation both as a social construct and an informational device. This is followed by an overview of the economics of heritage. Tourism is a major part here and rightly so since so many nations market select aspects of their heritage. Chapter four acts as an introduction to the general concepts behind conservation irrespective of the actual site (and it is site, for we are dealing with 'fixed' heritage rather than the more portable arts. Chapters five to seven have a common theme. Up to this point heritage has been considered as one thing but in reality it is regarded as at least two different elements (and possibly three, as in the case with this author). Now we are introduced to natural, cultural and indigenous heritage. The first two are fairly easy to separate - natural and cultural (the division follows the ideas in the World Heritage Convention). The third is indigenous heritage. This is not an obvious category and the author notes the problems involved but in nations (such as Australia) with significant indigenous populations such a division has much to recommend it especially if there are few obvious remains to be used. Chapter 8 starts the first of five chapters which, together, act as an overview of global heritage practice. We are introduced to the world Heritage Convention and the regulations in a range of nations (chapters 11 and 12) or states within regions (chapter 9 and 10). A final chapter reflects of what we need to consider if we are to produce a rational outcome for heritage.
Overall, this is an excellent book. There are numerous examples from around the world. The writing is clear and accessible even when the topic is necessarily complex. A range of texts and websites accompany each chapter allowing the main ideas to be followed easily. There is a sense that all the key areas have been examined and that the multi-layered complexity of the subject matter is addressed and not ignored. There are very few texts dealing with this area and none have this level of clarity and subject coverage. For anyone involved in conservation and heritage this book is a "must-buy".
Graeme Aplin. Australians and their environment.
Oxford University Press. ISBN: 019551478 5
The aim of this text is to outline the key concepts of environmental studies and to show how these are related to current use of the Australian environment. Given the complexity and size of both aspects this is no mean feat. The obvious questions one has to consider are how comprehensive is the treatment and to what extent each element is covered. To attempt this work, the book is divided into three parts. Prior to part A we have an introductory chapter which outlines both the structure of the book and the approaches and philosophies through which we can study the environment. This leads on to the first part (A). It deals with the key principles of environmental studies. Thus chapters two and three highlight the main aspects of ecology as it affects Australia - water and nutrient cycles and ecological principles. Given that this is environmental studies rather than environmental science the reader then moves on to chapters dealing with human aspects. The first of these is economics with an overview of traditional economic perspectives as well as discussions about ownership and sustainability. Chapter five looks at the ways in which we value the environment from a philosophical and social perspective. There is also consideration of the way in which communities are involved. From individual and social group, chapter six examines the political system and governance of Australia. The final chapter in this section looks at the planning process and the way the environment can be managed. There is also a description of some of the key economic assessment techniques including impact analysis and cost-benefit. Part B deals with the applied aspects - specifically the way in which Australia has been managed (or mismanaged!). Appropriately, the first aspect studied is Aboriginal use of Australia. Given their 50,000 year use prior to European settlement, this is an important aspect. We also get some insight into recent legal changes to Aboriginal rights. Chapter 9 covers biodiversity and wildlife management. Given the use of this element for tourism and the high endemicity such topics are highly pertinent. The next four chapters form a set in that they deal with resource management. Although the Australian economy has reduced its dependence on natural resources it is still a vital sector. More than that, the marine areas are key breeding grounds which makes fish management a vital area. European-style farming has caused considerable damage to what is, in essence, a foreign system. Thus chapter eleven's look at this area helps us understand what went wrong and why. Chapter 12 deals with a key issue especially for our major cities where air pollution is a key factor. Since (at time of writing) Australia has refused to sign the Kyoto agreement this chapter makes important reading. Although migration is a major issue, many would argue that it is water supply and use (chapter 13) which is the more important. Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent and so water management (especially given the propensity for droughts and floods) deserves the attention it gets. The final chapter in this section is headed planning but deals far more with land pollution issues. Part C contains a final chapter - a study of the trends at local, national and international levels. It covers a considerable amount of ground especially at the international level. Each chapter starts with an expanded version of the contents page. There are numerous colour diagrams and photographs to illustrate the text. Key material is found in the usual text boxes. For those wishing to follow any sources, the key books and papers are noted at the end. In addition, some chapters also have a website guide (in addition to the guide at the back of the text). The text is particularly well designed for those moving between parts of the book. There are two versions of the contents (abridged and full) and an additional set for each chapter at the beginning. The text is both clear and accessible being ideal for secondary students upwards.
Overall, this is an excellent overview of the subject. It highlights a very impressive range of topics which are of concern. The fact that it can only touch superficially on each topic demonstrates the complexity of the environment rather than lack of ideas. It is an excellent introduction to the Australian environment. Its comprehensive treatment means that it could also be used as a guide for other nations' analyses.
MR Ashman and G Puri. Essential Soil Science.
Blackwell. ISBN: 0 632 04885 9
Subjects like environmental science and increasingly, ecology, require that the student is proficient in a range of previously-discrete disciplines. The need is there for a text which provides a sound introduction without falling into the trap of providing too much jargon. This is no easy order but the demand for cross-disciplinary and modular courses everywhere from schools to university makes the attempt worth while. The authors state in the preface that such an audience was their main focus.
The introduction starts right at the beginning - rock - and seeks to describe the construction of a soil from then on. The reader is helped in this by a clear text box outlining the main questions. The chapter progresses by taking each of these questions in turn and answering them. By tying initial questions and text so closely together the reader is left in no doubt as to the stage in the process they're studying. Simple, clear diagrams help with key elements and even when jargon is needed it is put in such a way as to make it understandable (even the Jenny equation loses it's usual CLORPT tag!). At the end of each part of the chapter there is a small section of 'essential points' where the basic points are highlighted. The chapter ends with a brief summary. This format is repeated in subsequent chapters. Having described the basics of soil formation other chapters take specific elements and describe them in detail. Chapter two looks at the main components of the soil and the characteristics they possess (including a clear distinction between structure and texture - always a difficult point early in a course). Chapter three outlines soil chemistry mainly in terms of soil acids and nutrients. Although the same clarity of writing is continued here the very nature of the topic makes it more complex and so some knowledge of basic chemistry is useful. This is continued in chapter four where the role of microbes and nutrient cycling is described. Having looked at the main features of soil, the text turns to more applied matters. In chapter five there is a review of soil survey and classification methods including a useful discussion of soil taxonomy. The final two chapters examine key areas of soil use and misuse - agriculture and contamination. The former area is a study of how soil can be optimised for human use in terms of physical, chemical and biological features. The latter (and final chapter) investigates pollution and pollution. Although no such study can hope to be comprehensive in such a short space the authors manage to include the key issues e.g. pesticides and even some less obvious ones e.g. radon. A set of websites and index complete the text.
One of the aims of this site is to find and review texts which are most suited to school audiences. It is rare that texts are found combining ease of understanding with a solid scientific foundation. The subtitle of this text 'a clear and concise introduction to soil science' does indeed sum up this book. It's clarity of production and focus on key aspects of science and human interaction make it a great guide for the beginner and a 'must-buy' for the library.
Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke. Blue Gold. Earthscan.
ISBN: 1 85383 937 X
The idea that water is a key resource is not new neither are the predictions that water supply has the potential to cause wars and civil unrest (one of the arguments behind the current Middle East situation). Less well realised is the change being brought about by water resource management in capitalistic economies. Put simply, a few companies are buying up our water supply. The aim of this text is to outline what is being done, how, to whom and with what consequences. The basic idea behind this book is the creation of a market in water. If water has no value then, so the argument goes, no-one will care for this resource. The only way of protecting the resource is to put a market value on it. This means that water stops being a free good and becomes a commodity. Pollution control is thus a question of allocating resources to ensure the value of this commodity (i.e. pure, clean water). In a market-led approach, people pay for the water they want presumably of the quality they desire. This works if everyone has access to water or if everyone has the funds to buy what they need. It falls down if the demand is inelastic i.e. something you can't do without.
All this might sound a bit dramatic but it is part of what is going on at present and very much part of what this book is saying. The writers are trying to present a case along these lines with the end view that water is a 'right' not a 'good'. They start with a section called 'the crisis' containing the first three chapters. 'Red Alert' is the opener. It deals with the ways in which water is running out or, more accurately, we are demanding more water than can be naturally supplied. This leads to many areas of water scarcity even though rainfall might be adequate it still cannot meet burgeoning human demand. 'Endangered planet' moves the debate along to show how our demands are creating changes in natural systems. It not all losses: some species are thriving in the new water-scarce world. 'Dying of thirst' shows the human dimension. Not only is water scarce in some areas there's also issues of access, sanitation, dams, water conflicts, border control and public/private debates to contend with. This leads us on to section two entitled 'the politics'. Water shortages are blamed (in chapter four) on globalisation and the rise of transnational corporations. Chapter five looks at the way in which some companies are running schemes all of which appear to show increases in the price of water or a decrease in supply. The net effect is to raise the price of water for everybody. Chapter six starts with an idea that Canada will head a water 'OPEC' within 25 years. Although this is not likely (although they are a water-rich nation) it is possible that some cartels might be formed to deal with water supply. If this is the case then it follows that the price will have to rise to meet the new supply (as a commodity all that has to be done is for supply to meet demand - there's nothing about conserving the resource merely balancing its allocation). The final chapter in this section returns to an earlier theme of external control by arguing that many of the world's key organisations such as the World Bank are helping to spread water privatisation through its policies. The final section is' the way forward'. The way recommended by the authors is for the de-privatisation of water using local groups to fight for the right to water (chapter 8). They might use a series of common principles in a globalisation of protest against globalised water(!) - chapter 9. The ultimate 'way forward' is for people to control their own supply independent of global interests.
This book is very much a manifesto put forward by two people working in this area of social policy. As such it is a good, reasoned account. There are areas where people may well disagree and find fault with the argument but at least the work presents a coherent, reasoned viewpoint. As such it might be a difficult read for students not well versed in water management (although highly recommended for those who are). It is a great resource for educators wishing to start a discussion on water demand and supply. The arguments and examples put forward make it a great source of ideas (as well as a great counter to the usual World Bank/IMF line).
Andrew Berry (ed). Infinite Tropics: An Alfred Russel
Wallace Anthology. Verso. ISBN: 1 85984 652 1
Today, Wallace is one of the less well-known personalities of Victorian science. Two aspects of his life stand out for those who are more familiar with his work - his contribution to the evolution debate and the distribution of species (giving rise to the so-called 'Wallace Line'. However, as this book makes very clear there is far more to his life than this. The aim of this collection is to broaden our perspective of Wallace and his work.
