Marine Biology A Very Short Introduction

Author : Philip Mladenov
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 019884171X
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.15/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Marine Biology: a Very Short Introduction written by Philip Mladenov and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2020-02-27 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The oceans are our planet's most distinctive and imposing natural habitat. They cover 71 percent of its surface; support a remarkably diverse and exquisitely adapted array of life forms, from microscopic viruses, bacteria, and plankton to the largest existing animals; and possess many of Earth's most significant, intriguing, and inaccessible ecosystems. In an era in which humans are significantly altering the global environment, the oceans are undergoing rapid and profound changes. The study of marine biology is thus taking on added importance and urgency as people struggle to understand and manage these changes to protect our marine ecosystems. Healthy oceans produce half of the oxygen we breathe; stabilize our climate; create ecosystems that protect our coasts from storms; provide us with abundant food; and host diverse organisms that provide us with natural products for medicine and biotechnology. In this Very Short Introduction, marine biologist Philip Mladenov provides an accessible and up-to-date overview of marine biology, offering a tour of marine life and marine processes that ranges from the unimaginably abundant microscopic organisms that drive the oceans' food web to the apex predators that we exploit for food; from polar ocean ecosystems to tropical coral reefs; and from the luxurious kelp beds of the coastal ocean to deep-ocean hydrothermal vents where life exists without the energy of the sun. Throughout the book he considers the human impacts on marine life including overfishing, plastic and nutrient pollution, the spread of exotic species, and ocean warming and acidification. He discusses the threats these pose to our welfare, and the actions required to put us on a path to a more sustainable relationship with our oceans so that they can be restored and protected for future generations. Mladenov concludes with a new chapter offering an inspiring vision for the future of our oceans in 2050 that can be realised if we are wise enough to accelerate actions already underway and be bold with implementing new approaches. The next decade will decide the state of the oceans that we leave behind for future generations. 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.

Author : Philip V. Mladenov
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191654353
Total Pages : 139 pages
Book Rating : 4.50/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Marine Biology: A Very Short Introduction written by Philip V. Mladenov and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2013-09-26 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The marine environment is the largest, most important, and yet most mysterious habitat on our planet. It contains more than 99% of the world's living space; produces half of its oxygen; plays a critical role in regulating its climate; and supports a remarkably diverse and exquisitely adapted array of life forms, from microscopic viruses, bacteria, and plankton to the largest existing animals. As the 21st century progresses human activities, such as overfishing, coastal development, plastic pollution, oil spills, nutrient pollution, the spread of exotic species, and the emission of climate changing greenhouse gases are posing a significant threat to the marine environment and to many of its life forms. In this unique Very Short Introduction, Philip Mladenov provides a comprehensive overview of marine biology, providing a tour of marine life and marine processes that ranges from the polar oceans to tropical coral reefs; and from the intertidal to the hydrothermal vents of the deep sea. 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.

Author : George Karleskint (Jr.)
Publisher : Cengage Learning
ISBN 13 : 9781133365068
Total Pages : 563 pages
Book Rating : 4.6X/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Introduction to Marine Biology written by George Karleskint (Jr.) and published by Cengage Learning. This book was released on 2013 with total page 563 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY, 4E, International Edition sparks curiosity about the marine world and provides an understanding of the process of science. Taking an ecological approach and intended for non-science majors, the text provides succinct coverage of the content while the photos and art clearly illustrate key concepts. Studying is made easy with phonetic pronunciations, a running glossary of key terms, end-of-chapter questions, and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. The open look and feel of INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY, 4E, International Edition and the enhanced art program convey the beauty and awe of life in the ocean. Twenty spectacular photos open the chapters, piquing the motivation and attention of students, and over 60 photos and pieces of art are new or redesigned.

Author : Dorrik Stow
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0191024295
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.90/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Oceans: A Very Short Introduction written by Dorrik Stow and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017-07-20 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The importance of the oceans to life on Earth cannot be overstated. Liquid water covers more than 70% of our planet's surface and, in past geological time, has spread over 85%. Life on Earth began in the oceans over 3.5 billion years ago and remained there for the great majority of that time. Today the seas still provide 99% of habitable living space, the largest repository of biomass, and holds the greatest number of undiscovered species on the planet. Our oceans are vital for the regulation of climate, and with global warming and decreasing land area, they have become increasingly important as the source of food, energy in the form of oil and gas, and for their mineral wealth. Oceans also form a key part of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements critical to life. Nutrients in upwelling areas are spread by ocean currents, and the plankton of the seas supports a wealth of wildlife. In this Very Short Introduction Dorrik Stow analyses these most important components of our blue planet and considers their relationship with, and exploitation by, humans. He shows how the oceans are an essential resource to our overpopulated world, and discusses why exploration and greater scientific understanding of the oceans, their chemistry, and their mineral wealth are now a high priority. Stow also explores what we know of how oceans originate, and evolve and change; the shape of the seafloor and nature of its cover; the physical processes that stir the waters and mix such a rich chemical broth; and the inseparable link between oceans and climate. As polar ice melts and sea-levels rise, countless millions who have made their homes on low-lying lands close to the sea are threatened. As scientific exploration of the seas gathers pace, the new knowledge gained of the ocean-Earth systems and their interaction with the human environment is vital to our understanding of how we can preserve these ultimately fragile environments. 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.

Author : Charles Sheppard
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0192642510
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.16/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Coral Reefs: A Very Short Introduction written by Charles Sheppard and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-04-22 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Coral 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.

