Lipids in Aquatic Ecosystems

The number of researchers investigating the role of lipids in aquatic ecosystems has grown rapidly over the past few decades and the synthesis into a single volume of the current thinking of both marine and freshwater systems is extremely timely. Until comparatively recently, cross referencing between the two disciplines has been rare and it is reassuring to see a more integrated approach to the study of lipids in aquatic environments emerging. The chapters of the book progress logically through the origins of lipids in aquatic environments, to their transfer via consumers and the consequences for ecosystem function. Although the emphasis throughout the book is on fatty acids, semiochemicals, sterols and lipidic contaminants are all covered in some detail. However, whilst the book title promises and indeed delivers a broad range of topics, the text is heavily focussed on planktonic organisms, with benthic and deep sea ecosystems being largely ignored. Chapter 2 ‘Formation and transfer of fatty acids in aquatic microbial foodwebs: role of heterotrophic protists’ laments the lack of information on heterotrophic protists, and yet makes no reference to the substantial research efforts into the role of lipids in foraminifera that have been published in recent years (e.g. Moodley et al., 2002). Given the central theme of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) throughout the book, it is also surprising that bacteria do not receive more than a cursory mention, given that many strains can be prolific producers of PUFA (Russell and Nichols, 1999). However, these criticisms are minor and it has to be conceded that the book encompasses a much broader range of topics than any of its predecessors. From a personal perspective, I found the chapter on the export of aquatic-derived lipids to terrestrial systems particularly thought-provoking and can envisage this area of research developing in the future as more holistic ecosystem views of the natural environment are refined. Lipids derived from aquatic ecosystems are vitally important for human health and the chapter detailing these issues will provide a useful justification for funding from grant awarding bodies. Overall, the book with its extensive summary of the current literature is essential reading for researchers with an interest in the ecological biochemistry of aquatic organisms and will provide an invaluable baseline for future studies in this field.