Christmas
Book List 1998
BOOKS OF INTEREST TO BRITISH
MARINE LIFE ENTHUSIASTS
In 1996 and 1997 we were fortunate that there were some outstanding
books. There are some very good books but no clear "best book of
new original work" first published during 1998. There is very little to
choose between them.
(1)
SUSSEX MARINE LIFE
by Robert Irving
East Sussex County Council 1998
ISBN 0 86147-471-6
This guide to the undersea world off the Sussex coast arose out of the
divers survey called Seasearch. It is a colour photograph database of all
the common species likely to be encountered by divers. The Sussex coast
is representative of all the British coasts, being less biodiverse than
the clear waters of the south and west, but more varied than parts of the
North Sea. Therefore, it will be of interest to all divers, and rockpoolers
as well, because most of smaller intertidal species are also to be found
in the shallow seas.
Do not expect terrific photographs from this book. Sue Daly's photographs
in her Channel Islands book
are much better, so if this is your preference, it is best to choose her
book.
This book can be ordered from:
Marine Conservation Society
£15.00 + £1.25 p&p from MCS in Ross-on-Wye (Tel. 01989
566017 for an order form).
Cheques made payable to 'Marine Conservation Society'.
More information
(2)
SEASONS OF THE WHALE
by Erich Hoyt
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society 1998
ISBN 1-901386-03-1
"Tail flukes moving up and down, blood pumping furiously, an 80-foot-long
female blue whale named June races into the gulf, hunger gnawing at her
multichambered stomach. Her stomach is the size of a small blimp…"
The story is of Atlantic whales by a serious science writer; an account
of whales in their natural environment with information about the
oceans so that the reader can appreciate the world in which the remnants
of the whale population still survive.
The account reads more like a novel than a text book following
the whales on their annual migrations. Almost every page has some of the
best whale photographs I have seen in a book.
This book answers most of the questions I get asked about whales.
Insect Lives (Book, Eric Hoyt is the joint
Editor)
(3)
MARINE LIFE OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
by Sue Daly
t.f.h Publications 1998
£13.95
ISBN 185279108-X
This is a general introductory book to the marine life around Jersey, Guernsey,
and the other Channel Islands. It should appeal to both divers and rockpoolers.
The 170 photographs of the common species and some unusual ones are mostly
excellent and taken underwater. They are accompanied by informative text,
designed to appeal to the novice, with enough extra information for the
experienced.
(4)
A Guide to the Selection, Care and Breeding of
CORALS for the
MINI-REEF AQUARIUM
by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod
Colour photographs by Walt Deas
t.f.h Publications
The book assumes the aquarist has a basic understanding of the establishment
and upkeep on marine aquaria. It briefly explains the biology of corals
and then examines the requirements of each individual species with some
clear and attractive photographs by Walt Deas. An important distinction
is made between 'hermatypic' corals that use zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae)
and 'ahermatypic' corals that are 'predators which will eat anything they
can paralyze with their stinging tentacles'. Each species is colour coded
with the level of experience needed in keeping them.
This book is essential reading for any marine aquarist wishing to keep
tropical corals. The book contains an index and bibliography.
(5)
Collins
WHALES & DOLPHINS
by Mark Carwardine, Erich Hoyt, R. Ewan Fordyce, Peter Gill
HarperCollins 1998
RRP £17.99
ISBN 0-00-220105
The latest well written book in the excellent new series by Collins on
various subjects of the natural world packs an outstanding amount of accurate
information into its 288 pages is astounding and covers whales, dolphins
and porpoises throughout the world. There is a chapter by Eric Hoyt of
where to go to see the big whales and a bibliography and list of organisations.
(6)
ELEMENTS OF MARINE ECOLOGY
by R.V Tait & F.A Dipper
4th Edition
(Butterworth Heinemann 1998)
£19.99
ISBN 0-7506 2088-9
In 1968, Ronald V. Tait wrote this book, as an important text for students
studying marine biology. Since that date it has become the standard book
on marine ecology and has been reprinted on numerous occasions. This fourth
edition is under the co-authorship of Frances Dipper and updates
the earlier version with some improvements whilst retaining the order and
format of the original. The book covers all the oceans of the world and
contains a comprehensive bibliography updated from the earlier editions.
(7)
SEALS & SEALIONS
by David Miller
Colin Baxter Photography 1998
ISBN 1-900455-46-3
£11
This interesting well written book provides a comprehensive introduction
to the Seals and Sea Lions of the seas of the world, and their relationship
with Man. It covers all aspects of their lives including feeding, breathing
underwater and their breeding cycle.
Individual species of Seals and Sea Lions are not featured on their own
pages, but the Index chapter gives the common and scientific names, general
distribution details, brief details of their diet, length and average weight,
and the estimated world population.
The high quality paperback contains 72 pages including 43 excellent
colour photographs.
(8)
"EASTERN TIDEPOOL & REEF"
North Central Atlantic Marinelife Guide
by Dr. C. Harvey-Clark
Hancock House
(This book is available through Gazelle Book Services, Tel:
01524 68765)
ISBN 0888 394063
£7.99
This is a general guide to the species commonly encountered on the American
side of the North Atlantic. It is interesting to British marine enthusiasts
because some of the species are identical to those found on the European
side and others are similar.
(9)
THE SPECIES DIRECTORY OF THE MARINE FAUNA
AND FLORA OF THE BRITISH ISLES AND SURROUNDING SEAS.
Edited by C. Howson and B. Picton
Ulster Museum & the Marine Conservation Society 1997.
About £70.
The project to collate the species that live in the seas off Britain
is an ongoing project. The Directory is a list of all the species grouped
systematically according to their scientific names, with a comprehensive
bibliography. The 1997 edition, not available until 1998, is the latest
list and is useful on the rare occasions (about once a week for me) that
I have to look up a vagrant, unusual species that is not listed in the
usual identification books. I am waiting for the list to be produced on
a CD-ROM when it will be truly useful.
(10)
THE LIVING SEA
SEA LIFE ALONG THE NORWEGIAN COAST
Text by Stein Mortensen
Photographs by Per Eide
ISBN English edition: 82-908-2334-7
It is published by :
KOM Forlag as
Vågeveien 10
N-6500 Kristiansund
Norway
Phone: +47 71 67 83 00
Fax: +47 71 67 83 60
Readers of my Christmas Booklists for the last two years will be familiar
with my reviews of general books on the marine life around Britain including
the book by Amanda Young with photographs by Paul Kay and Linda Pitkin's
excellent book reviewed last year.
Books now need to be more specialised or deal with other parts of the sea
to contribute anything new. The Norwegian seas are particularly interesting
and share many species with the Scottish seas, and this book includes excellent
photographs of species, although present in British seas, have rarely been
captured on film. Examples include the King Crab Lithodes, The Tadpole
Fish, Rabbit-fish, Spider Crab Hyas, Herring eggs, and underwater
vistas of sea anemones and soft corals.
The well-written text translated into English has an unique Norwegian
angle with their own special habitats called fjords, and polls, as well
as the maelstrom currents. The Norwegian coast has suffered from problems
with plankton blooms and these are briefly discussed. This is a very interesting
book.
A4, 184 glossy pages, hard bound, price not known
Readers interesting in Norwegian marine wildlife can find the work of
other photographers via the BMLSS (England) web page.
Books: Top Titles 1997
Books for Advanced Students
Book Hunt
Books: Popular Guides
Other Journals: References to Articles
only
The BMLSS (England) site commenced on 1 January
1999
