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Biological diversity; the coexistence of species on changing landscapes
Book Reviews
I 1. Exp. Mar. Biol. and Ecol.
191 (1995)
119-132
127
This is mandatory and stimulating reading for active and potential limnologists. Past, present and potential changes induced directly or indirectly by human individuals and populations as well as by natural processes are discussed throughout the book. The lack of a subject index is obtrusive and would have made much information more easily accessed, especially the more scattered references to the marine environment. There is, however, much of general interest to the marine ecologist; a volume for dipping into rather than reading in full. John Mauchline Scottish Association for Marine Science P.O. Box 3 Oban, Argyll PA34 4AD UK
Biological Diversity; the Coexistence of Species on Changing Landscapes, by Michael A. Huston. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge; 1994; 681pp.; GBP 60.00 (hardback), GBP 24.95 (paperback); ISBN o-521-36093-5 (hardback), 0-52136930-4 (paperback). Certainly since the era of the great naturalists such as Wallace, Bates, and Darwin there has been a fascination with the patterns of biological diversity and how these patterns arise and are maintained. The hypotheses and models change with time and vary from mimicry and specialized and competitively defined niches to a growing understanding of the general importance of disturbances to most natural communities. Similarly ecosystem models based on flux and mass balance have been proposed to explain natural patterns. This book is an expansion of Huston’s previous work as he attempts to explain the patterns of diversity in terms of underlying mechanisms, especially disturbance and productivity. The book is premised on the notion that biological diversity can be reduced into parts that have consistent and understandable components. He recognizes that various components of diversity are influenced by different processes, and he attempts to subdivide diversity into tractable components. Such an analytical approach is essential for developing and testing hypotheses about community regulation. The book builds on the old idea well articulated by Charles Elton that few species have important roles in the maintenance of community structure and, like Elton, Huston differentiates structural from interstitial species. Finally, Huston builds on the guild concept by subdividing communities into two hierarchical components: the number of functional types or guilds and the numbers of functionally analogous species within each type. There are few conceptually new ideas in the book; but that is not the intent. Instead Huston paints very broad pictures of nature with the intention of explaining the large scale patterns. These re-occurring themes in Huston’s publications do offer useful insights into understanding nature, and this book is an attempt to generalize his papers to most of the world. The obvious problem is that of balancing specificity and generality.
128
Book Reviews I _I. Exp. Mar. Riol. and Ecol. 191 (1995)
IIY-132
This arises in the last section of the introductory chapter where, after detailing these hypotheses, Huston acknowledges that realistic tests are not possible. I have the nagging feeling that many examples are picked to fit the models, rather than to test them. Nevertheless, this is an extremely complete and interesting book successfully integrating many of the world biomes with the biological processes that contribute to the patterns of diversity. His discussion of gradients is especially strong, as is his integration of disturbance, life-history biology and ecological succession. Another lucid and important section is his discussion of ecological processes involved with the determination of endemism and relative invasibility. The examples are terrestrial, but the discussion is complete and highly relevant for marine scientists only recently becoming concerned about this pervasive problem. Although marine examples used to support generalizations are sprinkled throughout the text, JEMBE readers may be disappointed with the marine material that is included in only one of 15 chapters. This material often seems dated and over-simplified. However, it does include the important Grebmeier research in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. This is very important work that deserves more recognition, but here too Huston misses other important Arctic work as well as essentially all the Antarctic work. His other marine examples include the temperate rocky intertidal, the deep benthos, and especially coral reefs. Lacking is adequate coverage of temperate and tropical soft bottom communities that dominate the ocean margins and are so heavily disturbed by man. The actual pelagic processes so important to the habitats he does discuss are covered in some six text pages. Missing is an appreciation of much of the physical oceanographic processes driving productivity and larval biology. Many of his assertions, especially those about competition, would be hard to support. While marine scientists will be displeased with the token marine material, I still urge that they read the book of the fine process orientated review of terrestrial habitats. Paul K. Dayton Scripps Institution La Jolla CA 92093-0201 USA
of Oceanography
The Oosterschelde Estuary (The Netherlands): A Case-Study of a Changing Ecosystem, edited by P.H. Nienhuis & A.C. Small; Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht; 1994; 597 pp.; GBP 190.00; US$ 280.00; Dfl. 475.00. Developments in Hydrobiology 97, reprinted from Hydrobiologia 2821283, 1994; ISBN 0-79232817-5. This book contains 32 research papers, all devoted to the study of the change of the former Oosterschelde Estuary (mean tidal volume: 1230 X 10” m’) into a
I 1. Exp. Mar. Biol. and Ecol.
