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Advances in marine biology, volume 28
144
expensive.
BOOK REVIEWS
This must reflect the publishers
much in it to interest
belief that it has a narrow
a wide range of phycologists,
cell biologists,
appeal. There is
and microbiologists
in general. M. F. Turner Dunstaffnage P.O. Box 3
Marine
Laboratory,
Oban Argyll, PA34 4AD UK
Advances in Marine Biology, Volume 28, edited by J. H. S. Blaxter & A. J. Southward; Academic Press; 1992; 452 pp.; GBP 55.00; ISBN o-12-026128-6. The latest volume in the Advances in Marine Biology Series, Volume 28, consists of three reviews, two major and one smaller. The major reviews are on “Field investigations of the early life stages of marine fish” by M. R. Heath, and on “Biology of living brachiopods” by M. A. James and five other authors. The smaller review is on “The burrowing habit of marine gastropods” by E. R. Trueman & A. C. Brown. The review of larval and juvenile fish is very much based on the progress of field research, recognising that the motivation for such investigations is mainly for the assessment of adult spawning biomass and distribution. In many cases, the annual recruitment of new juveniles into the population is the most important process governing population fluctuations, and the factors affecting recruitment are therefore perceived to be of key importance. Despite approximately 100 years of research, the process of recruitment is still not well understood. The review examines sampling methodology, and field evidence for variability in growth, survival and behaviour of larvae in relation to biological and physical conditions. Finally, the hypotheses of “match-mismatch”, “member-vagrant” and “density-dependence” are considered, as well as several dircctions for future research. The biology of living brachiopods chapter is written by six authors, representing three continents, and is dedicated to Sir Alwyn Williams for his inspiring work on brachiopods. In comparison to the many thousands of fossil genera of brachiopods, there are now only 120 living genera, and many of those are rare. It is postulated that the phylum has indeed staged something of a revival since the mass extinction of the phylum some 245 million years ago. The reviewers have a long-standing collaboration in the biology of brachiopod populations found in the fjordic sea lochs of the west of Scotland, but they also cover other populations from the intertidal of New Zealand and North America down those living in the deep sea. The review covers morphology, reproduction and development, physiology and metabolism, ecology, and genetics and biochemical systematics, with a thorough review of an often ignored phylum.
BOOK REVIEWS
The third review, on the burrowing
145
habit of marine
gastropods,
its scope than the other two reviews, and covers the comparative burrowing
mechanisms,
evolution
and energetics
is more limited in functional
of the gastropods,
anatomy,
based mainly on
knowledge of Bulliu, Nutica and Terebra. For those studying the particular topics the reviews are invaluable records of the current state of knowledge, and provide clear indicators of future research possibilities. For others, the volume maintains the high standard regarded as essential for any marine science library. D. S. McLusky Department of Biological University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK
and Molecular
Sciences
of the series, and should be
expensive.
BOOK REVIEWS
This must reflect the publishers
much in it to interest
belief that it has a narrow
a wide range of phycologists,
cell biologists,
appeal. There is
and microbiologists
in general. M. F. Turner Dunstaffnage P.O. Box 3
Marine
Laboratory,
Oban Argyll, PA34 4AD UK
Advances in Marine Biology, Volume 28, edited by J. H. S. Blaxter & A. J. Southward; Academic Press; 1992; 452 pp.; GBP 55.00; ISBN o-12-026128-6. The latest volume in the Advances in Marine Biology Series, Volume 28, consists of three reviews, two major and one smaller. The major reviews are on “Field investigations of the early life stages of marine fish” by M. R. Heath, and on “Biology of living brachiopods” by M. A. James and five other authors. The smaller review is on “The burrowing habit of marine gastropods” by E. R. Trueman & A. C. Brown. The review of larval and juvenile fish is very much based on the progress of field research, recognising that the motivation for such investigations is mainly for the assessment of adult spawning biomass and distribution. In many cases, the annual recruitment of new juveniles into the population is the most important process governing population fluctuations, and the factors affecting recruitment are therefore perceived to be of key importance. Despite approximately 100 years of research, the process of recruitment is still not well understood. The review examines sampling methodology, and field evidence for variability in growth, survival and behaviour of larvae in relation to biological and physical conditions. Finally, the hypotheses of “match-mismatch”, “member-vagrant” and “density-dependence” are considered, as well as several dircctions for future research. The biology of living brachiopods chapter is written by six authors, representing three continents, and is dedicated to Sir Alwyn Williams for his inspiring work on brachiopods. In comparison to the many thousands of fossil genera of brachiopods, there are now only 120 living genera, and many of those are rare. It is postulated that the phylum has indeed staged something of a revival since the mass extinction of the phylum some 245 million years ago. The reviewers have a long-standing collaboration in the biology of brachiopod populations found in the fjordic sea lochs of the west of Scotland, but they also cover other populations from the intertidal of New Zealand and North America down those living in the deep sea. The review covers morphology, reproduction and development, physiology and metabolism, ecology, and genetics and biochemical systematics, with a thorough review of an often ignored phylum.
BOOK REVIEWS
The third review, on the burrowing
145
habit of marine
gastropods,
its scope than the other two reviews, and covers the comparative burrowing
mechanisms,
evolution
and energetics
is more limited in functional
of the gastropods,
anatomy,
based mainly on
knowledge of Bulliu, Nutica and Terebra. For those studying the particular topics the reviews are invaluable records of the current state of knowledge, and provide clear indicators of future research possibilities. For others, the volume maintains the high standard regarded as essential for any marine science library. D. S. McLusky Department of Biological University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK
and Molecular
Sciences
of the series, and should be