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BOOK REVIEW A. C. TARJAN: An Illustrated Guide to the Marine Nematodes. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainsville. $6. pp i-iv, A1-4, B1-4, C1-13, D1-16, E1-6, F1-5, G1-6, H1-9, 1-135. Not being a marine nematologist I am not the best person to review this book. However, so- meone more specialised might be inclined to criticise in too much detail and perhaps overlook or diminish its general qualities. Doubtless others will do this for the benefit of future editions. When, as often, nematodes are dubbed 'difficult' or 'impossible' to identify by non-specialists, this is so not only because of the technical difficulties but also because of the lack of adequate il- lustrated keys. The latter are widely used for other animal groups but only a few are available for nematodes. This is, I think, for two reasons: the work is difficult and time consuming, and is not original. Few are in a position to construct keys as many lack the necessary literature, the slides and adequate microscopes. Moreover, most specialists are reluctant to spare the time from their original observations, which give more satisfaction and secure more credit than doing work that is essentially for the benefit of others. With this in mind, the time that Dr. A. C. Tarjan has devoted to this particular compilation, in which information and illustrations are presented clearly, will be much appreciated. A diagrammatic outline of marine nematodes is followed by a key to the subclasses and orders and then by keys to the different orders down to subfamilies. The main characters used are illustrated and details indicated by arrows. Representative genera of each subfamily are illustrated in alphabetical order in forty-nine plates. References to all illustrations are in a separate list. The classification adopted in the Guide is largely that of Andrassy (1976), a choice than can be defended. Indeed, despite the criticisms that can be raised against the phylogenetic discussion in Andrissy's book and the proposal of some unnecessary names, none can deny the usefulness of his system of classification. Although there are practical reasons for it, the alphabetical arrangement of the illustrations has regrettable consequences: closely related genera having names starting with different initial letters of the alphabet appear in different plates, sometimes far apart, and a single plate may con- tain very different genera. Such an arrangement is unlikely to enable a student or non-specialist to acquire rapidly and conveniently an insight into the characteristics and variability of a given subfamily, family, order or subclass. Nevertheless, the merits of Dr. Tarjan's Guide outweighs these faults and all will be grateful that he has produced so fine a compilation which will serve as a model for future illustrated keys on nematodes. August COOMANS NOTICE The 34th International Symposium on Crop Protection (Internationaal Symposium over Phytopharmacie en Fytiatrie, Symposium International de Phytopharmacie et de Phytiatrie, In- ternationales Symposium uber Pflanzenschutz) will take place on May 4th, 1982 at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, State University, Coupure links 533, B-9000 Gent (Belgium). The proceedings will be published in the "Med. Fac. Landbouww. Rijksuniv. Gent". The summaries of the papers will be made available to the participants io English. All cor- respondance is to be sent to the Secretary.
Nematologica – Brill
Published: Jan 1, 1981
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