- Email: [email protected]
The silver lining: the benefits of natural disasters
522
Book re6iews
scription of the needs for the environmentally sound technologies for each of the sectors analyzed. The inclusion of bulleted problems and recommendations provides a general outline for issues that must be addressed before the successful transfer of new technologies can occur. A detailed look at the role of technology transfer in addressing climate change, the flow and quality of technology transfer, and the sectors analyzed is brought forward in the Technical Summary. For those who are interested in the general aspects of the issues covered in the book, the Technical Summary provides a good look at the problems faced. In Section I—‘Framework for Analysis: Technology Transfer to address Climate Change,’ the authors set the landscape for the discussion. Teams of international authors focus on major topics that include: (1) a framework for decision making; (2) financial resource flows; (3) international agreements and legal structures; (4) enabling environments for technology transfer; and (5) financing and partnerships. Each of these sections provides a detailed look into the complexity involved in transferring environmentally sound technologies for addressing climate change and provides potential solutions for achieving success of the transfer. Section II begins the analysis of the individual sectors that have been identified as affecting climate change. The introduction gives an overview of the sectoral analyses, criteria for determining effective technology transfer, and the outline used in the analysis of each section. The detailed analysis of individual sectors includes introductory discussions; a look at potential climate mitigation and adaptation technologies, the magnitude of current and future technology transfer and their limitations, technology transfer within a country, and technology transfer between countries; and a section on the lessons learned from those transfers. Overall, Methodological and technological issues in technology transfer is a beneficial addition to the literature that focuses on transfer of technologies associated with climate change. The detailed works of Sections I and II may be more than the
casual reader would be interested in; however, the Technical Summary would be valuable to any who are interested in the subject of climate change and development of environmentally sound technologies to alleviate the possible results of climate change. Each section of the book contains a superb reference list providing further resources on specific topics. I would recommend this book to policy-makers and ‘change agents’ who will be promoting adoption and implementation of environmentally sound technologies and to researchers and developers who focus on issues of climate change. William E. Fox Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M Uni6ersity, Texas Cooperati6e Extension, 2126 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 -2126, USA E-mail: [email protected] PII: S0925-8574(02)00002-2
The silver lining: the benefits of natural disasters Seth R. Reice, Princeton University Press, 2001, 218 pp. ISBN 0-691-05902-0; US$ 24.95 hardcover In this introductory look at disturbance ecology, Seth Reice incorporates his own research in stream ecology with well-known and publicized events (including the 1998 fires in Yellowstone National Park, the flooding of the Mississippi River in 1993, and Hurricane Fran of 1996) to illustrate the essential role of natural disturbances in ecosystems. The book is written in non-technical language and an easily accessible style, geared toward members of the general public with an interest in the principles and practices of ecology. In a narrative style reflecting a strong personal commitment to and belief in conservation, Reice offers an overview of the history, evolution, and
Book re6iews
current trends in disturbance ecology interlaced with his personal philosophies and policy recommendations. Ecological background contained in the first three chapters of the book includes descriptions of fundamental concepts such as niche and community structure, patchiness and recolonization, as well as equilibrium and non-equilibrium paradigms. Examples and explanations are drawn from both aquatic and terrestrial systems, illustrating the importance of disturbances to a wide variety of ecosystems. Reice also incorporates his experiences living in New York City to draw parallels between natural processes and aspects of big-city life, making the subject matter accessible and applicable to a wide audience. Chapter 4 is devoted to exploring the dynamics of fire-dependent systems and consequences of fire suppression, including a discussion of the policies of federal land management agencies. Systems included in the discussion are Jack pine boreal forests, long-leaf pine savannas, eucalyptus forests of Australia, and the southern California chaparral. As part of his discussion on chaparral systems, Reice brings up the controversial issue of homes being built in these highly fire-prone areas, proposing several mechanisms by which society could discourage the building of homes in chaparral. The contents of this chapter move the book away from scientific explanation of ecological phenomena to the expression of the personal convictions of the author. Chapter 5 gives in-depth consideration to the ecological importance of seasonal flood cycles in stream ecosystems. Introductory material includes a narrative description of 1993 flooding, followed by a brief history of Army Corps of Engineer attempts at flood control and government programs such as insurance subsidies to encourage building and agriculture in flood plain. Reice gives a thorough background for understanding flood cycles, including such basics as the definition of a watershed and description of stream networks and stream order, and goes on to illustrate the floodpulse concept. He discusses the Aswan High Dam as an example of the negative ecological consequences of damming large river systems, then offers thorough and well-rounded examples of three domestic river systems impacted by dams.