We know that Wallace was deeply interested in natural history. We also know that after many years of work in SE Asia he hit upon the idea now known as evolution. He was not the first to conjecture about this but he was the first to put forward the ideas. According to his work, he sent a copy to Darwin and the rest, of course, is well known. Or is it? As the opening parts of this book make clear (or perhaps that should be unclear) there is much about the debate which has been assumed. Rather than re-hash the work of previous writers this book is a collection of Wallace's own work. True, few of the works are complete (after all, he completed 764 publications!), but we do have enough to see the way in which Wallace was thinking and acting. The body of the work mentioned in this collection deals with science - evolution, biogeography, natural history and conservation and geography, geology and glaciology. We see the range of his ideas unhampered by modern restrictions in disciplines. If Wallace trod new ground in evolution he continued to do so in his anthropological studies. His writings show no diffidence: he writes with an enthusiasm about a range of ideas which, apparently, upset several people including Darwin. In his dealings with reform he shows himself to be a socialist in the tradition of Owen and Bellamy. His thoughts on 'human improvement' and 'public education' raise issues as current now and when they were written.
This is a thoughtful book. The brief excerpts we are given from a wide range of texts serves to whet the appetite for more rather than deter the reader. Clearly the editor has taken the best examples to illustrate his version of Wallace but this works to our advantage and we can see the ideas without being lost in the huge output from his life's work. This book should appeal to those who wish to know more about his work and for those curious as to the workings of Victorian science. In amongst the range of theoretical and educational material published this is a great breath of fresh air - we get far too few biographies and collections that are accessible and this is a very good example. Well worth reading!
Janis Birkeland. Design for Sustainability. Earthscan.
ISBN: 1 85383 910 8
At first glance this is very much a text of the 1970s when there was a great interest in 'green' matters. The desire for self-sufficiency and a more sustainable lifestyle was a major mover in the early environmental movement. Such an approach is no longer as mainstream as it once was. In fact most would regard the whole idea as a relic left from more idealistic times. Read beyond the bright cover and you find that there's a great more to it than a few good words and a recycle bin.
Central to this book's thesis is the need for a more sustainable way of living. This is not the 'back-to-caves' approach but just using materials with a little more care and thought. Birkeland has coined the word 'eco-logical' as if to stress this need for a more rational approach to resource consumption. The first two sections (each containing two small chapters) outline the basic design ideas and why they are needed. Section two looks at the ways in which we design now and the limits we need to consider if urban life (and this is a text focussing on urban ideas) is to be liveable. Here, the four chapters highlight the need in terms of limits and the solutions in terms of waste reduction and designing for durability. Section three turns to the construction side. 'Industrial ecology' is the new name for materials flows but the need to reduce energy is seen as crucial. To this could be added the ecology of cities - the idea we might design to work with, rather than against, the environment. The two other chapters look at 'construction ecology' the way in which current practice is wasteful of energy and materials. Section four turns to issues of design. Clearly, if we are to reduce waste and energy in our cities than the place to start is with construction and design. There is also the idea, expressed here, that we need to take the human community more into account then heretofore. Section five looks at one of the oldest ideas of sustainability - permaculture - and shows how it can be integrated into building use. This then moves into chapters on communities and playgrounds. Section six examines the role of design and personal perception in housing. It covers ideas of urban design, mass production and gender bias. Section seven contrasts two ideas. The first deals with variations on a theme of sustainable housing. The first part has chapters looking at the ways in which communities can be involved and the adaptability of Australian Aboriginal housing (although interestingly, this is not linked to the notoriously bad health statistics of modern Aborigines). Section eight returns to city life by looking at ways we can make our environment for eco-friendly (including cars - but only energy-efficient ones!). The final four sections are more of a guide for builders and politicians. They cover a range of key construction area ideas from low-impact housing (natural waste disposal, earth buildings etc.) to law (building regulations, taxes and building codes) and planning (integrating these ideas into real housing action).
This is a most unusual text. It covers a very wide range of material usually very briefly. It has an undeniably idealistic perspective with heavy elements of the 1960s/70s. In contrast to this each chapter has a huge range of ideas (text boxes, questions, checklists, tables) which don't so much guide the reader as demand some sort of active participation in the text. It is almost certain that one would disagree with the author at some stage but this doesn't detract from what is a very good attempt to integrate a huge area of human action along one line of thought - sustainability. Perhaps of greater interest to the educator is the enormous range of material offers almost limitless choice for student activities. There are questions to be answered, surveys constructed etc. and all in a cross-disciplinary framework. Although purists might find the text needs some rigour in analysis, if the idea is to get students (even primary age, with help) to think and research then this is a must-have text. There have been few recently on the market that have such a range of ideas to help get across ideas of sustainability.
Gordon Bonan. Ecological Climatology. Cambridge
University Press. ISBN: 0 521 80476 0
Usually, climatology is studied by physical geographers who are concerned with the dynamics of atmospheric phenomena. Ecologists look at the way in which the local weather system and climate affects the responses and distributions of plant and animal species. Given the increase in interest in multi-disciplinary topics such as global warming it makes sense to look at the way these topics interact: hence, ecological climatology. Although the subject matter is not new its arrangement in this way is and it leads to a very interesting range of ideas. To fully understand the way in which topics interact it is necessary to understand the basics of each discipline in turn. This is crucial in terms of ecological education. Current UK (and overseas) arguments surrounding the 'dilution' of key subjects like biology and geography are pertinent here. Sadly, the full rigours of ecological and environmental analysis are seldom appreciated and all too often fall into the media idea of 'greenwashing'. Until a fuller appreciation of the complexities of these topics are better understood we are left with few texts carrying out good integrative work.
In this text Bonan seeks to address these problems. As such we find a book divided, roughly, into three parts. The first is a good overview of the essential points of climatology (rather than meteorology which is mentioned only in passing). The opening chapter sets the scene by describing the range of interests in ecological climatology and its applications in ecology at a range of scales. Chapter two looks at global climate, energy budgets, seasonality and climate zones (an obvious link with ecology). Chapter three deals with variability in all its forms: floods and droughts are described alongside extreme climates and temporal variability. It's this change of scale/time etc. which makes this book appealing. Rather than ignore the trickier aspects it meets them head on and shows how we can understand the subject at whatever scale we like. We move on then to climate change - not just the human side (that gets a few pages at the end) but the natural changes from plate tectonics and orbital changes to freshwater incursions. The final four chapters in this 'part' examine applied aspects of climatology through studies of the water cycle, soils, surface energy and surface climates. The first two may well be familiar to many and deal with the basic concepts. The latter two are less obvious dealing with temperature changes and local variations due to geography, respectively. The next three chapters make up the biological side of the equation. Chapter nine takes a detailed biological view of leaves and plants examining the mechanisms by which gas etc. is moved from the plant to the atmosphere and vice versa. Chapter ten examines the impact of climate at the broader scales of community and ecosystem. Here we see how climate affects not just productivity but the carbon cycle and ecosystem modelling. So far we have looked at a range of spatial scales: chapter 11 looks at temporal variations with a series of examples of succession. This leaves part three which is the section where the two topics meet. Chapter 12 is a study of dynamics in terms of biogeophysics (the mechanics of leaves etc.), the carbon cycle (an increasingly important and complex topic) and the impact of climate on a range of models. The final two chapters show how climate and ecology are linked in agricultural systems and urban areas.
There is much to like in this text. It presents a complex area without overmuch recourse to technicalities (although it is aimed at the graduate market and this is not a beginner's book). The idea of carefully integrating the two areas to see how each can add to the understanding of the other is a good one and although there needs to be some simplifications this does nothing to detract from the advantages of dealing with the multi-disciplinary area. The text does lean towards North America for its examples but there is enough data elsewhere to get local versions (and as much of the text is exploratory the actual examples are less important than the concepts they illustrate). Overall, anyone interested in seeing how these topics interact should read this book.
William D Bowman and Timothy R Seastedt. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0 19 511728 X
One of the most pressing issues we face today is in assessing the importance of our results. There is any amount of excellent research but at the end of the day we don't really know its significance in terms of broader ecological change. One of the most recent events has been the 'finding' of the ozone 'hole' in the 1970s. Now it is considered a key event but we have no real way of knowing its fundamental place in the long-term order of things. Most research is only for a few months or years. However, there is some work that has been funded for decades and which is now bearing fruit. One of the most popular examples, much cited in texts, is the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem. This 40+ years study has yielded much of interest to the ecologist. Perhaps less well-known is that Hubbard Brook is just one of a number of long-term research centres in the US. Funded under the 'Long Term Ecological Research' (LTER) programme, there is the opportunity of carrying out very long-term research.
This book is the result of another LTER, this time at Niwot Ridge in Colorado. Since its formation in the 1950s it has carried out fundamental research, the broad outline of which is reported here. The introductory chapter provides us with a brief outline of the work. It places alpine ecosystems in terms of their importance to people and their importance to ecological research. Since alpine areas are marginal and are also under increasing human pressure for recreation etc. it is important to know how they work: subsequent chapters look at specific areas. Part one deals with the physical environment. It opens with a chapter on climate. Since climate is a crucial factor it is appropriate we start with it. The next chapter deals with atmospheric chemistry and highlights nutrient uptake and pollution. If climate is crucial then it is geomorphology that provides the the fine detail (often, micro-scale ecosystem change is due to the relative positions of landscape and climate). A final chapter on hydrology finishes the section. Part two looks at ecosystem structure. Unlike other ecosystems, the change is in the detail - micro-scale work is very important. The opening chapter, on vegetation, stresses this point but also shows the practical uses of GIS and gives a very good overview of key vegetation types in Niwot Ridge. Vertebrates are the subject of the next chapter. As the author rightly points out, alpine systems are marginal and so any study of animals shows them at their most stressed, i.e. most vulnerable, due to climatic constraint. An examination of alpine soils completes the section. Part three moves on to ecosystem function. This starts with a look at primary productivity. One difficulty is that the system is so marginal that any net productivity is low. However, there are variations and this makes the area a useful outdoor laboratory. Subsequent chapters deal with nutrient flow, decomposition, nitrogen gas exchange and plant herbivore interactions. The overall impression is of selected information being used to bolster Arctic science. Part four consists of two chapters dealing with palaeoecology and future directions.
