230 Reviews

A. Remane & C. Schlieper. "Die Biologie des Brackwassers". Sammlung "Die

Binnengewasser", Vol. 22, 348 pp. Price 55 DM. Stuttgart, 1958.
This book about the biology of the brackish water is written by the two well
known professors from Kiel, ADOLF REMANE and CARL SCHLIEPER, who have
carried out extensive studies on organisms from brackish water within their

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special field. In fact, the book consists of two completely independent parts,
each written by its own author. The first part deals with the ecology of brackish
water and is written by Professor REMANE; the second part deals with the
physiology of brackish water, that means the physiological characteristics of
organisms in brackish water, and this part is written by Professor SCHLIEPER.
The first part gives a survey of the concept of brackish water, its division
and its hydrographic character. It is followed by a description of the ecological
characteristics of organisms from brackish water, for example, the changes of
size of these organisms, their morphological deviations, their reproduction,
etc. In one chapter the occurrence of limnetic and marine organisms in brackish
water is mentioned, together with the occurrence of the specific brackish water
organisms. In another chapter the brackish water is divided into areas covered
with plants, sand bottom, muddy bottom, and plankton, and the special
character of these spheres of life is described.
The author finishes the first part by surveying different types of brackish
water, including the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and the Aral
Sea. Lagoons and brackish water in the mouths of rivers and in puddles are
also described. This part of the book is illustrated with 81 figures and is easy
to read.
Professor CARL SCHLIEPER introduces the second part, the physiological
characteristics of life in brackish water, with a review of the varying content
of salt and the osmotic resistance of the organisms. He tells about the activity
of animals from brackish water, their rate of development, and their growth.
He deals with osmoregulation and the ionic composition of the body fluids.
The brackish water organisms' requirement of oxygen and their respiration
is mentioned in detail in a special chapter. A survey of the permeability of the
surface of the organisms, the temperature resistance, etc. is also given. The
second part is illustrated with 58 figures and many tables, and it is clearly
written.
"Die Biologie des Brackwassers" shows that the two authors personally
have studied organisms from brackish water for a number of years and that
they have the ability to treat their topics in an interesting way. Both parts
are very thorough-going. They give a well balanced survey of the topics treated
with a strong regard to both German and foreign literature. The aim has been
a comprehensive information on the problems, not a rattling off of facts. The
book can be recommended both to marine biologists and to limnologists.

Kaj Berg