Dynamic Aquaria: Building Living Ecosystems
- Book Review,
by Walter H. Adey, Karen Loveland
From Book News, Inc.
For the scientist: new approaches to the development and operation of experimental ecosystems. For the professional aquarist: a demonstration of the expanding possibilities for creating functioning ecosystems for educational display. For the hobbyist: practical guidance for building and operating "natural" ecosystems versus artificial habitats that narrowly emphasize display of selected species in isolation. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Review
Praise for the First Edition
"Adey and Loveland target their book towards scientists and those interested in aquaria for their own sake. The latter group will find in this book a delightful description of the basic biological and ecological principles which function in their own systems...To their credit, the authors present mainstream ecological research (both aquatic and terrestrial) alongside the practical issues of aquaria construction and maintenance. Rarely have I ever seen real ecology made so accessible to the layperson. Adey and Loveland have succeeded in conveying a myriad of exceedingly complex issues to the uninitiated...The authors have successfully taken on two difficult tasks--conveying complex ecological issues to the aquarist, and describing new water-handling technologies to the scientist. This book successfully presents the essential biological, ecological, and physico-chemical aspects of ecological systems in an accessible fashion."
--James A. Drake, University of Tennessee, in Ecology
"Dynamic Aquaria is a beautifully presented and attractive book which is a mine of useful and practical information for anyone wanting to set up aquaria on virtually any scale...Where the book succeeds most effectively is in its practical sections...this is ultimately a likable and useful book, and one which contains indispensable source material for building aquaria. Community ecologists who want to make mesocosms work will find the appropriate sections excellent starter material."
--Michael T. Burrows, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Review
Praise for the First Edition
"Adey and Loveland target their book towards scientists and those interested in aquaria for their own sake. The latter group will find in this book a delightful description of the basic biological and ecological principles which function in their own systems...To their credit, the authors present mainstream ecological research (both aquatic and terrestrial) alongside the practical issues of aquaria construction and maintenance. Rarely have I ever seen real ecology made so accessible to the layperson. Adey and Loveland have succeeded in conveying a myriad of exceedingly complex issues to the uninitiated...The authors have successfully taken on two difficult tasks--conveying complex ecological issues to the aquarist, and describing new water-handling technologies to the scientist. This book successfully presents the essential biological, ecological, and physico-chemical aspects of ecological systems in an accessible fashion."
--James A. Drake, University of Tennessee, in Ecology
"Dynamic Aquaria is a beautifully presented and attractive book which is a mine of useful and practical information for anyone wanting to set up aquaria on virtually any scale...Where the book succeeds most effectively is in its practical sections...this is ultimately a likable and useful book, and one which contains indispensable source material for building aquaria. Community ecologists who want to make mesocosms work will find the appropriate sections excellent starter material."
--Michael T. Burrows, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Book Description
This unique, respected book brings together the diverse modeling efforts of two decades of research in the Smithsonian Marine Systems Laboratory. Dynamic Aquaria, Second Edition integrates the fields of ecology and aquarium science to give readers a better understanding of simulated ecosystem function and ecological food webs. In a new larger format, the Second Edition presents the limitations imposed upon these webs by their compression into micro- and mesocosms. The book demonstrates mainstream ecological research alongside practical issues of aquaria construction, and successfully presents essential aspects of ecological systems in an accessible fashion. It describes the introduction and testing of numerous new techniques for simulating the functional and biodiversity of ecosystems in relatively small dimension. The Second Edition includes new advancements in the field and two new chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization. Approximately one-third of the photographs are entirely new.
Key Features
* Incorporates new information regarding simulated ecosystem function
* Includes new photographs and two new chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization
* Demonstrates the status of the science today and points out where newly developed techniques have worked and where they need improvement
* Brings up to date the relationship between biological and ecological theory and practice and the expanding concepts of living model development
* Demonstrates the potential and requirements needed to provide laboratory ecosystems with hands on ecological instruction
* Contains an inexhaustible source of organisms and their chemical products
* Points the way to affordable, large scale techniques to achieve exceptional waste water purities for a wide variety of domestic and industrial needs
* Provides a guide to the culture and display of organisms in their rightful milieu, the ecosystem
Book Info
Presents a unique approach by integrating ecology and aquarium science to provide a better understanding of both ecological food webs & the limitations imposed on these webs by their compression into micro- & mesocosms. Paper.
From the Back Cover
Dynamic Aquaria takes a unique approach by integrating ecology and aquarium science. The result is a better understanding of both ecological food webs and the limitations imposed on these webs by their compression into micro- and mesocosms.
* Color diagrams and photographs highlight thoroughly updated and revised text
* In-depth treatment of newly researched microcosms and mesocosms
* New chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization
About the Author
Walter Adey received his B.S. in Geophysics from MIT, performed graduate studies at MIT and Harvard in Paleontology and Biology, and obtained his Ph.D. in Marine Botany and Geology from the University of Michigan. Since 1977, he has been the Director of the Marine Systems Laboratory at the Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Adey is an associate editor for Restoration Ecology and The Journal of Ecological Engineering. He has authored numerous publications, and has developed several exhibits and operational mesocosm systems. Karen Loveland is a multi-international award-winning documentary film maker who has produced and directed films for the Smithsonian Institution for over 30 years. In her present position as Deputy Director for Smithsonian Productions, she assists in the management and programming for Smithsonian media activities as well as overseas production and co-production using a wide variety of electronic technologies and formats. She founded the Smithsonians Motion Picture Unit in 1969. She has been the recipient of more than 70 prestigious national and international awards and honors.
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