BOOK REVIEW. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 113 (2011), dedicated to the 60th birthday of Werner E. Piller.

Abstract

This volume is a collection of papers dedicated to Werner E. Piller (Vienna, 27th May, 1951) by some of his colleagues on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The papers deal with some of the many facets of Piller’s research fields, investigations that may help to show a more complete general picture of the Earth history The book comprises 24 papers, by a total of 54 authors (see the web page at http://www.nhmwien.ac.at/verlag/wissenschaftliche_publikationen/annalen_serie_a/113_2011). The introduction of F.F. Steininger is an excellent summary to the Piller’s academic life spent so far in Vienna and Graz (Austria). The papers focus on Piller’s main Earth Science research fields, ranging from systematics and facies analysis, through stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, to ecology and palaeoecology.

Most of the papers deals with facies (siliciclastic, carbonates, pelagic and shallow water sediments) and Recent and fossil biotic assemblages (in reference order: dinoflagellates, cold-water corals, coralline red algae, calcareous sponges, gastropods, bryozoans, brachiopods, water strides, turtles, mammals, dasycladalean green algae, marine ostracods, ophiuroids). Those researchers, who work in the above-mentioned fields, certainly know and often use results obtained by Werner Piller. However, those who know him personally, recognizing his important contribution to Earth Sciences, enjoy marvellous features of his extraordinary personality.