Overall, this is a very useful book which can be taken at a number of levels. As a synthesis of almost 50 years work it is a key research document for alpine researchers. Field centres and those near alpine/sub-alpine areas would benefit from the data. Students and teachers will find this a well structured text. Even though they may not live near an alpine area there is tremendous interest in them as vacation spots in areas as diverse and Europe and Australia. Human impact is taking a toll on these fragile areas and so anything which provides information is of value. There is very little written that can boast this duration. The quality demonstrated here deserves the widest readership.
Katrina Brown, Emma Tompkins and W Neil Adger.
Making Waves. Earthscan. ISBN: 1 85383 912 4
Coasts have always attracted people because of their resources and possibilities for transport. What we are seeing today is probably only an acceleration of a trend going back in time. Today our coastlines (and this is a global phenomenon) are under threat from large-scale development. Since they are also dynamic ecological entities is crucial that they are conserved. Thus we have the setting for another example of the battle between development and conservation. Or do we? Surely it must be possible to develop the coast within limits whilst still keeping up the ecological value. This book is one analysis of how it could be done.
The text opens with a chapter highlighting the ways in which the coastline has been developed. Coasts provide goods and services but if this is not done sustainably, the pressures facing the areas could be far-reaching. Since the focus of this book is research in the Caribbean area it follows that fisheries, reefs, tourism, urban development and other issues are to the fore. There are also a range of organisations involved. Here is the main element of the text: it's organisations that control the development and so we must look at these to establish ways of better managing our coastal zones. Chapter two continues this idea with an examination of how organisations deal with coastal management. Since this is a text aimed at solutions as well as analysis in chapter three we find that they argue for social inclusion i.e. you need to involve everybody in the decision-making process. If this is in nations where coastal economies are based on marine resources this is a reasonable objective but we can wonder how it works in a more urban setting. If social integration is to be a key note then it must be implemented. The tools used in this are the subject of chapter four. It's important to chose the right people in decision-making and whatever happens there are trade-offs. The next chapter shows how this might work in practice with a case study of a reef nature reserve. The system used is here is interesting in that it is both analytical tool and a way of showing how and where people can get involved. A final chapter summarises the work and highlights problems and prospects.
Overall, this is quite a useful text. It uses a developing nation for case study and argues for a way of development that takes all people into account. The extent to which this might happen could be a matter of dispute but it is at least a starting point. That coastal areas are under threat especially from the more disadvantaged groups means that their needs must be taken into account in planning. This text is well written and provides enough detail that the study could be used elsewhere to generate a good deal of debate about how any/our? coastlines could be managed before it's too late.
James M Bullock, Robert E Kenward and Rosie S
Hails. (eds). Dispersal Ecology. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 0 632 05877
3
Despite the increasing range of ecological topics and the length of time during which ecology has been a recognised area of study it is still possible to find aspects which have been less well researched than one would have thought. Dispersal, the movement of seeds and organisms to control or extend a range, has been well known for years. This reviewer recalls being intrigued as a school student reading about dispersal on the feet of crocodiles (a somewhat esoteric form dispersal which is probably why it is remembered!) and yet there is little easily accessible hard evidence about what it is and how it works. This text, the result of a BES conference in 2001, is one attempt to address the shortfall.
Its editors consider that there are four main questions surrounding dispersal: how do you measure it, what is the ecological basis of dispersal, what role does it play and how can we use the information to better understand ecological processes. As a result, the book is divided into four parts with contributors examining one aspect within each question. Part one focusses on techniques - how do we measure dispersal? As soon as you ask this question there are the obvious problems that arise e.g. nature of organism, habitat, equipment etc. What works well for whales is not going to work on insects! The five chapters that comprise this section each look at a different group of organisms: seeds, insects, land vertebrates, marine organisms and genetic material. Seeds are an obvious candidate but the range of seed types and dispersal mechanisms make this far from easy to study. Mark-recapture is a simple student activity for insects but this is only local scale. Radar transponders and genetic markers are more advanced but may be used over longer distances (against that we have the relatively short lifespan of the insect). Larger organisms - land vertebrates and marine seabirds and seals - present an easier target but range for greater distances. Finally, it might be possible to infer dispersal through a study of genetic data. Clearly, there is no one magic formula here. The second part has five contributions tackling the notion of dispersal in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. The first chapter looks at the problems and prospects facing small insect dispersal. It illustrates the problems we face in many aspects of ecology: large mammal migrations are well known but as the size decreases so, it seems, does the knowledge. It also has a scale problem in terms of distance travelled. Leaving aside a spread of range or changing environmental gradients, why would a species disperse? One answer would be competition for resources and thus the next chapter tackles this issue but from a more theoretical viewpoint. The third chapter looks at the trade-offs that dispersal can require. Heavy seeds are well protected but least travelled. Seed production rate is also important. Since viruses also disperse (e.g. epidemics), their dispersal mechanisms are also important - so is the fact that they can, to some extent, manipulate the host. The final chapter discusses the significance of dispersal for aquatic species (especially for those species of temporary water bodies). Part three looks at the way in which dispersal impacts upon spatial processes. The opening chapter for this section looks at bacteria outlining the significance of dispersal to this group. What drives it, what constrains it? Since we are looking at organisms with a direct impact on human health (as well as commercial organism usage) this is a key element. It is followed by a mammal study linking dispersal behaviour with population ecology. We also see how dispersal cuts across discrete areas of study: behavioural ecology on one side and population ecology on the other. Clearly, there is need for some integrative work. On a different tack, the next chapter looks at butterfly dispersal as an example of the impact of dispersal ecology on conservation. This means we need to consider the best methods for measurement, the key dispersal questions we need answered in conservation and the impact of dispersal on pattern and process. Since the text has emphasised the difficulties in analysis (both theoretical and practical) it is useful to see them made explicit in this study. Up to this point, scale in dispersal has not received much attention. It is crucial if we are to understand the 'migration' of higher plant species (chapter 14). The idea of broad-scale changes due to dispersal is the focus of the subsequent chapter. The argument - that local dispersal ecology impacts upon wider biogeography - is compelling and brings to mind the scale paradox seen elsewhere in ecology. The final part looks at the ways we can use our knowledge about dispersal. Topics covered here include a discussion of modelling methods, invasion and long-range dispersal, the human impact on dispersal, the spread of disease and the impact of climate change. As can be seen from this range of topics, there is a great deal of interest in the impact that dispersal can have on our studies. A final chapter seeks to bind together the treads of this debate, highlighting some key ideas, questions and research areas.
This is a fascinating insight into a new and somewhat specialised area of study. The advanced research means that it is primarily a text for undergraduate and researcher but there is also a great deal of material that can be used by teachers. The basic overviews, studies of butterflies and biogeography all contribute to filling some of the gaps in knowledge. This is an area to watch with interest - this text has shown the value of dispersal study and now we need to wait to see how it develops.
Mark B Bush. Ecology of a Changing Planet. 3e. Prentice
Hall. ISBN: 0 13 066257 7
There is always going to be a need for introductory texts in ecology which bring together the latest teaching and academic ideas. The aim of this book is to provide college-level students with a background in theoretical and applied ecology. Part one is subtitled 'biodiversity and the physical setting'. This covers the first five chapters and, as the title suggests, looks at ecology from a historical and evolutionary perspective. The opening chapter covers the basics of natural selection with a subsequent chapter dealing with chance and change. Although this is, in many ways, fairly basic palaeoecology it has been put together to both interest the reader and to highlight way in which the planet's biota has developed. The part finishes with brief outlines on climate and the abiotic environment. Part two focusses on population ecology. It starts with a look at efficiency and continues with a study of the value of sex in ecology. The next two chapters are devoted to the impacts of predation and resources on population levels. To integrate humans into the picture this part finishes with a chapter on human population expansion. With its mixture of human evolution and discussion on the role of males it provides a lively introduction to the topic. Part three, called 'community ecology' actually examines biomes and a range of specific habitats and species. Apart from the first chapter on biomes generally, the emphasis is on wetlands and aquatic systems. This part is also used to highlight some of the synthetic works. The author states in the preface that he wanted to bring several ecological ideas into one study rather than use several studies to illustrate an ecological concept. Here, fisheries and habitat fragmentation are the examples. In addition to this work, there are chapters on succession, community change and global warming. The final part is called 'ecology and society'. It's focus is on applied ecology and it takes some of the most pressing issues to investigate. The first example is food production. Taking a global perspective the author examines the growth of food supply versus its demand. There is also an opportunity to examine genetic modification. This is followed by the polluting effects of pesticides and fertilizers. Pollution is the theme for the next chapter which looks at air pollution and ozone (although the emphasis is on the benefits and problems of ozone levels). Interestingly for a text on ecology, Bush then changes to works on energy (looking at the ways in which we obtain and use energy) and acid deposition (still an issue for North America but less so in Europe). Health ecology is an increasingly important field of study. Here there is a general idea of disease ecology but the main focus is on HIV/Aids. The last three chapters deal with economics, legislation and the future respectively pointing out the ways in which ecology can contribute to our current and future existence.
In a matter of 6 years this text has gone through 3 editions. This latest version is slightly larger than the last one. There are few additions to the references; the main change has been to the production side. Topics have been re-arranged to provide a greater interest for the reader and reflect some of the more subtle shifts in emphasis in the subject. The use of some aspects to synthesise information is to be welcomed because it highlights the interactions of ecological ideas. Considering this is aimed at the North American market there is a refreshing global perspective about it (and any overtly US material can be altered easily for other perspectives). There is a website for this text but at the time of review it was yet to be put online. In all, a useful text. Owners of the second edition probably won't need to upgrade but new readers could do worse than see the way in which introductory ecology teaching is handled here.
Bruce M Campbell and Martin K Luckert (eds). Uncovering the Hidden Harvest. Earthscan. ISBN: 1 85383 809 8
The subtitle 'valuation methods for woodland and forest resources' points the way the book is facing but doesn't really give an indication of the depth it reaches. Today, there is an increasing awareness that it is neither ethically nor economically acceptable to take the resources from areas and use them in industrial processes without regard to the residents of that area. This is especially true of developing nations and areas with indigenous populations whose value systems are usually unlike our own. In addition, what might seem like a simple idea i.e. pay the full worth of resources being exploited, falters when 'worth' is a matter not of economics but of sociology, culture, history etc. The aim of this book is to find a way through this maze.
