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The fungi of our mouldy earth
320
Book reviews
The Fungi of Our Mouldy Earth. By W. Bridge Cooke, Nova Hedwiga Heft 85, J. Cramer, Berlin, 1986. [SBN 3-443-51006--X, Price: $95.00. Despite the colloquial title, this book has a high scientific content, being a compilation of methods for collecting samples, isolating and identifying mycelial and yeast-like fungi. However, the title is somewhat misleading in that, whereas the book might be expected to concentrate on terrestrial fungi, emphasis is placed on aquatic environments. Nonetheless, a number of the techniques and keys are suitable for soil fungi and, as the author points out, it is becoming increasingly evident that many fungi formerly thought to be confined to terrestrial habitats are regularly isolated from water, particularly where organic matter content is high. The book is aimed at sanitarians, sewage treatment-plant scientists and aquatic biologists who have little or no knowledge of mycology. As such, the book is also suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates who are just embarking upon the subject. A brief introduction is followed by four chapters (18 pages) on collection of samples from aquatic and soil habitats (actually sewage, sludges and bottom materials), preparation and formulation of media, isolation of fungi, preparation of slides for microcsopic examination/identification of mycelial fungi and chemical tests for identification of yeasts. Chapter 6 is of very narrow interest consisting of 12 pages of sampling details and site descriptions of sewage treatment plants, soils, streams, and miscellaneous habitats from which all fungi listcd later were isolated. Chapter 7, entitled 'Place of fungi in the ecosystem and saprobic valency', attempts to place fungi in an ecological context within aquatic systems. It is probably useful for non-mycologists, but seemed rather patchy, and it was never clear exactly what was meant by saprobic valency. Chapter 8 contains the meat of the book and provides keys to subdivisions, classes, orders, families, genera and species of Eumycota, which have been adapted from published works of a variety of authors. Coverage of different taxa is, however, variable, depending to some extent on whether or not the fungi concerned are commonly found in water. Thus, Basidiomycotina receives scant attention but Mastigomycotina, which contains many aquatic members is fairly well covered. Nonetheless, it is useful for at least preliminary identification purposes. This chapter is supported by 114 figures (Chapter 12) and a 200-word glossary (Chapter 10). Chapter 9 is very parochial and consists ofalmost 200 pages devoted to a systematic listing of species found in water or in soils from adjacent
Book ~(~'i(~.~
321
banks, derived from published literature and from studies in laboratories in which the a u t h o r has worked. The n u m b e r of species isolated and the n u m b e r of times they have been isolated from a particular habitat are tabulated later. The r e m a i n d e r of the book consists of bibliography and indexes to figures, subject and taxa. Putting this book together has obviously been a m a m m o t h task and summarises the author's work since 1952. It is u n d o u b t e d l y an important source reference, in particular to workers involved with water which is high in organic matter content and also to those intercsted in aquatic mycology in general. \Vh list it provides a tlsel'ul compilation of a n u m b e r of keys, whether it is a high priority for purchase by other mycologists is more doubtful. l,ynne Boddy
Book reviews
The Fungi of Our Mouldy Earth. By W. Bridge Cooke, Nova Hedwiga Heft 85, J. Cramer, Berlin, 1986. [SBN 3-443-51006--X, Price: $95.00. Despite the colloquial title, this book has a high scientific content, being a compilation of methods for collecting samples, isolating and identifying mycelial and yeast-like fungi. However, the title is somewhat misleading in that, whereas the book might be expected to concentrate on terrestrial fungi, emphasis is placed on aquatic environments. Nonetheless, a number of the techniques and keys are suitable for soil fungi and, as the author points out, it is becoming increasingly evident that many fungi formerly thought to be confined to terrestrial habitats are regularly isolated from water, particularly where organic matter content is high. The book is aimed at sanitarians, sewage treatment-plant scientists and aquatic biologists who have little or no knowledge of mycology. As such, the book is also suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates who are just embarking upon the subject. A brief introduction is followed by four chapters (18 pages) on collection of samples from aquatic and soil habitats (actually sewage, sludges and bottom materials), preparation and formulation of media, isolation of fungi, preparation of slides for microcsopic examination/identification of mycelial fungi and chemical tests for identification of yeasts. Chapter 6 is of very narrow interest consisting of 12 pages of sampling details and site descriptions of sewage treatment plants, soils, streams, and miscellaneous habitats from which all fungi listcd later were isolated. Chapter 7, entitled 'Place of fungi in the ecosystem and saprobic valency', attempts to place fungi in an ecological context within aquatic systems. It is probably useful for non-mycologists, but seemed rather patchy, and it was never clear exactly what was meant by saprobic valency. Chapter 8 contains the meat of the book and provides keys to subdivisions, classes, orders, families, genera and species of Eumycota, which have been adapted from published works of a variety of authors. Coverage of different taxa is, however, variable, depending to some extent on whether or not the fungi concerned are commonly found in water. Thus, Basidiomycotina receives scant attention but Mastigomycotina, which contains many aquatic members is fairly well covered. Nonetheless, it is useful for at least preliminary identification purposes. This chapter is supported by 114 figures (Chapter 12) and a 200-word glossary (Chapter 10). Chapter 9 is very parochial and consists ofalmost 200 pages devoted to a systematic listing of species found in water or in soils from adjacent
Book ~(~'i(~.~
321
banks, derived from published literature and from studies in laboratories in which the a u t h o r has worked. The n u m b e r of species isolated and the n u m b e r of times they have been isolated from a particular habitat are tabulated later. The r e m a i n d e r of the book consists of bibliography and indexes to figures, subject and taxa. Putting this book together has obviously been a m a m m o t h task and summarises the author's work since 1952. It is u n d o u b t e d l y an important source reference, in particular to workers involved with water which is high in organic matter content and also to those intercsted in aquatic mycology in general. \Vh list it provides a tlsel'ul compilation of a n u m b e r of keys, whether it is a high priority for purchase by other mycologists is more doubtful. l,ynne Boddy