Ocean Recovery. A Sustainable Future for Global Fisheries? Hilborn, R. and U. Hilborn 2019. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. vii+196 pp. £28.99 (hardcover). ISBN 978-0-19-883976-7.

More than 1 billion people depend on fish protein for a substantial part of their diet. Elucidating global fisheries management, debunking some of the oft-mentioned myths, and providing readers with science-based facts, Ocean Recovery provides an excellent resource for understanding modern fishery practices. Ray Hilborn, an award-winning fisheries expert specializing in natural resource management with more than 40 years experience around the globe, and Ulrike Hilborn guide the reader through the current state of the fish stocks of the world. Targeting a nonscientific readership, the book provides an optimistic look into the management strategies used by scientists around the globe. Endeavoring to show the reader that it is not all doom and gloom, the book highlights successful management strategies of fish stocks that, for the most part, have led to increased fish abundance in many parts of the world. The consequences of alternative fisheries management regimes are described in detail along with the authors' views on what sustainability means in modern fisheries management. Taking a particularly utilitarian view to fisheries, seeing fish primarily as a food resource (perhaps to the umbrage of conservationists), the Hilborns recognize the impact fishing has had in altering marine ecosystems but point out clearly that in terms of environmental impacts, sustainably harvested fish is one of the most “environmentally friendly” proteins available. Through personal experience and anecdotes, the authors demonstrate that successful fisheries management does not have a hard-and-fast recipe—identifying the right management strategy is always context dependent.

Marine Biology: a Very Short Introduction. 2nd edition. Mladenov, P.V. 2020. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. 196 pp. £8.99 (paperback). ISBN 978-0-19-884171-5.

In many ways, the marine environment dominates life on our blue planet. The oceans produce more than half the world's oxygen, regulate the climate, and support a myriad of incredibly diverse organisms, ranging in size from the microscopic to the largest animals ever to have lived. Yet for all of its importance, what lies below the waves remains an enigma to most humans. Marine Biology by Philip Mladenov provides an excellent first step into the world of marine science. Although limited in depth, Mladenov offers a comprehensive overview of the major topics while bringing the leading problems concerning the state of the world's seas to the forefront. From polar oceans to coral reefs, from coastal shorelines to hydrothermal vents, Mladenov explores the role oceans have in shaping marine life and examines the processes that underpin their function. Broken into logical and easily digestible chapters and aided by intuitive easy-to-read diagrams, the author makes numerous complex ideas and theories easily comprehensible. With little previous knowledge assumed, and providing an excellent foundational knowledge, Marine Biology represents a useful “very short introduction” for students looking to develop their understanding of the marine field and for enthusiasts and conservationists looking to dive further into the oceans and the life they hold.

Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease. Harwell, D. 2019. University California Press, Oakland, CA, U.S.A. xiv+216 pp. US$26.95 (hardcover). ISBN 978-0-520-29697-8.

Perhaps now more than ever the world is waking up to the threat global diseases pose. Although much of the public's attention may be focused on terrestrial diseases, the threat looms large in the marine world as well. Mass, large-scale die-offs of wildlife, animal wasting diseases, and the subsequent breakdown of entire ecosystems are just some of the current problems in the marine world. In a combination scientific exposé and crime drama, the Ocean Outbreak by marine ecologist Drew Harvell follows the author's and her colleagues’ journey as they investigate the spread of four, now infamous marine diseases affecting salmon, abalone, starfish, and corals. Drawing on over 20 years of research, Harwell's first-hand account is brilliant at making the sometimes complex science accessible to a broad readership. The author details what is known about marine ecology and disease and balances it with the many glaring gaps in knowledge, adding the sometimes less than glamorous work done in order to fill these gaps. Illustrating the variety of methods used by scientists and the collaborative nature of the work, Harwell highlights the diversity of young researchers entering the field of both virology and marine biology, something that is refreshing to see. Ending on a cautionary but optimistic note, the book discusses the steps to take to decrease the threat that marine diseases pose and how we can better act to protect our marine environment.

The Cougar Conundrum: Sharing the World with a Successful Predator. Elbroch, M. 2020. Island Press, Washington, DC, U.S.A. xxviii+250 pp. US$30.00 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-6109-1998-2.

