Marine biology Books

Book SynopsisBBC R4 Book of the WeekBrilliant' GuardianFascinating and often delightful' The TimesWhat if intelligent life on Earth evolved not once, but twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith, a distinguished philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver, tells a bold new story of how nature became aware of itself a story that largely occurs in the ocean, where animals first appeared.Tracking the mind's fitful development from unruly clumps of seaborne cells to the first evolved nervous systems in ancient relatives of jellyfish, he explores the incredible evolutionary journey of the cephalopods, which began as inconspicuous molluscs who would later abandon their shells to rise above the ocean floor, searching for prey and acquiring the greater intelligence needed to do so a journey completely independent from the route that mammals and birds would later take.But what kind of intelligence do cephalopods possess? How did the octopus, a solitary creature with little social life, become so smart? What is it like to have eight tentacles that are so packed with neurons that they virtually think for themselves'? By tracing the question of inner life back to its roots and comparing human beings with our most remarkable animal relatives, Godfrey-Smith casts crucial new light on the octopus mind and on our own.Trade ReviewPraise for Other Minds: ‘Entrancing and profound’ Financial Times ‘A superb, coruscating book’ Literary Review ‘Startlingly incisive … refreshing guidance’ New York Times ‘The beauty of Godfrey-Smith’s book lies in the clarity of his writing; his empathy, if you will. He takes us through those early stirrings in the seas of deep time, from bacteria that sense light and can taste, to cnidarian jellyfish, the first organisms to exhibit nervous systems, which he describes wonderfully.’ Philip Hoare, Guardian ‘Fascinating and often delightful … This book ingeniously blends philosophy and science to trace the epic journey from single-celled organisms of 3.8 billion years ago to the awakening and development of cephalopod consciousness.’ The Times ‘As poignant as anything you will read this year’ Mail on Sunday ‘In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith, a philosopher, skilfully combines science, philosophy and his experiences of swimming among these tentacled beasts to illuminate the origin and nature of consciousness.’ The Economist ‘A delight on so many levels’ Dive magazine ‘To investigate these astonishing animals with such empathy and rigour is achievement enough. To do so while casting light on the birth and nature of consciousness, as Peter Godfrey-Smith does here, is captivating.’ China Miéville, author of Kraken ‘I love this book, its masterful blend of natural history, philosophy, and wonder … It’s a captivating story, and Peter Godfrey-Smith brings it alive in vivid, elegant prose … A must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of the mind – ours and the very other, but equally sentient, minds of the cephalopods.’ Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds

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Book SynopsisThe follow-up to the BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Other MindsA Times and Sunday Times Book of the YearA Waterstones Best Book of 2020The scuba-diving philosopher explores the origins of animal consciousness.Dip below the ocean's surface and you are soon confronted by forms of life that could not seem more foreign to our own: sea sponges, soft corals and flower-like worms, whose rooted bodies and intricate geometry are more reminiscent of plant life than anything recognisably animal. Yet these creatures are our cousins. As fellow members of the animal kingdom the Metazoa they can teach us about the evolutionary origins of not only our bodies, but also our minds.In his acclaimed book, Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith explored the mind of the octopus the closest thing to an intelligent alien on Earth. In Metazoa, he expands his inquiry to animals at large, investigating the evolution of experience with the assistance of far-flung species. Godfrey-Smith shows that the appearance of the Trade ReviewA Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year A BBC Science Focus Book of the Month ‘This gentle approach won a wide readership for Godfrey-Smith’s last book and deserves to do the same for this. But perhaps his exploratory style is well-suited, not just to the general reader, but to the problem of consciousness itself’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Enthralling … A rather winning combination of not once ever making readers feel as if they are being lectured to; rather, it is the sensation of joining a wise, ever-patient friend on a time-traveling tour of the cognitive experiences of animals … Metazoa brings an extraordinary and astute look at our own mind’s essential link to the animal world’ Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times ‘A profound scientific drama, in which the lives of quite un-human creatures illuminate deep mysteries about the nature of sentience, and what it means to possess a mind … In Metazoa, the scuba-diving historian and philosopher of science tackles these questions with eloquent boldness … As in Other Minds, Mr Godfrey-Smith recounts close encounters with marine fauna, gleaned from years of diving off the Australian coast. These have an electric immediacy … Evocative [and] gripping’ Barbara Kiser, Wall Street Journal ‘Peter Godfrey-Smith's new book Metazoa is, like his last one, not only deeply interesting but beautifully written. Also, it finally taught me how to pronounce "cnidarian" properly’ Philip Ball ‘Peter Godfrey-Smith writes and thinks like no one else that I know of. He’s well immersed in the science of life, a deep-diver into the philosophical implications of the factual world – and a writer so skillful he can give a reader chills. Metazoa is his deepest dive to date on what life is’ Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER'Refreshingly clear'Sunday Times'A hugely enjoyable slice of popular science'Daily Mail__________ A journey from the farthest reaches of the globe to the most cutting-edge research to explore everything the natural world and science have to offer on the mystery of ageing.From the backwards-ageing jellyfish to the woman who successfully edited her own DNA, biologist Nicklas Brendborg follows the thread of every experiment, story and myth in search of immortality. With mind-bending discoveries and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality, Jelly­fish Age Backwards will reshape everything you thought you knew about ageing - and reveal nature's secrets to unlocking your own longevity.Trade ReviewIn a field characterised by overclaiming and wishful thinking, it is judicious, sensible and refreshingly clear. And fascinating. * Sunday Times *Nicklas Brendborg takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the science of ageing... he navigates this bustling discipline with graceful clarity, dispelling common myths along the way. * New Scientist *A hugely enjoyable slice of popular science, full of memorable facts and sound advice. * Daily Mail *Some species are effectively immortal, others induce suspended animation, others age backwards. And all humans do is senesce, so that everything from our minds down to each cell becomes more fragile and less resilient. Nicklas Brendborg accessibly guides the non-scientist through the science of aging and what's known about making it slower and gentler (along with judiciously debunking the ample pseudo-science). All written with a fun, appealing voice, making for a surprisingly upbeat read. -- Dr Robert Sapolsky, bestselling author of BEHAVEThis book will make readers marvel at the possibilities held by scientific discovery, and most of all at nature * Nature Aging *I loved it. Bursting with insight and fabulous facts. The brain boost it gives you is enough to make you feel ten years younger on its own! -- Matt Warren, editor of The ConversationBrendborg explores what could be a complicated and heavy subject so intriguingly, funnily and in such an accessible manner, that the end result is something that even traditionally fiction readers would enjoy. * Publishing Post *Clear and fascinating * The Sunday Times, Best Summer Reads *A highly-entertaining journey through the science of longevity. Why we age, and what we can do about it, explained in a clear and captivating way. A wonderful book * Dr Kris Verbugh, Author of The Longevity Code *Aging can be delayed, prevented, and even reversed in several examples. Brendborg's book is storytelling that spans history and science, goes from nature to the laboratories, and discusses how we got here, what the future is and where we are going. Nicklas is young enough to grasp the details and connectivity yet mature enough to practice wisdom and manage expectations like a true geroscientist * Dr Nir Barzilai, author of Age Later *

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Book SynopsisSeaweed is so familiar and yet its names - pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack - are largely unknown to us. In this short, exquisitely illustrated portrait, the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of its history, culture and use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney Islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. Seaweed troubled Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic, intrigued von Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea and inspired artists from Hokusai to Matisse. Covering seaweed's collection by Victorians, its adoption into fashion and dance and its potential for combating climate change, and with a fabulous series of recipes based around the 'truffles of the sea', this is a wonderful gift for every nature lover's home.Trade ReviewA very special, little, cute, moving but splendid book. * Shortlisting for Jan Wolkers Prijs 2018 *a treasure chest filled with fascinating, horizon-widening, mind-expanding curiosities and moments of awe and wonder on every page. Zwambown is an artist-polymath: erudite, wide-ranging and magpie-like. She takes us underwater to a world of iridescence rainbow weed, sea monsters, space algae and world-saving kelp. She opens up the sea for us with an intriguing mixture of cultural and natural history, acute observations and enchanting illustrations and challenges us to slow down and engage in a radical noticing and joy of seeing we all need. I am now completely obsessed by seaweed. -- Lucy Jones author of * Losing Eden *

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Book SynopsisThe Coral Triangle, a kaleidoscope of marine life, boasts the greatest biodiversity on Earth. Yet, most focus on the giants of the deep. This book dives deeper, celebrating the small majority - the tiny but vital creatures that power this underwater paradise.

