 Book Reviews
Wood Formation in Trees: Cell and Molecular Biology Techniques In the past, no one would have accused forest biologists of not seeing the forest for the trees. Until recently, tree scientists had little cellular or molecular information on which to develop an understanding of trees as individual organisms. However, recent advances in genomics have given rise to lists of expressed gene sequences from various tree tissues that need interpretation in terms of gene and protein function in organismal development. The task is particularly challenging because trees are the largest and most long-lived terrestrial organisms and are composed largely of wood, which is simultaneously among the most difficult tissues to study and the main object of interest because of its economic value and unique developmental mechanisms. In this masterful book, focused on methods for studying the cell and molecular biology of trees, and in particular the secondary vascular system that gives rise to the accumulation of wood, Editor Nigel J. Chaffey and a distinguished list of contributors have addressed their subject in a way that makes it approachable for the first time to all scientists. The international contributors to this volume are experts who have blazed conceptual and technical trails in the study of trees. Their joint effort in producing this book shows a real passion for trees as objects of study and a wish to draw others into the field that they love, despite its special difficulties. The 384-page book, comprising 18 chapters, puts detailed and approachable technical protocols into their scientific context through descriptions of relevant research problems and progress. Editor Chaffey begins the volume by reviewing reasons to study trees and the organizational levels at which they may be studied. He then enumerates eleven factors that make research on trees difficult, the last being "lack of detailed, published techniques." The mission of the book is to redress this last problem, which implies dealing intelligently with the first ten problems that arise from the inherent nature of the tree and its vascular cambium. The study of the complex tissue represented by the vascular cambium and its phloem and xylem derivatives demands cell-specific approaches if development and differentiation are to be accurately understood. The book, therefore, places strong emphasis on microscopic approaches, including light, laser scanning confocal, transmission electron and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Each of these instrumental methods is discussed in the context of its most recent uses, e.g., cryofixation prior to sectioning, freeze etching to reveal wall structure, immunolocalization of proteins, GUS histochemistry to analyze promoter/reporter gene fusions in transgenic trees, and in situ hybridization to identify sites of native gene expression. The book also includes chapters on analysis of enzyme activity in defined cell types, determination of protein profiles via one- and two-dimensional gels and Western blotting, and identification of gene diversity between species and differential gene expression between tissues through several PCR-based methods. Protocols for research techniques only recently applied to trees, such as analysis of gene expression by microarray technology, are omitted. In an admirable effort to make the book a unique contribution to the literature, there are no chapters on scanning electron microscopy, which is easily accomplished with wood, or on tree transformation, which is well described elsewhere. There are many features of the book that make the methods approachable. The use of first-person language makes readers feel as if they are participants in an interactive workshop with the writers. In several cases, background information is assembled and evaluated comparatively. For example, basic histological techniques in older literature that are now "lost" to many researchers are summarized. Great effort has been made to describe small technical details, which, if not known, can preclude success. In the ultimate gesture of user friendliness, there are even hints on how to schedule protocols so as to avoid working weekends. Each chapter follows a common and approachable organizational scheme, with scientific context, enumerated protocols, boxes highlighting needed equipment and chemicals, high quality illustrations, including diagrams of methods and black and white or color photographs of results, and extensive reference lists. Often homemade equipment is described that can substitute for commercial apparatus. There is a comprehensive abbreviation list, a suppliers contact list and a comprehensive index. Much thought and effort must have gone into making this the truly useful book that it is. Demonstrating the book's usefulness beyond the field of tree biology, this reviewer immediately consulted the protocols it presents for solutions to current research problems experienced in her lab in studies with the non-arborescent woody perennial, cotton. Inevitably, work with trees will continue to present challenges not experienced in studies with herbaceous plants or model culture systems. For example, sampling of the tree vascular system described in most of the protocols contained in this book requires hacksaws and chisels as well as tissue storage during transport to the lab. These unavoidable stresses and delays in sample analysis create the possibility of changes in gene expression, biochemistry and cellular organization. Hence, it will remain necessary to exercise caution when interpreting the results of molecular studies with whole trees and desirable, when possible, to seek confirmation of mechanisms in simpler systems. Despite the difficulties of research in the field, this book achieves the major goal of providing researchers with a wide range of investigative tools and procedures for cell and molecular biological studies with trees and other woody perennials. The contributors are to be commended for their willingness to share the results of personal technical travails and problem solving with the wider scientific community to facilitate and broaden future research.
Ecophysiology of Northern Spruce Species: The Performance of Planted Seedlings Tree physiology research has contributed greatly to our understanding of forest ecosystems and their management. Much of this research has been aimed at questions concerning nursery culture and silvicultural activities associated with artificial regeneration. This book combines a review and synthesis of such work on northern spruce species with general information on the seedling environment, seedling physiology, and their interaction. The result is a unique, much needed forestry text on applied ecophysiology. This subject matter is focused at the whole plant level, with an emphasis on artificial regeneration of clearcut sites with northern spruce species, i.e., white, black, red, Engelmann, Sitka, and Norway spruce. The primary objective of the book is to provide foresters and resource managers with information needed to develop an understanding of the importance of ecophysiology to forest regeneration programs. However, it is organized and cross-referenced to meet the informational needs of a varied audience. The first of the book’s five chapters defines and describes the major components of the abiotic environment of tree seedlings. Discussion of the primary physical and biological processes associated with seedling energy balance, the hydrologic cycle, and nutrient cycling is greatly enhanced by liberal use of tables, graphs, and illustrations from the scientific literature and unpublished work of the author. The influence of the forest canopy on the seedling environment is emphasized throughout this section to discriminate between the undisturbed forest understory and clearcut reforestation sites. The second chapter of the book focuses on seedling physiology and morphology as they relate to forest regeneration. The primary physiological processes covered are plant water relations, leaf gas exchange, plant nutrition, freezing tolerance, and dormancy. The section on plant water relations introduces the concept of water potential and describes water movement through the plant using the soil–plant–atmospheric continuum model. Discussion of leaf gas exchange is divided into stomatal function, photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, and water-use efficiency. The section on seedling nutrition centers on soil and plant factors influencing nutrient uptake and the general physiological role of mineral elements. It also includes a useful table synthesizing our current knowledge of nutrient requirements and deficiency symptoms of spruce seedlings. The section on seedling physiology