191 (1995)
119-132
127
This is mandatory and stimulating reading for active and potential limnologists. Past, present and potential changes induced directly or indirectly by human individuals and populations as well as by natural processes are discussed throughout the book. The lack of a subject index is obtrusive and would have made much information more easily accessed, especially the more scattered references to the marine environment. There is, however, much of general interest to the marine ecologist; a volume for dipping into rather than reading in full. John Mauchline Scottish Association for Marine Science P.O. Box 3 Oban, Argyll PA34 4AD UK
Biological Diversity; the Coexistence of Species on Changing Landscapes, by Michael A. Huston. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge; 1994; 681pp.; GBP 60.00 (hardback), GBP 24.95 (paperback); ISBN o-521-36093-5 (hardback), 0-52136930-4 (paperback). Certainly since the era of the great naturalists such as Wallace, Bates, and Darwin there has been a fascination with the patterns of biological diversity and how these patterns arise and are maintained. The hypotheses and models change with time and vary from mimicry and specialized and competitively defined niches to a growing understanding of the general importance of disturbances to most natural communities. Similarly ecosystem models based on flux and mass balance have been proposed to explain natural patterns. This book is an expansion of Huston’s previous work as he attempts to explain the patterns of diversity in terms of underlying mechanisms, especially disturbance and productivity. The book is premised on the notion that biological diversity can be reduced into parts that have consistent and understandable components. He recognizes that various components of diversity are influenced by different processes, and he attempts to subdivide diversity into tractable components. Such an analytical approach is essential for developing and testing hypotheses about community regulation. The book builds on the old idea well articulated by Charles Elton that few species have important roles in the maintenance of community structure and, like Elton, Huston differentiates structural from interstitial species. Finally, Huston builds on the guild concept by subdividing communities into two hierarchical components: the number of functional types or guilds and the numbers of functionally analogous species within each type. There are few conceptually new ideas in the book; but that is not the intent. Instead Huston paints very broad pictures of nature with the intention of explaining the large scale patterns. These re-occurring themes in Huston’s publications do offer useful insights into understanding nature, and this book is an attempt to generalize his papers to most of the world. The obvious problem is that of balancing specificity and generality.
128
Book Reviews I _I. Exp. Mar. Riol. and Ecol. 191 (1995)
IIY-132
This arises in the last section of the introductory chapter where, after detailing these hypotheses, Huston acknowledges that realistic tests are not possible. I have the nagging feeling that many examples are picked to fit the models, rather than to test them. Nevertheless, this is an extremely complete and interesting book successfully integrating many of the world biomes with the biological processes that contribute to the patterns of diversity. His discussion of gradients is especially strong, as is his integration of disturbance, life-history biology and ecological succession. Another lucid and important section is his discussion of ecological processes involved with the determination of endemism and relative invasibility. The examples are terrestrial, but the discussion is complete and highly relevant for marine scientists only recently becoming concerned about this pervasive problem. Although marine examples used to support generalizations are sprinkled throughout the text, JEMBE readers may be disappointed with the marine material that is included in only one of 15 chapters. This material often seems dated and over-simplified. However, it does include the important Grebmeier research in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. This is very important work that deserves more recognition, but here too Huston misses other important Arctic work as well as essentially all the Antarctic work. His other marine examples include the temperate rocky intertidal, the deep benthos, and especially coral reefs. Lacking is adequate coverage of temperate and tropical soft bottom communities that dominate the ocean margins and are so heavily disturbed by man. The actual pelagic processes so important to the habitats he does discuss are covered in some six text pages. Missing is an appreciation of much of the physical oceanographic processes driving productivity and larval biology. Many of his assertions, especially those about competition, would be hard to support. While marine scientists will be displeased with the token marine material, I still urge that they read the book of the fine process orientated review of terrestrial habitats. Paul K. Dayton Scripps Institution La Jolla CA 92093-0201 USA
of Oceanography
The Oosterschelde Estuary (The Netherlands): A Case-Study of a Changing Ecosystem, edited by P.H. Nienhuis & A.C. Small; Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht; 1994; 597 pp.; GBP 190.00; US$ 280.00; Dfl. 475.00. Developments in Hydrobiology 97, reprinted from Hydrobiologia 2821283, 1994; ISBN 0-79232817-5. This book contains 32 research papers, all devoted to the study of the change of the former Oosterschelde Estuary (mean tidal volume: 1230 X 10” m’) into a