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BOOK REVIEW

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Limnology in Developing Countries

Limnology in Developing Countries, Vol. 1. Editors : Brij Gopal & R.G. Wetzel (1995). Published by International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology.

The sciences of environment and ecology are in juvenile phase in developing countries and most of their branches are still in infant stage. Hence, any authentic work done should be welcome. Limnology is a one of the little known sciences in third world and a book enlighting about the information available in this part of world was required. The editors, authors and the Association should be congratulated on making efforts to document for the first time the status of limnology in developing countries.

This volume presents the status of limnology (water resources, area and distribution, physico- chemical and biological properties, research carried out and education status) in Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Tunisia.

Each of the chapters deals with different country and the contents reflect (otherwise also it is clearly stated by the authors) the amount of knowledge and data available on the subject. Hence, save few cases, the chapters provide an overview on the distribution of fresh water body/lagoon survey.

Some of the chapters have described in detail the geology and climate, but their relationship with the distribution of water bodies is not highlighted.

The chapter on Sri Lanka, and papua New Guinea fits best according the the title, the reason being good amount of studies done there, but even if there is a lack of studies on the subject, the chapter like that from Bangladesh would have been better.

This may be recommended as textbook to post-graduate students of limnology. It will be a good reference book for researchers working in the field of limnology.

Dr. Diwakar Sharma
Gujarat Ecological Society
16, Tana Apartment, Ellora Park
Subhanpura Road, Vadodara
Gujarat - 390 007, INDIA

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First Ecology Congress

Abstracts of First Ecology Congress held at National Institute of Ecology, New Delhi during December 27-31, 1996.

The National Institute of Ecology and the Indian Environmental Society should be congratulated for bringing the Indian ecologists from various specialisations on one platform and publishing the abstracts of the papers presented. The compiled abstracts are well sorted according to the fields are written within the limits.

The abstracts are divided into the following sections based on the different symposia.

The symposium on teaching of ecology and environmental sciences focuses on the current status and future need of teaching the subject in primary & secondary schools and in various Universities all over the country. Statistical ecology and ecological modelling sections deals with the use of advanced statistics and mathematical modelling in ecological diversity, prey-predator relationships, population dynamics and ecosystem dynamics.

Rehabilitation of degraded lands and ecosystem restoration division involves papers on various techniques used for restoring degraded land in wide variety of ecosystems such as the Himalayas. arid & semi-arid land, coal fields and other mining sites.

The symposium on the biodiversity conservation involves papers ranging from the status of overall biodiversity to single species in an area; these include plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.

The sections on forests, agriculture and environment deals with papers on energy flow, biomass, management, gas exchange, crops and pollution in the natural and artificial environments. Finally there are research contributions on the various aspects of environment and ecology.

In the compilation/symposium most of the papers presented are on terrestrial ecology, particularly marine ecosystems are poorly represented. It is because of our poor understanding and very limited knowledge in marine environment.

It would have been useful if there were a preface or an introductory note about the book and Congress from one of the key members of the Organising Committee. Being the first Congress, it would have guided the readers at large about the objectives, frequency/intervals of this Congress at present and in future. Some of the eminent institutions and scientists seems to have failed to avail of this opportunity. Let us hope that in future the Congress will be able to evoke a better response.

The compiled abstracts will be useful to post-graduate students and researchers in scientific disciplines related to environment, ecology, wildlife, agriculture and remote sensing.

Dr. Diwakar Sharma
Gujarat Ecological Society
16, Tana Apartment, Ellora Park
Subhanpura Road, Vadodara
Gujarat - 390 007, INDIA

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