concludes with a discussion of the environmental cues and physiological changes associated with seasonal variation in freezing tolerance and dormancy. The remainder of the chapter is concerned with the growth and development of spruce seedlings. The influence of environmental factors on the growth and form of shoots and root systems is discussed, as well as morphological effects on the uptake of CO2, water, and nutrients by spruce seedlings. Morphological features of container-grown planting stock are compared with those of naturally regenerated seedlings to illustrate potential differences in field performance between artificially and naturally regenerated forest stands. The third chapter builds on previous material to address the interactions between tree seedlings and their environment. The influence of temporal variation in the atmospheric and soil environment on gas exchange, water relations, and growth of planted spruce seedlings is discussed, as well as the effects of the belowground environment on nutrient uptake and utilization. This is followed by information on the influence of mineral nutrition, primarily N and P, on gas exchange, drought tolerance, freezing tolerance, and seedling growth. Freezing tolerance and dormancy of spruce seedlings receive a more detailed coverage than in the previous chapter, and includes a discussion of growing season frosts and winter desiccation. The chapter ends with a discussion of the dynamic nature of the seedling environment and the integrated physiological response of spruce seedlings to multiple environmental factors/stresses. The shortest chapter in this book is also one of the best, as it presents much recent information on the physiological genetics of spruce. Background information on forest genetics is followed by discussion of genetic variation in spruce species at the population, family, and clonal level. The research of the author and others is used to provide numerous examples of how the wide genetic variation in physiology and morphology of northern spruce species can be used to produce planting stock with site-adapted physiological and morphological features. The final and longest chapter of this book nicely brings together previous material to illustrate the role of ecophysiology in regeneration silviculture. The topics are organized in an operational sequence beginning with nursery and preplanting silvicultural activities, which includes nursery culture, stock quality assessment, overwintering, container stock characteristics, and stock handling practices. This is followed by a fairly comprehensive discussion of the ecophysiological response to silvicultural activities associated with planting, early establishment, and vegetation management. The chapter concludes with a brief treatment of partial harvest silvicultural systems that are increasingly used as alternatives to large clearcuts. The environment and physiology of spruce seedlings under partial forest canopies (e.g., shelterwoods) and in comparatively small clearcuts of different shape (e.g., strip clearcut) are discussed. The author is well known for his research in ecophysiology and regeneration silviculture of northern conifer species. In this book, he has successfully merged information from both disciplines to produce a treatise on applied ecophysiology that will be invaluable to foresters, resource managers, and members of the research community alike. This book will likely be most useful to undergraduate forestry students, as well as foresters and resource managers charged with the regeneration of northern latitude forests. Members of the forest research community and foresters working with regeneration of northern forest species will undoubtedly also find the book to be a useful reference for its comprehensive review and synthesis of more than 1200 research reports on this subject.
Atlas of Structure of Gymnosperms This publication contains more than 800 graphs, drawings, photomicrographs, scanning electron micrographs and transmission electron micrographs illustrating the structure of gymnosperms. All material for the atlas was drawn from the extensive long-term collections and the published research papers of the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. The atlas is arranged in chapters according to organ and tissue, following the classification system of Cheng and Fu (1978). Chapter topics include the shoot apex (shoot or stem tip), leaf or needle, secondary xylem (wood), secondary phloem, root, pollen, female and male reproductive organs and the seed. The final chapter of the atlas contains an extensive list of publications on the structure of gymnosperms contributed by Chinese researchers (most of which are in Chinese, although there is also a large number in English). The book has an extensive index, and the illustrations, especially the scanning electron micrographs, are of top quality. The editors of this atlas attempted to cover comparative characteristics from various gymnosperm taxa, and to provide a framework for the classification of different developmental stages. Photographs and illustrations have captions in Chinese and English, and species are identified by Latin binomials. The atlas is both a valuable reference work for researchers and a useful source of illustrative material for teachers and students.
Commercial Forest Plantations on Saline Lands Establishment of trees in degraded environments can produce both commercial and environmental benefits when appropriately planned. Fast growing plantations can benefit the environment by lowering water tables, and reducing the spread of salinity. This book is timely, particularly in Australia, because there is now widespread community, media and political acknowledgement of the magnitude of the land and river salinization problem. Increasingly, it is being recognized that the solution to environmental problems of this scale will depend on integrating both scientific and land management skills. The book aims to provide a synthesis of fundamental scientific information and of practical field evaluation. The first part of the book (Chapters 1 and 2) describes basic concepts of soil salinization and of plant physiology, both of which have been covered elsewhere at a more specialized and expert level. The second part (Chapters 3 to 5) deals with species selection for salt tolerance, product quality, and marketing, which have also been covered more comprehensively in other publications. It is in the remaining part (Chapters 6 to 10) that deals with the more practical aspects — environmental benefits on a plantation scale — that the value of the book lies. The environmental benefits in relation to ground water utilization are covered in Chapter 6. Data are presented to show that ground water levels can be significantly reduced by tree plantations, although a large proportion of land needs to be reforested to cause water levels to fall. Specific examples and ample references are given. Three case studies from catchments in Victoria and Western Australia are presented to provide an understanding of interacting biological, site and management factors. The effect of nutrient and salt removal in the biomass is discussed, and the authors point out that the small amount of salt taken up by the biomass is low in terms of the total quantities contained in the soil — that is, trees cannot be used to reduce the amount of salt in the landscape. Applications of effluent irrigation are presented in Chapter 7. Irrigation with effluent is an effective way to utilize town and farm waste water, and seven case studies are presented to show that it can enhance forest productivity, even though the effluent may be slightly saline. Plantation management in saline environments is the subject of Chapter 8. Plantation management of saline and waterlogged sites requires a greater degree of planning and performance monitoring than on traditional sites. All aspects of management are briefly covered: site selection, soil preparation, competition management systems, irrigation, pruning and protection. Methods of assessment and monitoring of plantation health and environmental values are presented in Chapter 9. The final chapter considers the potential of forests on salinized land as carbon sinks and their possible value as a source of income to landowners from the sale of carbon emission rights. The book is attractively presented, with a wealth of data to illustrate the text, and is fully referenced. Almost every page carries a table or diagram. Overall this is a useful reference for an important and developing subject, and should be of interest to research scientists, forestry advisers, and postgraduate students, as well as providing a guide to the scientific literature on reforestation and salinity.