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Book SynopsisMaya Plass (consultant)After a BSc in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, followed by an MSc in Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Maya set up her own marine education business - Learn To Sea. She is a regular guest presenter on the BBC's Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Coast and is author of the RSPB Handbook of the Seashore (2013). She is patron of three marine conservation charities - Sea-changers, MARINElife, and The Blue Mile.Chris Packham (foreword) Is a wildlife TV presenter, author, photographer, and naturalist.

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Book SynopsisAS FEATURED IN SEASPIRACY An Observer Book of the Year 2017 A Sunday Times must read A New York Times Bestseller Endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama – ‘Balcombe vividly shows that fish have feelings and deserve consideration and protection like other sentient beings’ What’s the truth behind the old adage that goldfish have a three-second memory? Do fishes think? Can they recognize the humans who peer back at them from above the surface of the water? Myth-busting biologist and animal behaviour expert Jonathan Balcombe takes us under the sea, through streams and estuaries to the other side of the aquarium glass to answer these questions and more. He upends our assumptions, revealing that fish are far from the unfeeling, dead-eyed feeding machines so many of us assume them to be. They are, in fact, sentient, aware, social and even Machiavellian – in other words, rather like us. What a Fish Knows draws on the latest science to present a fresh look at these remarkable creatures in all their breathtaking diversity and beauty. Teeming with insights and exciting discoveries, it offers a thoughtful appraisal of our relationships with fish and inspires us to take a more enlightened view of the planet’s increasingly imperilled marine life. What a Fish Knows will forever change how we see our aquatic cousins – the pet goldfish included.Trade Review‘Many of us have a soft spot for dolphins and whales, but Balcombe makes it embarrassingly clear how absolutely ignorant (and arrogant) we are when it comes to the vast world of our oceans and their inhabitants.’ * Observer, Books of the Year *‘As cogent, salutary and substantial a study of piscine behaviour as I have read in years…This is a book full of wonders.’ * Literary Review *‘Eye-opening…What a Fish Knows is far more than a mass of would-you-believe-it facts, marvellously entertaining though they are...passionate and persuasive.’ * Sunday Times *‘Surprisingly, this compelling book is the first ever published that is devoted to fish behaviour.’ * Forbes, 10 Best Popular Science Books of 2016 *‘Remarkable.’ * Spectator *‘An extended exploration of the world from a piscine perspective...Balcombe makes a persuasive case that what fish know is quite a lot.’ -- Elizabeth Kolbert, New York Review of Books‘...will leave you humbled, thrilled, and floored. Jonathan Balcombe delivers a revelation on every page, presenting jaw-dropping studies and stories that should reshape our understanding of, and compassion for, some of the most diverse and successful animals who have ever lived.’ -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus, a National Book Award finalist‘We Buddhists consider all animals, including fish, as sentient beings who have feelings of joy and pain just as we humans do. We also believe that they have all been kind to us as our mothers many times in the past, and are deserving of our compassion. Therefore, we try to help them in whatever way we can and at least avoid doing them harm. In What a Fish Knows, Jonathan Balcombe vividly shows that fish have feelings and deserve consideration and protection like other sentient beings. I hope reading it will help people become more aware of the benefits of vegetarianism and the need to treat animals with respect.’ -- The Dalai Lama‘[A] sparkling exposition on “our underwater cousins”…[and] a compelling pitch for greatly expanding fish conservation.’ * Booklist *‘As ethologist Jonathan Balcombe notes in this engrossing study, breakthroughs are revealing sophisticated piscine behaviours. Balcombe glides from perception and cognition to tool use, pausing at marvels such as ocular migration in flounders and the capacity of the frillfin goby (Bathygobius soporator) to memorize the topography of the intertidal zone.’ * Barbara Kiser, Nature *‘Balcombe covers the waterfront, so to speak, from fish cognition and perception to their social structures and breeding practices, all the while drawing on a dizzying array of experiments and studies. In the hands of a lesser writer, the sheer weight of material could have overburdened the reader. But Balcombe’s prose is lively and clear, showcasing his gift for pithy sentences.’ * Eugene Linden, American Scholar *‘With the vivacious energy of a cracking good storyteller, Balcombe draws deeply from scientific studies and his own experience with fish to introduce readers to them as sentient creatures that live full lives governed by cognition and perception…Balcombe makes a convincing case that fish possess minds and memories, are capable of planning and organizing, and cooperate with one another in webs of social relationships.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘[Balcombe] offers an enjoyable, surprising and sometimes gruesome exploration of the world of fish, written with clarity and humor and grounded in many scientific studies...The breadth and depth of his research and his enthusiastic storytelling may permanently alter how [readers] look at a pet goldfish or a can of sardines.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘I thought I knew a lot about fishes. Then I read What a Fish Knows. And now I know a lot about fishes! Stunning in the way it reveals so many astonishing things about the fishes who populate planet Earth in their trillions, this book is sure to ‘deepen’ your appreciation for our fin-bearing co-voyagers, the bright strangers whose world we share.’ -- Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words‘Our fishy ancestors emerged from the watery depths around 400 million years ago, and this beautiful book connects us back to that time.’ -- David Gruber, Ideas.TED.com, “What Should you read this summer?”‘Based on the latest scientific research, What a Fish Knows offers an eye-opening tour of the social, mental, and emotional lives of fishes. Who knew fishes use tools, appreciate music, fall for the same optical illusions we do, and engage in both cooperative hunting and some very kinky sex? Jonathan Balcombe’s book is popular science writing at its best. It will spin your head around.’ -- Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat‘Balcombe...wants people to care about fish as individuals, to think of them much as we would a pet cat or dog...This might sound like a fool’s errand. To most people, it probably seems doubtful that a fish has any sort of inner life, much less a rich one. But Mr. Balcombe builds a persuasive argument...through a compendium of fascinating anecdotes and scientific findings that illustrate the complexity and creativity of fish behavior. Dozens of startling revelations emerge, including playful marine fish riding bubbles to the top of an aquarium, elephantfish “singing” courtship duets using electric pulses, and parasite-picking cleaner fish engaging in convoluted “economic” interactions with their “clients.”’ * Alan de Quieroz, Wall Street Journal *‘What a Fish Knows is a delightful and fascinating book that should be read by all who have dismissed fishes, especially the smaller denizens of the ocean, as utterly simple, primitive creatures. Jonathan Balcombe’s lively descriptions of fish behavior are backed by solid science. What Carl Safina’s Beyond Words did for elephants, wolves, and orcas, Balcombe’s book does for fishes. It is a terrific read.’ -- Wendy Benchley, ocean conservationist and co-founder of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards‘Fishes are greatly misunderstood and grievously maligned. Now, in What a Fish Knows, Jonathan Balcombe uses the latest science to provide a comprehensive picture of just who fishes are. You will learn that fishes have distinct personalities, experience a wide range of emotions, form intricate social relationships, and are wonderful parents. Indeed, this forward-looking and long-overdue book is an integral part of reconnecting with the fascinating animals with whom we share our magnificent planet.’ -- Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Rewilding Our Hearts‘What a Fish Knows is the best book on fishes I have ever read. Brimming with engrossing anecdotes and humor, Jonathan Balcombe’s inspiring treatise takes the reader on a fascinating and deeply moving journey into the lives of fishes. Balcombe’s eloquent, persuasive, highly readable tour de force has a single, luminous message: Fishes deserve more respect, care, and protection.’ -- Chris Palmer, author of Shooting in the Wild and Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker

