Adaptation to Environment. Essays on the Physiology of Marine Animals

Abstract

This publication, as its title implies, is not simply a textbook on the environmental physiology of marine organisms, but is a collection of essays by leading scientists in their own respective fields of physiological endeavor. The reader will not find this volume a comprehensive review of the entire subject of physiological adaptation of marine organisms. The editor however, has skillfully assembled a series of essays 'each of which is intended as a review of special adaptations of marine organisms to the particular environmental conditions which they are likely to encounter in the natural habitat.' As Dr Newell points out, this approach has led to differences in style and presentation technique among the contributing authors, however, this does not detract from the work, as virtually all presentations are of good quality and highly readable. Subjects covered include intertidal and estuarine life adaptation, settlement responses in marine organisms, biochemical adaptations to temperature pressure, and low oxygen, primitive respiratory adaptations, rhythmic behavior and reproduction in marine organisms, and vision in pelagic animals. Contributing authors include R. C. Newell, D. J. Crisp, G. N. Somero, P. W. Hochachka, C. P. Mangum, A. P. M. Lockwood, E. Naylor, and J. K. Bowmaker. Somero and Hochachka have made a major contribution to the volume in the form of three separate essays on biochemical adaptations to temperature, pressure, and low oxygen. A wealth of information is summarized for the student of both vertebrate and invertebrate physiology. There are several features that I particularly liked about Adaptation to Environment. A major asset of the work is that so much of the information is up to date. As Dr Newell points out, emphasis has been placed throughout the text on recent developments in the subject and on new approaches to the study of the adaptations of marine organisms. Furthermore, a good subject and author index is provided which is often a weakness in compilations of this type. Adaptation to Environment is a useful addition to the literature. I have no hesitation in recommending it highly to interested readers.