Tree Biotechnology. Towards the Millenium This book grew out of a Tree Biotechnology Group Symposium held at the University of Nottingham in April 1997, and comprises chapters authored by invited speakers at that symposium. There is a total of 40 chapters, including eight providing broad overviews, five devoted to particular techniques, and the rest addressing work and ideas relating to particular species, often with an emphasis on methodology. The overview chapters are the highlight of the book. Of these, the first (Chapter 1), offers a short discussion of the recent national forest and farm woodland planting and restoration programs in the U.K. This chapter sets the stage for Chapters 2 and 3, which discuss the benefits and economics of planting genetically improved stock. This is a valuable component of the book, as the economic realities of many of the approaches to tree improvement programs are often not well thought out, especially in scientific treatises. Chapter 2 compares five tree improvement strategies (based on data for four tree species), including simple mass selection and mass vegetative propagation of tested clones. The authors conclude that mass selection and recurrent selection are the most cost-effective strategies. Chapter 3 further dissects the costs and benefits of such improvement methods and concludes that mass vegetative propagation can achieve economic feasibility if it is undertaken in combination with other multiplicative strategies, rather than relied on exclusively for generating planting stock. Other overview chapters are scattered throughout the remainder of the book. Noteworthy are those discussing modification to the lignin content of wood by targeting enzymes of the lignin biosynthetic pathway (Chapter 32); the use of molecular markers in tree improvement (Chapter 37); and the manipulation of tree chromosomes (Chapter 40). These contributions are valuable to the general reader as they not only cover particular investigations, but incorporate the authors’ perspectives on the value and general applicability of these approaches to tree improvement. Of the remaining chapters, many report only preliminary results of work with a single species. Cherry (Prunus avium), elm (Ulmus), apple (Malus.), and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) are particularly emphasized, with several chapters on each. The quality of the chapters varies greatly. Some fail to include even an elementary statistical evaluation of the data presented, others draw sweeping conclusions without adequate supporting evidence, and the quality of the illustrations, in some cases, is poor. In view of their narrow scope, most of these chapters would have been better suited to a research journal. Some of the detail-oriented chapters, however, present intriguing work. Among these are two chapters reporting recent research on the use of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to control the gaseous content of in vitro culture systems (Chapters 22 and 23). Charged with oxygen or carbon dioxide, inert PFC liquids added to plant cell cultures release their burden of dissolved gases slowly, with significant effects on growth. Although the work reported was confined to in vitro applications of perfluorocarbons as gas carriers, the technique may have more general application in physiological research. The title of the book suggests a much more broad-ranging coverage of tree biotechnology than is actually provided. In fact, the volume focuses mainly on topics of particular interest to U.K. researchers. Some chapters do not deal with trees at all, including chapters on tobacco, Arabidopsis (Chapter 28), rose (Chapter 31), and grape (Chapter 35). In some cases, the application of the work to trees is not made clear. The logic behind the organization of the book is not readily apparent, and the volume would have benefited from a summary chapter by the editors that both integrated and critically evaluated work and ideas in the field of tree biotechnology. For example, nowhere in the book is the field testing of genetically engineered trees in the U.K. mentioned, nor is there any discussion of the problems to be expected with such testing. Although this book was written in 1997-98, before the recent destruction in Europe and the U.K. of test plots of genetically modified crops, such problems had already been anticipated. One would expect coverage of these political and economic issues in a book offering a millenial review of the field. Despite shortcomings, this book nevertheless provides a useful guide to current tree improvement and forest biotechnology research in the U.K.
Dynamics of Leaf Photosynthesis: Rapid-Response Measurements and Their Interpretations. Techniques in Plant Sciences No. 1 This is the first in a series on “Techniques in Plant Sciences” edited by Barry Osmond and published by CSIRO. Its editorial link with Canberra is particularly appropriate because both “The Research School of Biological Sciences” and the “CSIRO Division of Plant Industry” on the campus of the Australian National University have outstanding strengths in photosynthesis. In the Foreword it is stated that “the authors and many others in the former Eastern block have achieved extraordinary feats of creativity in circumstances that most of us would have found stultifying.” This is most certainly true of Agu Laisk and Vello Oja whose names have long since been a byword for excellence in this field. In the years immediately after World War II, though always playing an important role, research into “whole leaf” photosynthesis had struggled to match the impact of Robin Hill’s pre-war work on chloroplasts or the seminal experiments in the 50’s on cell-free extracts by Arnon et al. on the one hand and the algal work of Calvin and colleagues on the other. Similarly the masterly work of Hatch and Slack that defined C4 photosynthesis was largely based on enzymology and painstaking analysis of feeding experiments. Over the last thirty years or so, however, there has been an increasing emergence of integrated, relatively non-intrusive measurement of simultaneous events in living leaves. Much of this, like that which went before it, has been led by improved technology. Laisk and Vello have been in the vanguard of these advances and their contributions are the more remarkable because of the imposed need to fashion most of their apparatus themselves. However, they have never allowed technology to overshadow theory and interpretation. In these they have also excelled. This monograph sets out to show how they have done this and how others can benefit from their pioneering work. It is extremely lucid and well written and will surely be kept in reach of every bench practitioner in this field for many years to come. As the authors themselves state “a large part of the book is dedicated to the description of specific applications and the interpretation of the data.” In other hands this might preclude enjoyable reading but not so here. Omar Khayam once wrote “the bird of time has but a little way to fly and, lo, the bird is on the wing” When, in the chapter on “Conceptual Background” Laisk and Oja, in a more prosaic fashion (that befits its context) state that “life is dynamic and all of its processes are transient” the reader can nevertheless readily detect and warm to the obvious delight that they take in devising means of observing, measuring and interpreting transients that are often as full of intrinsic beauty as a still life by a French impressionist. Inevitably, in sections such as the “basic physics of gas flow” or the “expression of fluxes using the basic difference of the chemical potential of CO2” there is no shortage of mathematics and those with a basic grounding in differential calculus will find these parts easier going than those of us who are not of a particularly mathematical bent. That said, the math is always there for a purpose and not simply because it might be easier to state concepts mathematically rather than in every day language. As might be expected, much space is given to the measurement of carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange; by now increasingly sophisticated and rewarding. To this is added the input of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the use of 800 nm absorption as a measure of P700 oxidation status, both of which have done so much to broaden investigation and further interpretation of phenomena in this area. Altogether then, a most satisfactory and important book. More than that; a challenging book full of good science; one that might easily impel a desk-bound scientist back to the bench to see for himself, to question and perhaps to offer a new answer. In the Foreword there is talk of “CD-portrayal of the experiments themselves”—to be included, I suppose, with future volumes in this series. It would be nice to think that there might be retrospective inclusion of such a CD as a companion to this volume also. The study of transients in photosynthesis is every bit as exciting and rewarding as Laisk and Oja portray it. What added pleasure to watch the actual transients unfold! Digital publication would, of course, carry with it the added bonus of going to any point of the text at the touch of a key—something which, in the absence of an index, the excellent list of contents does not entirely redress.