523
The last four chapters of the book are built around the author’s personal philosophies, and policy and lifestyle recommendations for a more environmentally sustainable society. Chapter 6 discusses the importance of biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services. A highlight of the chapter is the excellent non-technical explanation of the energy cycle. One weakness of the chapter is the cursory mention given to the difficulties associated with placing a monetary value on non-tangibles such as aesthetics. This ongoing struggle is arguably one of the most important issues facing conservation today, yet no mention is made of key concepts and methods in incorporating ecosystem services into economic and development analyses. The next chapter makes the important distinction between human-caused and natural disturbances, addressing fundamental issues of spatial and temporal scale of disturbance. While several current examples of human impacts on various ecosystems worldwide are well-presented, the apparent advocacy of a hands-off approach to solving these environmental challenges is concerning. Reice states that ‘‘If we just stop manipulating these impacted systems, the natural sequence of disturbance and succession will, in time, return the ecosystem to its natural state’’ (p. 178). Unless we are considering a geologic time scale rather than a human one, the validity of this statement is questionable. Two concepts notably lacking from the discussion in this book are the role of exotic species and transition thresholds in disturbance ecology, particularly in restoring disturbed areas. Both of these concepts seem necessary for an understanding of disturbance, and both offer reasons to refute the above statement. One well-known example is the proliferation of the annual weedy species cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in the sagebrush steppes of the Great Basin/Intermountain West, formerly dominated by native perennial bunchgrasses. The conversion of the herbaceous understory to an exotic annual has caused enormous change in all aspects of these ecosystems, and any hope of returning them to their ‘‘natural state’’ will require tremendous amounts of manipulation. This is the case in any severely altered ecosystem where one or more transition thresholds have been crossed; these
524
Book re6iews
areas require much more than letting fires burn or removing a dam. An understanding of the importance of disturbance and the cyclic and changing nature of ecosystems is certainly important, but should be complemented by an understanding of the need for continued management in disturbed areas. In the first half of the final chapter, the Everglades ecosystem is used as a synthesis example to pull together disturbance concepts discussed throughout the book. The remainder of the chapter and the epilogue focus on examples of recent encouraging societal changes that are moving toward a more ecologically sustainable development ethic, and specific suggestions of policy and development directions to work toward what Reice terms an ‘‘ecological worldview’’. Examples of these suggestions include changing federal flood insurance policies, continuing changes in fire management, decommissioning dams, and limiting development in fire-prone ecosystems as well as coastal areas and floodplains. While this book is not exhaustive in its consideration of issues surrounding disturbance ecology, and it does not address some important concepts, it is a good introduction to the subject for the general public and meets the goal of describing the essential role of disturbances to healthy ecosystems and sustainable development by humans. Reice clearly describes concepts including nutrient and energy cycling to make them accessible to a wide audience, and makes effective use of both highly publicized and lesser-known examples. His convictions and commitment to conservation are described with clarity and passion, drawing on personal and research experience. Perhaps the most important potential of this book is to inspire further interest in and understanding of the ecology and policy implications of natural and humancaused disturbance. Chandra Heaton P.O. Box 156, Girdwood, AK 99587, USA PII: S 0 9 2 5 - 8 5 7 4 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 0 3 - 4
Wetlands William J. Mitsch, James G. Gosselink; third ed., Wiley, NewYork, 2000, 920 pages, hardcover, ISBN 0-471-29232-X, US $90 Anyone involved in the science or management of wetlands should be familiar with ‘‘Wetlands’’ by Mitsch and Gosselink. Since 1986, this book has been the foundation of numerous courses and research projects around the world. I was introduced to the 1st Edition of ‘‘Wetlands’’ as an undergraduate working in the tidal creeks of North Inlet, SC. To a young ecologist, the hydrology and biogeochemistry chapters provided a great primer on the importance of hydrologic energy and hydroperiod in governing the unique characteristics of wetland soils. As an M.S. candidate, I studied the ecology and management of wetlands from the 2nd Edition and continued using it as a resource throughout my dissertation research, as it continued to remain one of the best syntheses of wetland literature. This past semester, I taught a graduate course on Wetland Ecology using the most recent (3rd) edition of this book. Needless to say, I have witnessed the advancement of this field over the past decade through direct experience and through this everevolving (and expanding!) textbook. Without going into too much detail about what remains from the previous edition, suffice it to say that the 3rd Edition maintains the basic organizational structure of the 2nd Edition. The book is divided into five parts, each containing three to six chapters. Part I contains an introduction to the wetland environment, definitions, and examples of wetlands from around the world. The chapters in Part II cover the important forcing functions in wetlands and the biotic adaptations to them. Parts III and IV are dedicated to the major categories of coastal and inland wetland systems, respectively. Lastly, Part V is devoted to a variety of applied wetland science and management issues. Overall, this organization scheme seems beneficial to scientists and managers alike, as both sections and chapters are effectively segregated along issues of science (pure and applied) and management (policy and implementation). From an academic perspective, this facilitates the