This is a well-illustrated and very readable book that explores a range of different perspectives on the challenges of living with the cougar (Puma concolor), also commonly known as the mountain lion. This species is the most widely distributed and successful large carnivore in the western hemisphere. The volume has nine chapters that cover cougar biology and ecology, as well as conservation efforts and the harms and benefits of predator control programs. Elbroch illustrates the complexities of living with a keystone predator through a series of case studies. He uses his considerable experience as a mountain lion biologist to provide a balanced perspective on current conservation efforts. He outlines the important role the species plays in sustaining ecosystems and concludes with a chapter that considers the path toward coexistence with the cougar. Throughout the book, the author provides valuable insights into how communities can work with conservation agencies to ensure the sustainability of mountain lion populations and examines the unintended consequences of hunting these charismatic predators. While there are occasional reports of predatory attacks by cougars on humans, and on domestic animals, he demonstrates that direct losses are very small in comparison with losses due to other causes. The data he presents are compelling and suggest that the public are often not well informed about the relatively low risks presented by cougars. There is a useful summary of key references at the end of the book including media releases and scientific reports and peer-reviewed publications. This book will be of interest to policy makers and conservation scientists, as well as nature enthusiasts and community members living in areas where cougars are present.

Ecology: A Very Short Introduction. Ghazoul, J. 2020. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. xx + 164 pp. £8.99 (paperback). ISBN 978-0-198-83-101-3.

Numerous environmental issues characterize the age we live in, which inevitably expose us to vital ecological discussions. Yet, not all of us are familiar with the fundamentals of this discipline. This short introduction to ecology synthesizes complex topics in a few pages, making them accessible to everyone. The book narrates the history of ecological thinking, introduces basic concepts of the discipline, such as populations and communities, and discusses selected ecological questions that have generated extensive debate. These topics include the functions of biodiversity and what keeps consumers from overexploiting their resources. Deciding what to cover must have been hard, but the subjects chosen by the author are fascinating. The last chapters discuss famous problems of applied ecology, such as invasive species and pest management, and the place of ecology in culture. The book ends with an overview of how new technologies that allow remote data collection could influence the development of the field. The author contends that ecologists get recruited through their passion for natural history. This truth reminds us that strengthening our relationship with nature has never been more important. Overall, this is a good starting point to get acquainted with ecology by being synthetic and easy to read; it would be a good resource also for undergraduate students. One can only hope that it will inspire more curiosity about this exciting science.

The Botanical Adventures of Joseph Banks. Harrison, C. 2020. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, U.K. 127 pp. £15.00 (hardcover). ISBN 978-1-84246-715-2.

This slim volume aims to impress the reader with the numerous achievements of Joseph Banks, one of the most influential botanists of the past era of imperial Britain. After reading the book, the impression is decidedly mixed—not because of the achievements, which are truly remarkable even if presented in a fawning narrative, but because of what it only alludes to but never spells out: debates and discussions around Banks' activities and role. For example, the summary on page 122 reads: “While historians and indigenous communities have plenty to discuss as to his global legacy… .” However, nowhere in the book is any element of this “plenty” mentioned. Thus, the book becomes a kind of advertisement for Kew Gardens (the development of which Banks took a decisive role), to a smaller degree for the Royal Horticultural Society, and for Banks himself, but there is also a tinge of nostalgia for imperial Britain. In this vein, the way the author treats Tupaia, the Polynesian high priest who joined Cook's ship as navigator, is rather telling. I welcome the graceful typesetting but this should have been at least an A5-sized book—its current small size cannot do justice to many of the fine illustrations.

Biogeography: a Very Short Introduction. Lomolino, M. J. 2020. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. xx + 156 pp. £8.99 (paperback). ISBN 978-0-198-85-006-9.

Since expeditions to remote regions became regular, naturalists have tried to make sense of the distribution patterns of plants and animals around the globe. Biogeography investigates and concisely presents these “great lessons of the Earth.” The geography of biomes and how plate tectonics and climate have shaped Earth are introduced. About half the book addresses macroevolution. Well-known adaptive radiations are presented, such as the cases of the Galápagos finches, Hawaiian honeycreepers, and African cichlid fishes. Only one chapter is devoted to microevolution. In the last chapter, human spread around the world is briefly discussed. Lomolino notes that humans are subject to the same ecological rules that apply to other animals. The author's concluding remarks reminds us of our current shortfalls and is meant to inspire a new generation of biogeographers. The negative side of having a pocket-size book is that maps, which are critical in biogeography, are hard to read. All images are in black and white. The author often jumps abruptly from one topic to another. This has the advantage of depicting the many intricate connections within the subject, but occasionally at the price of clarity. Altogether, this is a good read on a fascinating discipline that Lomolino's holistic approach, which includes geology, paleontology, anthropology, ecology, evolution, and conservation science, serves well.

