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Applied Geomorphology — A Perspective of the Contribution of Geomorphology to Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Management
247
Successive chapters deal with the twelve classes, which are distinguished according to the evolution and differentiation of the profile, the nature of the weathering and formation of clays, and the basic physico-chemical processes which are dependent on the nature of the organic-mineral complexes: weakly developed soils, humiferous desaturated soils with weak differentiation, calci-magnesic soils, isohumic soils, vertisols, brown soils (sols "brunifi~s"), podzolic softs, hydromorphic soils, fersiallitic soils, ferrugenic softs (sols ferrugineux), ferallitic soils, salsodic soils. For every class, the ecology, the profile morphology and the assumed processes of evolution are discussed, including available data on biochemistry and geochemistry. The lower levels of the classification of every class is explained, as well as some data on agronomy. The exposed system of classification is especially a theoretical description and construction of the soils and their evolution in relation with the natural environment. Objective and easily measurable data or limits allowing to clearly distinguish the different subdivisions are n o t always given. This b o o k is in the first place an expression of the French research in pedogenesis and soil classification, with the accent on the "naturalistic" point of view. No complicated deductions or computations are made, and the b o o k is understandable for all those with a normal general background. Printing and presentation are very good; drawings are clear and n o t overloaded, so that they may be understood easily. The fluent style makes it a pleasant reading and the b o o k may be recommanded to all soil scientists with sufficient knowledge of French, especially those interested in a study of the relation soil--environment. FRANS DE CONINCK {Ghent)
Applied Geomorphology -- A Perspective o f the Contribution o f Geomorphology to Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Management. John R. Hafts (Editor). Elsevier, Amsterdam and New York, 1977, xv + 418 pp., US $39.95, Dfl.98.00. The nine chapters of this book, of a b o u t 40 pages each, were written by seven contributors from England and Australia and one from America. The b o o k deserves attention as a useful and updated review, with 850 references, of geomorphology applied to the solution of environmental projects and management. John Hails suggests in the preface that applied geomorphology is principally concerned with monitoring and predicting landform and process changes. Yet in all of the chapters the authors readily concede that the practitioners are still far from being able to formulate principles or rules amenable to the prediction of process changes for landform management. Empirical decisions generally prevail, largely dependent on the training and experience of the practitioner.
248
Of the nine chapters, three deal with important process domains in geomorphology: rock weathering, soil mechanics, and fluvial processes. Only the one on fluvial processes attempts to develop systematically parametric and functional relationships for use in predicting geomorphic behaviour and change. Schumm, in one of the best chapters of the b o o k (Ch. 4) also lists the principles on which applied fluvial geomorphology should be based: landscapes are dynamic; changes are usually complex; geomorphic thresholds result in abrupt changes. Unfortunately, few of the other authors tried to develop similar general principles or functional relationships. Chandler (Ch. 5) provides a review of soil mechanics methods which are useful in the study of slopes, b u t he readily admits that much still remains to be learned before the stability of a particular slope can be accurately predicted. The opening chapter by Ollier (Ch. 1) is a broad review of rock weathering and of economic weathering products. He focuses attention on what various other applies fields have contributed to the knowledge of weathering, thus stressing the interdisciplinary nature of weathering studies. Ollier also reviews terrain classification (Ch. 8), a geomorphic tool of potential value and use in many applied geomorphic studies. He mentions its value in soil survey, stressing that landform mapping prior to or in conjunction with soil mapping will result in better and speedier surveys. When discussing the value of geomorphic studies in irrigation and groundwater projects, Currey (Ch. 2) also points out the benefits of reconnaissance surveys to recognize geomorphic units; but eventually the detailed, problem oriented, special purpose survey becomes decisive in project execution. The remaining four chapters by Derbyshire, Cooke, Smith, and Hails each deal with a specific environment (periglacial, desert, karst, coast) and essentially use the method of case history reviews to present their case. They all stress that geomorphological studies, in all their aspects, provide an essential foundation for the understanding of the functioning of the system and a baseline datum which will be needed by developers, users, and in manegement decisions. Yet the knowledge of the complex field relationships and interactions remains inadequate for purposes of predictive modelling. The omission of a chapter on the behaviour and responses of tropical landscape systems and a mention of the geomorphic tectonic analysis, as practiced for example by W.B. Bull, is puzzling. The necessity of predicting landform behaviour and responses to man's manipulation of the land arose acutely from the ever increasing economic activities. There is no d o u b t that geomorphology has much to offer in the decision making process for proper environmental management, but it seems that so far it has largely failed to show how geomorphic conclusions can be projected in a form which are of direct value to applied projects. Even if this b o o k implies mainly by analogy how some problems can be averted or resolved, it serves its purpose by focusing attention to the questions