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Book SynopsisExplore the wonders of the underwater world and develop theoretical and practical marine science skills. Following extensive classroom research, this workbook has been revised by experienced teachers and examiners. The first section of the workbook includes exercises and exam-style questions for each topic to enable students to consolidate and assess their learning and apply their knowledge to novel situations. The second section includes 27 practical activities to develop students'' investigative skills. Support notes and sample data are provided in the teacher''s resource. Written in accessible language for the international learner this book helps students build confidence and develop essential skills.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Section 1; Chapter 1: Water; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 2: Earth processes; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 3: Interactions in marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 4: Classification and biodiversity; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 5: Examples of marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 6: Physiology of marine organisms; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 7: Energy; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 8: Fisheries for the future; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 9: Human impacts on marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Section 2; Chapter 1: Water; Practical 1.1 Properties of water; Practical 1.2 pH; Practical 1.3 Salinity and temperature gradients; Chapter 2: Earth processes; Practical 2.1 Investigating the effect of temperature on the solubility of a salt; Practical 2.2 Modelling weathering and erosion; Practical 2.3 Interpreting tide tables; Chapter 3: Interactions in marine ecosystems; Practical 3.1 Pyramids of numbers and biomass; Practical 3.2 Planning an investigation to estimate the productivity of an aquatic producer; Practical 3.3 Investigating the carbon cycle; Chapter 4: Classification and biodiversity; Practical 4.1 Constructing a dichotomous key; Practical 4.2 Using quadrats to estimate abundance of organisms; Practical 4.3 Estimating a population size using the mark-release-recapture method; Chapter 5: Examples of marine ecosystems; Practical 5.1 Drawing an animal found on a sandy shore; Practical 5.2 Planning an investigation into the effect of light intensity on coral growth; Practical 5.3 Distribution of organisms on a Rocky Shore; Chapter 6: Physiology of marine organisms; Practical 6.1 Observing, drawing and comparing the structures of respiratory systems; Practical 6.2 Investigating the effect of salinity on brine shrimp; Practical 6.3 The effect of salt solution on eggs; Chapter 7: Energy; Practical 7.1 Identification and separation of photosynthetic pigments using paper chromatography; Practical 7.2 Data analysis into limiting factors for photosynthesis; Practical 7.3 Gas exchange in an aquatic producer; Chapter 8: Fisheries for the future; Practical 8.1 Determining of size of reproductive maturity to inform minimum catch size; Practical 8.2 Effect of temperature on growth of whelk; Practical 8.3 Planning an investigation into the effect of feeding rates on the growth rates of salmon; Chapter 9: Human impacts on marine ecosystems; Practical 9.1 Planning an investigation into marine plastics pollution; Practical 9.2 Modelling the greenhouse effect; Practical 9.3 Monitoring invasive species; Glossary; Index

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Book SynopsisThis textbook on chemical oceanography presents a broad introduction to this most interdisciplinary of the ocean sciences. Appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students, it demonstrates how ocean chemical distributions are used to determine physical, biological, and geological fluxes and humanity's growing influence on natural processes.Trade Review'Chemical Oceanography: Element Fluxes in the Sea is completely updated from the previous version. The new version cites up-to-date, peer-reviewed literature, and includes compelling figures, discussion boxes, and problems at the end of each chapter. In addition, the links to MATLAB and Python toolboxes are a great resource. In my opinion, this is the best chemical oceanography textbook currently available for both undergraduate and graduate level courses.' Annie Bourbonnais, University of South Carolina'The choice of contents for a Chemical Oceanography textbook is, to some extent, a Rorschach test of the authors' view of the field. In their focus on element fluxes affected by life in the oceans, Emerson and Hamme seek to navigate the narrow channel between attention to detail, a hallmark of quantitative ocean science, and the desire to share the fabulous panorama that is the field as a whole.' Andrew Dickson, Scripps Institution of Oceanography'In their outstanding and exceptionally well-structured textbook, Emerson and Hamme transform the way we think about chemical oceanography. While the distribution of chemical tracers in the ocean still provides the foundation of their textbook, they organize it around the biogeochemical transformations that govern these distributions. A particular focus is the question of how fast these processes operate and how we can measure these rates. To this end, they introduce many modern techniques involving various isotope systems and transient tracers in a way no other textbook has achieved so far. This is a must read for any student, postdoc, and researcher in the field, especially in these rapidly changing times.' Nicolas Gruber, ETH Zürich'A readable, comprehensive, authoritative account, by two distinguished chemical oceanographers, of what we know about chemical processes in the oceans, and how we have learned it. The book features deep descriptions of the oceanic cycles of oxygen, nitrogen, and especially carbon. Chemical Oceanography will be valuable to Earth scientists as a guide to topics in chemical oceanography, to specialists as a source of detailed information, and to students as a textbook chock full of stimulating problems and provocative topics for discussion.' Michael Bender, Princeton University'This new book is a comprehensive and modern treatment of a broad range of marine chemistry topics. The thoughtful, well-written text and clear illustrations are a valuable resource for professors, and provide a strong foundation in the subject for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.' Abigail Renegar, Nova Southeastern UniversityTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Oceanography background: dissolved chemicals, circulation and biology in the sea; 2. Geochemical mass balance: chemical flow across the ocean's boundaries, 3. Life in the surface ocean: biological production and export; 4. Life in the deep ocean: biological respiration; 5. Marine carbonate chemistry; 6. Stable isotope tracers; 7. Radioisotope tracers; 8. The role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle; Appendices; Index.

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Book SynopsisHumans have identified just a fraction of the 2.2 million species living in the sea. Roughly 91% of all marine species remain unknown: myths still to be written, discoveries still to be made, blank pages with room to dream . . .As a small boy, Bill François was frightened of deep water. Until a chance encounter with the elusive sardine set him on course for a life in marine science: a mission to better understand, and preserve, the underwater world, to find his place in that ecosystem and learn how to converse harmoniously with the ocean.In a series of exquisitely rendered vignettes of marine life, François invites us on a whistle-stop global tour to reveal the mysteries of the sea, beginning with the simple eloquence of the sardine. He unpicks the sound of the sea - an underwater symphony orchestra voiced by a choir of fish - and deciphers the latest scientific discoveries on the immunity of coral and the changing gender of wrasses. We visit the depths of undTrade ReviewAn illuminating debut collection . . . François's tone is conversational, and his passion and excitement are contagious . . . a fun deep dive into marine life * Publishers Weekly *With an elegant mix of storytelling, science, and humour, François delights us with his infectious love of life beneath the waves. These aquatic reveries pry open the oceans' mysteries to reveal pearls within * Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly, and What a Fish Knows *

