Book Reviews bacterial strains in deep-frozen state and a t the same time is one of the many compounds produced for adaptation to hypxsaline conditions demonstrates this relationship". Surprisingly, hydrobiologists havc b x o m s mnre interested in such extreme habitats as hypersaline lagoons during the past few years, as shown in the two volumes on athalassic saline lakes by WILLIAMS (1979) and HAMMER (1983) (see reviews Int. Revue gas. Hydrobiol. 67: 284 119821 and 70: 298 [1985]).
This book, edited by FRIEDMAN and KRUMBEIN, summarizes ecological research performed in the Gavish Subkha environmmts along th3 coast of ths north-rn Red Sea Gulf during the past 1.5 years. One section is entitled "Gsnxitl Framswork of Hypersaline Environments wit.1~ Spccial Reference in thr? R2d S>a". I n an inkrssting historical sketch, KRUMBEIN discusses t,he origins of the name "R-d S:a" and the scientific exploration of the area. FRIEDMAN provides geological and ssdimsntological background information on the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba). Special sections concern tlie coastal evaporate systems (B. H. PURSER), the hyp:rsaline flats bordering the sea (A. SNEH and G. M. FRIEDMAN), a comparative hydrobiology of the anchialine pools (P. D. PoR), and coastal botanical studies (31. EVERNARI, Q. GUTTERMAN, E. GAVISH).
Another section is a case study of the GavishSabkha, "whichcontains a volume of water not larger than the swimming pool of an average provincial city, and its imm-diats surroundings do not exceed the play-and sports grounds on the outskirts of the latter" (KRUMBEIN). The zonation of microbial communities is analyzed in detail, and special attention is given by various authors to cyanobscterial mats, the ecology of halophilic bacteria, diat,om communities, and hyp3rmline fauna and their trophic relationships. Other authors described studies on the biochsmistry of sediments and carbon isotope chemistry. The vo- lum-provides the complete findings of a mixed t:am inclnding biologists, chemists, geologists and phy~icists who have studied this extreme environment.