Phyllostomid Bats: a Unique Mammalian Radiation. Fleming, T. H., L. M. Dávalos, and M. A. R. Mello, editors. 2020. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, U.S.A. ix + 470 pp. US$65.00 (hardcover). ISBN 978-0-226-69612-6.

For most biologists, the evolutionary process of adaptive radiation brings to mind Darwin's finches (which are in fact tanagers, not finches). Few of them know that the speciose family of phyllostomid bats (a.k.a. New World leaf-nosed bats) qualify as an equally fascinating example of adaptive radiation across mammals. These species occur in tropical and subtropical America and constitute the ecologically most diverse bat family. With diets ranging from fruits, pollen, nectar, and animals, including fish, frogs, lizards, bats, birds and even blood, they have diversified to occupy a plethora of niches. Although this great diversity was documented in the late 1970s, a synthesis of phyllostomid biology was lacking. This volume fills this gap by integrating contemporary knowledge with an up-to-date phylogenetic framework. In so doing, this well-edited book is rich in working hypotheses that await testing. Subjects covered include evolution, biomechanics, feeding, and population ecology and conservation. This latter subject, albeit relatively short, is extremely topical due to the ever-increasing anthropogenic pressures in the ecosystems in which phyllostomid bats live. Because the authors draw from such a highly diverse taxon, the multiple aspects of this volume make it a great resource for every biologist with an interest in evolution and bat ecology.

海洋恢复。全球渔业的可持续未来？Hilborn, R. 和 U. Hilborn 2019。牛津大学出版社，牛津，英国 vii+196 页。28.99 英镑（精装）。ISBN 978-0-19-883976-7。

超过 10 亿人的大部分饮食都依赖鱼类蛋白质。阐明全球渔业管理，揭穿一些经常提到的神话，并为读者提供基于科学的事实，海洋恢复为了解现代渔业实践提供了极好的资源。Ray Hilborn 是一位屡获殊荣的渔业专家，专门从事自然资源管理，在全球拥有 40 多年的经验，Ulrike Hilborn 和 Ulrike Hilborn 指导读者了解世界鱼类种群的现状。这本书针对非科学读者，对全球科学家使用的管理策略提供了乐观的看法。本书努力向读者表明，并非全是厄运和阴霾，本书重点介绍了成功的鱼类资源管理策略，这些策略在很大程度上导致了世界许多地区鱼类丰度的增加。详细描述了替代渔业管理制度的后果以及作者的 关于可持续性在现代渔业管理中意味着什么的看法。希尔伯恩夫妇对渔业采取特别实用的观点，将鱼类主要视为一种食物资源（也许是环保主义者的不满），希尔伯恩夫妇认识到捕鱼对改变海洋生态系统的影响，但明确指出，就环境影响而言，可持续捕捞的鱼类是最“环保”的蛋白质之一。作者通过个人经验和轶事证明，成功的渔业管理没有一成不变的秘诀——确定正确的管理策略始终取决于具体情况。Hilborn 夫妇认识到捕鱼对改变海洋生态系统的影响，但明确指出，就环境影响而言，可持续捕捞的鱼类是最“环保”的可用蛋白质之一。作者通过个人经验和轶事证明，成功的渔业管理没有一成不变的秘诀——确定正确的管理策略始终取决于具体情况。Hilborn 夫妇认识到捕鱼对改变海洋生态系统的影响，但明确指出，就环境影响而言，可持续捕捞的鱼类是最“环保”的可用蛋白质之一。作者通过个人经验和轶事证明，成功的渔业管理没有一成不变的秘诀——确定正确的管理策略始终取决于具体情况。

海洋生物学：非常简短的介绍。第 2 版。姆拉德诺夫，PV 2020。牛津大学出版社，英国牛津，196 页。8.99 英镑（平装本）。ISBN 978-0-19-884171-5。

在许多方面，海洋环境主宰着我们蓝色星球上的生命。海洋产生世界一半以上的氧气，调节气候，并支持无数极其多样化的生物，从微观到有史以来最大的动物，大小不等。然而，尽管如此重要，海浪之下的东西对大多数人来说仍然是个谜。海洋生物学菲利普·姆拉德诺夫 (Philip Mladenov) 的著作为进入海洋科学世界迈出了极好的第一步。尽管深度有限，姆拉德诺夫提供了对主要主题的全面概述，同时将有关世界海洋状况的主要问题带到了最前沿。从极地海洋到珊瑚礁，从沿海海岸线到热液喷口，姆拉德诺夫探索了海洋在塑造海洋生物方面的作用，并研究了支撑其功能的过程。作者将众多复杂的想法和理论分解为逻辑清晰且易于理解的章节，并辅以直观易读的图表。假设以前的知识很少，并提供了极好的基础知识，海洋生物学 对于希望加深对海洋领域的理解的学生以及希望进一步深入海洋及其所拥有的生活的爱好者和保护主义者来说，这是一个有用的“非常简短的介绍”。