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight Seals is packed with eye-catching, informative color photos and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.Spotlight Seals explores the intricate lives of the UK''s native Grey and Common Seals and their amazing physical and behavioral adaptations to a life split between land and sea. Seals are the sleekest and most agile of all marine mammals, and they are superbly adapted to the watery world in which they spend most of their time. With their whiskery dog-like faces, curious nature and vulnerable pups, they are enduringly appealing animals. Although air-breathing, these marine mammals are superbly tuned to hunt, sleep, mate and keep warm while out at sea, but they remain inextricably linked to land where they moult and have their pups.Frances Dipper also delves into the complex physiology that allows seals to dive deep and for long periods without coming to any harm. Once ruthlessly exploited for their Table of ContentsMeet the Seals Seals Around the World Life on Land Life on Sea The Daily Routine Watching Seals Threats and Protection Seals in Our Lives Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe tide is the greatest synchronised movement of matter on our planet. Every drop of seawater takes part in tidal motion, driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. At the coast, we see the tide as a twice-daily rise and fall of sea level that moves the edge of the sea up and down a beach or cliff-face. In some places, the tide is small but at others it can rise in a few hours by the height of a three storey building; it then has to be treated with great respect by those who live and work by the sea. In this Very Short Introduction David George Bowers and Emyr Martyn Roberts explore what we know about the tides. Blending clear explanations of well known tidal phenomena with recent insights in the deep ocean and coastal seas, Bowers and Roberts use examples from around the world, to tell the story of the tide, considering its nature and causes, its observation and prediction, and unusual tides and their relevance. They explore why tides have attracted the attention of some of the world''s greatest scientists, from the initial challenge of explaining why there are two tides a day when the moon and sun pass overhead just once; a problem that was solved by Isaac Newton. In the 19th century, scientists unravelled the rhythms of the tide; good tidal predictions in the form of tide tables were then possible. The predictions were made on beautiful tide predicting machines constructed of brass and mahogany, some of which can still be seen in maritime museums. In the 20th century, the importance of tides as mixers of sea water became evident. As Bowers and Roberts explore, tidal mixing of the ocean is essential for maintaining its deep circulation, a key part of the climate-control system of our planet. In inshore waters, tidal mixing enhances biological productivity, influences sea temperature and turbidity and creates dramatic features such as maelstroms and tidal bores. In the 21st century, space probes are examining the effects of tidal processes on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn and the possibility of tidally-heated liquid oceans with their own ecosystems. Looking to the cutting edge of tidal research, Bowers and Roberts also consider how we can study the role of the tide in the geological and biological evolution of our own planet with innovative computer models. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis is an interesting and well written book that provides an invaluable introduction to all things tidal ... This is most certainly a book I would recommend to any oceanography students, or indeed physical geography students keen to get an understanding of tides and their importance in marine, coastal and estuarine environments. * Robert A. Francis, Progress in Physical Geography *Table of Contents1: Watching the tide 2: Making tides 3: Measurement and prediciton 4: The tide in shelf seas 5: Tidal bores 6: Tides and the Earth 7: Tidal mixing 8: New frontiers Further Reading index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book should be on every shark-lover’s wish list, whether you are a budding marine biologist or a shark-mad diver. Sharks of the World will inspire you to increase your knowledge about sharks; it will boost your passion and commitment to conserve sharks and their marine habitats; and perhaps, like me, it will encourage you to spend even more time in the water with them to understand them and enjoy them."---Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse"The attention to detail, the thoroughness of coverage, the simplicity and wonder of the illustrations, all add up to a remarkable labour of love. It is an awful irony that, as our knowledge of these wonderful creatures has grown, so has our capacity to destroy them. However, as this book so carefully explains that growth in knowledge is also the means by which we can, hopefully, save them. All those involved in producing such an authoritative compendium should be proud of this impressive contribution to the understanding of sharks and the contribution it will have to their conservation."---Max James, DIVE Magazine"[An] excellent reference book, providing everything that shark enthusiasts need to properly identify their favorite fish and new ones that they catch, too. There is a lot to learn, and the 607 ages of this book willdefinitely educate you!"---Tom Berg, The Blade"This is an outstanding, monumental study of these diverse, intriguing, and captivating fish, enhanced by the standard of the artwork."---Doug Herdson, Marine Biologist"A massively impressive work. . . . The essential illustrated guide for the shark enthusiast."---Daria Blackwell, Flying Fish"Stunning and a much-needed resource on these much maligned and beautiful creatures."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association"While the comprehensive scope of this book will appeal mostly to fishery scientists and conservationists, it indispensable to any shark enthusiast wishing to learn more about sharks and to gain a worldwide perspective on this fascinating and ancient group of fish."---Myles O’Reilly, Glasgow Naturalist

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Book SynopsisEverything the first time fish-keeper needs to know to set up a tank. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions help you create and develop your aquarium - whether it''s coldwater, tropical or marine. Charts and tables show how to deal with ailments and diseases, and there''s a guide to the most common fish. There are profiles of over 100 tropical, marine and coldwater fish, as well as plants and invertebrates.Table of ContentsIntroduction 6; 1 What type of aquarium do you want? 8; Coldwater, tropical or marine?; styles of aquarium; cost implications; the demands on your time; conservation and care; your duty; 2 Choosing and locating the tank 22; Aquarium size; aquarium designs; tank construction; aquarium furniture; positioning the aquarium; 3 Equipment 32; Filtration; aeration; heating; lighting; 4 Aquarium Decoration 50; Materials; plants; aquascaping; 5 Setting up your first aquarium 80; Safety issues; water preparation; tank set ups, step by step; tank maturation; 6 Water Quality 100; Water testing; the nitrogen cycle; new tank syndrome; 7 Choosing the fish 114; Fish adaptations; compatibility; buying fish; freshwater fish profiles; introducing fish; 8 Basic fish care 162; Feeding; cleaning regimes; equipment maintenance; problem solving; 9 Health Care 176; Fish anatomy; what makes a healthy fish; disease diagnosis; treating sick fish; quarantining; 10 Breeding 188; Fish reproduction; seperating fish; fry rearing; 11 Marine fish care 198; Marine basics; marine equipment; marine decor; salt mixing; tank set ups; livestock profiles; Index.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForewordAcknowledgementsPrologue1. Bloody Beasts2. Sea Change3. Blubber Choppers4. The Law of the Tongue5. War Zone6. A Turn for the Better7. The Whales in the Potato Field8. The Whales at the End of the World9. The Whale Jail10. Attack11. Family Matters12. Cut in StoneReferences

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is the definitive field guide to the sharks, rays, and chimaera of Europe and the Mediterranean."---Paul Cox, Shark Trust"This book is an utter delight, a treasure trove for shark geeks and a remarkable achievement for both author and illustrator. If you're interested in elasmobranchs and want a truly comprehensive i-d resource for this region, look no further."---Simon Rogerson, SCUBA Magazine"This book is a tour de force and will become the authoritative field guide and species reference for this region and an essential part of any interested person’s wildlife tool kit."---David Sims, Marine Biologist magazine"A great thing to have on your bookshelf. . . . Nobody, it seems, produces better marine-life scientific illustrations than Marc Dando, whose work can be admired here. Author David Ebert, programme director of the Pacific Shark Research Centre, knows his elasmobranchs and, while this is a reference book, has a clear and authoritative style."---Steve Weinman, Diver Magazine"Recommended for a wide range of readers from experts to enthusiasts who are interested in chondrichthyans particularly for this part of the world."---Phillip C. Sternes, Journal of Fish Biology ​​​​​​"Everything you might ever want to know about these sharks and their relatives, from detailed dentition infographics for most shark species, to highly notated and very beautiful identification illustrations, is crammed into 384 exquisitely designed pages. This is the standard that all marine life field guides should aspire to reach." * DIVE Magazine *

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Book Synopsis"The new book features a ton of never-before-seen photos that expose the sheer variety, wonder, and beauty of these organisms that inhabit all the waters around us." — Deeper Blue Planktonium is a photo project and a short film by Dutch photographer/cinematographer Jan van Ijken about the unseen world of living microscopic plankton. It is a voyage into a secret universe inhabited by alien-like creatures. These stunningly beautiful, extremely diverse, and numerous organisms are unknown to most of us because they are invisible to the naked eye. However, they are wandering beneath the surface in waters all around us and are of vital importance for all life on earth. Phytoplankton (small plant-like cells) produce half of all the oxygen on earth by photosynthesis, like plants and trees do on land. Zooplankton form the base of the food chain of aquatic life. Plankton also play an important part in the global carbon cycle. They are currently threatened by climate change, global warming and the acidification of the oceans. Jan van Ijken photographed the plankton through microscopes, revealing the beauty and delicate structures of these minute organisms in the finest detail.Trade Review"The new book features a ton of never-before-seen photos that expose the sheer variety, wonder, and beauty of these organisms that inhabit all the waters around us." - Deeper Blue

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is beautiful."---Charles Bergquist, Science Friday"All the major seaweed families and genera are covered in exquisite detail, beautifully complemented by stunning photographs and bold layouts which draw your eye to the page. . . . Whether you’re a hardened phycologist or just interested in finding out more about the delicate fronds that waft around your ankles in the shallows, this is definitely a user-friendly guide. Highly recommended."---Rose Fulton, Green Fuse"This concise and lavish volume is almost as good as a trip to the shore."---S. T. Meiers, Choice

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Book SynopsisThere''s so much we don''t know about what lies deep beneath the ocean''s surface - and the time to find out is growing increasingly precious . . .Professor Alex Rogers is one of the world''s leading experts in marine biology and oceanology, and has spent his life studying the deep ocean - and in particular the impact of human activity on the ecosystems of the oceans. In this timely, galvanising and fascinating book - replete with stunning photography of strange and beautiful creatures - Professor Rogers offers a fundamentally optimistic view of humanity''s relationship with the oceans - and also a very personal account of his own interaction with the seas.