The opening chapter highlights the range of values wood products can have. Leaving aside the capitalist-economic idea there is also value for (using a Nigerian example from this chapter) fences, tourism, construction, food, forage, crafts, medicine, firewood and charcoal! Since many of these services are obtained from methods other than by cash transfer it follows that valuation is always going to be difficult (and, we are reminded, not always the perfect solution). Chapter two examines the ways by which we can assess, in economic terms, the value of environmental goods and services. Apart from providing a good base from which to start analyses it also shows the complexity of the household situation - a useful reminder often ignored in more simplistic debates on developing-nation natural resource consumption. Chapter three looks at the range of goods produced from forest products and how these are sold in markets. It also gives an overview of market operation. Of course, this only measures what can be bought and sold. What of products valued by other criteria? Here, chapter four gives us some insight into some of the methods we could use including contingent valuation and revealed preference methods. For those not familiar with this work there are introductory guides and examples. The conclusion strikes the right note: whatever method(s) we use we need to know more about the total 'value' to the community. Chapter five looks at alternatives to the preceding chapters through a variety of cost-benefit frameworks. Again, the language is mainly non-technical and the idea if not the precise methodology can be gleaned easily. Chapter 6 looks at the changes in methodologies that have moved from external economic appraisal to more participatory methods by the people involved. We gain an overview into the use and limitations of these ideas. The remaining chapters examine the current state of interdisciplinary research and the need for both a wider appreciation of valuation and an awareness of its limitations.
The whole idea of developing-nation resources along with indigenous knowledge bases is a relatively recent area of writing. It opens up a whole new perspective and can make the debate more meaningful and equitable. There is obvious value in this book for every rural-resource practitioner but there is also much for the educator. Ideas in this book make debate on resource use topics far more realistic and stimulating with the accessible style bringing serious issues within the grasp of school students.
Neil Carter. The Politics of the Environment. Ideas,
Activism, Policy.Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0 521 46994 5
The inclusion of environmental interests in politics is not new - one of the earliest Acts of Parliament in the 14th Century relates to air pollution. What is new is the rise in public concern (over the last 50 years) and the spread of environmental thought into all aspects of the political spectrum from theory to practice. An even newer field is the study of environmental politics which has gone from standard critiques of green activism to very sophisticated theoretical and practical analyses. In so doing, new ideas about politics have been formulated. This now means that the student of politics has to face a burgeoning field of research. Whereas the student seeking a general overview is fairly well catered for (see the review for Doyle and Maceachern on this site, for example) there has been less choice for those needing a more detailed understanding. It is this position that Carter seeks to fill.
The text starts with an introduction which places environmental politics in historical, theoretical and practical perspectives. In doing this it aims to do much more than just provide a guide for the rest of the book: it starts the reader thinking about the topic and considering the framework within which the analysis is going to proceed. From this point, the book is divided into three parts roughly along the lines of the book's subtitle. Thus chapters two and three are devoted to theory. This is seen to have two main elements: philosophy and political thought. The former seeks to outline the ways in which various environmental perspectives have been derived and how they can be distinguished. The latter repeats the exercise only with a change of emphasis to political ideas. The aim here is to construct both a framework and a guide. It is made abundantly clear that the topic has become highly complex of late and such guides are necessary. Now that the reader has some idea of the ways in which environmental politics is constructed, part two (subtitled 'parties and movements: getting from here to there') looks at the development of green politics. Chapter four looks at the way in which Green Parties have developed with particular reference to their evolution in Europe. It's one thing to establish a party and quite another to be part of government so chapter five examines what happens when the greens move into office. The result is a complex mixture with a number of difficult ideological challenges. We are left in no doubt that it is simpler to propose a measure than to put it into practice. The expansion of focus from strictly green issues to the wider social and economic front (and even military policy) provides a depth to the debate usually missing in such texts. Chapter six concludes the section by outlining the way in which environmental groups have developed. Starting as just a few volunteers and idealists the movement has grown into a complex bureaucracy with paid officials and career structure to contend with. Part three moves environmental politics outside the political arena to examine the development of policy. Again, the focus is broad with chapter seven tackling the issue of environment-as-problem. Chapter eight, in contrast, looks at one issue - sustainable development and how it fits into ecological thought. Chapters nine and ten return to the political theme but in the context of international (i.e. UN) and national government perspectives respectively. Chapter eleven concludes the section by looking at the way in which environmental thought can be incorporated into the wider field i.e. business etc.
This book has been designed to appeal to a wide range of readers. For those new to the field, each chapter has numerous sidebars offering definitions. Chapters start with an expanded contents page to act as a guide and a series of key issues to focus the reader. Text boxes are used to expand on specific cases. Throughout the text there are 'critical questions' which both break up the text and allow the reader to consider a response based on the work just read. A reading list (often containing websites in addition to books and papers) provides other avenues to explore. Although this list might make the book seems too cluttered in reality it makes it very easy to follow and allows key items to be examined readily. To this extent it is as much a reference text as straight book. What is outstanding is the depth and breadth of material which is rarely seen in this field of writing. It stands as an excellent introduction to the subject which deserves the widest readership.
Daniel H Cole. Pollution and Property. Cambridge
University Press. ISBN: 0 521 00109 9
One of the most common questions in pollution is how it can be controlled. When pollution studies became common in the 1970s it was sufficient to make general comments about the need for pollution to be lowered. As the subject developed the sophistication of argument led to a range of solutions being proposed. some of these were technical e.g. retrofitting whilst others were based on a range of economic policies e.g. pollution tax. Even though work in these areas has increased there is still the problem of the pollution of the large "free goods" - those aspects of the Earth that no-one owns and yet everyone enjoys e.g. air and water. The argument has been developed that they are polluted because they are free and not subject to control. Follow this line of argument and everything needs an 'owner' to be protected. Yet there are still aspects that are 'owned' and still polluted. Perhaps there is need for a different perspective on this topic. The aim of this text is to produce this different viewpoint. Cole argues that it is not the lack of ownership that's the problem it's the cost of providing ownership to previously 'free' goods. Given that some US workers (notably Constanza) have valued environmental services at US$ trillions per year it's not difficult to see how costs could arise.
To address this issue, Cole proposes that many problems could be solved by the use of property rights. His introductory chapter highlights the problems of polluted seas and skies. This issue is not uniform: ecological, technological, institutional and economic elements cause global variations (suggesting immediately that there is no such thing as a universal response). The classic case of Garrett Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons is used to underscore the problems faced. From this overview we are given four types of property-based proposals which are explored in the subsequent chapters. Thus chapter two looks at the idea of public ownership of property coupled with a set of regulations covering pollution reduction strategies. Here, the good is owned by the public in the form of the government. The quality standard set for pollution is maintained by a series of laws with suitable penalties for breaching them. Of course, there are limitations to this. Even in the most public-oriented of systems the majority of the land is privately owned. Private resources are often subject to public control through laws and so there is little chance of a pure system being developed (even though it is a common model in this imperfect world). Chapter three looks at the second model - mixed property rights and duties. Of course, as Cole rightly states, there are no perfect private or public models (even though these are used in this text) but what he refers to here are models of partial privatisation of resources. Much of the chapter is given over to consideration of tradeable rights for pollution and the limitations these have. Chapter four continues this argument looking at some of the limitations of mixed public/private regulation in more detail. Although such institutional control is not favoured by some free market thinkers it has been shown to work in a number of areas. Chapter five moves away from mixed property rights to a complete free market approach. Here, the only regulation would be that brought about by the market. Although it does provide some insight many of the free market ideas fail to take the real world into account. In contrast to this, chapter six looks at common rights. These are not free goods but property owned by a group of people to the exclusion of others (which was part of Hardin's Tragedy). In the right context these have been successful for hundreds of years in Europe and Asia. However, there is a difference between a Medieval field system and modern pollution concerns. To this point, the book has been examining the main types of property concerns. Each one has been found useful but none is universal. What is it that stops a universal approach? Chapter seven investigates the variables using cases from Stonehenge to Balinese water temples. Chapter 8 looks at the problems involved when two sets of 'rights' coincides in one property. Which one 'wins'? Ultimately, it is the question of winning and losing that is at the heart of the conflict. The final, brief chapter only serves to highlight this by noting the fall of communism and the changes brought about subsequently.
This is a very thought-provoking text. Its US focus and legal framework might seem off-putting to the lay person but the actual ideas and questions investigated make this a refreshing look at a topic all too often shrouded in hyperbole. Graduates and teachers involved in discussions about pollution control would do well to read this text.
Collins Wild Guide. The Essential Beginner's
Guide: British Wildlife. Harper Collins. ISBN: 0 00 713716 8
One of the first and most crucial aspects of ecology is identification and yet it can also be the most problematic for the beginner. The expert is aware of minute variations that can distinguish closely related species; the beginner is probably struggling to get to generic level. This means that if we are going to make ecology both exciting and relevant then it follows that we must tackle this aspect of work seriously.
There are a number of ways to help people identify organisms in the field. The old idea of drawing is being replaced increasingly with photographs as is the case with this guide. The difference with this guide is that it focusses not on a particular group of organisms but on a range of all the common ones (about 500 in all). The book starts with a very brief guide to the organisation of the text along with a guide on where to spot wildlife and a list of more specialised guides by the same publisher. The remainder of the book is taken up by descriptions of the main wildlife species. Although there is a slight difference for each group, the page layout is similar. Each species has a colour photograph showing common identification elements. The 'ID Fact File' is a brief overview of key characteristics - height, colours, lookalikes (similar confusing species) etc. with specific elements depending on the organism involved. A calendar bar gives an indication of activity e.g. flowering etc. A small map of Western Europe allows for a distribution map (although at the scale given it can only be the most rough of indicators). A description above the photograph allows for some more explanation. Finally, each species has a symbol indicating which sub-group it belongs to. For example, plants are grouped by colour of the flower, mushrooms by growth form etc. This helps but the range of species and the detail that can be given are limited. The text is given a practical perspective with a plasticised cover, gloss paper (probably splash- rather than water- proof) and a size compact enough to fit easily into the pocket.
The book is beautifully produced as one would expect. The key point centres around the ease with which species can be identified. The breadth of species means that it is possible to distinguish between main groups. The inclusion of other characteristics e.g. seasonal plumage helps. Ultimately it is down to the individual photograph and the identification detail it can show. Here, the majority are good but a few photos leave the beginner none the wiser. Overall though, the book is a very good guide. By focussing on common species it helps to foster taxonomic literacy without weighing down the beginner with masses of rarer species. It would be an ideal companion for the teacher out in the field as well as the student keen to see what species are involved.