海洋爆发：应对不断上升的海洋疾病。Harwell, D. 2019。加州大学出版社，美国加利福尼亚州奥克兰 xiv+216 页。26.95 美元（精装）。ISBN 978-0-520-29697-8。

也许现在世界比以往任何时候都更加意识到全球疾病构成的威胁。尽管公众的大部分注意力可能集中在陆地疾病上，但海洋世界的威胁也很大。野生动物的大规模灭绝、动物消耗性疾病以及随后整个生态系统的崩溃只是海洋世界当前面临的一些问题。在科学曝光和犯罪剧的结合中，海洋爆发由海洋生态学家德鲁·哈维尔 (Drew Harvell) 撰写，跟随作者和她的同事调查四种现已臭名昭著的海洋疾病的传播情况，这些疾病影响了鲑鱼、鲍鱼、海星和珊瑚。凭借 20 多年的研究，Harwell 的第一手资料在让广大读者接触有时复杂的科学方面非常出色。作者详细介绍了对海洋生态学和疾病的了解，并将其与许多明显的知识空白相平衡，并添加了为填补这些空白而有时不那么光鲜的工作。Harwell 说明了科学家使用的各种方法和工作的协作性质，强调了进入病毒学和海洋生物学领域的年轻研究人员的多样性，这令人耳目一新。以谨慎但乐观的语气结尾，

美洲狮难题：与成功的捕食者分享世界。Elbroch, M. 2020。Island Press，华盛顿特区，美国 xxviii+250 页。30.00 美元（平装本）。ISBN 978-1-6109-1998-2。

这是一本插图精美且可读性强的书，探讨了与美洲狮（Puma concolor）一起生活所面临挑战的一系列不同观点)，也俗称山狮。该物种是西半球分布最广、最成功的大型食肉动物。该卷有九章，涵盖美洲狮生物学和生态学，以及保护工作以及捕食者控制计划的危害和益处。Elbroch 通过一系列案例研究说明了与关键捕食者一起生活的复杂性。他利用自己作为美洲狮生物学家的丰富经验，对当前的保护工作提供了一个平衡的观点。他概述了该物种在维持生态系统中发挥的重要作用，并以一章作为结尾，探讨了与美洲狮共存的道路。贯穿全书，作者提供了有关社区如何与保护机构合作以确保美洲狮种群的可持续性的宝贵见解，并研究了狩猎这些具有魅力的捕食者的意外后果。虽然偶尔有美洲狮对人类和家畜进行掠夺性攻击的报道，但他证明，与其他原因造成的损失相比，直接损失非常小。他提供的数据令人信服，并表明公众通常不了解美洲狮带来的相对较低的风险。本书末尾对主要参考文献进行了有用的总结，包括媒体发布和科学报告以及同行评审的出版物。这本书将引起政策制定者和保护科学家的兴趣，

生态：一个非常简短的介绍。Ghazoul, J. 2020。牛津大学出版社，牛津，英国 xx + 164 页。8.99 英镑（平装本）。ISBN 978-0-198-83-101-3。

许多环境问题是我们生活的时代的特征，这不可避免地使我们面临重要的生态讨论。然而，并非所有人都熟悉这门学科的基础知识。这个生态学的简短介绍在几页中综合了复杂的主题，使每个人都可以访问。这本书讲述了生态思想的历史，介绍了该学科的基本概念，如人口和社区，并讨论了一些引起广泛争论的生态问题。这些主题包括生物多样性的功能以及如何防止消费者过度开发其资源。决定要涵盖的内容肯定很困难，但作者选择的主题令人着迷。最后几章讨论了应用生态学的著名问题，例如入侵物种和害虫管理，以及生态在文化中的地位。本书最后概述了允许远程数据收集的新技术如何影响该领域的发展。作者认为，生态学家是通过他们对自然历史的热情而被招募的。这个真理提醒我们，加强我们与自然的关系从未如此重要。总的来说，这是一个很好的起点，通过综合性和易于阅读来熟悉生态学；对于本科生来说，这也是一个很好的资源。人们只能希望它会激发人们对这一令人兴奋的科学的更多好奇心。作者认为，生态学家是通过他们对自然历史的热情而被招募的。这个真理提醒我们，加强我们与自然的关系从未如此重要。总的来说，这是一个很好的起点，通过综合性和易于阅读来熟悉生态学；对于本科生来说，这也是一个很好的资源。人们只能希望它会激发人们对这一令人兴奋的科学的更多好奇心。作者认为，生态学家是通过他们对自然历史的热情而被招募的。这个真理提醒我们，加强我们与自然的关系从未如此重要。总的来说，这是一个很好的起点，通过综合性和易于阅读来熟悉生态学；对于本科生来说，这也是一个很好的资源。人们只能希望它会激发人们对这一令人兴奋的科学的更多好奇心。

