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Marine mammals biology and conservation
Journal of Marine Systems 43 (2003) 83 www.elsevier.com/locate/jmarsys
Book review Marine mammals biology and conservation Editors: Peter G.H. Evans and Juan Antonio Raga, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2001 As emphasized by the authors, interest in marine mammals has increased dramatically these last decades as evidenced by the number of books, scientific papers, conferences and concomitant increase in undergraduate and postgraduate student demand for university subjects associated with marine mammal biology. The book is structured around 17 chapters, grouped in 5 sections and is originated as a result of the first and second European Seminars on Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation, but aspires to provide an international perspective. Acknowledged experts in their field author most of the chapters. All have been peer reviewed by at least two authorities. This book is typically aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students, although it should also be of value to teachers and indeed anyone with a special interest in marine mammal sciences. The book has clearly an ecological and conservation emphasis since these are subject areas calling for the most attention in the modern world, but other areas such as evolution, physiology, and medicine are also given in-depth treatment. A wide range of topics is covered such as Life History and Ecology, Sensory Systems and Behavior, Survey and Study Techniques, Health parasites and pathogens and finally Conser-
doi:10.1016/S0924-7963(03)00082-4
vation and Management. Most of the authors have made a commendable effort to pitch their chapter at a level appropriate to their audience, making excellent use of examples. In the chapter entitled ‘‘Marine mammal health: holding the balance in an everchanging sea?’’ Joseph Geraci and Valerie Lounsbury provide the basis and useful information on the health and physiological adaptation of marine mammals to their aquatic environment and consequences of failures related to various stress such as starvation and diseases. I have also really appreciated the chapter written by Martin Hall and Greg Donovan entitled ‘‘Environmentalists, fishermen, Cetacean and fish: Is there a balance and can science help to find it?’’ This subject represents probably one of the greatest challenges associated with the sustainable development for the next decades. I recommend the book as background reading for students and all scientist with special interest towards marine mammal biology and conservation. This book will allow to lay down the foundations of marine mammal science and to raise the interest of the lay persons. For all these reasons, this book will certainly be a very useful addition to your library! Krishna Das Laboratory for Oceanology, B6c, Lie`ge University, B-4000 Lie`ge Sart-Tilman, Belgium E-mail address: [email protected] Tel.: +32-4-366-48-29; fax: +32-4-366-33-25
Book review Marine mammals biology and conservation Editors: Peter G.H. Evans and Juan Antonio Raga, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2001 As emphasized by the authors, interest in marine mammals has increased dramatically these last decades as evidenced by the number of books, scientific papers, conferences and concomitant increase in undergraduate and postgraduate student demand for university subjects associated with marine mammal biology. The book is structured around 17 chapters, grouped in 5 sections and is originated as a result of the first and second European Seminars on Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation, but aspires to provide an international perspective. Acknowledged experts in their field author most of the chapters. All have been peer reviewed by at least two authorities. This book is typically aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students, although it should also be of value to teachers and indeed anyone with a special interest in marine mammal sciences. The book has clearly an ecological and conservation emphasis since these are subject areas calling for the most attention in the modern world, but other areas such as evolution, physiology, and medicine are also given in-depth treatment. A wide range of topics is covered such as Life History and Ecology, Sensory Systems and Behavior, Survey and Study Techniques, Health parasites and pathogens and finally Conser-
doi:10.1016/S0924-7963(03)00082-4
vation and Management. Most of the authors have made a commendable effort to pitch their chapter at a level appropriate to their audience, making excellent use of examples. In the chapter entitled ‘‘Marine mammal health: holding the balance in an everchanging sea?’’ Joseph Geraci and Valerie Lounsbury provide the basis and useful information on the health and physiological adaptation of marine mammals to their aquatic environment and consequences of failures related to various stress such as starvation and diseases. I have also really appreciated the chapter written by Martin Hall and Greg Donovan entitled ‘‘Environmentalists, fishermen, Cetacean and fish: Is there a balance and can science help to find it?’’ This subject represents probably one of the greatest challenges associated with the sustainable development for the next decades. I recommend the book as background reading for students and all scientist with special interest towards marine mammal biology and conservation. This book will allow to lay down the foundations of marine mammal science and to raise the interest of the lay persons. For all these reasons, this book will certainly be a very useful addition to your library! Krishna Das Laboratory for Oceanology, B6c, Lie`ge University, B-4000 Lie`ge Sart-Tilman, Belgium E-mail address: [email protected] Tel.: +32-4-366-48-29; fax: +32-4-366-33-25