Peter Cotgreave and Irwin Forsyth. Introductory
Ecology. Blackwell Science. ISBN: 0 632 04227 3
Whereas there is always a need for good introductory ecological texts there is also the question of what to include and what to exclude. The rise of ecological science makes this question no easier to answer because there is so much material from which to draw. This leaves potential authors with one of two paths: a simplified run through key ecological concepts ('ecology-lite!) or to use the text for advanced material in an alternative direction. This text takes the latter route.
The authors' basic premise is that there is a need for a text which explains those key ecological concepts which are used in current discussions on major environmental topics. The idea would be that the reader would be better able to understand ecological discussion. As such this is a good aim but the trick of course is to find those concepts and provide good case study material. The book starts with a discussion on the nature of ecology: interactions, diversity, evolution, niches and spatio-temporal patterning. This is an eclectic mix but it does allow the basic question 'what is ecology' to be answered sufficiently. Chapter two works on more familiar ground is looking at biomes. Taking distribution, productivity, and adaptations as sub-headings the authors provide a brief overview of the key biomes. Chapter three focusses on the ways in which we gather information through experimentation and theory. Chapter four takes climate as a starting point but add a range of ecological ideas. This starts with convergent evolution (linked to similar climates) and continues with the way in which global circulation patterns can affect matters like flowering times. This is very much an aspect of physiological ecology - the subject of chapter five. After the reader is introduced to the key abiotic factors the impact upon organisms is outlined with useful studies of caddis flies and amphibian decline. The next two chapters take up the idea of demography and life history. There is a heavy emphasis on modelling and the way this can help us understand population levels. Up to this point, the organism has been considered very much in isolation. However, the next three chapters form look at various aspects of interactions with other organisms. Chapter eight looks at inter-specific competition where similar organisms compete for resources. Chapter nine moves on to look at the range of feeding relationships - predation, herbivory etc. whilst chapter ten takes a different perspective to examine the role of behaviour in all this. These relationships need to be placed in context which is the main theme of the remainder of the book. Chapter eleven and thirteen look at various aspects of the ecological community. The former looks more at groups whilst the latter is more concerned with structure and function of the groups. In between is a chapter looking at ecosystems. This is a very good brief overview of all the major ecosystem ideas - energy, trophic levels, biogeochemical cycles and human impact. A final chapter examines ideas of species diversity.
This is a good attempt to provide a brief but stimulating guide to basic ecological principles. It's always possible to argue over what could be included/excluded but the overall effect of the book is a clear introduction to current ecological debate. The range of illustrations and text boxes help provide a deeper understanding a the subject matter. Examples are chosen from around the world and with all main organism groups represented. Although some basic knowledge would help, this text is a good primer in the subject for those with a limited scientific background and yet who want to see which ecological ideas are the most crucial.
Barry Cullingworth and Vincent Nadin. Town
and Country Planning in the UK. 13e. Routledge. ISBN: 0 415 21775 X
It must be fair to say that anything that has made 13 editions (with the first edition starting in 1964) must be a remarkable book. This has been seen as the 'bible' of British planning for so long that it seems almost indecent to review it. However, there are two questions that need to be asked - does it keep up with current trends in production (to get new readers) and does it provide enough coverage (to get old readers to update).
Those new to the field of town and country planning in Britain will need both a history and a subject overview to master the arcane ways of the planning system. The book starts with a guide to acronyms and abbreviations and an extensive guide to internet resources. Both are vital because much useful planning material is hidden in specialist terms and, increasingly, much material is available on the net. Chapter one deals with the concept of planning. As the authors note in the preface, gone are the days when planning could be defined by a few Acts; today it is a much broader concept. The chapter examines the difference between theory and practice and the nature of change (often seen as incrementalist in approach). Chapter two moves on to look at the history of planning. History in this context is shorter than one might think: it goes back only to mid-Victorian times. Chapter three starts a new perspective. Whereas earlier versions continued with the historical approach this edition starts to look at the current mechanisms of planning. In this case it deals with the various agencies involved. To the traditional local and central government we must now add the various EU ministries, the devolved UK system and various regional committees. Once we have the main actors chapter four highlights the framework within which they work. In addition to the range of policies available there are numerous excellent flow charts outlining specific elements of the planning system such as English planning policy framework. Since the aim of planning is to produce a system of land use governed by certain parameters it is not surprising that chapter five turns to look at development control. Here we see the planning system as applied through the local authority system as well as the special requirements for particular applications such as mineral development. Up to this stage the book is more procedural than thematic: more concerned with how matters are administered than about aspects of planning to which they are applied. Although one could argue against this one has to agree with the logic. There is a need to see how the system is put together before we see how it is applied. This is especially true of the UK where the tradition has been to add piecemeal to the system rather than radically alter it. Chapters 6 to 11 take one element of the planning system in turn to see how it has been developed and applied and what it means to us today. Land policy is the first example starting with the revolutionary ideas developed during World War Two. Since the committee reports of this time started the central planning system it is fitting that this is the first case. However, the chapter does not spend too much time on the early issues before it moves on to current areas such as town centres and contaminated land. The same is seen in the next chapter which looks at the relatively new area of sustainable development from Agenda 21 to pollution control and impact assessment. Heritage might seem like a safe area but it too has its problems as chapter 8 highlights. Early work on heritage conservation turns to current issues such as tourism and funding. Despite the changes in the system it is still called town and country planning with country issues being the focus of the next chapter. Interestingly, given the social and economic problems in rural areas this chapter looks at conservation, forestry and biodiversity issues (but then this only mirrors current thinking and rural village/town development was always a difficult policy area to grasp). Urban policies (chapter 10) follows the development of the role of public housing in the private land use system. The final thematic chapter, 11, looks at the issue of transport planning although it is restricted primarily to roads rather than the other transport modes (again, much like real policy). A final chapter looks at the role of the public in planning and the way in which planning officials have changed roles through the years. The remaining part (almost 100 pages) is devoted to an extensive bibliography and lists of official publications.
As can be seen, the coverage of the book is extensive. It has also been developed to provide the interested reader with one of the most authoritative accounts of any national planning system. It's main strengths are in its comprehensive coverage and in its authoritative commentary of the system it is studying. The sheer weight of material and the lack of any diagrams, images etc. mean that it is less accessible to students who might nevertheless have worked with earlier versions. In part this is due to the increase in complexity of the system: it is no longer possible to produce a simple overview which attracts a wider reader base but still remains faithful to the system it describes. However, this is a minor issue compared with what we have been given. For new readers there is still enough history to get a perspective on the development of planning and they will value the effort devoted to the most current (and complex) parts of the system. Readers of previous editions will be given a comprehensive update but might wish to keep the older version. I have the eighth edition and its historical overview gives a greater grounding in the system (presumably something had to be edited out to make the volume usable!). Overall, this book deserves the great esteem with which it is held. Quite simply, every library needs a copy of this text.
Peter Dauvergne. Loggers and Degradation in the Asia-Pacific. Cambridge University Press.
One problem with the case-study approach to environmental issues is that it is far too easy to take the simple view: a sound-bite for the mind. Whilst this exposes people to a far greater range of material than would have been common only 20 years ago (and the use of the Internet can only see this increase) there is the danger that the study will lack depth. If we multiply this by the number it takes to fill a good general text then it becomes obvious that somewhere we will have a false picture of events. To counter this we need single-issue books: ones where the authors have concentrated on just one item and been able to provide a wealth of data. This text is one of these.
It concentrates on one issue - logging and one area - Asia-Pacific (more accurately, the tropical rain-forest areas of SE Asia). It asks the deceptively simple question - what's happening to logging in this area? The result is far more complex than most people would recognise. The first two chapters provide an overview: the first to the entire book and the second to the extent of logging in the area. Taken together these provide an overview of both topic and forest. We are given an insight into the complexity of the situation. This complexity is not just practical or political it is also methodological. The reader is told in no uncertain terms of the need to start from the very beginning in every aspect of this study. The next three chapters together form a study of context. Chapter three looks at the way scientific forestry has developed in the area. The assertion that it has been pervaded by politics and corruption certainly pulls no punches and gives some idea of the perspective we are going to follow. In the next chapter we are given a glimpse of another viewpoint: that of the environmental reformer. We are asked the question - why is environmental reform so variable? The answer comes down to a range of actors and situations which appear unique to any given setting yet which, overall, add up to the general weakness of the environmental movement. A concluding remark hoping that this will change seems optimistic given the preceding detail. Chapter five examines the role of the recent financial problems in the logging industry. With demand falling and prices dropping in response there has been an increase in illegal activity from local loggers and farmers' land clearances coupled with some increase in larger operations.
The next three chapters also form a unit looking at companies and profit. Chapter six opens with a look at corporate power relations. One of the difficulties facing reformers is a target, someone to aim for. Large companies and a network of small, local organisations means that even for reformers within the nation, it is difficult to find out exactly what is going on. Chapter 7 is a bleak look at profits. Large companies operating a clear-felling policy can grab profits and run before putting anything into the community. there is little evidence of a wider perspective here. The final chapter in this part reminds us that the whole situation is highly volatile and that even luck is needed to get a good result. The final chapter acts as a conclusion. The main result of this study seems the gloomy but inescapable one of forest degradation. We may need to lose all the forests before we can start saving them!
This is a very good study of a difficult topic. Neither corporation nor nation is known for transparency in business dealings in forestry. This makes it difficult to carry out a proper study but, at the same time, makes such a study an imperative. Anyone who thinks there are simple solutions should read this book. Although the complexity of the case makes it less accessible to school students, there's a wealth of detail for educators to use to create stimulating materials. Given the increase in general texts it makes a refreshing change to see a single focus with depth especially where the case is so well argued.
Felix Dodds (ed). Earth Summit 2002: A New Deal.
Earthscan. ISBN: 1 85383867 5
UN-inspired conferences are nothing new. Environmental issues were first discussed in Stockholm 30 years ago. The difference between then and now is that back in 1972 it was possible to get an entire overview of the issues by obtaining a few books and papers. Even up to Rio in 1992 there were few difficulties in getting information. However, Rio changed all that not only because it was at the start of the information revolution (how much more data do we now seem to have now that it's online?) but because at Rio people actually expected something to come from it. It's entirely possible that the post-Rio backlash was due to the lack of a definite 'something' coming from the conference. Now that the dust has settled we can see that a great deal has been achieved (not least a change of mindset - even if action is still as rare as ever). What's needed is something to provide an overview which is where this book fits in.