约瑟夫班克斯的植物冒险。Harrison, C. 2020。Kew Publishing，皇家植物园，Kew，里士满，萨里，英国 127 页。15.00 英镑（精装）。ISBN 978-1-84246-715-2。

这本薄薄的书旨在通过约瑟夫班克斯的众多成就给读者留下深刻印象，约瑟夫班克斯是过去不列颠帝国时代最有影响力的植物学家之一。读完这本书后，印象肯定是喜忧参半的——不是因为成就，即使是在一个讨人喜欢的叙述中也确实很了不起，而是因为它只是暗示但从未阐明：围绕班克斯的活动和角色。例如，第 122 页的摘要写道：“虽然历史学家和土著社区对他的全球遗产有很多讨论……” 然而，书中没有任何地方提到这种“大量”的任何元素。因此，这本书成为了邱园（班克斯在其发展中起决定性作用）的一种广告，在较小程度上为皇家园艺学会和班克斯本人打了广告，但也有一丝对不列颠帝国的怀旧之情。在这方面，作者对待作为领航员加入库克船的波利尼西亚大祭司图帕亚的方式颇具说服力。我欢迎优雅的排版，但这至少应该是一本 A5 大小的书——它目前的小尺寸无法满足许多精美插图的要求。

生物地理学：一个非常简短的介绍。Lomolino, MJ 2020。牛津大学出版社，牛津，英国 xx + 156 页。8.99 英镑（平装本）。ISBN 978-0-198-85-006-9。

自从到偏远地区的探险成为常态以来，博物学家一直试图了解全球动植物的分布模式。生物地理学调查并简明扼要地介绍了这些“地球的伟大教训”。介绍了生物群落的地理以及板块构造和气候如何塑造地球。大约一半的书讨论了宏观进化。介绍了众所周知的适应性辐射，例如加拉帕戈斯群岛雀、夏威夷蜜饯和非洲慈鲷鱼的案例。只有一章专门讨论微进化。最后一章简要讨论了人类在世界范围内的传播。Lomolino 指出，人类遵守适用于其他动物的相同生态规则。作者的结束语提醒我们我们目前的不足，并旨在激励新一代的生物地理学家。袖珍书的负面影响是，在生物地理学中至关重要的地图难以阅读。所有图像均为黑白图像。作者经常突然从一个话题跳到另一个话题。这具有描绘主题内许多错综复杂的联系的优点，但有时会以清晰度为代价。总而言之，这是一本关于 Lomolino 的整体方法（包括地质学、古生物学、人类学、生态学、进化论和保护科学）的引人入胜的学科的好读物。

叶口蝠：一种独特的哺乳动物辐射。Fleming、TH、LM Dávalos 和 MAR Mello，编辑。2020 年。芝加哥大学出版社，芝加哥，伊利诺伊州，美国 ix + 470 页。65.00 美元（精装）。ISBN 978-0-226-69612-6。

对于大多数生物学家来说，适应性辐射的进化过程让人想起达尔文雀（实际上是唐雀，而不是雀）。他们中很少有人知道叶口蝙蝠的特殊家族（又名新世界叶鼻蝙蝠）是哺乳动物适应性辐射的一个同样引人入胜的例子。这些物种出现在热带和亚热带美洲，构成了生态上最多样化的蝙蝠家族。它们的饮食包括水果、花粉、花蜜和动物，包括鱼、青蛙、蜥蜴、蝙蝠、鸟类甚至血液，它们已经多样化，占据了大量的生态位。尽管在 1970 年代后期记录了这种巨大的多样性，但缺乏叶口虫生物学的综合。本卷通过将当代知识与最新的系统发育框架相结合，填补了这一空白。这样做时，这本精心编辑的书包含了大量有待检验的可行假设。涵盖的主题包括进化、生物力学、喂养以及种群生态学和保护。后一个主题虽然相对较短，但由于叶口蝙蝠生活的生态系统中不断增加的人为压力，因此非常热门。由于作者取材于如此高度多样化的分类群，本书的多个方面使其成为每位对进化和蝙蝠生态学感兴趣的生物学家的重要资源。