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Ecological census techniques: A handbook
Biological Conservation 79 (1997) 313 314 Elsevier Science Limited Printed in Great Britain 0006-3207/97 $17.00 + .00 ELSEVIER
BOOK REVIEWS
Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems. Quentin C. B. Cronk & Janice L. Fuller. Chapman and Hall, London. 1995. 241 pp. ISBN 0 412 48380 7. Price: £17.99 (pbk).
censusing techniques. Inevitably, there is some overlap with Southwood's (1978) Ecological Methods, the classic detailed and authoritative account of theoretical and practical aspects of techniques for sampling populations and measuring abundance. However, Southwood's book mainly considers invertebrates while Ecological Census Techniques." A Handbook also covers techniques appropriate for surveying and monitoring vegetation, plant populations, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, with the material presented in a less academic and more easily accessible form. An introductory chapter considers the different reasons for censusing, including describing the conservation interest of a site, estimating the size of populations of key species, monitoring populations, investigating the habitat requirements of species and assessing the effects of habitat management. This is followed by a chapter that provides a detailed discussion of sampling, m a r k recapture methods and the use of population indices. Subsequent chapters consider separate taxonomic groups, with detailed descriptions of appropriate census methods, their advantages, disadvantages and biases. These chapters are impressively comprehensive. For example, that on plants considers approaches to sampling seed banks and phytoplankton and the use of aerial photographs in vegetation mapping, in addition to a detailed discussion of standard techniques such as frame and point quadrats, transects and harvesting, while the chapter on birds considers techniques appropriate to both temperate and tropical fieldwork. The book draws on the extensive field experience of the authors, who are specialists in their respective taxonomic groups, and of other field workers and researchers, leading to a very practical handbook containing some previously unpublished refinements and new techniques, such as the ingenious Robertson dustbin sampler. The text is generally very well referenced, providing access to further specialist literature; however, the absence of any reference to Southwood's book of techniques in the chapter on invertebrates seems bizarre. The measurement of environmental variables forms an integral part of most ecological research and this book is greatly strengthened by the inclusion of a chapter of relevant techniques. After a useful overview of approaches to measuring edaphic factors such as wind speed and direction, rainfall, humidity, duration of sunshine and slope angle, this chapter moves on to consider techniques relating to aquatic ecology, such as the measurement of turbidity, flow, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen and concentrations of nitrate, ammonium and phosphorus, providing useful and previously
The aim of this book, one of a series in the W W F International/UNESCO/Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, initiative People and Plants Conservation Manual - is to draw attention to the growing problem of invasive plant species which poses a very serious threat to the conservation of biodiversity in many parts of the world. The authors have drawn on and developed the results of ICSU/SCOPE 'Ecology of Biological Invasions' project of the mid- 1980s. The book is aimed at legislators and customs agents (to prevent initial introductions), to land managers, and to challenge biologists to carry out further research into environmentally friendly methods of control. More fundamental is the review of the nature of plant invasion (Chapter 1) and how invasion occurs (Chapter 2), and from it, the awareness that we know as yet so little about the biological reasons as to why some species are so aggressive. A third chapter discusses methods of control, legislation (conspicuously lacking in most countries), and the need for awareness of the problem. The main part of the book is case studies of 17 species in 14 families including one pteridophyte (Salvinia) and the grass Andropogon virginicus. For each, the morphology of the species is described (often with a line drawing), together with its origin and the climate of its native area, its present distribution and the history of its introduction. Frequently, the ecological requirements of these plants when seen in introduced populations often differs from those found in their native areas. Where it has proved possible, methods of eradication are of course given. There follows a 'list' (often with comprehensive notes) of 209 species that are conspicuous invaders. Useful appendices give some environmental cautions when using recommended herbicides; a few relevant addresses (which could have been more comprehensive); a brief glossary and a full reference list of 453 entries. A. C. Jermy Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. William J. Sutherland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1996. 336 pp. ISBN 0 521 47244 X (hbk), 0 521 47815 4 (pbk). Price: £50.00, US$80.00 (hbk), £17.95, US$27.95 (pbk). This book provides a detailed yet clear and accessible guide to a wide variety of ecological surveying and 313
314
Book Reviews