249
encountered, thus bridging a few of the gaps in communication. Earth scientists and decision makers should be aware of it. The book is nicely produced, but rather expensive. D.H. YAALON (Jerusalem)
Soil Organisms as Components of Ecosystems. Proc. VI International Soil Zoology Colloquium, Uppsala, June 1976. U. Lohm and T. Persson (Editors). Ecological Bulletins, 25. NFR (Swedish Natural Science Res. Council), Stockholm, 1977, 614 pp., Sw. Cr. 140.00 (about $ 31.00). This 614 page book is divided into five unequal sections: 14 papers (including the Chairman's introduction) on the topic of c o m m u n i t y structure and niche separation in the soil system; 16 papers on the role of soil organisms in nutrient cycling; 13 papers on plant roots in the soil system; 8 papers on models of soil organisms and their environment; 41 contributions to the poster session, and a closing section consisting of two surveys by Ghilarov and Satchell. 12 papers and 4 poster contributions are in French, 2 papers and 1 poster contribution are in German, the rest is in English. The Editors seem to have had some trouble with the French papers, where several misprints, and one curious substitution of 'puisque' for 'peut' on p. 363, have been noted. The range of topics is astonishing. Dindal and Levitan write on invertebrates in composting toilet systems. Ushatinskaya notes that about on~ Colorado beetle in 130 may undergo diapause for as long as three years (superpause). This finding raises once again the neglected ecological and genetic role of rare but exceptional individuals in a population. Perfect et al. note that the prolonged use of DDT in Nigeria may be associated with a decline in crop yields. Loquet and Dupont compare the activities of the marine polychaete Nereis in reworking estuarine sediments with those of earthworms on land, w i t h o u t even mentioning Arenicola, an extraordinary comparison which was perhaps made to justify inclusion of their Nereis work in a book on soil organisms. Soil biology has evidently grown in strength over the past few decades, and this volume contains enough good papers to inspire confidence that real progress is being made. Particularly encouraging is the authority of the papers on earthworm biology under the leadership of Bouch~ whose immense drive and energy have done so much to promote this topic. Another subject that is beginning to flourish in soil biology is mathematical modelling, in which Berthet's work and influence are evident. I was pleased to see Leslie matrix modelling given an airing in this context. A measure of association between individuals allowing for a distinction between interspecific and intraspecific segregation is a welcome addition to the list of such measures; it employs estimates of the actual positions of
Successive chapters deal with the twelve classes, which are distinguished according to the evolution and differentiation of the profile, the nature of the weathering and formation of clays, and the basic physico-chemical processes which are dependent on the nature of the organic-mineral complexes: weakly developed soils, humiferous desaturated soils with weak differentiation, calci-magnesic soils, isohumic soils, vertisols, brown soils (sols "brunifi~s"), podzolic softs, hydromorphic soils, fersiallitic soils, ferrugenic softs (sols ferrugineux), ferallitic soils, salsodic soils. For every class, the ecology, the profile morphology and the assumed processes of evolution are discussed, including available data on biochemistry and geochemistry. The lower levels of the classification of every class is explained, as well as some data on agronomy. The exposed system of classification is especially a theoretical description and construction of the soils and their evolution in relation with the natural environment. Objective and easily measurable data or limits allowing to clearly distinguish the different subdivisions are n o t always given. This b o o k is in the first place an expression of the French research in pedogenesis and soil classification, with the accent on the "naturalistic" point of view. No complicated deductions or computations are made, and the b o o k is understandable for all those with a normal general background. Printing and presentation are very good; drawings are clear and n o t overloaded, so that they may be understood easily. The fluent style makes it a pleasant reading and the b o o k may be recommanded to all soil scientists with sufficient knowledge of French, especially those interested in a study of the relation soil--environment. FRANS DE CONINCK {Ghent)
Applied Geomorphology -- A Perspective o f the Contribution o f Geomorphology to Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Management. John R. Hafts (Editor). Elsevier, Amsterdam and New York, 1977, xv + 418 pp., US $39.95, Dfl.98.00. The nine chapters of this book, of a b o u t 40 pages each, were written by seven contributors from England and Australia and one from America. The b o o k deserves attention as a useful and updated review, with 850 references, of geomorphology applied to the solution of environmental projects and management. John Hails suggests in the preface that applied geomorphology is principally concerned with monitoring and predicting landform and process changes. Yet in all of the chapters the authors readily concede that the practitioners are still far from being able to formulate principles or rules amenable to the prediction of process changes for landform management. Empirical decisions generally prevail, largely dependent on the training and experience of the practitioner.