The author has assembled a series of contributors each focussing on one area. Part one looks at a range of issues that appear to act against the implementation of Agenda 21 (of which one key issue is, exactly what is Agenda 21?). The six authors cover a range of topics from governments to boardrooms to gender analysis. Although each theme is discrete the overall message is the same: there is still some way to go. Part two consists of a lone chapter outlining a people's Earth charter. Part three addresses some of the main concerns that arose during and after Rio. All of these are still with us: forest usage, finding sustainable transport, poverty, finance issues, trade and development. These issues are so great that they seem almost impossible to overcome. In fact this is a recurring theme throughout the book (and possibly a symbol of Rio and after) - the ideals of Rio set against the realities of actually getting something done. Part four is the mirror to this. Rather than focus on the issues that are still causing problems it looks at the new challenges that we need to address in 2002. Security is the first item here and perhaps it's position is no accident. However much people want to protect the environment, survey after survey has shown people are going to value personal and national security over it. The section then moves on to consider sustainable cities, tourism, transnationals, health, consumption, fish, water and fuel. The sheer diversity shows how wide-reaching Rio and subsequent discussions have become.
This book serves two purposes. As a reference book it provides a wealth of detail about Rio and beyond and as such would be a valuable addition to the library. It also acts as a review of major arguments and a ground for new ones making this a fascinating and stimulating book to read. Given the interest students have in current social and environmental issues this book would be a great teachers reference text and source of ideas.
Timothy Doyle and Doug Mceachern. Environment and
Politics. 2e. Routledge. ISBN: 0 415 21773 3
This text is part of Routledge's Environment and Society series. For those not familiar with this series it is a collection of relatively brief publications all aimed at giving an introduction to a number of key environmental themes (along with the companion series Environmental Science). As such they are aimed at the undergraduate although many would be accessible to senior school students.
The topic under discussion here is the development of political action (in all its forms) in relation to the environment. One of their early points might well be the most telling: the way in which terms like politics and environment can be constructed and interpreted are so varied that there is little hope of a universal perspective. Add to this the undoubted growth of environmental concern in recent years and you have both a fascinating area of study and a highly complex topic to navigate. An introduction provides both an overview of the book and a brief idea of modern environmental action. Essentially, this book looks at the last 50 years which precludes an examination of key historical actions prior to that date but it does allow the reader some focus. Chapter one opens the debate with an examination of the nature of power and definitions of environment. We are given some theoretical perspectives in addition to this so that the whole effect is to place environmental politics in a practical and theoretical framework. Chapter two continues part of this theme with a look at a variety of environmental viewpoints. Readers confused by terms such as 'deep ecology', 'eco-feminism' etc. would be able to find some understanding here. Chapter three starts by arguing that environmentalism started with environmental movements. It then describes the development of social movements in a range of settings (e.g. North, South, American etc.) to highlight what each of these can add to the debate. One of the most visible parts of environmental politics is the rise of the non-governmental organisation (NGO). These NGOs have spread rapidly in the last 20 years and there are now thousands devoted to various aspects of environmental concern. Chapter four helps our understanding by defining and classifying these organisations as well as offering a critique over their methods and principles. Chapter five carries out a similar analysis for Political parties such as the Greens in Europe. One of the more contentious aspects of environmental politics is the reactions of business to the environment. Here, the authors classify businesses according to their environmental concern and then offer a critique of their actions. Chapters seven and eight share a common focus in that they deal with institutional politics. The former chapter looks at the domestic side whilst the latter examines the work on the UN and related groups. A brief conclusion highlights the book's main elements.
The change in environmental concern has been so great in the last 20 years that there is a need to keep some basic outline of its development. This book seeks to do just that. To aid the reader each chapter has a series of key points, summaries and a brief reading list. Overall, one must conclude that the book has succeeded in its aims. The text, whilst complex, is accessible to the beginner (mainly through the limited use of political jargon). The key threads of the recent environmental movement are well described and although there are gaps in some areas (for example ,in detailed analysis of Government policy) this is compensated for by the concise overview that is presented. Anyone starting in this field would do well to study this text. It is a worthy addition to this series.
R Frankham, JD Ballou and DA Briscoe. Introduction
to Conservation genetics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0 521 63985
9
One of the most difficult aspects I had to deal with in conservation in 'pre-genetic' times was trying to explain population viability. Often there was disbelief that a species could still become extinct with a few hundred members. Today, it can be explained, at least in part, by recourse to genetics. However, that now creates the need for a text which outlines this new but expanding topic which is where this text comes in.
The book is aimed at those who are just starting to explore this topic (although it is assumed that the reader would have some basic, level of understanding on genetics and inheritance etc.). In fact, the first two chapters are taken up explaining not just genetics but the biodiversity debate, geological extinction rates etc. The second chapter looks at the way in which genetics and extinction interact, Together, we gain some broad understanding of the task in front of us. This moves us into section one which looks in detail at the genetics of natural populations. This means starting with an overview of the concept of genetic diversity. This is followed by two chapters aimed at describing genetic diversity in terms of loci and variation. The section moves on to consider how populations evolve in both large and small populations. The focus here is broad from a consideration of why things evolve to selection, controlling factors to measuring populations. The final chapter of this section looks at the way in which genetic diversity can be maintained. It might be useful to study large population genetics (if only to see the genetic range) but most wildlife cases are in small groups or suffering from reduced numbers. This makes section two, dealing with the effects of population reduction, a useful study. Chapter ten provides an introduction and overview to the section. We see the links between genetic diversity and species fitness, effective population size and population relationships. The next three chapters focus on three key areas in wildlife genetics - inbreeding (a problem with too-close lines), inbreeding depression and population fragmentation. This last point would certainly strike a chord with many conservationists where it is too easy to lose genetic diversity due to loss of habitat etc. As with section one, section two finishes with a summary chapter which focusses on the nature of viable populations (in both theoretical and practical senses). The final section aims to be a link between theory and practice. One of the most important aspects of any work on diversity is to be able to identify the organism quickly and accurately. Chapter 15 does just this but takes the argument from the point of view of theoretical difficulties and the way we can overcome them. Much of the remainder of the section is spent examining the role of genetics and conservation in terms of its practical application. Thus chapters 16 and 17 are devoted to the way in which genetics can keep track of organisms and breed lines for wild and captive populations. Chapter 18 takes the issue of re-introduction and looks at the genetics behind moves to put native species back into the ecosystem. Of course, genetic analysis is more than just finding out about speciation. It can also be used in a range of applications of which the control of collecting and hunting seems the most likely. The final chapter looks at the way in which we can expand our notions of viability.
This is a good introduction to the topic. There are strong diagrams to aid understanding and a range of summaries, reading lists and problems to stretch the mind further. Some of these exercises are practical but many are just library based which provides a useful range of ideas and cases that can be brought to the discussions. Chapters have marginal notes and sidebars to help people gather their own information and also fit the information they have received into the broader picture. Although this is an introductory text the need for some genetics and mathematical knowledge make some prior knowledge essential.
Carlos M Herrera and Olle Pellmyr (eds).Plant-Animal
Interactions: An Evolutionary Approach. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 0
632 05267 8
There is a tendency to see plant-animal interactions as static i.e. there is not, initially at least, an appreciation of their role though time. Yet it is something that has been acknowledged since Darwin if not before even if plant and animal ecology (like biogeography and zoogeography) are more normally seen as discrete disciplines. Following current trends in using an evolutionary perspective for the work, the aim of this text is to make both the temporal and interaction aspects explicit.
To do this the text is divided into four sections. The first two chapters act as an introduction and are concerned mainly with the fossil record and the development of biodiversity. We start with a geological timescale (with a North American slant) re-written for an ecological perspective. The opening chapter develops the idea of the range of interactions seen. Firstly, there is an overview of the significance of interactions followed by examples showing the range and complexity of such interactions. This moves on to look at the development of biodiversity. Chapter two continues this theme with an excellent examination of interactions shown in the Fossil Record and a remarkable set of photographs illustrating this. From this point relationships get divided into antagonistic and mutualistic. Chapters three, four and five focus on antagonistic relationships. Herbivory is far more than just eating a plant. Chapter three looks at the special relationships between plant and insect. The point is made that there is a considerable difference between insect and mammal herbivores in that the former have longer associations and do not, usually, kill the plant. This means that to obtain food etc. insects need to have developed a range of strategies. Given the insect numbers on larger plants such as trees, this adaptation can be seen as diverse. For this, the plant needs to develop a range of responses often as highly specialised as the insects development. In contrast, mammalian herbivory is the study of chapter four. For mammals, plants are food with little of the sophisticated range of responses and counter-responses seen in insect-plant interactions. The importance of mammal interactions lies in the range and quantity of plant species taken. For those plants that produce seeds, granivory can be a factor. Seeds can provide animals with a source of food and, in turn, they can act as a seed dispersal agents. Part three looks at mutualisms with chapter six highlighting the role of animals in pollination. Animal pollination was an old topic by the time Darwin wrote about it. This chapter shows the benefits and costs to plants of this process where coevolution is a use (in contrast to antagonistic relationships where evolution is a way to defeat defences). In common with the other chapters the complexity of this topic is made clear as are gaps in research. Chapter seven moves on to look at seed dispersal. Here, the benefits of animals over plants are obvious - animals move and so can distribute seed widely. Evolution works here to make sure that the seed can be eaten but released unharmed whilst the animal needs a way of feeding off the seed. Part four, subtitled 'synthesis' starts with a chapter outlining ant-plant interactions. These are some of the most widespread and successful interactions. The chapter highlights the key elements but also notes the range of research areas still needing work. The final chapter acts as a summary of the most important questions raised in the body of the work. As has been made clear, there is an enormous amount of work still to do not just in terms of the interactions themselves but also the implications of these for evolution, speciation and biodiversity.
This text is designed for more senior undergraduate courses. As such it is a useful summary of work which would find a ready audience in ecology courses. The first chapters looking at fossils and evolution should also be required reading in geological circles as well. Finally, there is a great deal of information for the ecology teacher. The trends in research, detailed examples of interactions and the clear history mean that there is much that can be gained from this text. It deserves a wide readership.
Peter Herring. The Biology of the Deep Ocean. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0 19 854955 5
There are some ecosystems that people seem not to notice. 'Soil' is one: most students just see it as an extension of whatever happens to be growing on/in it. Oceans are taken to mean coral reefs and continental shelf fauna and flora. There is little knowledge of, or concern for, that which lies deep in the oceans. However, recent finds in mid-ocean thermal vents have stirred the imagination and so it is appropriate that a basic text for the deep ocean be written.