unpublished refinements of some analytical techniques. In contrast, measurements of physical and chemical characteristics of soil are restricted to particle size, organic matter content and pH; the lack of discussion of techniques for measuring the same major nutrients in soils as covered for water seems imbalanced. The book is written in a concise style and is well designed; chapters and sections are clearly structured and included many diagrams, figures and case studies. This is a unique, extremely practical and easily used handbook that should appeal to students, researchers, site managers and amateur naturalists alike. Hopefully its publication will further encourage consistent, repeatable, scientific monitoring on reserves, with site management seen as an ongoing experiment that can be objectively assessed, so that at last we utilise its potential to refine our understanding and improve management practices. Reference Southwood, T. R. E. (1978). Ecological methods with particular reference to the study of insect populations, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, London. Paul Dolman Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians. T. J. C. Beebee. Chapman and Hall, London. 1996. 214 pp. ISBN 0 412 62410 9. Price: £35.00. This book is Volume 7 in Chapman and Hall's Conservation Biology Series. The aim of the series is stated to be the provision of major summaries of important conservation topics. The book is a unique blend of biological, ecological and conservation detail. Reasons why amphibians are important are outlined in the chapter entitled 'Why study amphibians?' In the 1990s, the issue of global amphibian declines has thrust these species much more into the limelight. Other chapters cover evolution and phylogeny, behavioural ecology,
population ecology, community ecology, distribution, abundance and extinction, threats and conservation. The series is intended for specialists, students and naturalists, and all three groups will find much of interest, in part because Trevor Beebee is a laboratory researcher, a university lecturer and an active conservationist. Three decades of working on a variety of issues enable him to write in a lucid and convincing style - and often from direct personal experience. Detailed introductions are provided on a range of topics. I would have liked to have seen more space given to overwintering and a glossary included, but these are minor points. Similarly, reading a statement about an alga named 'Cladocera' made me wonder how carefully the script had been checked - - presumably this should have referred to 'Cladophora'? My main criticisms, however, would be aimed at the figures and photographs. I remain to be convinced that book figures should be taken straight out of scientific papers - - often these contain unnecessary information. Some of the photographs are poorly reproduced; as a supplier of one of them, I am aware of the reduction in quality. I hesitate to include the above comments in this review, because I regard this as being the most entertaining and important recent text that I have read on amphibians. Much of the work quoted is from Britain, with examples also well represented from the rest of Europe and from North America. Beebee explains reasons for this bias in the Preface. I hope people in other countries will read the book and see how far we have progressed. Beebee points out in his Overview that the knowledge needed for conservation action is generally available, but what is often lacking is the political will to do things. That knowledge is well summarised in the preceding pages and I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with any sort of interest in this group, including those with the power and influence to make things happen. Arnold Cooke
BOOK REVIEWS
Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems. Quentin C. B. Cronk & Janice L. Fuller. Chapman and Hall, London. 1995. 241 pp. ISBN 0 412 48380 7. Price: £17.99 (pbk).
censusing techniques. Inevitably, there is some overlap with Southwood's (1978) Ecological Methods, the classic detailed and authoritative account of theoretical and practical aspects of techniques for sampling populations and measuring abundance. However, Southwood's book mainly considers invertebrates while Ecological Census Techniques." A Handbook also covers techniques appropriate for surveying and monitoring vegetation, plant populations, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, with the material presented in a less academic and more easily accessible form. An introductory chapter considers the different reasons for censusing, including describing the conservation interest of a site, estimating the size of populations of key species, monitoring populations, investigating the habitat requirements of species and assessing the effects of habitat management. This is followed by a chapter that provides a detailed discussion of sampling, m a r k recapture methods and the use of population indices. Subsequent chapters consider separate taxonomic groups, with detailed descriptions of appropriate census methods, their advantages, disadvantages and biases. These chapters are impressively comprehensive. For example, that on plants considers approaches to sampling seed banks and phytoplankton and the use of aerial photographs in vegetation mapping, in addition to a detailed discussion of standard techniques such as frame and point quadrats, transects and harvesting, while the chapter on birds considers techniques appropriate to both temperate and tropical fieldwork. The book draws on the extensive field experience of the authors, who are specialists in their respective taxonomic groups, and of other field workers and researchers, leading to a very practical handbook containing some previously unpublished refinements and new techniques, such as the ingenious Robertson dustbin sampler. The text is generally very well referenced, providing access to further specialist literature; however, the absence of any reference to Southwood's book of techniques in the chapter on invertebrates seems bizarre. The measurement of environmental variables forms an integral part of most ecological research and this book is greatly strengthened by the inclusion of a chapter of relevant techniques. After a useful overview of approaches to measuring edaphic factors such as wind speed and direction, rainfall, humidity, duration of sunshine and slope angle, this chapter moves on to consider techniques relating to aquatic ecology, such as the measurement of turbidity, flow, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen and concentrations of nitrate, ammonium and phosphorus, providing useful and previously
