Book Reviews 581

D. J. FORSVTH and C. HOWARD-WILLIAXY (Editors): Lake Taupo. Ecology of a lYew Zealand Lake.-With 79 figs, 123 pp. Wellington: New Zealand: Science Information Publishing Centre, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 1983. ISBK 0-457-06716. $R’Z 22.50

For 100 years, this lake, together with the rivers flowing into it, has developed oneof the world’s greatest trout fisheries. Besides of its emergence as a recreational area, the lake has also become :I source of hydroelectric power. The protection of the Tanpo Basin from harmful modifications has to be based on reliable scientific information uhich this book seeks to provide. The volume is splendidly illustrated and contains some color pictures. The sections concern the geological history, climate and hydrology, physical and chemical properties, plants, plankton, benthos, native fish and management of the trout fishery, aquatic birds, and a “Concluding Perspective: The Lake and Man”. In the biological sections, the most important plants and animals are described, but detailed lists of species are still lacking. The intensification of land use and the increased population are still tolerable. A careful management of tree cropping operations could minimize pollution from the exotic forests. Future attention must be focussed on the threat from increasing agricultural activities.

H. CASPERS

SHOJI HOME (Editor): Lake Biwa. =Monographiae Biologicae Volume 54 (ed. H. J. Du- MONT). -654 pp. Dordrecht/Boston/Lanraster: Dr If’. Junk Publishers 1984. ISBN 90-6198-

In a series of nine volumes, “Paleolimnology of Lake Biwa and the Japanese Pleistocene” (1972 to 1981), the peculiarities of this ancient lake in Japan were described. These results together with those of recent limnologieal, paleolimnological, and biogeographical research have now been summarized by 42 scientists and published in one book. The sediments show a rythmic alternation of lacustrine or swamp and terrestrial stages in correlation with glacial and interglacial periods. HORIE emphasizes the importance of “climate-controlled multitrophication” related to the continuous downwarping of the Biwa Basin. Geological change is important for all features of limnology. Lake Biwa in the very early stage of its history may have been a lagoon-like area along the sea coast. This is the peneplain stage approximately 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 years BP. The sedimentation process formed extremely thick lacustrine mixed with marine or brackish sediments about 1400 m thick, keeping the lake oligotrophic since the late Pliocene. The highest and oldest terrace may have appeared 200,000 to 300,000 years BP. The present maximum depth is 104 m. Marine and brackish water organisms are present, and Lake Biwa is anexceptional case with regard to benthic fauna. The book includes sections on the morphological situation, “modern limnology”, and paleolimnological studies. M. Ufao describes the biogeography, an+ lyzing the characteristics of the fauna and flora and discussing their origin and evolution, based on fossil remains in the sediment layers. Endemism occurs prominantly among benthic inhabitants and is due to geographical barriers. Eighteen of the 44 molluscan species or subspecies are endemic. The monograph includes special sections on bacteria, phyto- and zooplankton, algae, aquatic maerophytes, benthos, molluscs, and fishes. Recently, human activities, such as dredging in the Seta River have begun to endanger the ecosystem of the lake. Hopefully the Japanese scientists can prevent this disaster.

H. CASPERS

095-2. Dfl. 350.-, $ 145.00/$88.95

GEBHARD JAGXOW and WOLFGANG DAWID : Biotechnologie. Eine Einfiihrung mit Modell- versuchen - Mit 66 Abb., 16 Tab., 226 8. Stuttgart: Ferdinand EnkeVerlag 1985. ISBN 3 432 94551 5. DM 19,80

Die Autoren stellen in diesem Taschenbuch die Grundlagen der Biotechnologie fur einen breiten Leserkreis dar. Trotz der Breite des Gebietes liegt mit diesem Taschenbuch eine ubersichtliche Beschreibung der wesentlichsten Zusammenhiinge vor. Auf teehnische Einzelheiten der Verfahren gehen die Autoren nur soweit ein, wie es fur das Verstiindnis erforderlich ist. Das Literaturver- zeichnis enthalt abschnittsweise Hinweise auf weiterfuhrende Arbeiten.