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringCoral reefs are among the most beautiful, and most diverse, of ecosystems. Early seafarers were wary of them, naturalists were confused by them, yet many coastal people benefited greatly from these mysterious rocky structures that grew up to the surface of the sea. They have been rich in their supply of food, and they provided a breakwater from storms and high waves to countless coastal communities that developed from their protection. Their scale is enormous and their value high. Found in countless locations around the world, from the Indo-Pacific coral reef province to the Caribbean and Australia, they support both marine and human life.But today coral reefs are in trouble, with many dying or suffering from over-exploitation, pollution, and the warming and acidification of the oceans. Understanding reefs, their conservation and management, is vital, and so is conveying this to authority if we are to preserve these remarkable ecosystems. In this Very Short Introduction Charles Sheppard describes the complex structure and interdependencies of a reef, how reefs have evolved, the diversity of marine life that they support, and their importance to the human population who live beside them. This new edition describes the latest research on the complex symbioses of coral animals with microorganisms. It also highlights the scale of the challenge facing our reefs today, following recent ocean heatwaves - part of wider climate disruption - that killed half the world''s reefs, and considers what can be done to preserve these essential and vibrant ecosystems.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: Geology or biology? 2: Ancient reefs and islands 3: The architects of a reef 4: The resulting structure - a reef 5: Microbial and planktonic engines of the reef 6: Reef fish and other major predators 7: Regional scale pressures on reefs 8: Global scale pressures on reefs - Climate change 9: Doing something about it Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisExplore the world of extraordinary marine creatures in this beautifully illustrated guide to thirty species of octopuses, cuttlefish, and squids.

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Book SynopsisA snorkeller's identification guide to the most frequently encountered marine species of the Mediterranean. Presented in an informative yet readable way, includes numerous tips on how to make the most of your snorkelling.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisMARINE BIOLOGY Marine Biology: Comparative Ecology of Planet Ocean provides a learning tool to those who love the ocean to help them understand and learn about the life that populates it, the extraordinary adaptations of marine organisms to their environment, and the spectacular variety of marine life forms that inhabit the many marine habitats and contribute to the life support system of Planet Ocean. The book introduces marine biology by seeing the ocean through the eyes of its inhabitants, describing the properties of sea water, the surface waters and its currents, and the characteristics of the seabed according to how marine organisms perceive, exploit, and shape them. This book explains to the reader and those who love the ocean not only how to recognize the most common marine organisms and habitats, from the coast to great depths, but it also explains their complex life cycles and the environmental factors controlling their distribution, reproduction, and growth. Finally, the book evaluates the role that living biota play in how different marine ecosystems function in order to understand better their characteristics, peculiarities, and threats. This book offers an up-to-date and comprehensive text on the study of marine biology, presenting insights into the methodologies scientists have adopted for the study of marine ecosystems. It also includes chapters about human impacts on marine biodiversity, from overfishing to climate change, from pollution (including microplastics), to alien-species invasions, from conservation of marine resources to the restoration of degraded marine habitats. The authors developed this text for Bachelor and Master's level students taking classes on marine biology and marine ecology, but it will also interest high-school students and marine enthusiasts (dive masters, tour guides) who wish to deepen their knowledge of marine biology.

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Book Synopsis''An epic travelogue, brimming with the excitement of discovery. With characteristic panache, Venter unveils the teeming array of bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes that crowd our planet''s oceans'' - Siddhartha Mukherjee''This page-turner gives . . . the thrill of seeing our planet''s largest universe through the brilliant, intrepid eyes of the scientist who has done more than anyone to unlock the secrets of life'' - Martine Rothblatt''A tour de force . . . Venter has expanded biology''s horizons. This book explores microbial life on a global scale, providing cutting-edge solutions to problems of environmental change'' - Aristides Patrinos''A ripping tale . . . to revolutionize our understanding of our bodies, the oceans, and the planet'' - Jack Gilbert''An exhilarating account of how creative science is accomplished'' - Sir Richard J. Roberts''[A] fascinating tour of Planet Microbe'' - Bill McKibbenTrade ReviewWriting with award-winning science journalist Duncan, Venter presents a lively account of a groundbreaking exploration of the microbiome of the Earth's waters...Important and adventurous science on the high seas. * Kirkus Reviews *An epic travelogue, brimming with the excitement of discovery. With characteristic panache, Venter unveils the teeming array of bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes that crowd our planet's oceans. His research will undoubtedly shape our understanding of the global ecosystem for decades to come. -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of * The Emperor of All Maladies *An exhilarating account of how creative science is accomplished. Few would guess just how many microbes live with us and how much they contribute to human health, both directly in our bodies and by making sure the air we breathe supports life. I have always loved bacteria, but after reading this I have an enhanced appreciation of their value to life on this planet. I highly recommend it. -- Sir Richard J. Roberts, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineThe Voyage of Sorcerer II combines panoramic linguistic imagery with trenchant scientific insights to provide the reader a virtual seat aboard the most important ship of discovery since Darwin's Beagle. Venter reveals to us why Earth should be called 'Water' and why the ocean's microscopic life is our deepest and most magical reservoir of genetic diversity. This page-turner gives each of us the thrill of seeing our planet's largest universe through the brilliant, intrepid eyes of the scientist who has done more than anyone to unlock the secrets of life. -- Martine Rothblatt, founder and CEO, United TherapeuticsA tour de force. Following in the paths of the Beagle and the Challenger, Venter has expanded biology's horizons. This book explores microbial life on a global scale, providing cutting-edge solutions to problems of environmental change. -- Aristides Patrinos, Chief Scientist and Director of Research, NOVIMA fascinating inside look at Venter's historic expeditions that makes the experiences, the analysis, and the transformative discoveries come alive. -- Margaret Leinen, Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San DiegoWe humans may think we are the most important species on Earth, but we're actually just bit players in a far broader and more complex microbial world. In this exciting journey into that deeper world, Venter and Duncan expand our scope of what it means to be alive. -- Jamie Metzl, author of * Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity *A ripping tale of how a sailing adventure and science can be combined to revolutionize our understanding of our bodies, the oceans, and the planet. -- Jack Gilbert, Associate Vice Chancellor for Marine Science and Director of the Microbiome and Metagenomics Center, UC San Diego School of Medicine

