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Aims and methods of vegetation ecology
158
book the y o u n g reader might almost be forgiven for imagining that prior to the introduction of synthetic pesticides in the 1940's there was a golden age when the world's crops suffered negligible insect damage. One of the most valuable aspects of this stimulating b o o k is the overwhelming case which is made for a great expansion in properly directed research into the ecological implications of control procedures. The author anticipates that the o u t c o m e of this research will be that the manipulation of natural enemies will be paramount in the future regulation of pest populations. The student and general reader, at whom this b o o k is aimed, should n o t be misled into thinking that a totally non-chemical solution to any particular pest problem already exists, or indeed will inevitably be found. It is h o p e d that they will add their voices to the clamour for more resources to be devoted to essential research, rather than to the purely negative opposition to the use of all pesticides under any circumstances which has become so fashionable in recent years. J O H N B. F O R D
(Bangor, Great Britain)
VEGETATION ECOLOGY
Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. D. Mueller-Dombois and H. Ellenberg. John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., 1974, 547 pp., 57 figures, 45 tables, £ 7.40. Vegetation provides the matrix to ecosystems not only through its sheer biomass and production b u t also by the spatial arrangement and temporal behaviour of the constituent plant species. The study of plant communities indeed precedes any worthwhile analysis of the ecosystem. The field worker is frequently baffled by the diversity of approaches and levels of resolution presented by the methodologies given in the literature produced in different countries. For instance, an amateur ecologist in India, prior to Braun-Blanquet's text on phytosociology as translated by Fuller and Conrad, had no option b u t to play with the methods evolved by the Anglo-American School for analysing plant communities. The situation improved thereafter (1932) and there has since been a great interaction among the ecologists all over the world. The result produced a plethora of techniques. An updated synthesis of these became necessary for saving the labour and time of field workers. Hence, the b o o k under review is very opportune and a boon to field workers as it discusses the applicability of the methods in relation to time and space besides "creating options for specific questions rather than as rigid tools for any situation" (p. 121). It is a successful synthesis of the diverse approaches
159
for studying vegetational phenomena. The synthesis is n o t merely an amalgamation of the methods developed in different parts of the world b u t presents elaboration and refinement of these. Indeed sometimes, it appears that ecologists of different periods were doing the same thing under the cover of jargons so confusing to many. The inclusion in the b o o k of a few tables presenting raw data makes the grasp of the subject easy and lucid. The contents of the first part of the b o o k follow a logical arrangement of the basic concepts of plant communities and sampling considerations. The second part deals with the techniques of sampling. The third part is based on structure, classification, ordination and mathematical treatment of the raw data. The fourth part is a discussion of the patterns of plant communities in relation to habitats, time and space, and the technique of mapping the parameters. In the final part some useful conclusions are given and the future development of ecology is envisaged in the light of methodologies at different levels of sophistication. A few appendices to the volume give classification of life forms and plant formations, mapping air photograph mosaics and a key for mapping forest types besides giving an example of a punch card of an European forest relev~ for hand sorting on an illuminator. There is considerable input in the text of examples of vegetation of different parts of the world including the tropics, which the authors were privileged to study intensively. This feature renders the b o o k useful to all regions. The style of presentation is a mixture of both a critical evaluation of the selected techniques and compromises made between different approaches. But the language is easy, fluent and lucid. The publishers have done a good j o b in giving a suitable format and excellent type print to render it less strenuous to the eyes. It is hoped that there will be a great demand for the b o o k from libraries, universities, research institutes and individual workers. It will be indispensable to foresters and range managers. The following mistakes may be corrected in the book. (Perhaps the usual confusion of American and English spellings is unavoidable): p. 50, fig. 5.1 legend: "uneven numbered subplots are square, even numbered ones are rectangular" should read the reverse; p. 119, first line: omission of a line above the denominator; p. 119, para. 2: the total of 100% is missing at the end; p. 443, para. 5, last line: "persued" should read "pursued"; p. 450, Bb read " C r y p t o g a m s " for "Crytogams". R. M I S R A
