Heal, O.W.

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REVIEWS • 333be out of focus, and in some cases even the specific featureidentified in the caption cannot be easily discerned. This isextremely unfortunate, in that it detracts from what isotherwise a unique study of university-based northernresearch, seen from an insider’s intimate perspective andspanning almost half a century.All proceeds from sales of this book will go to abursary for students from the North or with an interest inthe North, tenable at the Department of Geography, TrentUniversity.William BarrThe Arctic Institute of North AmericaUniversity of Calgary2500 University Drive NWCalgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canadawbarr@ucalgary.caZACKENBERG—AN ARCTIC PEARL IN THE NORTHEAST GREENLAND NATIONAL PARK. By THOMASBJØRNEBOE BERG. Humlebæk, Denmark: Rhodos Sci-ence and Art Publishers, 2008. ISBN 87-7245-967-0.232 p., 3 maps, 128 colour and 31 b&w illus. Hard-bound. ~US$60.00 + postage.Captured in a diary of expressive wording and brilliantpictures are four short summers at Zackenberg, an isolatedfield station in the High Arctic on the northeastern coast ofGreenland. This is a book about ecological field researchin the short Arctic summer. But it is a book with adifference. It is not the sanitized presentation of researchpapers and textbooks. It tells the story of the real day-to-day life of fieldwork—its joys, its frustrations, and itsdangers—during four summers. Most of all it reflects thechallenges, beauty, and vibrancy of Greenland’s ecologyin the short Arctic summers.The Danish Polar Centre selected Zackenberg in 1992 asa field station for a major multidisciplinary analysis of thedynamics of a High Arctic ecosystem. In 1995, the con-certed field research effort began with a combination ofsurvey, observation, and experiment. Researchers used anold hunting station, extended in 1996 by laboratory andaccommodation buildings, for the three short summer monthsof detailed study. The effort reflects the intensive ecosystemstudies of the International Biological Programme (IBP) ofthe 1950s and is similar to the Canadian study on DevonIsland at virtually the same latitude (74˚28' N). Like DevonIsland, the field site is serviced by that polar workhorse—the twin engine otter—from Akureyri in Iceland. But thestudy of Devon Island was never documented like this!Unlike the IBP studies and most research projects, thisbook is very personal. Written by a perceptive, patient, andknowledgeable ecologist, it tells the stories of many dif-ferent challenges and methods of day-to-day fieldwork.The narrative moves easily from the 200 000 000 years ofgeological time, via the 10 000 years of post-glacialhistory, to the daily life and short-term behaviour of theflora and fauna—and the researchers.The text is in the form of a light-hearted but perceptivediary describing Berg’s fieldwork and that of his col-leagues. Berg describes his day-to-day research work as afield biologist in a completely non-technical languagewith a level of practical detail that is never seen in techni-cal papers or books. But he does not stick to his personalresearch subject, the collared lemming. As the base leader,he was on site from beginning to end of the field season,while his colleagues were there only for short periods. Hespent long hours making observations for his botanical,zoological, and geographical colleagues and he describeswhat he is doing and why. He regularly tramped manymiles to census herds of muskox, to check on populationsof other plants and animals and collect samples for analy-sis. Thus readers are taken out onto the tundra to experi-ence the challenges and rewards of a diversity of patient,detailed field research—observations that bring them lit-erally face-to-face with the animals, plants, and theirphysical environments.  In between his fieldwork he seemedto consume large quantities of coffee—and occasionally,he slept. This is the real world of fieldwork!The diverse colour photographs of landscapes, sea-scapes, fauna and flora in both panoramic and close-upshots are beautifully presented in large format on high-quality paper. The photography itself is stunning. It ben-efits from the photographer’s patience and skill, his depthof ecological knowledge, but also from the curiosity of theanimals themselves, who lack experience with humans.Can you imagine crawling slowly to within a few feet of awolf, walrus, snowy owl, or gyrfalcon? Or holding yourground as an aggressive young bull muskox charges you,but then, thankfully, decides that you are not actuallychallenging him? The plants and landscapes are less dan-gerous but just as beautifully presented.Scientists generate masses of research papers and books,but very rarely do they capture the challenge and thrill offield observations in this graphic and personal way.This book will grace the bookshelf or coffee table in thedepartment, library, school or home. It is for all Arcticresearchers (actual and potential), and it will attract, enter-tain, and educate people of all ages, scientists and non-scientists alike. Readers will come back to it time and againto enjoy the fabulous photographs. In the detail and intimacyof his photographs and observations, Berg goes beyond mostresearchers to capture for us the excitement and reality offield study in High Arctic places. For those who have not yethad the privilege to visit the Far North (or South), this bookis a glorious, entertaining, and educating substitute.O.W. HealUniversity of the Arctic and University of DurhamEaster Hackwood, Dipton Mill RoadHexham, NorthumberlandNE46 1BP, United Kingdomo.w.heal@durham.ac.uk

Zackenberg-An Arctic Pearl in the North East Greenland National Park, by Thomas Bjorneboe Berg

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Zackenberg-An Arctic Pearl in the North East Greenland National Park, by Thomas Bjorneboe Berg

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