This is part of the 'biology of habitat' series from Oxford and as such it aims to provide the student with a good overview of the biotic environment. Given the difficulty of reaching this environment the text works as part ecology book and part adventure guide! The opening chapter sets the scene with a basic description of the ocean environment, ocean circulation, outline comparison of terrestrial and marine habitats and some sampling information (sampling, and the problems thereof is a recurrent, and justifiable, theme). The remainder of the book takes the elements outlined here and expands upon them. Chapter two considers growth and primary production. Much of this is surface phenomena but it does provide part of the food source for the sea bottom and it leads into the next chapter which focusses on the benthic environment. This is a total contrast: fauna dominates (where would flora get light from?), food supply ranges from the 'detrital drizzle' from above and more specialised sources such as hydrothermal vents. Chapter four changes tack and looks at the vertical and horizontal patterns found in the deep ocean. This provides us with a biogeography of the region. The chapters up to this point are mainly physical environment and basic ecology. Chapter five marks the change to a more formal biological approach starting with energy efficiency - most deep-ocean fauna are very energy-efficient as they have to live in very resource-poor areas. Chapter 6 onwards looks at specific areas of physiology and how this works at depth. Feeling and hearing are key elements because of the lack of light. Chemical messages can also prove to be very strong. Given the dark, the presence of complex eye structures might seem an anomaly but they are there to detect bioluminescence. This leads us to chapter 9 which notes that since some fauna can see there is a need for camouflage to go with the bioluminescence. Chapter 10 deals with reproduction - a difficult use of scarce energy at depth and a slow process. This leads on to the final chapter looking at biodiversity. We now know that the deep ocean is very variable: organism distributions reflect this. We also know that recolonisation is slow. The practical upshot of this is that we might be destroying an environment before we know how it operates and what it contains.
Overall this is a very interesting text. There's little that can be compared to it and so for the most part one is left like a stranger in a new town: it has the same components but we don't know how it's put together. Probably too difficult for schools but an excellent introduction for undergraduates and teachers wanting a better overview of this fascinating area.
Roger A Hinrichs and Merlin Kleinbach. Energy:
Its use and the Environment. 3e. Brooks/Cole. ISBN: 0 03 031834 3
Energy use is clearly one of the key issues of modern human-environment interactions. At the same time it is often described in simple terms without the physics of energy being much in evidence. Here, the authors have attempted to include all key aspects in one text. It starts with an overview of energy, what it is and how we use it (with many examples to support the ideas both in terms of the range of energy sources and our changing patterns of consumption through time). In common with the other chapters there are numerous illustrations and a range of text boxes highlighting key aspects. The chapter finishes with both web and text references and a series of questions (subsequent chapters add summaries, special topics and activities as well). Chapters two to four look at the physics of energy in terms of mechanics, conservation, heat and work. The overall aim is to give the reader the background knowledge. Chapter five looks at domestic energy. There's a discussion on energy use and conservation and a range of activities which could be used easily by a range of students. The next two chapters focus on different parts of energy production: solar energy and fossil fuels. One of the problems with energy use is the associated pollution. Chapter eight looks at general air pollution and this is followed by a discussion on the greenhouse effect. The book returns to a more physical approach with chapters devoted to electricity and its generation (both conventional and alternative). Next, nuclear power is tackled from the atom to the power station to the effects of radiation (both positive in terms of medicine and negative. Energy futures come under discussion with a chapter on fusion. Finally, there are two chapters looking at elements of renewable energy from biomass to geothermal. A last, brief chapter puts forward the authors' perspectives on the current energy scene.
The range of activities and questions would provide the teacher and student with great possibilities. The attempt to cover all the key aspects largely succeeds but the emphasis is firmly on physics rather than the environmental elements which have nowhere near enough coverage despite the book's subtitle. For the UK market its heavily US focus will prove to be a discouragement but there should easily be enough UK-centric data to compensate for this.
A. Rus Hoelzel (ed). Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary
Approach. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 0 632 05232 5
Marine mammals occupy an interesting position in ecology. Species come from diverse orders with little to connect them except the environment within which they live. It is probably for this reason (which tends to lead to similarities in adaptation to the marine environment) that they are studied as a unit. In this text, contributors bring together a wide range of research to provide a comprehensive overview.
The book starts with an overview of the diversity of the group. This diversity is most obvious in the physiological sense but extends to spatial elements as well. In this latter context it is very useful to see, albeit briefly, a study of comparative zoogeography - an area which is often under-represented in biogeography texts. Chapter two continues this introduction but with a focus on evolution. A useful outline of cladistics helps the beginner along with numerous illustrations. As noted above, it is the marine environment that unites the mammals. Chapter three takes a look at the way in which these diverse mammals have adapted. The similarities are striking. Aided by some excellent drawings we can appreciate the ways in which locomotion and metabolism is constrained by the water. The next three chapters form a group examining elements of mammal biology: neural development, sensory systems and sound production and reception. Marine environments provide different challenges for the development of these systems but research has shown that the response is more often similar than not. Of the three, the chapter on communication highlights best the challenges facing research in this area. Problems of finding mammals, getting time/money etc. are familiar to other research areas but the sheer difficulty of working in this environment heightens the problems. It also means that there appear to be ample research opportunities!. Chapter eight focusses on movement. The first aspect is to find and track the animals which puts radio work and tagging at the forefront of the work. From that, we are introduced to the range of movement types (for feeding, breeding, migrating etc.) and the way in which people have affected this. Feeding is one area where the general responses of the mammals appears least similar. Larger-bodied mammals such as whales have adapted to periods without food by storing blubber. This means that they can forage large areas with only a few food patches. In contrast, the smaller mammals have less reserves and need to hunt in more successful areas. As chapter nine forcefully reminds us, energy is a common currency in ecology. Whereas it might be less popular as a perspective in general ecology it is seen as vital in understanding marine systems. Larger mammals are conspicuous consumers of energy and have an impact on their surroundings. It is argued that to conserve these resources we need to know far more about the energetics of marine systems. Whales have made us very aware of the problems of population strategies in marine mammals. Being long-lived means that life histories and strategies need to be considered carefully especially if any form of exploitation is considered. To this must be added the need to understand population genetics (chapter 11). Chapter 12 turns to social ecology by examining the way in which groups interact. Chapter 13 reviews the work we have on problem solving and memory for marine mammals. Much of this work is on just two species - sea lion and bottlenose dolphin. Finally, we have a chapter dealing, briefly, with mammal conservation. This is a highly controversial area given the work of groups like the International Whaling Commission. In a too-brief chapter we are given the key aspects behind conservation.
This is a very well illustrated text dealing with a fascinating groups of animals. Although it is an advanced text (the 'introductory' nature alluded to being best for those with some biological training) there is much to gained for the beginner. There is a wealth of detail which could be used in many educational contexts making this book more of a reference aid than straight textbook. It provides information on mammal biology helpful in discussions about broader ecological aspects which cannot easily be found elsewhere.
International Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change
2001 - Synthesis Report. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0 521 01507
3
This is part of the third major set of publications from the International Panel on Climate Change. Since the first reports in 1990 the IPCC has established itself as the leading research group on climate change (see it's main website for example). As such it must be seen as one of the great global scientific co-operation exercises and its findings are rightly subject to media interest. Whilst this is only to be applauded there has been some difficulty in finding a depth of research better than newspapers and magazines and yet more accessible than the full set of reports (which was all that was previously available ).
The reader is greeted with a totally different report structure from that seen normally. Here, the emphasis is on answering some 9 key questions that were seen as central to the global warming debate: what constitutes dangerous anthropogenic interference; what changes can we see; what might happen in the future; what inertia is there against mitigation; what are the implications for stabilising emissions; how does climate interact with other issues and what are the main findings and question marks. Although the report expands upon these points in their work, even a casual glance can see that all key elements are being addressed. For the reader the two questions now must be what is actually put in the report and is there anything of significance that reduces the value of this synthesis. The book acts like a series of nested reports with each aspect adding detail to the previous one. We start with 34-page summary for policy makers. The intention is to distil the main elements of the report groups into a simple digest. The questions mentioned above are taken, in turn, and expanded upon. Thus question one, discussing what constitutes 'dangerous anthropogenic interference', is divided in turn into more specific elements. These are provided with commentaries and diagrams to explain the IPCCs views on the matter. Although these are not sufficient for detailed analysis they do provide the non-expert with a very accessible view of this complex matter. The diagrams and explanations would be easily understood by senior school students. The next stage of the book expands upon each of the questions mentioned in the summary. Greater analysis is given, more elements discussed and each major section has reference links to the three main reports. As with the summary, there are numerous diagrams and tables of data to provide information supporting the views put forward. The final stage is to provide a summary for each of the three Working Groups. They dealt with the scientific basis (for climate change); impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and mitigation. Within each of these reports is a brief summary for policymakers and a technical report. Neither of these uses the question format of the earlier parts of this book and so they can follow their own lines of enquiry. Finally, the annexes deal with authors, committee members etc.
The summary provides a wealth of detail but is it a better option than the separate reports? This answer here must be yes. This approach is novel but highly effective. It provides an overview without descending into too much generalisation whilst at the same time allowing those interested to follow up references to main reports (and presumably beyond that). The whole layout and style makes the text accessible and the glossary helps those just entering the study. It was not designed to help the expert but must be considered as a vital aid for those interested in the subject and those just about to start their study (on the same basis it would help workers in one field to see what is being considered elsewhere). Overall, this is an excellent text. The IPCC is to be congratulated for taking such an unusual step in producing the work in this manner. It deserves to be on every school and college library shelf.