Forest Ecosystems; Analysis at Multiple Scales Forest Ecosystems; Analysis at Multiple Scales is the second edition of Richard Waring's 1985 book written with William Schlesinger (Forest Ecosystems; Concepts and Management). However, the emphasis of this new edition is sufficiently different from the original that it really should be thought of as a whole new book. In particular, the second edition builds on the strengths of a new second author, Steven Running, by emphasizing the application of remotely-sensed data, geographical information systems (GIS), and ecosystem and regional modeling. These topics get only passing mention in the earlier edition, but occupy a full third of the new book. To accommodate this new emphasis, much of the detail in the earlier work had to be dropped. Nevertheless, all the major themes covered in the first edition are still there with sufficient references to the primary literature to allow the reader to fill in any remaining gaps. The book is nicely organized starting with fine-scale, within-stand processes and ending with a coarse-scale assessment of the role of forests in the global ecology. It progresses successively through a presentation of the water, carbon, and mineral cycles within forest stands; a review of temporal changes in forest communities and biogeochemistry during stand development and in response to disturbance; an introduction to methods for spatial scaling and for analyzing regional patterns in forest function; and an examination of the interactions of forests with the atmosphere and their influence on global climate and on the global carbon budget. This logical organization should make the book a good text for beginner courses in forest ecology. It provides a quick survey of the field, emphasizes new technologies like remote sensing, GIS, and isotope analysis, and points the reader toward more detailed sources of information. Simulation modeling is given a prominent place in this book without going into the detail that would dissuade many readers. In the first chapter, the authors list "six primary objectives for ecosystem simulation models: (1) to replicate system behavior under normal conditions by comparison with field data, (2) to further understand system behavior, (3) to organize and utilize information from field and laboratory studies, (4) to pinpoint areas for future field research, (5) to generalize the model beyond a single site, and (6) to investigate effects of manipulations or major disturbances on the ecosystem over a wide range of conditions." The clear emphasis in the book is on objectives 5 and 6, which are also the strengths of the second author. An accompanying CD-ROM presents some results of regional, national, and global extrapolations of hydrologic and ecological variables The use of models for synthesis, hypothesis generation, or in theoretical applications is not as well represented. A section on modeling has been added to all of the early chapters, but in most cases these sections appear to have been appended onto, rather than integrated into the chapters; this is not a book on modeling. There are also typographical errors in several of the equations presented in the first few chapters of the book that will confuse beginning students. The reader looking for a source of detailed information on methods and new technologies or of extensive tables of synthesized data will be disappointed. However, on balance, the book provides a good survey of modern forest ecology that will give the student a broad perspective both of the science and of the emerging technologies to deal with some of its most pressing questions. Temperate Agroforestry Systems When considering agroforestry, the attention of many may be too easily distracted by the large body of research into tropical agroforestry systems that has accumulated over recent decades, perhaps leaving some with the impression that agroforestry is an insignificant practice in temperate zones. Readers of this book will, however, be left with no doubt that there is a community of both researchers and practitioners who are enthusiastic about the potential of agroforestry to provide solutions for some of the major challenges facing natural resource management in the temperate regions of the world. Gordon and Newman have brought together contributions from scattered corners of the globe, with chapters reviewing research and development in agroforestry in North America, Argentina, Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand. Thus, the organization of the book has a geographical focus, which has prevented it from becoming another exercise in the listing and categorization of different systems of agroforestry. Rather, readers are able to appreciate the great variety of temperate agroforestry systems in use around the world, while understanding the diverse agronomic and economic considerations that have shaped their development on different continents. There are inevitably features common to agroforestry across the temperate regions, but the editors have assembled the book with care and there is minimal repetition among chapters. Effective synthesis of the issues raised by the various authors is provided in introductory and concluding chapters, which together with consistent editing of the text, serve to unify the contributions into a cohesive volume. The book focuses on the role of trees in farming systems, rather than the physical or physiological mechanisms controlling interactions between trees and crops, or criteria for the selection of species or combinations of species. While reviewing research in agroforestry and discussing the merits of the most prevalent systems used in the different geographical regions, each of the contributors has provided an analysis of how trees can be used to enhance the sustainability of temperate agriculture and improve biodiversity in modern farming, while maintaining or increasing profitability for farmers. The book has a firmly academic perspective, but these features mean that it should also be appreciated by farmers with an interest in diversifying the management of their farms and by governmental policy makers in areas such as agriculture, forestry, rural economics and resource conservation. There are some strong words for politicians intent on reducing public funding of conservation and resource management programs in the countryside, particularly in North America, and they would benefit from awareness of the compelling arguments in favor of promoting more diversified systems of land use that are presented in this book. The rich variety of agroforestry systems used in temperate zones may surprise those familiar only with tropical agroforestry. There is certainly a strong emphasis on silvopastoralism, which means that temperate agroforesters are perhaps more likely to have expertise in animal nutrition than their tropical counterparts, though a key to developing effective management strategies for such systems remains control of the partitioning of resources between the trees and understorey. Use of trees for the management of snow cover and protection of livestock from extreme cold is a feature of agroforestry that is unique to the temperate zone, but the North American system of alleycropping with black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a classic of agroforestry system design that utilizes fundamental principles of agroforestry that are applicable anywhere. The Australian system of using water consumption by trees to minimize groundwater recharge under arable land may at first sight appear counterintuitive to agroforesters used to working in semiarid regions where excessive water use by trees is often a constraint on the development of agroforestry; it is, however, an excellent example of how trees can be used to enhance the sustainability of agriculture, as it provides a solution to the very serious problem in Australia of soil salinization by rising groundwater. The contribution from China highlights the markedly different set of problems, resulting from high population densities, faced by landuse planners there and shows how integrating trees into agriculture, using the `foursides' system, where trees are planted along roadsides and the boundaries between small, intensivelyfarmed plots, has enabled production of both food and wood to expand with the population. A particularly fascinating feature of each of the contributions to the book is a short survey of the history of agroforestry in each region. There are many reminders that use of trees on farms goes back to the beginnings of agriculture. The observations of tree–crop interactions from the Yung Dynasty in China reported in the book confirm that agroforestry is an ancient occupation. Discussion in the book of the implications of plant ecophysiology for tree–crop interactions and microclimate modification by trees is limited and likely to be seen as superficial by specialists in these areas. This is not a serious