Book Reviews

PROGRESS REPORT: MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA

The "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeastern United States" was initiated by the Systematics-Ecology Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, in 1967. Recruitment of systematic specialists to prepare man- uals, establishment of a publication outlet, and provision of financial support went slowly the first few years. A substantial boost was provided by a National Science Foundation grant of $25,000 in 1970 71. In 1972, the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, agreed to publish the manuals in the "NOAA Technical Report NMFS Circulars". In 1973, with termination of the Sys- tematics-Ecology Program in 1972, the official ad- dress of the "'Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeas- tern United States" was moved to the College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, where Dr. Melbourne R. Carriker, Coordinating Editor of the series, accepted an appointment on the faculty. In 1975, the Environmen- tal Protection Agency granted the series $18,000 to help support the preparation of manuscripts by systematic specialists.

Review of manuscripts is performed by outside review- ers and by the Editorial Advisory Board of the series, which consists of Dr. Marie B. Abbott, Marine Biologi- cal Laboratory, Woods Hole; Dr. Arthur G. Humes, Boston University Marine Program; Dr. Wesley N. Tiffney, Boston University; Dr. Ruth D. Turner, Har- vard University; Dr. Roland L. Wigley, National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole; and Dr. Robert T. Witce, University of Massachusetts. In addition, the National Marine Fisheries Service, through its Scientific Editor, Dr. Bruce Collette, conducts a further review.

Manuals appear in print aperiodically as they are prepared. The following six manuals are in print, and are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The price per copy is given in parenthesis.

Cook, D. G., and R. O. Brinkhurst. 1973. Annelida: Oligochaeta, 22 p. (35r

Borror, A. C. 1973. Protozoa: Ciliophora, 62 p. (95r

Moul, E. T. 1973. Higher Plants of the Marine Fringe, 60 p. (65r

McCloskey, L. R. 1973. Pycnogonida, 12 p. (30r Manning, R. B. 1974. Crustacea: Stomatopoda, 6 p.

(45r Williams, A. B. 1974. Crustacea: Decapoda, 50 p.

($1.10).

The following two manuals are in press: Pollock, L. W. Tardigrada. Larson, R. J. Cnidaria: Scyphozoa. The following manuals are in final revision: Bluegreen

Algae, by F. Drouet and R. Hildebrand; Fungi, by R. Cavaliere; Kinorhyncha, by R. P. Higgins; Benthic shelled gastropods, by R. T. Turner, W. Baranowski, and J. M. Reinhart; Sipunculoidea, by E. B. Cutler; Harpac- ticoid Copepoda, by B. C. Coull; and Cirripedia, by V. A. Zullo.

Each manual is based primarily on recent systematic research and a fresh examination of the plants and animals. Each major group, treated in a separate man- ual, includes an introduction, illustrated glossary, uni- form originally illustrated keys, annotated check-list with information, when available, on distribution, habitat, life history, and related biology, references to the major literature of the group, and a systematic index. Geo- graphic coverage extends from headwaters of estuaries seaward approximately to the 200 meter depth on the continental shelf from Maine to Virginia, varying some- what with each major group and the interests of systema- tists.

Manuals are intended for use by biology students, biologists, biological oceanographers, informed laymen, and others wishing to identify coastal organisms of the region. In many instances, manuals serve as a guide to additional information about species or groups.

Publication of the "Marine Flora and Fauna of the Northeatern United States" is most timely in view of the growing universal emphasis on environmental work and the urgent need for more precise and complete identifica- tion of coastal organisms than has been available, the increasing shortage of systematists to handle identifica: tion and classification, and the current inadequacy, insufficiency, or lack of identification and classification aids for most taxa. Manuals are most useful in the northeastern United States, but they will, in addition, have general application in many surrounding coastal states.

MELBOURNE R. CARRIKER Coordinating Editor, MFFNEUS Professor of Marine Studies College of Marine Studies University of Delaware Lewes, Delaware 19958

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