Book re6iews
scription of the needs for the environmentally sound technologies for each of the sectors analyzed. The inclusion of bulleted problems and recommendations provides a general outline for issues that must be addressed before the successful transfer of new technologies can occur. A detailed look at the role of technology transfer in addressing climate change, the flow and quality of technology transfer, and the sectors analyzed is brought forward in the Technical Summary. For those who are interested in the general aspects of the issues covered in the book, the Technical Summary provides a good look at the problems faced. In Section I—‘Framework for Analysis: Technology Transfer to address Climate Change,’ the authors set the landscape for the discussion. Teams of international authors focus on major topics that include: (1) a framework for decision making; (2) financial resource flows; (3) international agreements and legal structures; (4) enabling environments for technology transfer; and (5) financing and partnerships. Each of these sections provides a detailed look into the complexity involved in transferring environmentally sound technologies for addressing climate change and provides potential solutions for achieving success of the transfer. Section II begins the analysis of the individual sectors that have been identified as affecting climate change. The introduction gives an overview of the sectoral analyses, criteria for determining effective technology transfer, and the outline used in the analysis of each section. The detailed analysis of individual sectors includes introductory discussions; a look at potential climate mitigation and adaptation technologies, the magnitude of current and future technology transfer and their limitations, technology transfer within a country, and technology transfer between countries; and a section on the lessons learned from those transfers. Overall, Methodological and technological issues in technology transfer is a beneficial addition to the literature that focuses on transfer of technologies associated with climate change. The detailed works of Sections I and II may be more than the
casual reader would be interested in; however, the Technical Summary would be valuable to any who are interested in the subject of climate change and development of environmentally sound technologies to alleviate the possible results of climate change. Each section of the book contains a superb reference list providing further resources on specific topics. I would recommend this book to policy-makers and ‘change agents’ who will be promoting adoption and implementation of environmentally sound technologies and to researchers and developers who focus on issues of climate change. William E. Fox Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M Uni6ersity, Texas Cooperati6e Extension, 2126 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 -2126, USA E-mail: [email protected] PII: S0925-8574(02)00002-2
The silver lining: the benefits of natural disasters Seth R. Reice, Princeton University Press, 2001, 218 pp. ISBN 0-691-05902-0; US$ 24.95 hardcover In this introductory look at disturbance ecology, Seth Reice incorporates his own research in stream ecology with well-known and publicized events (including the 1998 fires in Yellowstone National Park, the flooding of the Mississippi River in 1993, and Hurricane Fran of 1996) to illustrate the essential role of natural disturbances in ecosystems. The book is written in non-technical language and an easily accessible style, geared toward members of the general public with an interest in the principles and practices of ecology. In a narrative style reflecting a strong personal commitment to and belief in conservation, Reice offers an overview of the history, evolution, and
Book re6iews
current trends in disturbance ecology interlaced with his personal philosophies and policy recommendations. Ecological background contained in the first three chapters of the book includes descriptions of fundamental concepts such as niche and community structure, patchiness and recolonization, as well as equilibrium and non-equilibrium paradigms. Examples and explanations are drawn from both aquatic and terrestrial systems, illustrating the importance of disturbances to a wide variety of ecosystems. Reice also incorporates his experiences living in New York City to draw parallels between natural processes and aspects of big-city life, making the subject matter accessible and applicable to a wide audience. Chapter 4 is devoted to exploring the dynamics of fire-dependent systems and consequences of fire suppression, including a discussion of the policies of federal land management agencies. Systems included in the discussion are Jack pine boreal forests, long-leaf pine savannas, eucalyptus forests of Australia, and the southern California chaparral. As part of his discussion on chaparral systems, Reice brings up the controversial issue of homes being built in these highly fire-prone areas, proposing several mechanisms by which society could discourage the building of homes in chaparral. The contents of this chapter move the book away from scientific explanation of ecological phenomena to the expression of the personal convictions of the author. Chapter 5 gives in-depth consideration to the ecological importance of seasonal flood cycles in stream ecosystems. Introductory material includes a narrative description of 1993 flooding, followed by a brief history of Army Corps of Engineer attempts at flood control and government programs such as insurance subsidies to encourage building and agriculture in flood plain. Reice gives a thorough background for understanding flood cycles, including such basics as the definition of a watershed and description of stream networks and stream order, and goes on to illustrate the floodpulse concept. He discusses the Aswan High Dam as an example of the negative ecological consequences of damming large river systems, then offers thorough and well-rounded examples of three domestic river systems impacted by dams.