omission, however, as these issues are amply covered in other recent texts, but there is a surprising lack of information—at least beyond qualitative—on the economics of agroforestry. Farming in temperate zones is very often a highly commercialized enterprise and, consequently, the arguments presented in favor of agroforestry would have added conviction if they were supported by clearer financial and economic analyses. The information contained in the book is welldocumented, making it something of a bibliographic goldmine for researchers in temperate agroforestry. There are, however, instances where the reader is left wondering how to obtain further details on aspects of the text. A glaring example of this is the un-referenced contention that roots of Paulownia elongata are found mostly below the rooting zone of crops; however, this is more of a reflection on the poor quality of information available on belowground interactions in agroforestry than the editorial standards of the book. The book would benefit from the use of more photographs to illustrate the various systems of agroforestry discussed, although there are impressive pictures of the use of agroforestry in riparian strips to rehabilitate stream courses in agricultural fields. The choice of the photograph for the front cover, which shows sheep grazing in a silvopastoral scene, is especially unfortunate, however, because the trees in the picture have been relegated to a minor detail of the background. Overall, Gordon and Newman have produced an excellent book that I recommend to all those with an interest in agroforestry. In time, the book is likely to be seen as an important synthesis of research in temperate agroforestry and it may, therefore, galvanize research efforts to become more cohesive across continents. Research into common areas of interest could then be coordinated internationally, promoting assessment of the transferability of systems between continents and coordination of policy development and lobbying for institutional support of temperate agroforestry. Plant Analysis, an Interpretation Manual This large book contains tables of foliar analysis for crops of all types grown in Australia. Naturally many crops cultivated in the northern hemisphere, and elsewhere, are included. The common cereals, vegetables and ornamentals are well represented, and among forest trees, several pines, some hybrid poplars, and Douglas-fir are included. About 85% of the book is tables that mostly show nutrient concentrations per unit dry matter in various plant parts. These concentrations are divided into seven categories ranging from deficient to toxic, and the tables include additional information on growth stage, what type of experiment or other source the data are from, country of origin, and comments. The book has an interesting introductory chapter on interpretation of plant analysis that discusses the physiology relating to changes in nutrient concentrations, and various alternative approaches to diagnosis. The latter include examination of K concentration in relation to fresh weight, measuring amino acids instead of total N, and biochemical and physiological assays. The empirical nature of most nutrient ratios and The Diagnostic and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) is succinctly pointed out. Interpretation of foliar analysis is of great practical value, and is especially important for forest trees that exploit large volumes of the soil so that soil analysis is often impractical. Each set of tables has an Introduction, and the one for Forest Plantations (Chapter 10, 54 pages of tables with 203 references) deals with stages of growth, plant parts, sampling position, and sampling strategies. In this last section one reads that, “Not less than four samples per location are advisable, collected within a plot of 0.05 to 0.10 ha...” Reading on, this may refer only to Eucalyptus, which apparently shows low variability, but it may be misleading, since it appears to apply generally to the ensuing tables. However, it is well established that to estimate most macronutrient concentrations in conifers, with a reasonable risk of error, 15-20 trees must be sampled (Ballard and Carter 1986), and the number is higher for micronutrients and hybrid poplars (Heilman 1985). There is no reference to van den Burg's (1985) large compilation of forest tree foliar analysis, that would be relevant for readers, although van den Burg does not attempt to synthesize a single set of critical values for each species as is done in this chapter. Furthermore, the inclusion of genera here, such as Acacia, Casuarina, and Gmelina, will be of particular value to workers in the southern hemisphere. There are, of course, errors to be found in this chapter. For example, in the Douglas-fir table all the references are cited for each nutrient, although with the exception of Reference 8 (Ballard and Carter 1986), each reference deals with only one or two nutrients. Furthermore the country of origin for Reference 8 is given as USA, but it is really Canada. I can also say with considerable authority that the country of origin for Reference 180 is not Australia, but Wales. ReferencesBallard, T.M. and R.E. Carter. 1986. Evaluating forest stand nutrient status. Land Management Report 20. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, Canada. Heilman, P.E. 1985. Sampling and genetic variation of foliar nitrogen in black cottonwood and its hybrids in short rotation. Can. J. For. Res. 15:1137-1141. van den Burg, J. 1985. Foliar analysis for determination of tree nutrient status: a compilation of literature data. De Dorschkamp, Wageningen, Rapport 414, 615 p. Robert van den Driessche, Biology Department, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada [Return to top]Trees--Contributions to Modern Tree Physiology In 1985 Hubert Ziegler, a coeditor of this book, initiated a program sponsored by the German National Science Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) to overcome the deficiencies that existed in knowledge of the physiology of healthy trees. The impetus for this program was the conspicuous problem of forest decline in much of Europe. The book's editors succinctly sum up the situation that led to this program: "How can injury be determined and properly quantified, when the undamaged state is not sufficiently characterized?" Comprised of 32 articles, this book summarizes the progress that has been achieved during the eight-year duration of the "Physiology of Trees" program. The individual articles vary substantially in their approach: some report on the results of specific experiments, others present a more comprehensive synthesis of a topic. Taken in its entirety, this book illustrates both how far we have come in understanding the structural-functional relationships of trees and how far we have yet to go. The body of new knowledge reviewed is impressive; there is much to be learned here. Yet in the end I came away from my reading with the same feeling that has troubled me for some time; a holistic, ecologically based, structural-functional synthesis of tree growth still eludes us. Many pieces of this puzzle have been elucidated by tree physiologists, and in some cases a holistic view of a particular topic can be approached (e.g., the paper on sulfur nutrition in this volume). But assembling all knowledge of tree growth into a cohesive conceptual model has yet to be achieved. To be fair, the editors of this book make no claims toward this end. Nonetheless, this deficiency is not only dissatisfying intellectually, but it does not bode well for the future of declining forests. The book is divided into seven sections, each containing a potpourri of articles on specific topics. Section 1 presents five papers on the structure and function of tree surfaces, a pertinent topic for anyone seeking a linkage between atmospheric chemistry and tree decline. This section leads off strongly with a review article on the structure and function of leaf surfaces, which contains some nice scanning electron photomicrographs of a number of tree species. Other topics in this section include two experimental treatments of the properties of cuticular and epicuticular waxes and reviews of the physiology of lenticels and gas transport in trees. Section 2 is titled "Biomass production, transport, storage, and re-utilization," but coverage of this broad topic is piecemeal. The first paper is a thorough treatment of the physiological ecology of light and sunflecks, including simulations. Next is a succinct treatment of the whole-tree carbohydrate physiology of conifers, followed by two papers on hydrocarbon physiology--the first on isoprene, the second on monoterpenes. The last two papers might have been better placed at the end of this section. The following paper on phloem loading, translocation and unloading also contains some nice photomicrographs and concentrates on conifers, whereas another paper further along in