Marine Biology

Marine Biology: Comparative Ecology of Planet Ocean provides a learning tool for those who love the ocean, helping 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 offering a perspective of the ocean through the eyes of its inhabitants. It describes the properties of sea water, surface waters and their currents, and the characteristics of the seabed according to how marine organisms perceive, exploit, and shape them. This book guides readers and ocean enthusiasts in recognising the most common marine organisms and habitats, from the coast to great depths, while explaining 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 to better understand 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 includes chapters addressing human impacts on marine biodiversity, from overfishing to climate change, pollution (including microplastics) to alien-species invasions, and from the conservation of marine resources to the restoration of degraded marine habitats.

The authors developed this text for Bachelor’s and Master’s level students taking classes in marine biology and marine ecology. However, it will also interest high-school students and marine enthusiasts—such as dive masters and tour guides—who wish to deepen their knowledge of marine biology.