248
Of the nine chapters, three deal with important process domains in geomorphology: rock weathering, soil mechanics, and fluvial processes. Only the one on fluvial processes attempts to develop systematically parametric and functional relationships for use in predicting geomorphic behaviour and change. Schumm, in one of the best chapters of the b o o k (Ch. 4) also lists the principles on which applied fluvial geomorphology should be based: landscapes are dynamic; changes are usually complex; geomorphic thresholds result in abrupt changes. Unfortunately, few of the other authors tried to develop similar general principles or functional relationships. Chandler (Ch. 5) provides a review of soil mechanics methods which are useful in the study of slopes, b u t he readily admits that much still remains to be learned before the stability of a particular slope can be accurately predicted. The opening chapter by Ollier (Ch. 1) is a broad review of rock weathering and of economic weathering products. He focuses attention on what various other applies fields have contributed to the knowledge of weathering, thus stressing the interdisciplinary nature of weathering studies. Ollier also reviews terrain classification (Ch. 8), a geomorphic tool of potential value and use in many applied geomorphic studies. He mentions its value in soil survey, stressing that landform mapping prior to or in conjunction with soil mapping will result in better and speedier surveys. When discussing the value of geomorphic studies in irrigation and groundwater projects, Currey (Ch. 2) also points out the benefits of reconnaissance surveys to recognize geomorphic units; but eventually the detailed, problem oriented, special purpose survey becomes decisive in project execution. The remaining four chapters by Derbyshire, Cooke, Smith, and Hails each deal with a specific environment (periglacial, desert, karst, coast) and essentially use the method of case history reviews to present their case. They all stress that geomorphological studies, in all their aspects, provide an essential foundation for the understanding of the functioning of the system and a baseline datum which will be needed by developers, users, and in manegement decisions. Yet the knowledge of the complex field relationships and interactions remains inadequate for purposes of predictive modelling. The omission of a chapter on the behaviour and responses of tropical landscape systems and a mention of the geomorphic tectonic analysis, as practiced for example by W.B. Bull, is puzzling. The necessity of predicting landform behaviour and responses to man's manipulation of the land arose acutely from the ever increasing economic activities. There is no d o u b t that geomorphology has much to offer in the decision making process for proper environmental management, but it seems that so far it has largely failed to show how geomorphic conclusions can be projected in a form which are of direct value to applied projects. Even if this b o o k implies mainly by analogy how some problems can be averted or resolved, it serves its purpose by focusing attention to the questions
249
encountered, thus bridging a few of the gaps in communication. Earth scientists and decision makers should be aware of it. The book is nicely produced, but rather expensive. D.H. YAALON (Jerusalem)
Soil Organisms as Components of Ecosystems. Proc. VI International Soil Zoology Colloquium, Uppsala, June 1976. U. Lohm and T. Persson (Editors). Ecological Bulletins, 25. NFR (Swedish Natural Science Res. Council), Stockholm, 1977, 614 pp., Sw. Cr. 140.00 (about $ 31.00). This 614 page book is divided into five unequal sections: 14 papers (including the Chairman's introduction) on the topic of c o m m u n i t y structure and niche separation in the soil system; 16 papers on the role of soil organisms in nutrient cycling; 13 papers on plant roots in the soil system; 8 papers on models of soil organisms and their environment; 41 contributions to the poster session, and a closing section consisting of two surveys by Ghilarov and Satchell. 12 papers and 4 poster contributions are in French, 2 papers and 1 poster contribution are in German, the rest is in English. The Editors seem to have had some trouble with the French papers, where several misprints, and one curious substitution of 'puisque' for 'peut' on p. 363, have been noted. The range of topics is astonishing. Dindal and Levitan write on invertebrates in composting toilet systems. Ushatinskaya notes that about on~ Colorado beetle in 130 may undergo diapause for as long as three years (superpause). This finding raises once again the neglected ecological and genetic role of rare but exceptional individuals in a population. Perfect et al. note that the prolonged use of DDT in Nigeria may be associated with a decline in crop yields. Loquet and Dupont compare the activities of the marine polychaete Nereis in reworking estuarine sediments with those of earthworms on land, w i t h o u t even mentioning Arenicola, an extraordinary comparison which was perhaps made to justify inclusion of their Nereis work in a book on soil organisms. Soil biology has evidently grown in strength over the past few decades, and this volume contains enough good papers to inspire confidence that real progress is being made. Particularly encouraging is the authority of the papers on earthworm biology under the leadership of Bouch~ whose immense drive and energy have done so much to promote this topic. Another subject that is beginning to flourish in soil biology is mathematical modelling, in which Berthet's work and influence are evident. I was pleased to see Leslie matrix modelling given an airing in this context. A measure of association between individuals allowing for a distinction between interspecific and intraspecific segregation is a welcome addition to the list of such measures; it employs estimates of the actual positions of