this section reviews work on the structure and function of rays in Populus. In between is an article on xylem sap chemistry, which would have been better placed in the section on water relations. The last paper in the biomass section deals with seasonal aspects of storage and mobilization of carbohydrates and lipids. The next two sections, "Water relations" and "Tree nutrition," each consist of three papers, and so they are much less comprehensive than the section that precedes them. The first contribution on water relations presents a general model of photosynthesis at the level of the leaf, and then reviews work on photosynthesis and drought in the context of that model, largely with European Quercus species. Next is an experimental and modeling approach to water transport across roots, with contrasts made between trees and herbs. The section closes with a discussion of cyclitols as stable osmotica in trees. The section on nutrition reflects closely the rationale for the Physiology of Trees program: combating pollution-induced nutrient imbalances leading to forest decline. The three papers in this section differ in their approach; the paper on nitrate nutrition is dense with data and focuses on intra-tree and interspecific nitrate reductase comparisons. The sulfur paper is a thorough review of the dynamics of sulfur physiology in spruce and beech, but no data are presented. Finally, magnesium deficiency, a frequent consequence of soil acidification, is presented in terms of one experiment with spruce. The section titled "Roots, mycorrhizae, and the rhizosphere" contains six papers dealing with aspects of the physiology of ectomycorrhizae. Together they comprise a detailed, if somewhat fragmentary, view of this critical symbiosis. Specific topics covered include host-fungus signaling during infection and maintenance of mycorrhizae; structural-functional relationships in roots infected with a Hartig net; intracellular compartmentation and metabolism of phosphorus in hyphae and infected root tissue; carbon allocation to mycorrhizal fungi and the role of sucrose; the protein complement and enzyme systems of mycorrhizae; and nitrogen acquisition processes and the enzymology of nitrogen assimilation. The two other papers in this section deal with flavonoid induction of nodulation during Rhizobium infection of Robinia roots, and the effect of root exudates on the mobilization of nutrients in the rhizosphere. The first paper in Section 6 reviews the biochemistry and physiology of lignin synthesis, primarily in conifers. The authors distinguish between normal lignin and "stress lignin" which forms in response to pathogen attack or wounding. A data intensive review paper follows on the biochemistry and physiology of heartwood formation, in particular the role of carbohydrate and lipid reserves. Comparisons are made among species that form a distinct, dark-colored heartwood, those that form no heartwood, and those that produce a discolored "irregular heartwood." The third paper on sensor pigments and photomorphogenesis in conifers not only seems out of place in this section, but its premise is arguable: that "fine tuning of developmental events is controlled by the light climate at the site where the plant has to grow." Important as light may be, I think we have gone beyond the simplistic model of a single environmental control of plant development. The book closes with summary papers by two of its editors: Walter Eschrich and Hubert Ziegler. This section is curiously titled "Why trees differ from herbs: peculiarities in tree physiology." The paper by Eschrich, "Structure-function relations in trees," discusses several disparate aspects of this broad subject, with no real synthesis attempted or achieved. It does, however, make some interesting points along the way. Zeigler's paper is more compelling. It discusses some open questions in tree physiology and, in keeping with the genesis of the book, sets the stage for further work in the Physiology of Trees program. I found it an appropriate concluding chapter for this current and absorbing contribution to the tree physiology literature. The book is generally readable, with only an occasional clumsy turn of phrase, unclear sentence, teleological statement, or misspelled word. The printing quality of text and photos is good, the only exception being a few faint graphical figures that were difficult to read. More serious is the lack of proper captions on several of the figures: symbols or abbreviations were not identified and I found myself searching the body of the article for help. This burden should not be placed on the reader. Individual papers are not accompanied by an abstract, an odd omission in these times when we depend increasingly on computerized abstracting services. On the plus side, the book has very complete species and subject indexes; it is gratifying that some publishers still take indexing seriously. Although this attractive book cannot be recommended as a text for undergraduates, except perhaps for those taking an advanced tree physiology course, it will be a valuable, albeit non-encyclopedic, reference for anyone digging deep into particular aspects of tree structural-functional relationships. I certainly shall use it in that way. Donald I. Dickmann, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1998. [Return to top]Tree-Crop Interactions: A Physiological Approach In the last few decades, significant progress has been made in plant physiology and plant ecology research. However, these two disciplines have developed separately until recently, with the emergence of a new discipline called ecophysiology. Ecophysiology is important in developing a comprehensive scientific approach to agroforestry, which is simply defined as a land-use system where at least two agroforest components (one being a woody perennial) are mixed spatially or temporally, or both, depending on biophysical and socio-economic circumstances. The new book, Tree-Crop Interactions: A Physiological Approach, edited by Chin K. Ong and Peter Huxley and authored by experts in this new science, contains useful information on plant physiology and ecology, which are essential in the field of sustainable management of natural resources in agroforestry systems. It is important to understand the nature and extent of the interactions between the different components (e.g., at the tree–crop interface) in order to understand the physiological adaptations of an agroforestry system in a particular environment (Chapter 1). The various mathematical models applied in Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are impressive and provide quantitative approaches for both above- and belowground processes of tree–crop interactions. The influence of microclimate components in an agroforestry system (Chapter 5) and methods for quantifying microclimatic modifications, particularly for light and water, the two main resources that are covered in this book (Chapter 6), are important for better management of natural resources. Chapters dealing with form and function in woody–non-woody plant mixtures (Chapter 7), tree–soil–crop interactions (Chapter 8), and root topology of trees and crops (Chapter 9) show the need to develop a better understanding of form and function, and of below- and aboveground interactions in order to maximize the benefits of agroforestry. However, some aspects of plant nutrition are overlooked in the book as is the importance of mycorrhizal associations, which play one of the most significant physiological interactions in the root zone of agroforestry systems and can help evaluate functional guilds between legume and non-legume crops. Overall, this book is a significant contribution to the principles of plant ecophysiology in agroforestry systems. Damase Khasa, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 1997 [Return to top]Plant Stems: Physiology and Functional Morphology