582 Book Reviews

Einfuhrend werden die Verfahren der Lebensmittelindustrie rnit Beschreibung der mikrobielleii Prozesse fur Brot und Hefegeback, alkoholische Getriinke, Essigherstellung usw. angegeben. Am Beispiel der Hefezellenproduktion auf der Grundlage spezifischer Abwiisser und der Ge- winnung von Bakterienbiomasse, z. B. auf Methanolbasis, erfolgt die Erlauterung der prinzipiellen Wirkungsweise biotechnologischer Prozesse. - Im Kapitel iiber mikrobielle Stoffwechselprodukte werden Stoffumsetzungen mit Hilfe von Bakterien beschrieben, die auf der Grundlage von Sub- straten aus pflanzlichen oder tierischen Ruckstkinden (z. B. Melasse, Zuckerrohr, Giille) Produkte liefern, die mit denen der chemischen Synthese durchaus konkurrieren. -- Aus dem breiten Spek- trum pharmazeutisch wirksamer Substanzen, die mit Hilfe von Mikroorganismen gewonnen werden, sind ausgewiihlte industrielle Produktionsmethoden dargestell t. l n dem Kapitel uber die Reinhaltung der Umwelt und die Abfallbeseitigung werden die aeroben und anaeroben Mecha- nismen der Abwasser- und Schlammbehandlung angegeben sowie die Heseitigung kommunaler und landwirtschaftlicher Abfiille durch Kompostierung beschrieben. - Eine Reihe einfacher Kursversuche mit Bakterien, Hefen und Pilzen demonstrieren im abschlieoenden Kapitel die biotechnische LeistungsfSihigkeit der Mikroorganismen anschaulich. Es handelt sich um erprobte qualitative Versuche, die von einfachen Gkungsversuchen zu komplizierten mikrobiologischen Reaktionen hinfiihren und geeignet sind, beim Leser Interesse am Experimentieren zu wecken.

I. ROSKE

Advances in Marine Biology. Volume 21. Edited by J. H. S. BLAXTER, Sir F. S. RUSSELL, Sir M. Yoxc~.-238 pp. London/New Pork: Academic Press 1984. ISBN 0-12-026121-9. $ 55.00, 5 32.50

The founding editor of these well established yearbooks, Sir FREDERICK RUSSELL, died in June 1984. The 21th Volume includes his orbituary, which mentions his “Old Worldcourtesy” and the many honours he received during his long life. He had remained a t the Marine Biological Association laboratories in Plymouth, from the College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona in Tuxcon.

The volume consists of two scientific contributions. F. E. RUSSELL compiled “Marine Toxins and Venomous and Poisonous Marine Plants and Animals (Invertebrates)”: more than 160 pages, including 25 pages of references. Besides of B. W. HALSTEAD, F. E. RUSSELL already published several monographs on “Animal Toxins” (Pergamon Press 1967) and poisonous marine animals (P. T. H. Publications 1971). The first description of a poisonous marine animal, a pufferfish, is found in the hieroglyphs of a tomb of the Eighth Dynasty, c. 2700 BC. I n the bible, MOSES also records a toxic dinoflagellate bloom. In the section on Protista, RUSSELL lists all the species “that have been shown to contain or release a toxin that gives rise to paralytic shellfish poisoning through the food-chain; that produces respiratory or gastrointestinal distress or dermatitis in humans; that causes mass mortality of marine animals; or organisms that have been implicated by laboratory experiments as beeing toxic”. Such long lists of venomous and poisonous species are included in all other sections, from Porifera to Mollusca. I n recent years, from a special zoanthid, Pnlythos, tho “palytoxin” was first isolated from coelenterates in 1971, it is % most potent poison”. As reported in the Arthropoda section, it was observed as early as 1876 that the Cook Tsland nntives commit suicide by eating a white-shelled crab during certain time of the year. The venom of the sea urchin poison apparatus is well-known. It may be one of two asterosaponins. Many holothnrians have toxic effects on animals or plants. The posterior salivary glands of 0c top . l~~ and some venomous species of Conus are developed into the most specialized venom apparatus. The sting often causes intense pain within a few minutes.

In the new volume of Adv. Mar. Biol., another review concerns “Recent Developments in the Japanese Oyster Culture Industry” by R. F. VENTILLA (Sea Fish Industry Authority, Scotland). The description includes the biology of Crassostrea gigas and the culture technique by which the oyster production has been increased by 25 oio in the last ten years. The Japanese hanging culture techniques have developed as efficiently as possible with high production in mind. In spite of yearly fluctuations, the automated “nori” cultivation offers considerable profits. “World oyster demand is increasing also and is expected to reach over 2 millions tonnes in the next two dccades”.

H. CASPERS