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Book SynopsisJellyfish are, like the mythical Medusa, both beautiful and potentially dangerous. Found from pole to tropic, these mesmeric creatures form an important part of the sea’s plankton and vary in size from the gigantic to the minute. Perceived as alien creatures and seen as best avoided, jellyfish nevertheless have the power to fascinate: with the sheer beauty of their translucent bells and long, trailing tentacles; with a mouth that doubles as an anus; and without a head or brain. Drawing upon myth and historical sources as well as modern scientific advances, this book examines our ambiguous relationship with these ancient and yet ill-understood animals, describing their surprisingly complex anatomy, weaponry and habits, and their vital contribution to the ocean’s ecosystem.Trade Review“Engaging and handsomely illustrated. . . . Enduring they may be; endearing they are not. Toy jellyfish, after all, are few and far between. ‘Octopuses, yes,’ Williams ruefully acknowledges, but ‘very, very few jellyfish.’ They are too toxic and they look too weird. But, he argues persuasively, if they are ineligible for affection, they at least deserve humanity’s respect.” * Economist *"Combing through history, art, and science, Williams tells stories proving that these graceful watery creatures deserve our appreciation even while they elude our understanding." -- Mary P. Winsor, IHPST, University of TorontoTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Lineage of Uncertainty 2 Toxic but Fascinating 3 Floats, Eyes and Combs 4 The Illustrator's Nightmare 5 Jellyfish Culture 6 Light, Death and Immortality 7 World Domination Timeline Appendix 1: A Brief Description of Individual Species of Jellyfish Mentioned in the Text Appendix 2: Where to see Jellyfish in Captivity References Select Bibliography Associations, Websites and Apps Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisWhat lies beneath the surface of the ocean has mystified humankind for millennia.We have explored more of the surface of the Moon than we have of the deep sea. From vampire squid to giant spider crabs, and from hydrothermal vents to bioluminescence, its watery depths are both fascinating and terrifying.Deep Water explores, through spectacular images and expert text, how this unique habitat came into being, what lives there and why, how it has evolved and what the future will bring for this dark and mysterious environment.Table of ContentsTimeline of Discovery • Introduction • Zones of the Ocean • How Much of the Deep Sea is Unexplored? • Nutrient Cycling • Bioluminescence • Biogenic Sediment • Megamouth Shark • Coelacanths • Azoic Hypothesis • Cambrian Creatures • Giant Spider Crab • Ophthalmosaurus • Vampire Squid • Nautilus • Stromatolites • Bathysphere • Diel Vertical Migration • Goblin Shark • Giant Squid • Cookie-Cutter Shark • Giant Oarfish • Lanternfish • Big Red Jelly • Viperfish • Whalefalls • Hagfish • Gulper Eels • Orange Roughy • Brachiopods • Anglerfish • Hydrothermal Vents • Yeti Crabs • Methanogenic Bacteria • Giant Tube Worms • Chimaeras • Blubber • Cuvier’s Beaked Whale • Paleodictyon • Foraminiferans • DSV Alvin • Abyssal Plain • Sea Squirts • Sea Spiders • Dumbo Octopus • Giant Isopods • HMS Challenger • Crinoids • Trieste • Mariana Trench • Glossary • Index • Credits

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Book Synopsis''Big Meg is big fun! It''s packed to the gills with gobsmacking facts, insightful conjecture, and personal obs from two world-class scientists and explorers ... a megaladon of delight for any shark-lover!'' - Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus''Tim Flannery scores again, diving into the murky myth-filled waters surrounding the world''s biggest predator, and surfacing with a breathless true story stuffed with astounding facts and personal experience.'' - Lucy Cooke, author of Bitch and The Unexpected Truth about Animals''If you are not already addicted to Tim Flannery''s writing, discover him now.'' - Jared Diamond, author of Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel''Engagingly written and a real labour of love (down to the tiny fin at the bottom of each right hand page). Give this book to the wannabe palaeontologist in your life'' - MAIL ON SUNDAY---------------------------------------

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Book SynopsisThe warm, tropical climate of the Maldives and the natural beauty of the islands and reefs attract holidaymakers from around the world to 200 resorts. Resort Map of the Maldives is a detailed fold-out map of the 868 km (539 miles) long archipelago showing the atolls, location of the resorts, as well as the other features, such as protected marine areas, airports and guest house islands. The reverse side features 12 sharks and rays, and 83 common fish species from the book Fishes of the Maldives: Indian Ocean. It is a perfect souvenir of your Maldives resort experience, and a useful reference to this unique nation of islands. Folded map 155 x 227 mm, folds out flat to 310 x 1364 mm.

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Book SynopsisDevelop your students theoretical and practical marine science skills for first examination in 2022. This digital teacher''s resource is the perfect companion to the coursebook and workbook, helping you bridge the gap between teaching theory and practice. It helps you support your learners, plan lessons and teach to the syllabus, with downloadable support notes for the practical activities and answers to all the questions in the workbook and coursebook, as well as sample data for the workbook. From teaching activity, assessment and homework ideas, to how to tackle common misconceptions and support with practical activities, this handy resource provides inspiration and time-saving support.Table of ContentsWelcome; About the authors; How to use this series; How to use this Teacher's Resource; Lesson Plan template; About the syllabus; About the examination; Key teaching approaches; Teaching notes per topic; Practical Support for Coursebook activities; Practical Support for Workbook Activities; Coursebook Answers; Workbook Answers

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[An] enthralling book. . . . Lavishly illustrated with big color photos and drawings, the book covers shark biology, behavior and ecology in prose that's authoritative but highly accessible to anyone bitten by shark fever."---Ron Charles, Washington Post"[A] landmark, myth-busting book."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"Truly excellent."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"[A] wonderful new book packed with facts and information about these magnificent animals. . . . Whether you are studying marine biology, or just love these perfect predators, this book will be one that you pluck from your collection time and time again."---Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse"A thoughtful, easy read, suitable either for dipping into or working through, and would look good on any shark diver’s shelves."---Steve Weinman, Divernet"Many people experience irrepressible fear while swimming in the presence of sharks but exhibit deep interest in sharks when safely ashore. This text will satisfy the latter urge and may even mitigate some of the former concern."---S.R. Fegley, Choice

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Book SynopsisMarine Biology covers the basics of marine biology with a global approach, using examples from numerous regions and ecosystems worldwide. This introductory, one-semester text is designed for non-majors. Authors Castro and Huber have made a special effort to include solid basic science content needed in a general education course, including the fundamental principles of biology, the physical sciences, and the scientific method. This science coverage is integrated with a stimulating, up-to-date overview of marine biology.Table of ContentsChapter 1 The Science of Marine BiologyChapter 2 The Sea FloorChapter 3 Chemical and Physical Features of the World OceanChapter 4 Fundamentals of BiologyChapter 5 The Microbial WorldChapter 6 Multicellular Primary Producers: Seaweeds and PlantsChapter 7 Marine Animals Without a BackboneChapter 8 Marine FishesChapter 9 Marine Reptiles, Birds, and MammalsChapter 10 An Introduction to Marine EcologyChapter 11 Between the TidesChapter 12 Estuaries: Where Rivers Meet the SeaChapter 13 Life on the Continental ShelfChapter 14 Coral ReefsChapter 15 Life Near the SurfaceChapter 16 The Ocean DepthsChapter 17 Resources from the SeaChapter 18 The Impact of Humans on the Marine Environment

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Book SynopsisDeals with the biological and physiological characteristics of the cartilaginous fishes: sharks, rays, and chimaeras. In this title, each chapter commences with an anecdote from the author about his own personal experience with the topic, followed by thought-provoking questions and a list of recommended readings in the scientific literature.