Tree stems are black boxes. When mature, they can be very difficult to study in situ. They may be very tall (100 meters) and have large diameters (several meters). Their internal structure is complex, ranging from fairly homogeneous wood comprised largely of dead xylem elements in the conifers, to anastomosing primary vascular bundles embedded in a matrix of parenchyma in the monocotyledons, to heterogeneous wood with a variety of living and dead xylem elements in the dicotyledons. A stem changes structure and function with distance from its center (e.g., in woody stems: heartwood, sapwood, lateral meristems, phloem, and outer bark). The outer bark is viewed primarily as a protective sheath for the stem; it also acts as an efficient cloaking device to prevent easy access by researchers to the internal functions of the stem. All stem functions must integrate to support the rest of the tree. Stems are tied to leaves at stem tops and roots at stem bases. Water and nutrients in the stem destined for leaves enter through roots; photosynthate destined for roots is produced in the leaves. So, it is difficult to investigate excised stems and infer normal function from the results. Most tree stems are not disposable (as are most leaves and fine roots and the stems of many shrubs); destructive research on tree stems usually means sacrificing the entire tree. Nonetheless, understanding stem biology is critical to better ecological modeling, agriculture, wildlife management, lumber production, and other natural resource management. As understanding and techniques and technology improve, the limitations that have faced the biologists and engineers are gradually being overcome. The improvements in stem research are clearly seen in ecology. Ecology is a synthetic field that is based upon the integration of various other fields to understand how organisms relate to their environments. Historically, ecosystem modelers treated whole trees as black boxes, with the uptake and release of energy, water, nutrients, and carbon described with little consideration for the internal processes that influenced fluxes. At the same time, plant physiologists emphasized processes affecting photosynthesis, because the conversion of light and carbon to food is basic to life on earth. Physiologists also studied respiration and water relations which are integral to determining net carbon gain. The easily accessible leaves and somewhat less accessible fine roots were the site of most research. New knowledge from this research was incorporated into the ecological models, but then the tree stems, rather than the whole tree, were treated as black boxes. As understanding of the physiological ecology of trees improved over the last ten years and ecologists became aware of the critical role of tree stems, ecologists have begun to collaborate with taxonomists, morphologists, anatomists, physiologists, and engineers to investigate tree stems in their own right and to incorporate the new data into ecosystem models (e.g., the dynamics of stem water storage). Interactions with pathologists and zoologists, including entomologists, are elaborating and expanding the concepts of stem functions to include interactions with and internal responses to other taxa. Plant Stems: Physiology and Functional Morphology is a collection of comprehensive review papers by leading researchers on what is known and what is not known about stems, with an emphasis on tree stems. The product of a workshop held recently in Oregon, it is also a call for the integration of research on stems from different fields. It is the first attempt to synthesize knowledge from diverse fields into a coherent concept of an integrated stem. Gartner, the editor, carefully organized the material into five sections: stem architecture in plant performance, stems in the transport and storage of water, live stem cells in plant performance, stems in preventing or reacting to plant injury, and synthesis. The topics covered in various chapters include an impressive array of research areas: structural support; short- and long-distance transport; water, nutrient, and metabolite storage; stem photosynthesis; epiflora and epifauna; development; and defense against and reaction to disturbances such as fire, pollution, and pathogens. Authors frequently cross-reference other chapters. From necessity, some of the discussions are speculative and many examples are from herbaceous plants. Although much of the reported research is from the North American and European temperate zones, African and Asian species and tropical and boreal species are mentioned (e.g., palms and tree ferns). In this context, “trees” are woody plants (including shrubs) or other arborescent vascular plants. Frequently, investigating organisms that operate at environmental extremes or that occupy morphologically, anatomically, or functionally fringe positions, gives insight into “typical” organisms. The authors cite such examples often, clearly indicating the features that distinguish the example from typical plants. As a result, readers develop an appreciation for the breadth of solutions to functional problems. The approach challenges readers to think about the tradeoffs inherent in various solutions. Readers may disagree with some of the assertions, but Plant Stems will have challenged them to view stems in a more integrated way. The editor and authors have produced a good and timely synthesis on the function of tree stems. Most of my criticisms are minor. It is not possible to cover all aspects of stem physiology in such a volume. I especially missed more discussion on stem gas exchange and internal aeration. There is a chapter on stems and air pollution, although the book does not discuss the effects of groundwater pollution on stems. But given the wide structural and functional variation in stems, it is remarkable that this book has so comprehensively covered their functions and interactions. Some chapters are very clear and easy to follow, others leave the reader to fill in gaps. Not all of the authors are clear about when they speculate. Terminology from several research fields is used in the text, but many terms are not defined. Defining more of the terminology would ease reading across disciplines. The chapters by Gartner, Givinish, Holbrook, Nilsen, Pate and Jeschke, and Weber and Grulke are especially well written and clear. Some authors clearly state where the most important areas for future research are, and some emphasize the importance of more research in terms of real-world applications. As I read the review chapters, I looked forward to a summary chapter that pulled all of stem biology together, but an entire second volume would be required to develop a synthesis of the preceding chapters with one voice. Hinckley and Schulte's summary chapter reiterates some of the important concepts developed in the book, such as redundancy and modularity of construction, the incorporation of life history into the annual rings and structure of stems of individual trees, the energy costs of building disposable and nondisposable stems, responding to environmental signals and communication among plant organs, difficulties in research on tree stems, interactions among stem functions and processes, and trade-offs among and optimization of functional strategies. The book's index limits its usefulness for reference. Not all occurrences of some terms used within the text are listed (e.g., integrated physiological unit), and I couldn't find index entries for monocotyledons, palms, primary xylem, or vascular bundles—all of which are discussed in various places throughout the volume. Also, inclusion of taxa in the index, or in a separate index, would have been very useful. This book deserves a wide readership. Researchers, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates in any field concerned with plant growth or function will find the book informative and thought provoking. College teachers and laboratory instructors will be able to glean ideas for student projects from the many suggestions for proposed research. Referring to the “wide diversity of perspectives” in this volume, Hinckley and Schulte write “...we tend to study our small piece of the stem, but if we are to understand it as an entire structure we must take this broader view.” The next steps are for botanists, ecologists, and other scientists to read this book, do the research, and integrate the results among their fields. Clearly, the black box is being uncloaked—the time for integration and synthesis has arrived! Ann M. Lewis, Amherst, MA 1997 [Return to top]Applications of Physiological Ecology to Forest Management
It is revealing when the greatest criticism of a book you can muster is that the title seems not quite appropriate - a short review might then be expected. However, when the authors attempt such a grand synthesis (labor of love?), as have Landsberg and Gower in their book, and have such lofty aspirations in terms of its use, they deserve more. First, the title: there is actually little in terms of the application of physiological principles to forest management in this book. For instance, there is no mention of management applications of the “-3/2 self-thinning law” and mahogany is not mentioned once in the discussion on tropical forest management. Rather, what the authors offer is a comprehensive synthesis of ecophysiology in the context of understanding the functioning of forest ecosystems with implications for forest management. The guts of the book reside in chapters 3–7 (Canopy Architecture and Microclimate, Forest Hydrology and Tree-Water Relations, Carbon Balance of Forests, Soil Organic Matter and Decomposition, and Nutrient Distribution and Cycling). There are also two introductory chapters (Forests of the Modern World, Forest Biomes of the World), a transitional chapter discussing Changes in Ecosystem Structure and Function during Stand Development, and two concluding chapters, one on Ecosystem Process Models and one on Applications of