Book reviews /Aquaculture
133 (1995) 171-l 74
173
studies is already found in the title of the report. The term “Nutrient requirements” suggests
an answer to “required for what?” The report’s answer to this question is “for normal
health, good growth and reproduction”.
However, as growth is a process with clear doseresponse relationships, the growth rate that is qualified as “good” should first be specified.
Perhaps the line of thought should start with the concept hat it is primarily man who has
requirements, not fish.
MARK NIJHOF, DAE/SCOMAX
B.V.
EPON-Eemscentrale
Robbenplaahveg 1I
Eemshaoen
The Netherlands zyxwvutsrqpo
Fish bioenergetics zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB
Malcolm Jobling. Fish and Fisheries Series 13, Chapman
1994, xvi + 309 pp., E24.99, ISBN 041258090X.
Fish Bioenergetics.
London,
& Hall,
This book written by Dr. Jobling comprises three main sections. In Part I, under the title
Nutritional requirements and dietary formulation, the author presents a summary on the
nutrients in feed as an energy source for fish in an easy-to-understand
manner, starting from
the general chemical structure, metabolism, requirement of each nutrient, ingredients of
feed, nutrient interactions and fish health. Although there is still something to be desired in
this book when compared with several others written on fish nutrition; it will be an appropriate introduction in so far as it is intended as a treatise on Bioenergetics.
Part II, which focusses on physiological energetics, feeding metabolism and growth,
makes great use of figures and equations; the author explains first the concept of energy
metabolism in fish and then energy budget, respiration and metabolism, and further the
basic relationships between feeding and growth, based on the newly introduced concept of
energy in relation to environmental
factors (water temperature, salinity, photoperiod, dissolved oxygen, etc.), behavior (fish size, stocking density, etc.) and the relationship
between hormones and growth.
In Part III, dealing with environmental tolerance and preferences, the physiological basis
is explained through changes in water temperature, respiration, blood circulation, gas
exchange, the relationship between dissolved oxygen and metabolic rates in fish, etc. In
addition, he examines the effect of environmental
factors, resulting in freshwater acidification, ammonia, other nitrogenous wastes and stress on fish.
The distinct feature of this book is the careful and clear presentation of the subject. The
author has abundantly used equations to demonstrate the relationship between growth and
energy metabolism in Part II, proving his mettle and providing excellent contents for the
book. He should also be congratulated as the first author to have adeptly treated the complex
field of physiology and nutrition in fish. However, although the tables are sufficient to
explain what is in the text, the oversimplified presentation of the data may leave the reader
174 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Book reviews /Aquaculture 133 (1995) 171- l 74
dissatisfied. In addition, the text as well as the figures and tables do not carry any references,
thereby depriving the serious reader of any chance to cross-refer, irrespective of the addendum on books and published papers provided for each Part. Therefore, this book may not
be very appropriate for specialists in this area. Nevertheless, as the basic facts are fully
described, it should serve as a good textbook for students who specialize in the Faculty of
Fisheries, or Oceanography, or Biological Sciences and could also be used as an excellent
introductory book for researchers in the other fields. This book is highly recommended as
a guide to comprehending
the concept of fish energetics, and furthermore for provoking
interest in aquaculture, specially in fish physiology, fish nutrition, fish culture and fish
genetics.
TOSHIO TAKEUCHI
Laboratory of Aquaculture (Fish Culture)
Departmenf of Aquatic Biosciences
Tokyo University of Fisheries
Tokyo
Japan
Books received
Rosenfield, A. and Mann, R. (Editors), Dispersal of Living Organisms into Aquatic Ecosystems. Maryland Sea Grant Publ., College Park Maryland, 1992, ISBN O-946376-56-8.
Ikenou, H. and Kafuku, T., Modern Methods of Aquaculture in Japan, 2nd revised edn.,
Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Vol. 24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1992,
xix +274 pp., US$ 143.00/Dfl. 250.00, ISBN O-444-98665-0.
DeLoach, P.F., Dougherty, W.J. and Davidson, M.A. (Editors), Frontiers of Shrimp
Research. Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Vol. 22, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1991, vii + 294 pp, US$l03.OO/Dfl.
180.00, ISBN O-444-88346 0.
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