(Varanasi, India)
book the y o u n g reader might almost be forgiven for imagining that prior to the introduction of synthetic pesticides in the 1940's there was a golden age when the world's crops suffered negligible insect damage. One of the most valuable aspects of this stimulating b o o k is the overwhelming case which is made for a great expansion in properly directed research into the ecological implications of control procedures. The author anticipates that the o u t c o m e of this research will be that the manipulation of natural enemies will be paramount in the future regulation of pest populations. The student and general reader, at whom this b o o k is aimed, should n o t be misled into thinking that a totally non-chemical solution to any particular pest problem already exists, or indeed will inevitably be found. It is h o p e d that they will add their voices to the clamour for more resources to be devoted to essential research, rather than to the purely negative opposition to the use of all pesticides under any circumstances which has become so fashionable in recent years. J O H N B. F O R D
(Bangor, Great Britain)
VEGETATION ECOLOGY
Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. D. Mueller-Dombois and H. Ellenberg. John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., 1974, 547 pp., 57 figures, 45 tables, £ 7.40. Vegetation provides the matrix to ecosystems not only through its sheer biomass and production b u t also by the spatial arrangement and temporal behaviour of the constituent plant species. The study of plant communities indeed precedes any worthwhile analysis of the ecosystem. The field worker is frequently baffled by the diversity of approaches and levels of resolution presented by the methodologies given in the literature produced in different countries. For instance, an amateur ecologist in India, prior to Braun-Blanquet's text on phytosociology as translated by Fuller and Conrad, had no option b u t to play with the methods evolved by the Anglo-American School for analysing plant communities. The situation improved thereafter (1932) and there has since been a great interaction among the ecologists all over the world. The result produced a plethora of techniques. An updated synthesis of these became necessary for saving the labour and time of field workers. Hence, the b o o k under review is very opportune and a boon to field workers as it discusses the applicability of the methods in relation to time and space besides "creating options for specific questions rather than as rigid tools for any situation" (p. 121). It is a successful synthesis of the diverse approaches
159
for studying vegetational phenomena. The synthesis is n o t merely an amalgamation of the methods developed in different parts of the world b u t presents elaboration and refinement of these. Indeed sometimes, it appears that ecologists of different periods were doing the same thing under the cover of jargons so confusing to many. The inclusion in the b o o k of a few tables presenting raw data makes the grasp of the subject easy and lucid. The contents of the first part of the b o o k follow a logical arrangement of the basic concepts of plant communities and sampling considerations. The second part deals with the techniques of sampling. The third part is based on structure, classification, ordination and mathematical treatment of the raw data. The fourth part is a discussion of the patterns of plant communities in relation to habitats, time and space, and the technique of mapping the parameters. In the final part some useful conclusions are given and the future development of ecology is envisaged in the light of methodologies at different levels of sophistication. A few appendices to the volume give classification of life forms and plant formations, mapping air photograph mosaics and a key for mapping forest types besides giving an example of a punch card of an European forest relev~ for hand sorting on an illuminator. There is considerable input in the text of examples of vegetation of different parts of the world including the tropics, which the authors were privileged to study intensively. This feature renders the b o o k useful to all regions. The style of presentation is a mixture of both a critical evaluation of the selected techniques and compromises made between different approaches. But the language is easy, fluent and lucid. The publishers have done a good j o b in giving a suitable format and excellent type print to render it less strenuous to the eyes. It is hoped that there will be a great demand for the b o o k from libraries, universities, research institutes and individual workers. It will be indispensable to foresters and range managers. The following mistakes may be corrected in the book. (Perhaps the usual confusion of American and English spellings is unavoidable): p. 50, fig. 5.1 legend: "uneven numbered subplots are square, even numbered ones are rectangular" should read the reverse; p. 119, first line: omission of a line above the denominator; p. 119, para. 2: the total of 100% is missing at the end; p. 443, para. 5, last line: "persued" should read "pursued"; p. 450, Bb read " C r y p t o g a m s " for "Crytogams". R. M I S R A
(Varanasi, India)