Book Reviews 2005 439 Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation. Charles Sheppard (Ed.). 2000. Elsevier Science, Ltd., Oxford, UK. 2352 pp. $940.00 (3 volumes), hardcover. ISBN 0080432077. The three volumes of this title are an encyclopedic compendium of the state of the world’s oceans from the coastal zone to the edge of the continental shelf. They focus on how human activity has impacted the biological and physical systems of the seas. Contributions by several hundred marine scientists include biological and oceanographical descriptions of coastal and shelf waters and discussions of coastal development issues, fisheries issues, pollution, and more. Volumes I and II are regional chapters, with Volume I covering Europe, the Americas, and West Africa, and Volume II covering the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Volume III discusses issues and processes of global importance, including the status of seagrasses, coral reefs, threatened and endangered species, aquaculture, climate change, and coastal management. All chapters are supported with references. This series represents a monumental undertaking and is an invaluable source of information as a reference and teaching tool. Entanglements: The Intertwined Fates of Whales and Fishermen. Tora Johnson. 2005. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, fl. 289 pp. $29.95, hardcover. ISBN 0813027977. Entanglements in fishing gear threaten to tip the endangered North Atlantic right whale into extinction, but regulations de- Book Reviews of the Northeastern Naturalist, 11(Special Issue 2), 2004 439 signed to protect the whales could destroy fishermen’s livelihoods. Tora Johnson, who comes from a family of fishermen and is trained in marine biology and conservation, gives a balanced account of this complex and polarizing issue. A natural storyteller, she describes public hearings, discussions of gear modifications, and her interactions with fishermen and whale rescuers with honesty and compassion. Her sympathy for both the whales and the fishermen whose lives are linked with theirs makes clear that this is a problem with no easy answers. Zooplankton of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. William S. Johnson and Dennis M. Allen. 2005. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 379 pp. $44.95, paperback. ISBN 080188168. This is an extremely useful guide to the most common species of zooplankton encountered in the nearshore waters from Cape Cod south to Florida and up the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. Some common larval fish species and large types of phytoplankton are also described. High quality line drawings indicate distinguishing features and are accompanied by details on biology, distribution, and ecology. Includes an introductory chapter on plankton and extensive references. An indispensable book for teachers, students, and professionals working in marine biology and oceanography. Advances in Marine Biology: The Biogeography of the Oceans. Volume 32. J.H.S. Blaxter and A.J. Southward (Eds). 1997. Academic Press, San Di440 Northeastern Naturalist Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 ego, CA. 596 pp. $159.95, hardcover. ISBN 0120261324. Russian biologists of the former USSR undertook marine research in all parts of the world’s oceans on well equipped vessels. This volume highlights some of their contributions to the study of the geographical and vertical distribution of life in the oceans, including descriptions of life at great depths. The contributions range from the study of plankton and squid to descriptions of life on ocean ridges and hydrothermal vents. This is a scholarly and technical work bringing Russian thinking about the biogeography of the oceans to a wider audience. Zooplankton Methodology Manual. R.P. Harris, P.H. Wiebe, J. Lenz, H.R. Skjoldal, and M. Huntley (Eds). 2000. Elsevier Academic Press, London, UK. 684 pp. $151.95, hardcover. ISBN 0123276454. The study of zooplankton, the microscopic assemblage of animals that drift in the world’s oceans and form the basis of the marine food chain, is essential to any understanding of oceanography or marine biology. This manual is authored by experts selected from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and other specialists. The chapters in this volume present the most up-to-date information on sampling and collecting zooplankton, techniques for assessing biomass (including new optical and acoustical methods), population genetics, and modeling of zooplankton dynamics. This is a highly technical and scientific text that should prove to be invaluable to marine research scientists and graduates. Well referenced to the scientific literature. Whales and Dolphins of the World. Mark Simmonds. 2004. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 160 pp. $29.95, hardcover. ISBN 0262195194. Fantastically illustrated with 180 color photographs of whales and dolphins in their natural settings. The chapters provide an introduction to their biology, diversity, life histories, and interactions with humans. Accessible to a broad audience. An informative and visual introduction to these fascinating and appealing marine mammals! Ocean Circulation and Climate: Observing and Modeling the Global Ocean. Gerold Siedler, John Church, and John Gould (Eds). 2001. Academic Press, London, UK. 715 pp. $104.95, hardcover. ISBN 0126413517. This volume is a synthesis of the major findings of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, a project of the World Climate Research Programme. Unprecedented in scope and precision, the data presented here provides a basis for developing oceanic and atmospheric circulation models used to explain and forecast global climate change. Accompanied by charts, tables, and graphs, and well referenced to the scientific literature. Oceanographers, meteorologists, and climate scientists will find this book to be of particular value. Reviewed by Stephen Eddy