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Book SynopsisThis accessible textbook provides an ideal point of entry into the field, providing basic information on the nature of soft-sediment ecosystems, examples of how and why we research them, the new questions these studies inspire, and the applications that ultimately benefit society.Table of ContentsPart I: The Environment 1: The sedimentary environment 2: Benthic animals and plants and what they do to sediments 3: Disturbance, patches, and mosaics Part II: Doing Research 4: Design and the philosophy of sampling 5: Data collection methods and statistical analyses Part III: Communities 6: Describing assemblages and biodiversity of sediment-living organisms 7: Biotic interactions 8: Temporal variations in benthic assemblages and processes Part IV: Functioning 9: EF Ecosystem function 10: BEF Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning Part V: Anthropocene 11: Human Impacts 12: Climate change and seafloor ecology 13: Restoration of soft-sediment habitats Glossary

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"I want to emphasize that this book is not just for Galápagos giant tortoise enthusiasts. It also highlights the many lessons that have been learned from restoration of Galápagos ecosystems. I teach an undergraduate course on conservation biology and always include a discussion of “ecological substitutes” as a means or restoring lost ecological functions. The comprehensive list of tortoise rewilding efforts around the globe (Chapter 2) will definitely be incorporated into my discussion of this topic the next time I give the course. My course similarly includes a unit on eradication of invasive species, and the eradications successfully completed in the Galápagos (Chapter 19) are certainly a guide for future eradication attempts around the globe. I was particularly interested in the rat eradication carried out on Pinzón Island (Chapter 22) and the immediate benefits detected for not only Galápagos giant tortoises, but also land snails, lava lizards, Galápagos snakes, cactus finches, and Galápagos rails. This leads to my final point about the book’s inspiring accounts of individual tortoises. Although we are all aware of the incredible longevity of giant tortoises, the stories in this volume brought it home to me in a way I had not experienced before. I was particularly moved by the story of Diego (Chapter 21), the Española giant tortoise who was collected from his home island in 1934, spent 43 years at the San Diego Zoo, was then transferred to the Tortoise Breeding Center to participate in the captive breeding program for another 43 years, before being returned to his home island in 2020. It is incredible to think of any living organism having witnessed so much change, but the authors of this volume calculate that 2% of Galápagos giant tortoises alive today would have been present when Darwin visited the islands in 1834. It is only due to their extreme longevity that the tortoises were able to persist through centuries of human exploitation and invasive species (e.g., there was no natural tortoise recruitment on Pinzón for over a century). I commend the authors for composing engaging chapters across the board and the editors for forming them into a cohesive volume." --The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsSection I: Overview 1. The Galapagos: Island Home of Giant Tortoises 2. Galapagos tortoises: Protagonists in the spectacle of life on Earth Section II: History of Human - Tortoise Interactions 3. Human perceptions of Galapagos tortoises through history 4. The era of exploitation: 1700-1959 5. Darwin and the Galapagos giant tortoises 6. The Collectors: Beginnings of scientific inquiry and the lasting impacts of living and museum collections Section III: Natural History 7. Evolution and phylogenetics 8. Morphology 9. Reproduction 10. Thermoregulation 11. Behavior and Diet 12. Population biology 13. Movement ecology 14. Habitats 15. Role in Ecosystems 16. Galapagos Tortoises in a Changing Climate Section IV: Conservation: Slow Rescue from Near Destruction 17. History of Galapagos tortoise conservation 18. Tortoise health 19. Invasive Species: Impacts, Control, and Eradication 20. Tortoise Populations after 60 Years of Conservation Section V: Restoration Case Studies 21. Española Island: From Near Extinction to Recovery 22. Pinzón Island: A Century of Zero Tortoise Hatchlings to a Growing Population 23. Floreana and Pinta Islands: Restoring Tortoise Populations through Lost Lineage Recovery 24. Santa Fe Island: Return of tortoises via a replacement species Section VI: Into the Future 25. Beyond rescue to full recovery

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Book SynopsisWhales, dolphins and porpoises are among the world''s most mysterious and beautiful animals, and there are many opportunities to see them in the seas around Europe. This comprehensive and authoritative guide covers everything you need to know about where, when and how to watch them. Packed with useful information and top tips to help you get the most out of your trip, it includes a thorough account of whale-watching opportunities in every European country where organised whale-watching takes place, as well as detailed accounts of every cetacean species found in Europe and a fascinating introduction to their world.Whether you want to watch Blue Whales in Iceland, Bottlenose Dolphins in Wales, Narwhal in Greenland or Sperm Whales in Greece, this comprehensive guide is the ideal companion.

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Book Synopsis 'The coolest book ever written about jellyfish' Animal Lovers'As exciting and entertaining as a non-fiction book can be' Greenpeace Magazine 'A book to marvel at that ignites the desire for science' MeinBezirk.at_____Dive beneath the waves with the second book in the Amazing Ocean series, which will introduce you to the strange and beautiful world of the jellyfish._____Did you know that there were jellyfish in the Earth's oceans hundreds of millions of years before the first dinosaurs? These strange and beautiful creatures are among the most ancient animals on our planet, and the deadliest too.In this amazing illustrated adventure, you'll be introduced to many of the mind-blowing varieties of these mysterious beings in our oceans, from immortal jellyfish to jellyfish with superpowers and even some astronaut jellyfish (yes, really). Are you ready to enter their mysterious undersea world? Then let's

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Book SynopsisAn eye-opening introduction to the complexity, wonder, and vital roles of coral reefs Trade Review“In this book, Sale takes the reader on a journey to make reefs real, building a sense of awe and wonder that they exist, and a commitment to caring about their plight.”—Reef in Review, the annual magazine of the Australian Coral Reef Society“Peter Sale takes readers on a dazzling tour of coral reefs, explaining the science, humanizing the scientists, and persuasively arguing why preservation of what remains is vital.”—Margaret Lowman, author of The Arbornaut“An inspiring and readable explanation of what reefs are, where they came from, how they’re put together, what goes on inside them, why they’re important and how to save them.”—Joan Roughgarden, author of Evolution’s Rainbow: Diversity, Gender and Sexuality in Nature and People“This is Peter Sale’s love song to the coral reef—that beautiful but imperiled ecosystem. Sale writes with passion and grace about reefs, reef creatures, and the scientists who study them.”—Stephen Heard, author of Charles Darwin’s Barnacle and David Bowie’s Spider“Peter Sale, an insightful scientist drawing on a lifetime of experience, offers original points of view that are compelling, persuasive, and occasionally paradoxical and a major contribution to our understanding of why coral reefs are so special.”—J. E. N. Veron, author of A Reef in Time: The Great Barrier Reef from Beginning to End

