This book is largely compiled of papers presented at the Fourth International Symposium/Workshop on Frugivores and Seed Dispersal, and as such would have been better entitled ‘Recent Studies on Frugivores and Seed Dispersal’. This might have lost some sales, but would have avoided a readership disappointed in the lack of coverage on other modes of seed dispersal. This is also not a book with an overview of the subject area that it does cover, which a general readership might have hoped for.

So what is there to attract those who are not specialist frugivore researchers? It is not an easy introduction to the subject: the contributors make no concessions for those not versed in specialist concepts, terminology and statistical techniques. But for those prepared to put the effort in, there is a wealth of information on the complex biological systems operating in the environment facing plant species seed dispersal and successful germination. This includes ideas on the merits of seed size and palatability in relation to fugivores, granivores, pathogens and mycorrhiza, and the metabolic costs to the parent plant. Surprisingly, there is no reference to the value (or otherwise) of genetic variability within a plant species for seed dispersal and establishment.

To summarize, this is a book for specialist researchers that will also be of interest to ecologists, and those within the broad church of biological sciences who are prepared for a challenging read.