Home-grown biology text

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 10

Home-grown biology text

Biological Science: Processes and Patterns of Life. Edited by Professor G. A. Knox and others. Government Printer. 764 pp. N.Z. price $9.00

The last decade has seen a new fashion established .in general biology textbooks; pedantic authoritative classics have given way to a flood of massive texts, lavishly illustrated in a magazine style, all offering a broad coverage (in several lovely colours) of an ever-expanding field. Modern biology is offered in a very palatable introductory form in most such textbooks but the examples used have never been entirely appropriate to the New Zealand scene.

“Biological Science” was prepared to offer our sixth formers an experience comparable with that of any North American pupil taught from the successful syllabus developed at the University of Colorado since the early 19605. In general it can be said that the intelligent use of New Zealand examples and the high quality of most of the drawings and photographs have made this text a valuable contribution to general knowledge, as well as an useful teaching aid. However, the sheer size of the work is daunting, especially to a pupil obliged to carry it regularly, and the binding would not stand up to normal wear.

The over-all plan of the book is good, with a pleasingly logical and simply defined system of chapters. Oldfashioned biology, the systematic coverage of the plant and animal kingdoms together with basic physiology, and an introduction to the study of behaviour, occupies nearly 400 pages. An introductory section on energy relationships, ranging from specific ecological associa-

tions to general ecological principles and on to cell biology, fills the first 200 pages and the final section on evolutionary matters rounds off this stimulating book. Most of the writing is smooth, but the reference lists — or lack of them — give grounds for severe criticism. The table of contents cites no such lists, and chapters one to five are served by one bibliography which has to be sought. Subsequently most other chapters have their own short list but there is no over-all bibliography. This is a serious editorial lapse. Perhaps it is not surprising since in its five or so years of preparation the book has had a team of five writers, three of whom were successive working editors, under an editorial panel of seven. It is to be hoped that future amendments will include an over-all up-to-date bibliography and reference list, and re-written chapters in rapidly changing fields. “Biological Science” is an extremely full text for an average (strong-armed) sixth former. It is a useful aid to wellinformed teachers but its claim to cover the whole field of biology probably defeats the purpose, in sixth form classes, of having pupils seek out their own information from varied sources. It might now be better to produce a more condensed text for normal use by school pupils and supplement this with specially prepared short books on specific topics. Despite these shortcomings “Biological Science” has merit. Parents and pupils will enjoy learning about New Zealand conditions; the ecology and mammal sections are an especially good introduction to the advantages of this book over others, and the drawings are outstanding.