Gary Barker (Ed.)                                           2004

Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs

ISBN 0 85199 319 2 .  644 pages, hardback.

CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8DE, UK. Tel: +44 1491 832111, Fax: +44 1491 829292., Email: ord...@cabi.org. £120 (US$ 195.00)  MSL members may obtain a 20% discount by quoting reference 'BTN' when placing an order by phone, fax, email or via the online bookshop: http://www.cabi-publishing.org/Bookshop

The final volume of the three volume set on terrestrial molluscs edited by Gary Barker deals with their natural enemies. Like the two preceding volumes (2001 - The Biology of Terrestrial Molluscs, and 2002 - Molluscs as Crop Pests) the Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs comprises a series of chapters contributed by authors from around the world who are all authorities in their own specialism.

I take a rather blinkered view of terrestrial molluscs as much of my time is spent contending with those that are pests of plants - either in crops or in my garden. I therefore admit to not being very conversant with the diversity of terrestrial mollusc species. Furthermore, I am continually frustrated that there are few, really effective natural enemies that can be used for biological control of the pest species. This book has opened my eyes to the fact that there are, of course, many mollusc species other than the pests and there is also a large number and wide range of natural enemies, even if their role in population suppression is either relatively small or at least remains to be clarified.

The Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs includes chapters on many groups ranging from bacteria, Microspora and Ciliophora (Protozoa) through the nematodes, planaria and arthropods to the vertebrates such as reptiles, birds and mammals. I have yet to solve the mystery of why the chapters are ordered in the way they are; they do not seem to follow a systematic or functional scheme, but as most readers will be consulting a particular chapter this is unlikely to be a problem. I am also puzzled that there is nothing on predation by Amphibia. However, I remain convinced that this book is a very important synthesis of the information on a wide range of natural enemies.

Most chapters provide an introduction to the group under consideration, with some reference to the biology, ecology and systematics of the group, before going on to deal with the role of the group as natural enemies of molluscs. For many of the chapters, the systematic arrangement of the group provides the basis for the text. I am very impressed at the wealth of information that has been collated and sifted in preparation of the chapters. Indeed some of the chapters are more informative than the relevant sections of more general zoology textbooks. I am also intrigued that in some cases there is a considerable amount of information on prey species that are of little significance either for conservation or as pests. Each chapter provides an insight into what we understand about the natural enemies and their prey, and the way in which their populations interact. Furthermore, many chapters identify the gaps in our knowledge and hence provide a steer on the direction of future work and this is supported by comprehensive reference lists.

In addition to those of us who work with molluscs routinely, this book will be an important reference work for biologists and zoologists from undergraduates through to practitioners and I certainly recommend it should be on the shelves of libraries in universities and research institutes, together with the two companion volumes. Those seeking to protect or rear molluscs and those looking for biological approaches to controlling pest species, both new and old, will find it invaluable. Gary Barker is to be congratulated on the successful completion of this project.

. Gordon Port, Newcastle