Description
Book SynopsisThis book began life as a series of lectures given to second and third year undergraduates at Oxford University. These lectures were designed to give students insights as to how marine ecosystems functioned, how they were being affected by natural and human interventions, and how we might be able to conserve them and manage them sustainably for the good of people, both recreationally and economically. This book presents 10 chapters, beginning with principles of oceanography important to ecology, through discussions of the magnitude of marine biodiversity and the factors influencing it, the functioning of marine ecosystems at within trophic levels such as primary production, competition and dispersal, to different trophic level interactions such as herbivory, predation and parasitism. The final three chapters look at the more applied aspects of marine ecology, discussion fisheries, human impacts, and management and conservation.
Other textbooks covering similar topics tend to treat
Trade Review
"This work by Speight and Henderson (both, Oxford Univ., UK) details physical and chemical marine environments and their effect on various organisms and ecological functions. The book is divided into 10 chapters. The first two chapters address essential aspects of oceanography, including factors such as ocean currents, temperature, salinity, and various elements in sea water and their influence on marine organisms. Subsequent chapters focus on the diversity of organisms in various oceanic realms, factors underlying the distribution and diversity of organisms, and the functional aspects of the oceans, including primary production, chemosynthesis, predation, parasitism, and more.Concluding chapters address the larger picture, including global fisheries, sustainable exploitation of marine resources, anthropogenic impacts on oceans, and conservation of marine resources. Appropriate examples and graphs illustrate the points made in each chapter. Pictures and graphics are excellent." (CHOICE, December 2010)
"This is a well organized, easily read text that provides a useful introduction to marine ecology for senior undergraduate students...teachers looking for an up-to-date text with a modern approach should, nevertheless, look at this book to see whether it meets their particular course needs." (Aquaculture International, July 2010)
Table of Contents
Preface vi
Acknowledgments ix
1 The physical template 1
2 Marine biodiversity 27
3 Primary production and chemosynthesis 49
4 Primary consumption: marine herbivores and detritivores 65
5 Predators, parasites, and pathogens 83
6 Competition and succession 107
7 Dispersal and settlement 129
8 The exploitation and maintenance of marine and estuarine fisheries 153
9 Threats to marine ecosystems: the effects of man 169
10 Marine conservation 203
Appendix 239
References 251
Index 271
