The second edition of Ecology of Marine Parasites is written in textbook format as opposed to that of a reference guide. While reference guides provide quick information often in the form of pictures to aid the user in identifying organisms through comparison, this book is designed more as an informative theory-based presentation. Comprised of eleven chapters, the author acknowledges that the interest of the scientific community in marine parasitology over the past twenty years has generated a large number of research articles addressing the subject. Due to this increased proliferation of scientific literature, he recognizes a need for an up-to-date compilation of these findings; thus the first and second editions of the book have materialized.
The book seeks to break down the ecology of marine parasites into three broad categories: ecological effects of the environment and hosts on parasites, effects of various parasites on each other when inhabiting the same host and finally the ecological effects that parasites have on their hosts in general. These three areas define the core of this book as one which is focused on understanding the development, life and perpetuation of parasitic species as opposed to common veterinary parasitology offerings which typically focus on identification and eradication of parasites as well as education on the danger such parasites can cause both to humans and the agricultural community.
The various types of marine parasites are identified according to phylum and further subdivided according to identification of single-celled or multi-celled organisms. These organisms are represented visually by line drawings that are as beautiful as they are complex. It should be noted that while no single person was responsible for all of the drawings, graphs and other bio-statistical representations, the quality of the combined workmanship in illustrations is stellar.
Each chapter addresses specific focal points of the parasites' existence; for example: host-parasitic interactions, structures of parasite communities and hygienic importance of parasites to name a few. These areas are explored through examination of current and on-going research into specifically identified areas. For this reason, this is not a book to be used for clinical reference but rather one that would be handy for a literature review of pertinent subject matter. The information presented is further subsidized by a very comprehensive glossary as well as a reference list of some fifty pages with an average of twenty reference citations per page.
Although this book is beautifully laid out and may be one of the most comprehensive tomes to address marine parasites to date, it is not a book that the reviewer would recommend to a practicing veterinarian or their staff for daily clinical usage. Its address of subject matter is strictly research oriented and very theoretical in nature. However if one is looking for a reference source to include within a paper to be written on any aspect of marine parasitology; this book will fit the bill nicely. It not only provides information, but is also an excellent source for hundreds of other references at the writers’ fingertips on the same subject matter, making the literature search and review a snap.
Publisher: CAB International (CABI) (1993).
ISBN-13: 978-0-85198-845-0.