Author : Jeffrey S. Levinton
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 9780197543511
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.10/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Marine Biology written by Jeffrey S. Levinton and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "With its clear and conversational writing style, comprehensive coverage, and sophisticated presentation, "Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology", Sixth Edition, is regarded by many as the most authoritative marine biology text. Over the course of six editions, Jeffrey Levinton has balanced his organismal and ecological focus by including the latest developments on molecular biology, global climate change, and ocean processes"--

Author : Ellen Prager
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226678725
Total Pages : 214 pages
Book Rating : 4.26/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime written by Ellen Prager and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2011-10 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When viewed from a quiet beach, the ocean can seem calm, even serene. But hidden beneath the sea's waves are a staggering variety of active creatures, engaged in the never-ending struggles of life--to reproduce, to eat, and to avoid being eaten. Marine scientist Ellen Prager takes us deep into the sea to introduce a cast of fascinating and bizarre creatures. From the tiny arrow worms whose voracious ways may lead to death by overeating, to the lobsters that battle rivals or seduce mates with their urine, Prager reveals the ways they interact as predators, prey, or potential mates. And while these animals make for some jaw-dropping stories--there's far more to Prager's account than entertaining anecdotes: again and again, she illustrates the crucial connections between life in the ocean and humankind, in everything from our food supply to our economy, and in drug discovery, biomedical research, and popular culture.--From publisher description.

Author : Andrew Caine
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781520606439
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.35/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Marine Biology For The Non-Biologist written by Andrew Caine and published by . This book was released on 2017-02-20 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first of two books in the series Marine Life by Andrew Caine, the second being the long awaited 'Marine Ecology for the Non-Ecologist' now available on Amazon.For years the only textbooks available for anyone who has an interest in marine biology have laid in the realms of the academic texts or identification guides for the diver, aquarium keeper, or for those exploring the seashore. Fantastic books indeed, however, there are none that bring the real biology of marine life to the general public.For the first time, this fascinating topic has been described in a way that anyone who loves the life residing in the marine environment, can not only understand but really enjoy, in an easy to read, informative text. The book describes the major groups of animals present in the sea, the soft-bodied animals the cnidarians (jellyfish anemones, corals etc.), the crustaceans, (shrimps, crabs, lobsters, etc.) the molluscs, (the shellfish and squid etc.), the echinoderms (starfish, urchin etc). Detailing their life histories, reproductive strategies, adaptations, predator avoidance and how they grab a meal, plus much more. which collectively makes them successful as a species today. Then we examine coral reef architecture, hydrothermal vent biology, life in the polar sea and marine invertebrate toxins (what's going to kill you in the sea). The book is crammed with amazing facts that make this subject such a wonderful topic to understand.Such has been the success of this publication Andrew Caine has released the second book in the series - Marine Life - Marine Ecology for the Non-Ecologist- detailing as ever, in an easy to understand manner, the different habitats found mainly around the coastline of the earth and how as species the animals described in this volume exploit each individual habitat to form the ecosystems we see today. In this book, we explore and discover what exactly ecology is, the physical aspects and biological processes of ecology. We look at the rocky coast, the sandy shore, the estuaries, the mangroves, the coral reefs, and more.Andrew Caine has managed to produce a highly readable masterpiece which takes the reader on a magical and sometimes scary journey into the world of the planet's marine life, looking at the complex ecosystems with algae, plankton, shellfish, coral reefs and even whales. Andrew describes in fascinating detail and in a humorous and light-hearted manner the secret lives of our many different sea creatures--or beasties as he likes to call them. The book is crammed full of interesting facts and is written in a straightforward way making it easy for the layman to read and understand.He delves into the lives of jellyfish, limpets, mussels and many other species, uncovering their often bizarre behaviour and sometimes scary predatory techniques and feeding habits which most ordinary people could barely imagine existed. Who would guess a whelk slowly drills into the shell of its unfortunate victims, or that some creatures harpoon their victims with poison-bearing teeth?Andrew also dispels many myths and misunderstandings. For example, that the Portuguese Man o'War is not even a jellyfish at all, but instead a colony of connected creatures! These are just some of the many fascinating facts which Andrew uncovers in his book.Throughout the book, the reader is kept entertained by Andrew's unique writing style and amusing turn of phrase. On a more serious note, Andrew also discusses the importance of coral reefs and their vital role in supporting human livelihoods. Andrew also reveals his true passion for marine biology and his deep concern that many of our species could be under threat due to overfishing of the humble krill.Andrew's work may well motivate people to take a more active interest in the study and preservation of our rich and diverse marine life.

Author : Terence Allen
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191620262
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.63/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Cell: A Very Short Introduction written by Terence Allen and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2011-09-29 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: All living things on Earth are composed of cells. A cell is the simplest unit of a self-contained living organism, and the vast majority of life on Earth consists of single-celled microbes, mostly bacteria. These consist of a simple 'prokaryotic' cell, with no nucleus. The bodies of more complex plants and animals consist of billions of 'eukaryotic' cells, of varying kinds, adapted to fill different roles - red blood cells, muscle cells, branched neurons. Each cell is an astonishingly complex chemical factory, the activities of which we have only begun to unravel in the past fifty years or so through modern techniques of microscopy, biochemistry, and molecular biology. In this Very Short Introduction, Terence Allen and Graham Cowling describe the nature of cells - their basic structure, their varying forms, their division, their differentiation from initially highly flexible stem cells, their signalling, and programmed death. Cells are the basic constituent of life, and understanding cells and how they work is central to all biology and medicine. 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.

Author : Warwick F. Vincent
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198766734
Total Pages : 169 pages
Book Rating : 4.35/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Lakes written by Warwick F. Vincent and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ranging from vast inland seas to hydro-reservoirs, lakes are unique, complex, ecosystems. Warwick Vincent introduces lake science, or limnology, and the importance of protecting and sustaining these vitally important living resources. He explains the impact of factors such as climate, seasons, salinity, and sedimentation on lake biodiversity.