The aim of this book, one of a series in the W W F International/UNESCO/Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, initiative People and Plants Conservation Manual - is to draw attention to the growing problem of invasive plant species which poses a very serious threat to the conservation of biodiversity in many parts of the world. The authors have drawn on and developed the results of ICSU/SCOPE 'Ecology of Biological Invasions' project of the mid- 1980s. The book is aimed at legislators and customs agents (to prevent initial introductions), to land managers, and to challenge biologists to carry out further research into environmentally friendly methods of control. More fundamental is the review of the nature of plant invasion (Chapter 1) and how invasion occurs (Chapter 2), and from it, the awareness that we know as yet so little about the biological reasons as to why some species are so aggressive. A third chapter discusses methods of control, legislation (conspicuously lacking in most countries), and the need for awareness of the problem. The main part of the book is case studies of 17 species in 14 families including one pteridophyte (Salvinia) and the grass Andropogon virginicus. For each, the morphology of the species is described (often with a line drawing), together with its origin and the climate of its native area, its present distribution and the history of its introduction. Frequently, the ecological requirements of these plants when seen in introduced populations often differs from those found in their native areas. Where it has proved possible, methods of eradication are of course given. There follows a 'list' (often with comprehensive notes) of 209 species that are conspicuous invaders. Useful appendices give some environmental cautions when using recommended herbicides; a few relevant addresses (which could have been more comprehensive); a brief glossary and a full reference list of 453 entries. A. C. Jermy Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. William J. Sutherland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1996. 336 pp. ISBN 0 521 47244 X (hbk), 0 521 47815 4 (pbk). Price: £50.00, US$80.00 (hbk), £17.95, US$27.95 (pbk). This book provides a detailed yet clear and accessible guide to a wide variety of ecological surveying and 313
314
Book Reviews
unpublished refinements of some analytical techniques. In contrast, measurements of physical and chemical characteristics of soil are restricted to particle size, organic matter content and pH; the lack of discussion of techniques for measuring the same major nutrients in soils as covered for water seems imbalanced. The book is written in a concise style and is well designed; chapters and sections are clearly structured and included many diagrams, figures and case studies. This is a unique, extremely practical and easily used handbook that should appeal to students, researchers, site managers and amateur naturalists alike. Hopefully its publication will further encourage consistent, repeatable, scientific monitoring on reserves, with site management seen as an ongoing experiment that can be objectively assessed, so that at last we utilise its potential to refine our understanding and improve management practices. Reference Southwood, T. R. E. (1978). Ecological methods with particular reference to the study of insect populations, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, London. Paul Dolman Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians. T. J. C. Beebee. Chapman and Hall, London. 1996. 214 pp. ISBN 0 412 62410 9. Price: £35.00. This book is Volume 7 in Chapman and Hall's Conservation Biology Series. The aim of the series is stated to be the provision of major summaries of important conservation topics. The book is a unique blend of biological, ecological and conservation detail. Reasons why amphibians are important are outlined in the chapter entitled 'Why study amphibians?' In the 1990s, the issue of global amphibian declines has thrust these species much more into the limelight. Other chapters cover evolution and phylogeny, behavioural ecology,
population ecology, community ecology, distribution, abundance and extinction, threats and conservation. The series is intended for specialists, students and naturalists, and all three groups will find much of interest, in part because Trevor Beebee is a laboratory researcher, a university lecturer and an active conservationist. Three decades of working on a variety of issues enable him to write in a lucid and convincing style - and often from direct personal experience. Detailed introductions are provided on a range of topics. I would have liked to have seen more space given to overwintering and a glossary included, but these are minor points. Similarly, reading a statement about an alga named 'Cladocera' made me wonder how carefully the script had been checked - - presumably this should have referred to 'Cladophora'? My main criticisms, however, would be aimed at the figures and photographs. I remain to be convinced that book figures should be taken straight out of scientific papers - - often these contain unnecessary information. Some of the photographs are poorly reproduced; as a supplier of one of them, I am aware of the reduction in quality. I hesitate to include the above comments in this review, because I regard this as being the most entertaining and important recent text that I have read on amphibians. Much of the work quoted is from Britain, with examples also well represented from the rest of Europe and from North America. Beebee explains reasons for this bias in the Preface. I hope people in other countries will read the book and see how far we have progressed. Beebee points out in his Overview that the knowledge needed for conservation action is generally available, but what is often lacking is the political will to do things. That knowledge is well summarised in the preceding pages and I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with any sort of interest in this group, including those with the power and influence to make things happen. Arnold Cooke