523
The last four chapters of the book are built around the author’s personal philosophies, and policy and lifestyle recommendations for a more environmentally sustainable society. Chapter 6 discusses the importance of biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services. A highlight of the chapter is the excellent non-technical explanation of the energy cycle. One weakness of the chapter is the cursory mention given to the difficulties associated with placing a monetary value on non-tangibles such as aesthetics. This ongoing struggle is arguably one of the most important issues facing conservation today, yet no mention is made of key concepts and methods in incorporating ecosystem services into economic and development analyses. The next chapter makes the important distinction between human-caused and natural disturbances, addressing fundamental issues of spatial and temporal scale of disturbance. While several current examples of human impacts on various ecosystems worldwide are well-presented, the apparent advocacy of a hands-off approach to solving these environmental challenges is concerning. Reice states that ‘‘If we just stop manipulating these impacted systems, the natural sequence of disturbance and succession will, in time, return the ecosystem to its natural state’’ (p. 178). Unless we are considering a geologic time scale rather than a human one, the validity of this statement is questionable. Two concepts notably lacking from the discussion in this book are the role of exotic species and transition thresholds in disturbance ecology, particularly in restoring disturbed areas. Both of these concepts seem necessary for an understanding of disturbance, and both offer reasons to refute the above statement. One well-known example is the proliferation of the annual weedy species cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in the sagebrush steppes of the Great Basin/Intermountain West, formerly dominated by native perennial bunchgrasses. The conversion of the herbaceous understory to an exotic annual has caused enormous change in all aspects of these ecosystems, and any hope of returning them to their ‘‘natural state’’ will require tremendous amounts of manipulation. This is the case in any severely altered ecosystem where one or more transition thresholds have been crossed; these
524
Book re6iews
areas require much more than letting fires burn or removing a dam. An understanding of the importance of disturbance and the cyclic and changing nature of ecosystems is certainly important, but should be complemented by an understanding of the need for continued management in disturbed areas. In the first half of the final chapter, the Everglades ecosystem is used as a synthesis example to pull together disturbance concepts discussed throughout the book. The remainder of the chapter and the epilogue focus on examples of recent encouraging societal changes that are moving toward a more ecologically sustainable development ethic, and specific suggestions of policy and development directions to work toward what Reice terms an ‘‘ecological worldview’’. Examples of these suggestions include changing federal flood insurance policies, continuing changes in fire management, decommissioning dams, and limiting development in fire-prone ecosystems as well as coastal areas and floodplains. While this book is not exhaustive in its consideration of issues surrounding disturbance ecology, and it does not address some important concepts, it is a good introduction to the subject for the general public and meets the goal of describing the essential role of disturbances to healthy ecosystems and sustainable development by humans. Reice clearly describes concepts including nutrient and energy cycling to make them accessible to a wide audience, and makes effective use of both highly publicized and lesser-known examples. His convictions and commitment to conservation are described with clarity and passion, drawing on personal and research experience. Perhaps the most important potential of this book is to inspire further interest in and understanding of the ecology and policy implications of natural and humancaused disturbance. Chandra Heaton P.O. Box 156, Girdwood, AK 99587, USA PII: S 0 9 2 5 - 8 5 7 4 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 0 3 - 4
Wetlands William J. Mitsch, James G. Gosselink; third ed., Wiley, NewYork, 2000, 920 pages, hardcover, ISBN 0-471-29232-X, US $90 Anyone involved in the science or management of wetlands should be familiar with ‘‘Wetlands’’ by Mitsch and Gosselink. Since 1986, this book has been the foundation of numerous courses and research projects around the world. I was introduced to the 1st Edition of ‘‘Wetlands’’ as an undergraduate working in the tidal creeks of North Inlet, SC. To a young ecologist, the hydrology and biogeochemistry chapters provided a great primer on the importance of hydrologic energy and hydroperiod in governing the unique characteristics of wetland soils. As an M.S. candidate, I studied the ecology and management of wetlands from the 2nd Edition and continued using it as a resource throughout my dissertation research, as it continued to remain one of the best syntheses of wetland literature. This past semester, I taught a graduate course on Wetland Ecology using the most recent (3rd) edition of this book. Needless to say, I have witnessed the advancement of this field over the past decade through direct experience and through this everevolving (and expanding!) textbook. Without going into too much detail about what remains from the previous edition, suffice it to say that the 3rd Edition maintains the basic organizational structure of the 2nd Edition. The book is divided into five parts, each containing three to six chapters. Part I contains an introduction to the wetland environment, definitions, and examples of wetlands from around the world. The chapters in Part II cover the important forcing functions in wetlands and the biotic adaptations to them. Parts III and IV are dedicated to the major categories of coastal and inland wetland systems, respectively. Lastly, Part V is devoted to a variety of applied wetland science and management issues. Overall, this organization scheme seems beneficial to scientists and managers alike, as both sections and chapters are effectively segregated along issues of science (pure and applied) and management (policy and implementation). From an academic perspective, this facilitates the