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Book SynopsisSince the release of the documentary Blackfish in 2013, millions around the world have focused on the plight of the orca, the most profitable and controversial display animal in history. Yet, until now, no historical account has explained how we came to care about killer whales in the first place. Drawing on interviews, official records, private archives, and his own family history, Jason M. Colby tells the exhilarating and often heartbreaking story of how people came to love the ocean''s greatest predator. Historically reviled as dangerous pests, killer whales were dying by the hundreds, even thousands, by the 1950s--the victims of whalers, fishermen, and even the US military. In the Pacific Northwest, fishermen shot them, scientists harpooned them, and the Canadian government mounted a machine gun to eliminate them. But that all changed in 1965, when Seattle entrepreneur Ted Griffin became the first person to swim and perform with a captive killer whale. The show proved wildly popular, and he began capturing and selling others, including Sea World''s first Shamu.Over the following decade, live display transformed views of Orcinus orca. The public embraced killer whales as charismatic and friendly, while scientists enjoyed their first access to live orcas. In the Pacific Northwest, these captive encounters reshaped regional values and helped drive environmental activism, including Greenpeace''s anti-whaling campaigns. Yet even as Northwesterners taught the world to love whales, they came to oppose their captivity and to fight for the freedom of a marine predator that had become a regional icon. This is the definitive history of how the feared and despised killer became the beloved orca--and what that has meant for our relationship with the ocean and its creatures.Trade ReviewDetailed, determinedly even-handed and often fascinating. * Lucy Atkins, Times Literary Supplement *Jason Colby's Orca...left me with feelings of gratitude for his hard work, admiration and envy for his skills as a historian and storyteller, and also some new hopes about the possibilities of writing about animals and history.....The characters, human and cetacean, are drawn with extraordinary empathy and care, and their experiences, hopes, and worries, as told by Colby, are powerful....The photographs, of which there are more than forty, are both exceptional and thoughtfully curated. * Nigel Rothfels, Humanimalia *Timely ... Over forty oral history interviews, added to substantial archival and secondary research, allow Colby to weave a history that highlights the agency and complexities of orca capture and captivity ... This engaging book should garner a wide audience of academics and orca enthusiasts. The clear narrative and interesting stories moreover make it suitable for undergraduate courses in both Pacific Northwest history and environmental history * Jen Corrinne Brown, American Historical Review *Colby is an easy and engaging writer... He utilizes extensive interviews he conducted with many of the most colorful and important people involved in the story: those who captured whales, the promoters, fishermen, scientists, and the citizens and politicians who became involved in the fight to halt the capture. * Carmel Finley, Journal of American History *This is an affecting book, personal and political all at once, and written by a scholar who has worked hard to recover and relay painful tales of the wild orcas that encountered humans and the humans that did the encountering. Nearly all those meetings began in panic and pain, most of it the whales', though some of it that of the men who came to believe they were doing the wrong thing wresting these breathtaking animals from their world, to deliver them to our own, which has been changed by the resulting episodes of captivity and captivation. * D. Graham Burnett, author of The Sounding of the Whale *This fascinating history reveals what happens when humans became captivated by captive orcas. Colby poignantly locates the very origins of conservation in the tense, tender, and tragic relationships between humans and cetaceans. This finely textured social history of the Pacific Northwest opens up the story of how 'killer whales', once cast as deadly pests * became popular attractions and emotional, intelligent 'orcas'.Daniel Bender, author of The Animal Game: Searching for Wildness at the American Zoo *With Orca, Jason Colby takes readers on a riveting journey. In a matter of decades, the Pacific Northwest's killer whales traveled from despised vermin to regional sweethearts. Their emotional passage revealed the true wildcard of wildlife management: navigating the swirling opinions of human populations. A timely book, Orca brings history to bear on a fraught relationship between two apex predators. Colby traces the rise in human affection for the whales but also the emergence of a cruel realization as audiences cheered captives' performances in aquariums across the globe. Love and fandom could kill and maim as efficiently as fear and contempt. In the end, it's unclear whether orcas benefited from the connection they forged with people. * Jon Coleman, author of Vicious: Wolves and Men in America *Killer whales, or orcas, the apex marine predators, were once widely feared as dangerous vermin and were shot on sight. Yet over the past fifty years, a sea change in attitudes towards this remarkable animal took place, and today the species is a revered and cherished global icon of the wild marine environment. In this compelling book, Jason Colby chronicles this transition in our relationship with the killer whale and tells an enthralling story complete with drama and excitement. It is sure to be an important addition to the libraries of natural historians and whale enthusiasts alike. * John Ford, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada *Colby shines a light on how little we understand of these magnificent creatures. His book gives a glimpse into a mysterious yet strangely familiar world, brought to life in a story that's tragic, heartbreaking, and finally hopeful. * Foreword Reviews (starred review) *A good choice for serious fans of Pacific Northwest and marine history. * Kirkus *A revealing look at how the human view of orcas has changed... Colby persuasively contends that, despite legitimate concerns popularized by the 2013 documentary Blackfish, about the effects of captivity on orcas, the animals avoided extinction because their presence in accessible public venues enabled people to relate to them... Colby has produced an originally argued and accessibly jargon-free consideration of a hot-button animal conservation issue. * Publishers Weekly *Killer whales, also known as orcas, are idolized, loved, and even revered. Such sentiments, however, have not always been held toward this species, as historian Jason Colby reveals in his new book, Orca... Colby does an excellent job of framing these events within the larger environmental movement of the time, as well as placing them within the context of the nationalism that was spreading on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border at the time." * Robin W. Baird, Science *[Told] with the depth and passion the topic deserves. * Lynda V. Mapes, Seattle Times *Immersive and dramatic... Colby demonstrates the speed at which societal attitudes can also shift the baseline of our expectations. In this age of extinction, with ongoing changes in ocean chemistry and physics, it is the potential for a sea change in public attitude that presents hope. * Sascha Hooker, Nature *An exceptional book and a significant contribution to the conservation of killer whales, Orca brings together a wealth of information and tells the stories of the captive whales and the people who pursued, cared for, and studied them - and ultimately fought for their freedom... It instantly takes its place as one of the best books ever written about the interactions between killer whales and settler society on the coastlines of B.C. and Washington State. It should be read by every whale enthusiast, naturalist, fishing guide, graduate student, researcher, marine resource manager, and politician on the Pacific coast. * Anna Hall, Ormsby Review *It is a story not just of the orca business, but also of the evolution of Americans' relationship to the oceans and marine life-the growth of marine parks parallels the shift from an extractive approach to the ocean, as mainly a source of fish, to a recreational one. It intersects, too, with the birth of the modern environmental movement in the 1960s and 70s. * Rachel Riederer, New Republic *[Colby] has produced an exhaustive, nuanced, essential account of the captures, unearthing a forgotten bit of Northwest history. * Nancy Macdonald, Literary Review of Canada *A riveting behind-the-scenes 'tell all,' told from the perspectives of the individuals that witnessed this important period in our history. This book is a historical account of how an industry formed, nearly destroying the very commodity on which it depended, coupled with an infusion of science that helped us to better understand killer whale life history. Colby retells a tragic yet sobering story of the good and dark sides of the delicate relationship between humans and other sentient beings. * Eric L. Walters, Journal of Mammalogy *An exhaustively researched and well-written account. * Paul Brown, Resurgence & Ecologist *An engaging but in-depth history...Orca is an exciting new offering at the intersection between histories of the display of live cetaceans, which generally focus on the environmental movement and its pushback against keeping captive dolphins and orcas, and histories of the modern commercial whaling industry, which generally focus purely on the harvesting of larger whales….The book is both an intensely local history of the Pacific Northwest in the late twentieth century and also a more global history of human relationships with large predators and animals in captivity.….Colby provides an exhaustive account of changing perceptions of killer whales and how this related to the development of the environmental movement into which they were embedded, all over the span of just a couple of decades. * Jakobina Arch, Environmental History *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. "The Most Terrible Jaws Afloat" 2. The Old Northwest 3. Griffin's Quest 4. Murray Newman and Moby Doll 5. Namu's Journey 6. A Boy and His Whale 7. Fishing for Orcas 8. Skana and the Hippie 9. The Scores at Pender Harbor 10. Supply and Demand 11. The White Whale 12. Penn Cove Roundup 13. Whaling in the New Northwest 14. Big Government and Big Business 15. The Legend of Mike Bigg 16. "All hell broke loose" 17. New Frontiers 18. Haida's Song 19. The Legacy of Capture Epilogue Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In this cautionary if hopeful debut, environmentalist Rowan Wright urges society to take responsibility for the fate of the oceans. Despite the threat of climate change, ‘there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic,’ she notes, and practical solutions to undertake. . . . Perhaps Rowan Wright’s best suggestions are those that deal with individual actions and consumer decisions. Her discussion of sunscreen, for instance, urges people to shun the many popular brands containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can ‘disrupt coral reproduction and growth and exacerbate coral bleaching.’ Rowan Wright makes a strong case for how choices—big and small, collective and individual—can change the world."--Publishers Weekly;"Rowan Wright's book is a clear call to action to modernize the Law of the Sea so that it can deal with the changes in society, in the sea, on land, and in the atmosphere that have arisen since it came into force in 1994. This is the freshest, most sensible, and most optimistic perspective I have seen in a long time. I enjoy very much the positive, can-do approach. Very motivating."--Drew Harvell, Cornell University, author of A Sea of Glass and Ocean OutbreakTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Back-to-Front World 2. The Laws of Life 3. Teeming Seas 4. The Free Sea 5. Theory to Reality 6. Counteroffensive 7. Worrying about the Wrong Stuff 8. The Silver Bullet? 9. The Power of Many Small Changes 10. Finding Like Minds Acknowledgments Notes Index

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