Modern Technology and Ecophysiology to Forest Management (the latter discusses GIS and remote sensing, but not with much application to forest management illustrated). Beyond the title and perhaps questionable audience, the authors take the high road when it comes to topical coverage, focusing on the dynamics of carbon, water and nutrients, with hardly a mention, for example, of biochemistry, genetics, biodiversity or dynamics at the population or community levels. Definitions of key terms, such as community, ecosystem, or forest, are often implied rather than stated (or included only upon subsequent mention), and the book contains only a few figures and is without photographs. All these points limit the usefulness of the book for most broader undergraduate courses, but make it possible for the authors to achieve their objectives within a modest and readable 300 pages of text. In their attempt to synthesize within their well-stated scope, the authors are very successful, and in fact most of what they discuss would be useful for most practicing foresters and land managers to know and understand. But most practicing foresters have Bachelor-level degrees and, although the authors have ostensibly aimed the book at senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, there are few undergraduates that I have been exposed to that would find the book more than 50% comprehensible, largely because of some overhanded quantitative exactitude (e.g., Canopy Architecture and Microclimate) and some highly conceptual presentations. I do admire the forceful and unambiguous definitions of sustainability, conservation and management, and the discussion of the related issues as presented in Chapter 1; these concepts are revisited throughout the book and provide a central theme. There is also a healthy balance in the book of natural and plantation forest management considerations. I was surprised that the authors chose to use eight climate diagrams for the major biomes rather than discussing global climate patterns in a more synthetic and dynamic manner, which would have been more appropriate to their emphasis elsewhere on modeling. The authors emphasize modeling throughout the book, focusing on the derivation of “simple models,” although this at times seems like an end in itself and gets a bit distracting (not to mention that the modeling is not always so simple!). In fact, with all the mention of models, there are relatively few specific examples of simulations. The current use of biologically-based models in forest management is not highly developed, which the authors use as the justification for eventually presenting a range of “process-based” models and discussing their preferred approach: the (energy efficiency) model. In terms of format, the book is very nicely constructed. I especially enjoyed the succinct introductions and sections entitled “Concluding Remarks,” in each chapter. The authors obviously spent considerable time thinking about not only the presentation of factual material, but also the contexts and larger implications of the material. The assembled Concluding Remarks would even make a nice collection of essays regarding the various subjects covered. There are some errors (e.g., Manaus is not in the temperate zone [p. 29], there is no “former Russia” [p. 36], the Table 7.5 caption is undecipherable and Equation 4.11 is missing parentheses), and a few more grevious misrepresentations (e.g., the fire frequency for natural pinelands in the southeastern U.S. is far higher than every 30–70 years; wildfires in tropical forests are ignored). Perhaps most problematic is that, in spite of the authors' attempts to be clear, Box 3.1 calls for the use of “total needle surface areas” while the accompanying text on pages 55–56 states that “single-sided or projected foliage surface area - not total surface area” will be used throughout the book—the resulting ambiguities should be obvious and dogged me throughout the remaining discussions. But in terms of content, although I might disagree with some of the specifics, I can't argue at all with Landsberg and Gowers' overall thoroughness and rigor. I do agree that this book is appropriate for graduate students, and in fact, after evaluation, I have decided to use the book for my own forest ecosystems (graduate) course next year, and have already used it successfully in a “reading and conference” format. The minor editorial distractions should be taken care of in subsequent revisions, which will be necessary if this will continue to be useful as a reference and textbook. Overall, I highly recommend the book as a focused, conceptual, comprehensive synthesis of process-level ecology within strong ecosystem and forest management contexts. Henry L. Gholz, Gainesville, FL 1997 [Return to top]Plants in Changing Environments:
Linking Physiological, Population, and Community Ecology
In this unusually attractive book, Fakhri Bazzaz presents a special approach to exploring the mechanisms driving plant succession. The subtitle says it all—linking physiological, population and community ecology. Bazzaz has singularly approached the study of succession in an integrated manner, examining habitat resource availability, physiological responses to these resources, morphological and life cycle consequences of these responses, and finally the results of all of these interactions on a community level. It is rather inexplicable that the obvious, and important, link between the disciplines of plant physiological ecology and plant population biology has not been previously explored to any extent. Bazzaz's new book represents the first attempt to discuss this link in a comprehensive manner, and it is especially rewarding in that he puts this synthesis into the context of plant succession and global change. Thus the power of the book is in its unique synthetic approach to the dynamics of plants in changing environments. Bazzaz addresses this theme by utilizing abundant data that has originated to a great extent from his own efforts and those of many exceptional students. Virtually all of the many figures in the book comes from the work of his laboratory. His text weaves in a more inclusive use of literature, but the sense is that this book really represents a synthesis of the work of an unusually productive scientist and of his students, covering a broad range of topics related to succession. This is not a criticism since the work, covering several decades, still represents classic examples of the many that Bazzaz explores. One cannot help but feel that a very ambitious life research plan was formulated early in Bazzaz’s career and that over these last few decades he has worked very hard to fill in the many holes that existed in order to develop a mechanistic understanding of the processes controlling plant succession. This book is filled with a wealth of information and ideas that, no doubt, will serve as a source of inspiration for students and research investigators for years to come. H. A. Mooney, Stanford, CA 1997 [Return to top]Growth Control in Woody Plants T. T. Kozlowski and S. G. Pallardy 1997. Academic Press, 642 p ISBN 0-12-424210-3 $74.95 (USD) Review by Dr. Melvin Cannell Professor Kozlowski maintains his prodigious output of textbooks on woody plants with this volume and two others recently published by Academic Press: The Physiological Ecology of Woody Plants (T. T. Kozlowski, P. J. Kramer and S. G. Pallardy, 1991) and Physiology of Woody Plants (P. J. Kramer and T. T. Kozlowski, 2nd edn. 1997). This volume covers some of the same ground as the other volumes, but is an update, and specifically addresses the 'controls' on growth and development. The early chapters deal, essentially, with the processes that occur in plants (involving carbon, nutrient and water fluxes etc.) that are subject to internal and external influences. The later chapters then deal with the environmental factors (e.g., light, nutrient and water supply) and cultural practices (e.g., irrigation, pruning, thinning) which affect those processes and hence tree growth. There are also additional chapters on (i) seeds and seedlings, and (ii) biotechnology. The book therefore covers an enormous field. The real value of a textbook such as this is as an introduction for students and as a starting point for researchers and others exploring a new facet of woody plant biology. The authors have surveyed a vast literature and have included all the main topics relevant to each subject. However, readers must be aware that the coverage of each subject is necessarily superficial, with only illustrative information, and that the volume reports the conclusions of others without a critical analysis of its own. But as a reference text, this book is excellent and very well produced. Each chapter ends with a summary and list of general references, and nearly 25% of the book is represented by a species list, bibliography and index. Melvin Cannell, Edinburgh 1997 [Return to top] |
