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Extinction: The causes and consequences of the disappearance of species
378
Book reciews
provides him with a range of different approaches to the subject. Philip Stott has chosen the historical aspect, concerning himself with 'the study of the geographical distribution of individual plant species and natural plant groups over the surface of the globe'. It consists of nine relatively short chapters in 127 pages, followed by 22 pages of glossary, bibliography, index of plant names and a subject index. The value of the historical approach is that it brings together a great deal of useful information for the student; the chapters on plant mapping and taxonomy seemed to be particularly good in this respect. As Dr Stott points out, however, the book is only an introduction and however well done it is essential that the student moves on to other texts for a comprehensive treatment of the subject. E.D. Principles of Dispersal in Higher Plants, Third Revised and Expanded Edition. By L. van der Pijl. 1982. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 214pp. 23 × 15cm. ISBN 0 540 11280 4. Price: DM 59.80; US$27.90. The third edition of this well-known and exceedingly useful book has been greatly expanded since the first edition in 1968. The author claims that the contents and references have been almost doubled and much more emphasis has been laid on ecology, evolution and establishment after transport. Unfortunately the publication just missed the 1981 Symposium on Dispersal and Distribution. There are eleven chapters, of which four--Ecological Dispersal Classes, Established on the Basis of the Dispersing Agents; Dispersal Strategy; Evolution of Dispersal Organisms in General; and Dispersal and the Evolution of Grasses--take up 65 ~7oof the text. An indispensable text for the plant ecologist and of great interest to all ecologists. E.D.
Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species. By Paul and Anne Ehrlich. 1982. Victor Gollancz, London. 305pp. 15.5 x 23-5cm. ISBN 057503114X. Price: £9.95. The authors of this book are probably the best-known conservationists in the English-speaking world. They have had an enormous influence on
Book ret'iews
379
attitudes towards nature conservation by making people aware of the changes taking place in the world and the possible consequences for the natural environment, and hence for man. This book is really an extension of their other published work, although it deals specifically with extinctions. The main theme is simple--that the extinction rates of plants and animals in the modern world have greatly increased during the last hundred years, primarily due to man's activities. Although in some instances this may be caused by irresponsible hunting, the main reason is the loss of natural habitats throughout the world because there is now an enormous world human population to feed, clothe and house, and natural resources are exploited ruthlessly by almost all nations. To allow extinctions needlessly to take place is the road to catastrophe because so few plants and animals have been studied sufficiently well to know their potential value to man for health, food, biological control of pests, or as indicators of damaging changes in natural communities. Some readers will undoubtedly think that the Ehrlichs are drawing conclusions from too few facts and being unnecessarily pessimistic; for example, the statement on page 242, 'Unless appropriate steps are soon taken to preserve Earth's plants, animals and micro-organisms, humanity faces a catastrophe fully as serious as an all-out thermonuclear war'. But even if only one in four of the Ehrlichs' predictions are right, there is still considerable cause for alarm; after all, we can see so many of the changes the authors complain about taking place around us. H . G . Wells' comment that 'human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe' is quoted with approval, and one does not have to be a committed conservationist to see that this race is clearly being lost in many countries. How close to the brink must we all get before effective international action is taken? One hopes that a great many people will read this book; it will help them to think about the problem on a much broader scale than before. E.D. The Scientific Results of the Oman Flora and Fauna Survey 1977 (Dhofar). Journal of Oman Studies, Special Report No. 2.1980. Office of the Government Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Sultanate of Oman. 400pp. 28 × 22cm. ISBN 03790703. Price: £20.00 This is a beautifully produced book about a very interesting and little studied part of the Middle East. In 1975 and 1977 the Sultan of Oman
Book reciews
provides him with a range of different approaches to the subject. Philip Stott has chosen the historical aspect, concerning himself with 'the study of the geographical distribution of individual plant species and natural plant groups over the surface of the globe'. It consists of nine relatively short chapters in 127 pages, followed by 22 pages of glossary, bibliography, index of plant names and a subject index. The value of the historical approach is that it brings together a great deal of useful information for the student; the chapters on plant mapping and taxonomy seemed to be particularly good in this respect. As Dr Stott points out, however, the book is only an introduction and however well done it is essential that the student moves on to other texts for a comprehensive treatment of the subject. E.D. Principles of Dispersal in Higher Plants, Third Revised and Expanded Edition. By L. van der Pijl. 1982. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 214pp. 23 × 15cm. ISBN 0 540 11280 4. Price: DM 59.80; US$27.90. The third edition of this well-known and exceedingly useful book has been greatly expanded since the first edition in 1968. The author claims that the contents and references have been almost doubled and much more emphasis has been laid on ecology, evolution and establishment after transport. Unfortunately the publication just missed the 1981 Symposium on Dispersal and Distribution. There are eleven chapters, of which four--Ecological Dispersal Classes, Established on the Basis of the Dispersing Agents; Dispersal Strategy; Evolution of Dispersal Organisms in General; and Dispersal and the Evolution of Grasses--take up 65 ~7oof the text. An indispensable text for the plant ecologist and of great interest to all ecologists. E.D.
Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species. By Paul and Anne Ehrlich. 1982. Victor Gollancz, London. 305pp. 15.5 x 23-5cm. ISBN 057503114X. Price: £9.95. The authors of this book are probably the best-known conservationists in the English-speaking world. They have had an enormous influence on
Book ret'iews
379
attitudes towards nature conservation by making people aware of the changes taking place in the world and the possible consequences for the natural environment, and hence for man. This book is really an extension of their other published work, although it deals specifically with extinctions. The main theme is simple--that the extinction rates of plants and animals in the modern world have greatly increased during the last hundred years, primarily due to man's activities. Although in some instances this may be caused by irresponsible hunting, the main reason is the loss of natural habitats throughout the world because there is now an enormous world human population to feed, clothe and house, and natural resources are exploited ruthlessly by almost all nations. To allow extinctions needlessly to take place is the road to catastrophe because so few plants and animals have been studied sufficiently well to know their potential value to man for health, food, biological control of pests, or as indicators of damaging changes in natural communities. Some readers will undoubtedly think that the Ehrlichs are drawing conclusions from too few facts and being unnecessarily pessimistic; for example, the statement on page 242, 'Unless appropriate steps are soon taken to preserve Earth's plants, animals and micro-organisms, humanity faces a catastrophe fully as serious as an all-out thermonuclear war'. But even if only one in four of the Ehrlichs' predictions are right, there is still considerable cause for alarm; after all, we can see so many of the changes the authors complain about taking place around us. H . G . Wells' comment that 'human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe' is quoted with approval, and one does not have to be a committed conservationist to see that this race is clearly being lost in many countries. How close to the brink must we all get before effective international action is taken? One hopes that a great many people will read this book; it will help them to think about the problem on a much broader scale than before. E.D. The Scientific Results of the Oman Flora and Fauna Survey 1977 (Dhofar). Journal of Oman Studies, Special Report No. 2.1980. Office of the Government Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Sultanate of Oman. 400pp. 28 × 22cm. ISBN 03790703. Price: £20.00 This is a beautifully produced book about a very interesting and little studied part of the Middle East. In 1975 and 1977 the Sultan of Oman