M. Alexander - Böcker

This collection of essays reviews the politico-military relationship between Britain and France between the two World Wars. As well as examining the relationship between the two nations' armed services, the book's contributors also analyse key themes in Anglo-French inter-war defence politics - disarmament, intelligence and imperial defence - and joint military, political and economic preparations for a second world war.

As well as examining the relationship between the two nations' armed services, the book's contributors also analyse key themes in Anglo-French inter-war defence politics - disarmament, intelligence and imperial defence - and joint military, political and economic preparations for a second world war.

The substantial and impressive changes in microbial ecology can scarcely be chronicled in a meaningful fashion, and a review series such as Advances in Microbial Ecology can thus not do justice to the numerous studies that have been published in recent years. On the other hand, the mere existence of this series bears testimony to the many and diverse activities. The growing concern with microbial communities and processes in natural ecosystems is not restricted to scientists in one region and is not limited to particular groups of organisms or to individual theoretical or applied problems. The recent and successful international symposium on microbial ecology held in New Zealand-sponsored in part by the International Commission on Microbial Ecology, as is the Advances-and the general microbiology and ecology conferences and congresses have included reports from investigators from all corners of the globe and have explored both new and traditional areas, agricultural and public health problems, individual species and complex communities, and heterotrophs and autotrophs as well as ecosystem models relying on mathematical concepts and environmental processes needing sophisticated chemistry for their definition. The reviews in the present volume thus can offer only a minute sampling of the multitude of topics being actively explored at the present time. Two of the reviews focus attention on biogeochemical cycles regulated by microorganisms, in particular the way these organisms contribute to or control the levels and identities of chemical substances in the atmosphere. The chapter by Y. Dommergues, L. W. Belser, and E. L.

We are most gratified by the response to the initiation of this series of volumes presenting recent developments and new concepts in microbial ecology. Favorable reactions have been expressed in both oral and written communication, and Ad­ vances in Microbial Ecology thus seems to be providing a worthwhile outlet in a rapidly growing field of microbiology and environmental sciences. The growing importance of microbial ecology is evident in many ways. Uni­ versity personnel are expanding their programs and increasing the number of research topics and publications. Substantial numbers of industrial scientists have likewise entered this field as they consider the microbial transformation of chemicals in waters and soils and the effects of synthetic compounds on natural microbial communities. Agricultural, medical, dental, and veterinary practitioners and scientists have also been increasing their activity in microbial ecology because of the importance of the discipline to their own professions. In addition, govern­ mental agencies have expanded regulatory and research activities concerned with microbial ecology owing to the importance of information and regulations fo­ cused on the interactions between microorganisms in nature and particular en­ vironmental stresses.

The literature in microbial ecology is growing rapidly. Journals in many countries dealing with microbiology, ecology, environmental sciences, and environmental technology are publishing an ever-increasing number of papers, and these reports are providing microbial ecologists with a wealth of information. This body of data is now so large and the research is published in so many journals and mono­ graphs that maintaining an overview of the development of the field grows more difficult. The role of Advances in Microbial Ecology thus becomes more obvious with time. The articles in the present volume encompass an array of topics appropriate to the development of the discipline of microbial ecology. Both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are subjects of attention, and a variety of microbiological groups come under review. Furthermore, methodological problems and ap­ proaches are not overlooked. The ecology of protozoa, constraints on their populations, and their role in nutrient cycling and energy flow are considered by J. D. Stout. A unique micro­ environment is discussed by B. Norkrans, the surface microlayer of aquatic eco­ systems, and Dr. Norkrans presents information on a field that has blossomed in the last few years. The subject of the review by H. S. Lowendorf is the genus Rhizobium, a group of bacteria whose importance has grown as the cost of fuel for production of nitrogen fertilizers and ultimately for protein production has increased.