Mark Z. Jacobson. Atmospheric Pollution. Cambridge
University Press. ISBN: 0 521 01044 6
Despite the considerable volume of material on air pollution topics there is still need to update ideas and/or present new perspectives. Whilst many new books focus on one or two topics there are fewer, like this one, that take a historical perspective. The summary suggesting this is "a comprehensive introduction to the history and science of air pollution issues" hints at the actual focus of the text. Chapter one certainly earns the history tag because it starts not with an introduction to air pollution but a brief history of the discovery of major atmospheric gases along with a few reactions and basic outline of atoms and molecules. This is followed by two chapters looking at the history of the structure and composition of the atmosphere. Chapter two takes an evolutionary view whilst chapter three brings it up to date. Chapter four starts to look at air pollution but again with a historical background although with the majority of the work commenting on current issues. From this point on the emphasis is much more on chemistry and the way in which fundamentals of the atmosphere affect pollution. For example, chapter five deals with aerosols: not just the anthropogenic side but the natural contribution of volcanoes etc. This is characteristic of the text - although the focus is pollution there are many attempts to show natural contributions as well. From this, we move to two, linked chapters. Chapter six looks at the way that meteorology affects air pollution using a range of scales from global (general circulation) to local (heat islands). The opposite viewpoint (chapter seven) is the way in which air pollution can affect meteorology which in this case means UV radiation and visibility. The remaining chapters take a common modern air pollution source. Smog has been a problem since before the C19th. but it is only in the last few decades that anything has been done both in the US (the main focus in case studies here) and elsewhere. Of more recent interest is the rise in indoor air pollution. Although once disregarded, the rise of better insulation and thermal efficiency has seen the ironic rise of air pollution. This is seen as a major problem (although that other common indoor pollution source, the car interior, isn't covered here). Acid deposition may be a less crucial topic today but that doesn't mean its gone away. There are still numerous studies being carried out and, as chapter 10 reminds us, new ideas of the topic. Thankfully, whilst chapter 11 looks at stratospheric ozone it fails to focus on the 'hole' preferring to refer far more accurately to the thinning. No air pollution text could be complete without global warming which, as chapter 12, ends this review of air pollution.
This is an interesting text. An unusual and welcome use of colour in this text shows it to be a US version for this publisher. This makes the key ideas stand out and the copious photographs help also. In addition, each chapter has a summary and a range of problems to solve which helps reinforce the ideas set out in the chapter. The mixing of natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution is welcomed: it is crucial that students appreciate the contribution of the human element in this topic. 'Natural' pollution can cause as many problems as human-induced sources. Also to be welcomed is the historical aspect. Although it is more obvious at the beginning it is useful to allow readers to appreciate the history of the subject before moving on to more complex developments. The US relationship has been mentioned but this should not be taken to mean a purely North American text. Examples are global and where the US is the focus it is balanced by a review from elsewhere (and anyway, anyone wanting local examples should have no trouble in locating them because there are very few unique studies mentioned). The only slight problem in this text is its notion of introductory. Here, it seems to be aimed at tertiary students wishing to learn more rather than school students. This leaves the book as a teacher's/graduates' text rather than for school students which is a pity because this pollution viewpoint is worth studying.
Andrew Jamison. The Making of Green Knowledge.
Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0 521 79687 3
How many of us reflect on the growth of environmental and ecological sciences and the social situations they engender? It's a question worth asking because there are too few books which try to see how we got to where we are rather than wondering about what's new in science and ideas. Of course, that's not to say that the latter are less useful because they are fundamental to the growth of our knowledge-base. It's just that the former texts are all too few and when they do arrive there are just a few of those with a sufficiently new perspective to make one stop and think.
This book falls in this category. It is more of a personal account with some theorising rather than a theoretical text grounded in personal history. This means that the reader is taken on a journey. It starts with the author leaving the United States at the height of the student unrest in the 1960s. This introduction charts not only a personal journey but also notes the changes in conceptual analysis at the time. Chapter two moves on to a far broader ground with a study of the way in which knowledge has been made. Here we see knowledge not as a laboratory by-product but as something determined by the 'cultural transformations' of society. The scope is quite far-ranging starting with Paracelsus and working through Marx to modern social ideas. Chapter three charts the rise of environmental movements since the 1960s. In keeping with the wide perspective developed by this author the text links science with the social and political movements it was associated with. Chapter four represents something of a departure for texts following social ideals: it argues for a distinct national approach to the environment. The central argument is that all nations have a different viewpoint of what makes 'environment', 'science', 'society' etc. are thus responses to environmental threats are mediated through these cultural filters rather than through an impartial global science. Chapter four moves on to look at the way in which business has been influenced by environmental ideas. It uses the case of the Greening Industry Network as an example. A European initiative, the GIN has been set up to bring together people from both business and environment using the concept of 'ecological modernisation' (which seems to be a 1990s pragmatic response to changes in business practice). This means that ideas of activism have shifted. As we see in chapter six the old ideals of the movement have been replaced. Activists can now be professionals in global organisations such as Greenpeace: old activists become new militants with changes in the political scene. A final few pages acts as a personal conclusion.
This text reads more like a personal story than an academic treatise and as such it is an extremely interesting read. It can be seen on many levels: as an approach to cultural movements and use of knowledge, as a historical interpretation of the development of modern environmental movements and as a description of one person's study. It is in the latter guise that it can be recommended. It is not designed as a political primer (there have been several excellent examples already published this year) but as a personal reflection. As such it should be seen as required reading for all undergraduates in this field to broaden their perspectives.
Peter J Jarvis. Ecological Principles and Environmental
Issues.Prentice Hall ISBN: 0 582 36971 1
One of the problems in starting any subject is getting an overview sufficiently detailed to make it a rigorous introduction whilst being clear enough for a beginner. Furthermore, it should aim to give a global coverage whilst still providing 'home' examples that the reader can relate to. Looking at this text one is reminded of the early days of senior school Environmental Studies ('A' level) when there were very few texts and the best was the amazing Population, Resources, Environment by Ehrlich and Ehrlich (Freeman 1972). It covered ground never seen before but its main drawback was its North American perspective. Since that time there have been numerous texts dealing with basic environmental ideas but very few have, in my opinion, stood up to "P,R,E".
It's into this market that Jarvis has aimed his text. The first chapter provides an overview of basic ecological principles and some key human responses. There is an immediate impact with the reader in that the concepts are not divorced from examples but rooted in real examples (in this case, SE Asian fires and El Niño). We start with a consideration of Gaia and systems ideas, move through the case study to look at global-scale ecological processes and key elements of environmental management. Throughout the chapter there are a series of text boxes which usually introduce some element of theory which can illuminate the study in the text. In chapter one this includes an excellent, brief summary of global biomes, Gaia hypothesis and basic taxonomy. The chapter ends with a set of references, questions (with answers), discussion topics and exercises. This momentum is continued in chapter two looking at food and energy. The summary provides the first overview and the case study, world food supply, leads into ecological feeding relationships. Like chapter one, there are both familiar and new studies mentioned. Here, it is the annual global copper cycle which makes cycling time an easier concept for the data it provides. Chapter three moves on to sustainability and pollution. Sustainability in this context is not the usual one of continued use but of ecological resilience in the face of disruption by pollution (which might confuse some readers). Chapter four sees another linking of unusual subjects - in this case species distribution and climate change. There is a good overview of the greenhouse effect (both natural and enhanced). Species distribution is introduced not as part of ecological theory, but as an aid to understanding the potential impact of altered climate. Chapter 5 looks at population growth with cases from world fishing and pest control. Much of this is standard work but its application again makes the reader think carefully about what is being said. Chapter 6 examines biodiversity and species richness. Much of the work mentioned is more advanced: readers are introduced to genetics and cladograms, conventions and genetic modification of crops. Chapter 7 is a good basic overview of conservation with main UK sites described and ecological concepts such as zonation outlined. Biological invasion is the topic for chapter 8 where ecological concepts such as resource axes are used to show how and why problems occur. The final chapter (a very brief few pages) puts forward some of the most pressing ideas for us and also produces a most unusual table highlighting the most important 50 terms in ecology (produced from BES research!).
Overall, this is a great text. Although there are a few minor omissions (a bigger list of web sites would be useful) these are insignificant compared to the majority of the book. It does what good texts should do: it engages the reader in an array of different cases and then gets the theory to fit in to explain how this is happening. Cases are truly global with just enough UK content to allow students to fit it into their own experiences. The writing style is good: there is an easy flow which takes the reader into the basic concepts of ecology without compromising science or talking down to the reader. Text boxes actually add a new dimension rather than be used as an overflow.
Our studies of the environment have increased dramatically in the 30 years since the Ehlich's book making modern writing so much more difficult. To synthesise the information and still make it accessible is no mean feat. Simply, this is one of the best texts that has been produced for a long time: a must-buy for both institutional and personal library.
Allan Jones, Robert Duck, Rob Reed and Jonathon Weyers. Practical Skills in Environmental Science. Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0 582 32873 X
There's a tendency to look upon environmental science as one of the poor relations of biology. Certainly in early environmental education there was a perspective that viewed (say) biology as a 'proper' science. This was also reflected in university offers of the time. Thankfully, all this has now changed with the huge growth of environmental science as a science in its own right (especially at further/higher education level) and the incorporation in school science syllabuses of environmental options (even if the school-based environmental science course is only a minority subject). Of course, at the time when there was this resistance to the new science there was very little understanding of the way in which such interdisciplinary work had to be carried out. It was always the case (now made explicit in texts like this) that the environmentalist had to tackle a far greater range of theoretical and practical concepts than had their 'pure' cousins.
Today, with practical work made more difficult we find that there is a need to outline the range of techniques with which one would need to be familiar. This book is an attempt to highlight the main elements. The 52 sections are grouped under 8 headings and cover the basics right from the start of the experiment to the communication of the results. The opening section looks at very basic principles that would be common to all field and laboratory work: safety, handling procedures, lab and field procedures and some introductory chemistry. Each topic has only a page or two devoted to it so the emphasis is on key facts and checklists. Sidebars and boxes add some vital aspects such as definitions, symbols and agreed procedures. Section two considers the way in which investigation should be carried out. This starts with really fundamental points - SI units, drawing, scientific method, note-taking and projects and outlines experimental design (including replicates). Section three is devoted to sampling methods and techniques from biological sampling through soils, rocks and fossils to air, water and questionnaires. Once you have the sample it is important to identify it. Section 5 looks at various identification techniques from keys to photography. Section 6 deals with the analysis of the identified material: percentage cover, photographic analysis and environmental impact analysis are given a part each with chemistry, air and soil analyses. The final three sections cover the most important part of any investigation: telling someone about it. Data analysis, information technology and writing are all given sections to describe key elements of their work. The authors should be congratulated for making communication the last stage in science rather than the results!
Any attempt to cover even the basics of a truly holistic science like environmentalism is fraught with difficulties. It is all too easy to attempt comprehensiveness on the one hand and lose depth on the other hand (and vice versa). This book falls between the two areas. It covers some areas well (sampling is a case in point) and some areas in depth (chemical analysis) but the coverage is uneven. Where this book does do an excellent job is in showing the intending student the range of ideas they need to become competent at. This should be seen as a directional text rather than a comprehensive guide.