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Palaeoecology of Africa and of the surrounding islands and Antarctica
corrosion, rotting, slimes, spoilage), some geobiological aspects, a glossary, references, and index. It is unfortunate that Marirze Microbial Ecology, also by Wood (1965), could not have been completely incorporated into the present work. Treatment of some topics is better in one book than in the other. There is considerable duplication, but the serious student may find it necessary to obtain both volumes. The chapter on geobiological aspects is perfunctory and will disappoint geologists and palynologists. The survey by JTB..Davis in Petroleum Microbiolom (Efsevier. 1966) is more informative although’ confined to bacteria and fungi. The tables of microoorganisms occurring in geologic eras and groups of microorganisms of value in palaeontology are out of date and the classifications shownare no longer used. Comment on work by modern palynologists and geochemists on fossil and recent algae and organic matter (dissolved and particulate) in sediments is omitted. The importance of living tapetal layers at the sediment water interface in the tidal zone and in lakes is mentioned, but their equal importance in the subtidal realm is ignored. Changes in microbial populations across the sediment- water interface and the transformations of organic debris between death and entrapment in sediment need fuller discussion and illustration. Current geochemical work showing the separation of processes leading to the formation of humic deposits on the one hand and petroleum products on the other is not mentioned. Wood seems to hold to the idea that original hydrocarbons produced by organisms collect to leadto petroleum deposits although it is now evident that complex geochemical processes are involved (includingtherma1 effects, differential solution, catalysis, etc.) in the ..”
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transformation of organic remains into petroleum. Typographical errors are almost completely absent, except for a few probably intentional citations of Latin names (Goniaulax for Gonyuulax, etc.). The printing and binding meet the usual high Elsevier standard. Although unqualified approval cannot be given to &crobiology of Oceans and Estuaries, the book is a useful
summary for students and, with the exception of certain symposia volumes that are inherently uneven in content and are unsuitable for textbooks, is the only one available. It is hoped that an enlarged and revised edition will follow. F.L. Staplin
Palaeoecoiogi~al Studies in Africa E.M. van Zinderen Bakker, 1967. Palaeoecology of Africa ad of the S~y~o~nd~~g Is lands and Antarctica, Vo1.2. Balkema, Cape Town-Amsterdam, 184 pp. This volume is the successor of the one which was briefly reviewed in the first 1967 issue ofAtlas (~01.3, no. 1, p.A42]. It covers activities developed in 1964 and 1965 in such fields as palynology, palaeoclimatolo~, archaeology, biogeography, isotope studies and related areas of research. The contributions are in the form of short progress reports and institutional reports. There is an extensive bibliography.
Post - Glacical Climatic Changes H.H. Lamb, 1966.7% Cha?~@~l Climute. Methuen, London, 236 pp., 84 fig., 18 tables, 45s.
Climate is a factor of great interest to both basic and applied science. While temperatures at the earth’s surface have not changed drastically during geological time, important variations have occurred. Among these variations are long-range ones such as the decrease of about 15°C at the high latitudes duringthepast 15OIni~l~on years, the glacial/interglacial cycles of the Pleistocene with a wave length of some 50,000 years, and variations of shorter duration characterized by time intervals ranging from a few decades to a few millennia. This book reprints eight papers by Lamb which were published mainly during the past three years. The subject matter is largely, but not totally, an analysis of climate and climatic parameters as they varied since the end of the last major glaciation (roughly, the past 10,000 years). A wealth of data such as tables, graphs, and maps are included, and the evidence for climatic change during historical time is closely reviewed and summarized. Two chapters are dedicated to the fundamentals of climate and climatic mapping methods. One chapter discusses the interrelationship between oceans and continental ice sheets, with some brief remarks on theories of glaciation. The final chapter bears the title “What can we find out about the trend of our climate?” and discusses apparent pericdicities of climatic fluctuation which, if verified, could iead to long-range climatic prediction. The different chapters stand separately, of course, as they must in a book of this type. A certain amount of repetition is apparent and perhaps unavoidable. The book should be of interest to both scientists and students, as well as to the layman who is interested in climate. C. Emiliani
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transformation of organic remains into petroleum. Typographical errors are almost completely absent, except for a few probably intentional citations of Latin names (Goniaulax for Gonyuulax, etc.). The printing and binding meet the usual high Elsevier standard. Although unqualified approval cannot be given to &crobiology of Oceans and Estuaries, the book is a useful
summary for students and, with the exception of certain symposia volumes that are inherently uneven in content and are unsuitable for textbooks, is the only one available. It is hoped that an enlarged and revised edition will follow. F.L. Staplin
Palaeoecoiogi~al Studies in Africa E.M. van Zinderen Bakker, 1967. Palaeoecology of Africa ad of the S~y~o~nd~~g Is lands and Antarctica, Vo1.2. Balkema, Cape Town-Amsterdam, 184 pp. This volume is the successor of the one which was briefly reviewed in the first 1967 issue ofAtlas (~01.3, no. 1, p.A42]. It covers activities developed in 1964 and 1965 in such fields as palynology, palaeoclimatolo~, archaeology, biogeography, isotope studies and related areas of research. The contributions are in the form of short progress reports and institutional reports. There is an extensive bibliography.
Post - Glacical Climatic Changes H.H. Lamb, 1966.7% Cha?~@~l Climute. Methuen, London, 236 pp., 84 fig., 18 tables, 45s.
Climate is a factor of great interest to both basic and applied science. While temperatures at the earth’s surface have not changed drastically during geological time, important variations have occurred. Among these variations are long-range ones such as the decrease of about 15°C at the high latitudes duringthepast 15OIni~l~on years, the glacial/interglacial cycles of the Pleistocene with a wave length of some 50,000 years, and variations of shorter duration characterized by time intervals ranging from a few decades to a few millennia. This book reprints eight papers by Lamb which were published mainly during the past three years. The subject matter is largely, but not totally, an analysis of climate and climatic parameters as they varied since the end of the last major glaciation (roughly, the past 10,000 years). A wealth of data such as tables, graphs, and maps are included, and the evidence for climatic change during historical time is closely reviewed and summarized. Two chapters are dedicated to the fundamentals of climate and climatic mapping methods. One chapter discusses the interrelationship between oceans and continental ice sheets, with some brief remarks on theories of glaciation. The final chapter bears the title “What can we find out about the trend of our climate?” and discusses apparent pericdicities of climatic fluctuation which, if verified, could iead to long-range climatic prediction. The different chapters stand separately, of course, as they must in a book of this type. A certain amount of repetition is apparent and perhaps unavoidable. The book should be of interest to both scientists and students, as well as to the layman who is interested in climate. C. Emiliani