Review: Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries Volume 1

 

ISBN 0‐632‐05412‐3

 

In this first volume of the Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries (2002), edited by Paul J.B. Hart and John D. Reynolds the main aim is to bring together the study of fish biology with the study of fisheries.

 

This book is split into four sections: part one is biodiversity; part two production and population structure; part three is fish as predators and prey and part four is fish in ecosystems.

 

Chapter one looks at banishing ignorance. Underpinning fisheries with basic biology, in this chapter we look at global fisheries and the quest for knowledge. It covers all sections of the book as an introduction to the chapters the book as a brief introduction to each section.

 

Part one: Biodiversity in this section there are two chapters written by A.G. Gill and R.D. Mooi it cover phylogeny and systematics of fishes and an historical biogeography of fishes. The second chapter deals with phylogenetic methods and classification along with fish diversity and phylogeny. The third chapter looks at concepts and methods along with the distribution, faunal composition and historical biogeography by region.

 

Part two: Population and Population Structure in this part of the book there are seven chapters written by a number of authors. Chapter four looks at the physiology of living water. Chapter five, deals with environmental factors and rates of development and growth. Chapter six covers recruitment, understanding of density dependence in fish population. Chapters seven and eight looks at the life histories of fish and migration. Chapter nine covers the genetic of fish populations, chapter 10 deals with the behavioral ecology of reproduction in fish.

 

Part three: Fish as Predators and prey with three chapters dealing with fish foraging and habitat choice, feeding ecology of piscivorous fishes and fish as prey.

 

Part four: Fish in Ecosystems has four chapters dealing with trophic ecology and the structure of marine food web. It also covers community ecology of freshwater fishes and comparative ecology of marine fish communities and the interactions between fish, parasites and disease.

 

This is a well-written and comprehensive book dealing with complex interactions between fish and the environment it live in whether it be freshwater or marine. It looks at the ecosystem and how that can affect the fish’s life. This volume with many contributing authors has been well edited by J.B. Hart and John D. Reynolds. Very suitable for students and teacher alike but in my opinion a worthy book for anyone with a deep interest in fisheries. A must have book for any fisheries or marine scientist.